Licensing games

[Fanaka66]

I have a question about licensing games. When you license a game from a company to convert it, what rights do you have? Can you just do a straight conversion or are you allowed to add in your own touches?

I particular, I was wondering if you were allowed to make up your own types of fish and pets in Insaniquarium. Or like the egg in Dynomite that says Popcap. Could you change it to say Astraware?

Just curious, thanks.

[Howard]

We\'re normally able to make any changes which make it better for the platform.

Within that, though, we try to make the game as close as possible to the original (either web or PC) version.

We wouldn\'t do (for instance) extra new pets or fish for insaniquarium, or alter the PopCap eggs, but we would change the way the timers work, or add a \'paused\' system, or button control, etc.

Howard.

[Fanaka66]

Cool...thanks!

[ArchiveGuest]

(This post was originally by rhart00)
Your strategy of licensing PC games instead of making your own games is a great idea. It really pays off. I have a couple of questions:

1. Are any of your games completely original (not licensed PC games)?

2. How do you decide which games to license and port from PC to palm (or PPC)?


Astraware is one of the best, if not the best, game developers for Palm OS. Keep up the good work. Thanks


Ryan

[Howard]

1. Are any of your games completely original (not licensed PC games)?

There\'s a distinction I make between web games and PC games :) Web games tend to be quite a bit smaller in size and complexity and interface, which makes them ideal for conversion.
I\'ve only written one PC game, \"Bzzz!\", and that was my own concept.
As for Palm games which are original by Astraware, Zap!, Zap!2000/2016, Bzzz! (again :) ), Police Range, Galaxy Ranger, Bang!Bang!, Mahjongg (old concept, so maybe doesn\'t count) , Eye Of Horus, and (with assistance) Link Letters.

2. How do you decide which games to license and port from PC to palm (or PPC)?

Easy ;) They\'re the games that either:
1) Totally addict me right away
2) Have \"high sales potential\".
(often both, of course!)

We sometimes do extra games for strategic reasons - i.e. some of the PopCap and GameHouse games which haven\'t been best-sellers in their own right, work well in the packs that we put together, and its always nice to have the complete portfolio of games from a licensor converted to the platforms we work on.


Astraware is one of the best, if not the best, game developers for Palm OS. Keep up the good work. Thanks
Ryan

Thanks, Ryan!

By the way, what kinds of games are your favourites ?

Howard.

[DBZ-GOKU-]

Sorry if I am \"butting\" into this conversation, but I would also like to say that Astraware has the best games. You also have an equal amount of games for the PPC and the Palm (instead of favoring both. Yes, I know that you make for for Palm right now, but your PPC colletcion is catching up, ;)).

I would also like to tell you what kind of games I like (like you even care...:)). I like a lot of the puzzle games you have made and things, and of course Zap! 2016. But, I am, really craving a *long* adventure game and some more action games (with excellent graphics, which Astraware is very good at too).

Anyways, that is all I really have to say. So, Ryan, waht are your favorite games (type of game, I guess I should say, or even, what are your favorite games?)?

[ArchiveGuest]

(This post was originally by rhart00)
Sorry if I am \"butting\" into this conversation, but I would also like to say that Astraware has the best games. You also have an equal amount of games for the PPC and the Palm (instead of favoring both. Yes, I know that you make for for Palm right now, but your PPC colletcion is catching up, ;)).

I would also like to tell you what kind of games I like (like you even care...:)). I like a lot of the puzzle games you have made and things, and of course Zap! 2016. But, I am, really craving a *long* adventure game and some more action games (with excellent graphics, which Astraware is very good at too).

Anyways, that is all I really have to say. So, Ryan, waht are your favorite games (type of game, I guess I should say, or even, what are your favorite games?)?

I have to agree. You make some great puzzle games. But playing just puzzle games can get old really fast so I am glad you make games like Zap 2016! and GTS Racing. Definitely a great variety of really great games.

An adventure game from Astraware would be great. While there have been many attempts at these type of games on the Palm OS, most of them are very disappointing. Same goes for shooters. I would love to see a good RPG or First Person Shooter for the Palm OS from Astraware.

[DBZ-GOKU-]

A good RPG/shooter (a game in one) is Metal Gear Solid, for Gameboy color. If you have played that, it is an adventure/shooitng game that is really fun, and I would suggest a game kind of like that. :)

[rx_shorty]

Just like on the gameboy advance or something.
That would be very very very nice!!!