Retronauts Episode 728: Video Game Lawsuits - Cloned Games
The whole PODCAST is out of order
Video games. We love 'em, but sometimes they're just asking for trouble. Whenever one title hits it big, other companies see dollar signs and decide they want a piece for themselves. Hence less-than-original works like Super Invader or Munch Man appear and lure unsuspecting players to slip quarters in their coinbox.
In this week's episode, we examine a few notable court cases where one video game company looked at another's and demanded compensation. Some of these battles helped to shape the industry as we know it; others are just amusing in hindsight. Host Kevin Bunch and returning voice Diamond Feit welcome veteran writer/podcaster Mollie Patterson and actual attorney Meredith Rose to put things into perspective.
Two crucial links that will add to your listening experience: Mollie's upload of the Data East rebuttal video in response to Capcom's assertion that they ripped off Street Fighter II and Drew Mackie's blogpost about Akira Nishitani's assertions that every character in Street Fighter II is wholly original and not based on "any other videogame or any other source such as comic books" (lol).
Description: The clones attack, as Kevin Bunch, Diamond Feit, Meredith Rose, and Mollie Patterson discuss the history of court cases around cloning video games like Pac-Man and Street Fighter II.
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MP3, 123 MB | 2:13:39 Direct download Retronauts on iTunes Retronauts at Audioboom
Artwork for this episode by Nick Wanserski and editing thanks go to Greg Leahy.
