🚀 go-pugleaf

I didn't have the Descent Liscense agreement in front of me when I wrote
my first post, but now I do (all 5 lines of it), so I've got a few more
comments:

- Nowhere in the liscense is any mention made of restrictions on Network
play. In fact, Network/modem play is not mentioned at all.

- Nowhere in the liscense is it mentioned that modifying the software is
prohibited (which an IPX intercepter doesn't do anyway).  This may be
included in computer software copywrite law, which is mentioned.

- The intent of the liscense is clearly to prevent software pirating,
not to restrict modem/network play.

- No provisions are included prohibiting charging to play Descent.

Some other comments:

Descent includes modem/network play as part of the game.  Since there
are no restrictions in the liscense as to what type of network it can be
played on, this infers it can be played on ANY network.  Perhaps this
isn't what interplay intended, but it's not stated anywhere in the
liscense.

Descent will not function on a network without loading a network driver.
This implys that using a network driver is not prohibited.  No
restrictions are made regarding which network driver is used.

It does mention in the manual that Descent is designed to run on an IPX
Lan with an IPX driver.  No mention of this is made in the Liscense
agreement, however.

What I think is going on here is that when they saw how popular
modem/network play is, the $$$ signs lit up in someone at Interplay's
eyes and they figured they cash in on it with an on-line service.  The
problem is, they'd already let the horse out of the barn by including
network play in the game, and there are no less than 3 (possibly 4 or
5) companies that are going to beat them to it. Now they're grasping at
legal straws trying to keep the whole cake for themselves.

Personally, I have no problem with Interplay setting up an on-line
service for Descent and their other games.  In fact, I think it's a
great idea, and I'd most likely have joined (regardless if other servers
are supported) since that is most likely where all the Descent
heavyweights would hang out.  What I do have a problem with is these
greedy, legal strong-arm tactics.

Everybody benefits from the existance of game servers such as the GC and
APCi.  Interplay themselves stand to be the biggest winners because of
the added sales it would generate.  In fact, they could have made a NICE
profit by doing the support themselves and selling it as an add-on.

Anyway, enough of my rambeling.  These opinions are mine alone, and do
not reflect those of any sane person that I know of ;-).

Cobra

 * SLMR 2.1a * Genie: D.BARIL1, Internet: akc...@cris.com