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I have been a “lurker” of sorts on this board for quite some time. Like many of you, I grew up playing these games. If it wasn’t for Sierra, I probably wouldn’t be an artist today.
One of my most exciting collectibles is the Sierra Online video catalogue from 1989. The first time I saw this video was when my family and I toured the Oakhurst facilities. Later, my friend Sue Kurtley sent me a copy direct from Sierra. It is truly a wonderful item. I have a few copies and I recently put one up on Ebay. I am also including one of my favourite issues of Interaction with the lot. You can check it out on Ebay.
Sierra was just an amazing story. It almost seems like a dream now doesn’t it? with the many cookie-cutter games released today.
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) After the Interaction project, one of Brad’s next projects will be that DVD project that’s been discussed before. I know Brad has a number of videos, so it’s possible he has this one.
I will be making a bid on the video, and will be happy to digitize it and spread the joy as soon as I get it – so though I can’t in all fairness ask you not to bid against me – well, you get the idea.
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) Brandon/Gang,
Yes the video Eric has listed is one that I own. I think his cover / label might be slightly different, but the content is believed to be the same. I had transfered the video from VHS last year, and was going to upload it to Ken’s site, but he did not want to host such a large file due to bandwidth limitations. I should just go ahead and upload it to my personal site, and provide a link. Let me dig that video file back out and fiddle with the compression again.
Brandon feel free to bid on it and secure another copy for us, don’t worry I won’t bid against you – you go for it. But in answer to your Video Archive question, you are right – once the Interaction project is finished (here in a few months) the videos will be the next to tackle on my list.
-Brad
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) Sorry you didn’t win it bud. I thought for sure it was you with the high bid. =(
No worries though, I will be uploading soon – I just talked to Frans at SpaceQuest.net, and he is wanting a copy on his site too, so I’ve got “pressure” from several directions.. watch for it to be posted soon =)
-Brad
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue)
I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, but if you guys are going to distribute material that may still be copyrighted by Sierra (now VU), it might not be a good idea to do it on Ken’s boards. Like the rest of the classic Sierra big-wigs, he doesn’t seem to have the best working relationship with VU and the last thing he needs is their legal department hassling him.
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) J.
I appreciate your concerns about the legal standpoint. True Ken does not hold the copyrights to these items anymore, however he has openly expressed this fact and has stated that if a legal issue does surface because of materials such as these, that he would remove them.
This video however I do not believe will cause any issues – the video itself was originally made from an advertising perspective. The video was available back in the early 90’s for the cost of the tape and shipping… there is nothing to be gained from this video other than planting the “bug” to go out and buy Sierra software. I don’t think anyone is going to complain about free advertising.
Anyway, we are all entitled to our opinions, but I seriously doubt this will affect Ken and his VU negotiations.
-Brad
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) You’re right, there probably won’t be any problems. A point to remember, though, is that when a corporation (or someone representing a corporation) wants to stick it to you, they usually will. You know what I mean if you’ve ever been on the bad side of a supervisor. Suddenly every detail of your job performance is analyzed, every minute you’re late to work is recorded, and so on. That way once they finally boot you out the door, they’ll have a paper trail to back up their actions. Corporate lawyers can use the law in the same way.
TECHNICALLY it may still violate Sierra’s copyright to distribute that video over the internet, since the video itself, while intended for advertising purposes, is protected against duplication and distribution in another medium by a third party (such as a MPEG file posted on a website). For instance, if you wanted to post a Tiger Woods American Express ad on your website, in MPEG format, AMEX could sucessfully sue you for copyright infringement since they did not authorize you to duplicate and distribute their advertisement.
No corporation in their right mind would prosecute someone for something that trivial, though, UNLESS they were in another dispute over another copyright, patent, or contract. Then they could get bent out of shape if they saw a legal advantage in doing so.
Again, most likely it won’t happen. But for the sake of the Williams and any legal dispute or negotiations they may be involved in, there is no sense in muddying the waters, especially when Ken has provided this site out of the kindess of his heart and the depths of his wallet.
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) J,
I believe everything you said is vaild, and cannot argue with your points. You are right, anyone can make a case out of anything, or at least use it as ammo for something else.
The file itself will be hosted on either my site, or SpaceQuest.net (or both), that is in no way connected to Ken Williams. Ken has already mentioned that he does not have the bandwidth to host this file anyway – Ken if you forsee any problems with us hosting this file outside of this website please let us know, otherwise I will proceed forward as originally planned.
-Brad
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) Brad:
Let’s go ahead and host the video on this site. They (my hosting service, MaximumASP) recently raised my monthly bandwidth allotment, so I’m in good shape. I’ll watch to see how much of a spike in bandwidth it causes — if it’s off the top of the charts, I’ll have to rethink this decision.
-Ken W
PS I read the comments about the worry that this is Sierra copyrighted material. This is a real issue. However, I have mentioned several times to Sierra’s senior management that this site exists, and described its contents. To my knowledge, they have never come here, even though I’ve encouraged them to do so. The odds that they’ll come here, see their own advertising on public display, and then sue me, and negligible. That said, if they ever do actually write me a nasty letter – I’ll pull the files off quickly (but will be shocked if this ever occurs).
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(re: Sierra Online 1989-90 Video Catalogue) Perhaps if the “senior management” folks do realize advertising material for out-of-print products is being distributed to interested parties, it might occur to them that re-releasing the classic games is financially viable.
One last link relating to the copyright discussion, then I’ll shut up about it:
This doesn’t directly relate to what we were discussing here, but it is a striking example of how a corporation can screw with the livelihood of someone formerly employed by the corp. over intellectual property rights
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