Moderator's abuse of power!!!

[Rich]

Nick, that was very uncool of you to shut down that thread. What we were talking was very AGI related. With discretion like that, you're almost asking for a rival AGI Board, one that actually allows freedom. No one likes a ballbuster, okay, especially one who is not a woman. Now, as for the issue of piracy, we're here to learn about AGI and keep it alive. That won't happen with no one being able to get the games. Piracy happens for the most part because people want a product and the producer won't release it to us. That is exactly what has happened here. So, it's more like sharing. But, even if you don't agree with me, you should keep still live and let live. Because, like I said, no one likes a ballbuster.

Besides, your cohort Chris Cromer is freely talking about giving out the games on his site.

Rich

Btw, please don't erase or even shut down this thread. I will just retype it the next time I'm on. If you erase that, I'll just type it again. If that happens more than ten times, some drastic measures might occur... (who knows, maybe you'll be added to my game which will reach over 100,000 people).

[Chris Cromer]

Besides, your cohort Chris Cromer is freely talking about giving out the games on his site.

I am just discussing it, I am not sure as to whether I will allow it or not. What I mean by allow is that I will NOT be the one to upload them. If somebody else does upload them I will have to decide whether or not to allow it to stay, that is what I need to figure out, whether to allow it or not. I am both for and against abandonware. I am for it in the sense that you can get games and progams that are no longer available in stores or on ebay. But I am against the fact that people can download games that are still for sale in stores and on places like ebay. Just realise that just because I am discussing it doesn't mean I am going to allow it, I have to decide what I am going to do, and that is why I asked for everyone's opinion on the matter.

Also I don't think it was an abuse of power, it is just that abandonware is illegal, so that does justify the locking of that topic, since this isn't an abandonware board/site.

I may have the powers of a moderator but I do not abuse these powers.

P.S. Don't call me a cohort, I had nothing to do with that topic being locked.

[Rich]

Sorry, Chris, I didn't mean Cohort in the sense of this topic. I meant you two are moderators of this board and thus Cohorts. I didn't mean cohort in a bad connotation.
Now, I too am against putting up games that are still available, but these games really aren't. I don't count e-bay that isn't doing Sierra any good. In fact, some might even call that a crime if you want to look at it. It's almost worse than abandonware because these fools on e-bay are making actual money off of Sierra's games. Now, I've bought every Sierra game I ever owned, some of them more than once. You could say I paid for SQ3 three times even. So, I feel no guilt in downloading them anyhow.
Anyhow, I was just angered that Nick has the power to block a thread based on his opinions.

[Chris Cromer]

Sorry, Chris, I didn't mean Cohort in the sense of this topic. I meant you two are moderators of this board and thus Cohorts. I didn't mean cohort in a bad connotation.

Sorry about misunderstanding that.

Anyhow, I was just angered that Nick has the power to block a thread based on his opinions.

Well it isn't just his opinion, it is his job as a moderator, as it is my job as well to lock topics that are inapropriate, get out of hand, or flame others.

[Nick Sonneveld]

bah, I locked it, I didn't delete it like usual the usual piracy threads.

the fact is that the games are under sierra's copyright and they have the right to it.  abandonware is only really legal if the company owning that copyright releases it into the public domain.

The only agi games that sierra has released into the public domain are the amiga games as far as I know.  If you want to access the other versions for free, then petition Sierra.

if you wish to start your own board.. go ahead.. i won't be visiting. I wish you would grow up though.. I just trying to keep the peace.. The board is about discussing AGI and new AGI games.. not ways of distributing pirated software.

and what the hell?  you don't like what I'm doing so you try and keep me in line by "threatening" to put me in your game?

- Nick

[Rich]

I'm not gonna start my own board, Nick. I was kidding about that. But, what does stopping pirating have to do with keeping the peace. Get it together, man.

Anyway, if they released the Amiga games, they won't mind if I give a copy to Joey or Mastercard or whoever. I know none of the original writers probably care. I bet they'd be happy to see their games still being passed around and enjoyed. They got paid for it. Maybe some corporation cares, but it is just that, a mindless corporation, made of NONE of those original people. They can go to hell... especially if they refuse to release these games, but yet still join IDSA. What do they have to gain but enemies? Why would you want to be a part of that evil?

By the way, it wasn't a threat. You should consider it an honor.

Oh, why can't I send you a message? You seem to be hidden. I'd actually rather have sent this to you in private.

[Shish]

See my idea about original agi games in
"Sierra Agi game archive" topic
I think this IS a good thing...

[Nick Sonneveld]

My email is plainly visible in my signature.

- Nick

[Nick Sonneveld]

before I forget..

I've got nothing against Chris.. his site is excellent along with his collaborative work on the game V.  While Chris was merely discussing the idea, you were posting methods of distributing the games.

- Nick

[df]

Anyway, if they released the Amiga games, they won't mind if I give a copy to Joey or Mastercard or whoever. I know none of the original writers probably care. I bet they'd be happy to see their games still being passed around and enjoyed.

well the goldrush guys STILL sell goldrush, right now. We've spoken to them.

and I have no problems with nicks moderating.

[Rich]

Nick, are you saying you have something against me then? I'm just trying to help people out here, alright? I didn't mean to start a war. I just want to help people.

Fine, if Gold Rush is still being sold, go buy it. I haven't seen it for sale anywhere since around '94. Where can we get this game from them? If you show the link or whatever, I won't give it to Joey or Mastercard or whoever else.

[Ultimate Lex]

I have always thought that if there is some game that you really(REALLY) can't get anywhere then it is "acceptable" to have an illegal copy of it. Of course this doesn't mean that I have a computer just to play pirate games^^;Actually all my Sierra games are my own, from collecions(PQ,RWA and SQ)

Goldrush sold?Really?I thought that LSLUPP was the last game that has anything to do with AGI and they don't sell it anymore...
If it sold anywhere then I should be able to get it. Where can I find a place to buy it?

[Joey]

Where the hell would you get a copy of Gold Rush or Manhunter? That is crazy. I hate the IDSA. I don't think Sierra intends to make money off agi games anymore anyway. Well, if this is the only way to get a copy of the game, I guess it will have to do. I doubt I will buy it anyway. I just wanted to check it out.

[Ultimate Lex]

Who are these "Gold Rush Guys" and how can I contact them?I would really like to buy the game..I suppose it is a PC-version and not Amiga...

[Joel]

Unfortunately, the IDSA is well-intentioned but mostly a nuisance. The two primary reasons why piracy is bad are these:

1. For the company, pirated games give you no money
2. For the consumer, products that don't get bought don't get made

The thing about abandonware titles like Manhunter, etc., is that neither of these two concerns applies. The company is not getting any money from the games anyway because they're not selling them (and usually have no intention of ever selling them again).  And the product is not getting made regardless, so #2 has no meaning.