Frederick Raynal finally win his case versus Atari

[gravel22]

Hey everyone, this is some great news.

After 11 years Frederick Raynal win his case versus Atari.

Atari never gave him royalty fee for his copyrights being the inventor of Alone in the Dark, in game 3D and survival horror game.

I don't know if it tells you the same thing as me but Atari certainly made lots of money on Fred's back so that means they'll have to pay. If that represent lots of money, I hope that this money will serve as an LBA3 budget

French article :

http://www.afjv.com/news/6747_f-rayn...n-the-dark.htm

[Styx]

Wow good news! Let's hope fred doesn't have too may debts to pay :P

[MevX]

MAD KASH

[gravel22]

I just wrote to Didier Chanfrey and asked him what he thinks about it.

Can't wait to have his answer!

[Darkflame]

Wow.
How as I not even aware of this?
Congratulations I guess for Frederick , and I hope if the rest of the team are owed anything they get it too ?
Certainly Atari seems rather petty here. Then again post-AitD1 its not like they made very smart choices on how to capitalize on both its success and technical revolution.

Its not just money remember, any court case probably causes a lot of stress so I bet hes glade its over.

[Darkflame]

From what I can gather from google translate, is its declared that rights are now split up people the various contributions, rather then "defaulting" all to the publisher.
Specifically Raynal seems to have retained rights over his significant contributions to the development of the 3d technology, as well as some of the gameplay elements.

If someone here actually good at french can summerise the details of the ruling, it can be submitted as news to the main page.

[xesf]

It's good to see justice. Fred should be more recognised on his work on AITD.
I am not sure this will have any impacts on a possible LBA3, but happy for his achievement. I can see a lot of headache during these 11 years.

[gravel22]

So got an answer from Didier!

I asked him if that money (if there is) could be a way to fund LBA 3.

He answered that for that we would need to know how much money it represent.

So the good news is that he haven't said no.

What I think (or dream) is that 1 + 1 = 2. When Fred said in the interview he wanted a big game and wanted to do it within 1 or 2 years, he probably had that in mind?

Maybe, maybe not.

Hope.

[xesf]

Do something big after all these years is difficult, specially for 2 years only. So I guess a small game and then a bigger sequel after that depending on the popularity.

[gravel22]

Originally Posted by xesf

Do something big after all these years is difficult, specially for 2 years only. So I guess a small game and then a bigger sequel after that depending on the popularity.

I think he mean starting developing a big game within 1 or 2 years.

Sorry for the confusion

[Darkflame]

2Dark is still going to be the focus for the moment me thinks.

But still, this is positive for reasons other then money too; It means they get recognized a bit more for their contributions to 3d gaming. That might open doors a bit. (ok, not at Atari....).
Also this ruling would seem to effect potentially a lot of other developers too? Seems like it could be quite far reaching.

[gravel22]

Originally Posted by Darkflame

2Dark is still going to be the focus for the moment me thinks.

It will but once it's out he'll have to start working on something new. When GTA5 released they started right away the development of GTA6.

But still, this is positive for reasons other then money too; It means they get recognized a bit more for their contributions to 3d gaming. That might open doors a bit. (ok, not at Atari....).
Also this ruling would seem to effect potentially a lot of other developers too? Seems like it could be quite far reaching.

It's really positive but I feel like they won't be talking about it so much. See it's been a week already and no post on IGN, etc. Only one website talks about it and it's far from being related to gaming.

[Darkflame]

Well, language is a issue. The review site I occasionally write for (cubed3.com) is "processing" the news, which means someone is flagged to write it, but they need to be sure of accuracy in translation - and going via google translate isn't really a reliable way for a site to report news.
I would guess a few other sites maybe are waiting for contributors that know french to write it :P

That said, no harm in submitting news to websites ourselves that have a "send tip" option.

[Polaris]

If anyone is confused about the name, Infogrammes bought Atari some years after AitD.

[Darkflame]

Indeed.
Well, they bought the name anyway. I dont think much else was left.

[Neko]

lba needs to be the next game made, otherwise it will really be a bit too late.

[Kasia]

Originally Posted by Jesse

otherwise it will really be a bit too late.

Why?

[Neko]

because the longer you wait the more you lose momentum.

some of the remake vids around 2012 on youtube had thousands of views, nowadays a lot less. I think they need to do this before they are of retirement age

[gravel22]

Originally Posted by Jesse

because the longer you wait the more you lose momentum.

some of the remake vids around 2012 on youtube had thousands of views, nowadays a lot less. I think they need to do this before they are of retirement age

Yes really

[Kasia]

Originally Posted by Darkflame

The review site I occasionally write for (cubed3.com) is "processing" the news, which means someone is flagged to write it

So, here it is!

[Darkflame]

Yes, pretty detailed.
I'll try to stick the news on MBN tomorrow.
Guess we should also keep our eye out for follow up story's too.

[gravel22]

Originally Posted by Kasia

So, here it is!

Thanks man! I've speak with Didier again, but we're not only talking about LBA 3 you know haha. He's a great guy, one day I should go and visit them!

[Kasia]

Originally Posted by gravel22

Thanks man!

Uhm, I don't feel comfortable being called a man.

Originally Posted by gravel22

He's a great guy, one day I should go and visit them!

Sure he is! If LBA devs were not great people, they wouldn't have created such a great game!

[gravel22]

Originally Posted by Kasia

Uhm, I don't feel comfortable being called a man.

Sorry didn't knew you're a woman.

Sure he is! If LBA devs were not great people, they wouldn't have created such a great game!

Haha true!