a request for Mr Pavlina:

[starlord]

Hello to all here, thank you for the chance I get to join the boards... It so happens I have a special request to present to Mr Pavlina:

I am starlord and I work during some of my time off from medical studies with the Software Preservation Society, and it so happens that we are quite interested by the games Mr pavlina once made when dexterity software was still online...

I would especially be interested by "less" successful games like "jumpstar", "strayfire" and the like (I may be forgetting a few)... As such, I was hoping that perhaps Mr Pavlina could see it fitting to release those titles (should they be preserved in archives) for them not to be forgotten?

I'm looking forward for your imput on the matter...

best regards.

mikael.

[starlord]

Hmm, are those games that old that they are forgotten already?

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by starlord

Hmm, are those games that old that they are forgotten already?

I think I recall Steve mentioning a long time ago that he is no longer interested in the resurrection/continuation of the games he made, or something to that effect.

[starlord]

thank you for that first reply!

A pity, as they are regarded as gems by the community I am member of! those are part of the videogame patrimony, as any other is...

therefore, I would find it appropriate to preserve them...

Might it perhaps be possible to talk with him about this? With a bit of luck I might convince him...

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by starlord

Might it perhaps be possible to talk with him about this? With a bit of luck I might convince him...

From what he has said of it before, I doubt you'd be the first to try.

[Savage]

Don't bother.

[danas]

Originally Posted by Savage

Don't bother.

Wow I admire your ability to say no to something like that.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Savage

Don't bother.

I am going to take a guess and ask if it is because you feel that video games don't actually add real value to people's lives? That is my first assumption: that you have moved on and evolved to giving people what they "need" instead of what they "want" necessarily. That, or simply that you would prefer working with people whose life goals extend beyond creating a nice video game.

I am just trying to get inside your head and understand your stages of evolution as a businessman and value creator.

I don't know if my guess is the case for you, but I am already seeing it in myself. When I first started my acupuncture site, I barely had a clue what I was doing, and consequently I didn't create much "value" in it at all. In fact about 90% of the site is "worthless" (at least in my eyes now) and about 10% of it has real value that actually helps people. I am now working on a new website that is actually a big step up, and it is something that will actually be of service to its users (I hope!).

I assume a similar type of evolution has occurred for you, and this is why you are no longer interested in your past work.

Is my guess at all correct? Or is there another specific reason? Or no reason at all?

[mikethedrummer44]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

I am going to take a guess and ask if it is because you feel that video games don't actually add real value to people's lives? That is my first assumption: that you have moved on and evolved to giving people what they "need" instead of what they "want" necessarily. That, or simply that you would prefer working with people whose life goals extend beyond creating a nice video game.

I am just trying to get inside your head and understand your stages of evolution as a businessman and value creator.

I don't know if my guess is the case for you, but I am already seeing it in myself. When I first started my acupuncture site, I barely had a clue what I was doing, and consequently I didn't create much "value" in it at all. In fact about 90% of the site is "worthless" (at least in my eyes now) and about 10% of it has real value that actually helps people. I am now working on a new website that is actually a big step up, and it is something that will actually be of service to its users (I hope!).

I assume a similar type of evolution has occurred for you, and this is why you are no longer interested in your past work.

Is my guess at all correct? Or is there another specific reason? Or no reason at all?

The mere fact that the OP decided to come to Steve's message board and try and convince him to bring the games back should be proof that video games provide value.

[silvino]

he said so many times and in so many ways: NO!
you could easily found that, before coming to the forum ..but i give you credit for the try anyway

[Cado]

Originally Posted by mikethedrummer44

The mere fact that the OP decided to come to Steve's message board and try and convince him to bring the games back should be proof that video games provide value.

Not to mention Steve has mentioned playing Halo and MMOs in his articles. Just because he doesn't choose to create games it doesn't mean he thinks they have no value.

Really, that's something every person has to make the call on themselves, but from where I'm standing it doesn't look like you can devote 100% of your time to improvement and video games can be an edifying way to kill time. They can even teach you something depending on the kind of game. Puzzle games keep the mind sharp, some games can involve you the same way a movie would, some can bolster your leadership skills if there's a strong multiplayer component. To say "games have no value" is utter nonsense.

[Mounds]

I'll throw in my own little idea.

It's been say, five years since the game business closed it's doors. If someone were to ask me to drudge up a bunch of stuff that I worked on five years ago, I'd probably give a resounding "No" as well.
Christ, I can't even remember what my interests were five years ago, lol.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I remember when you still had your games online, Steve. I downloaded a trial version of Dweep Gold. Interesting game, very thoughtful, very tricky to play, a worthy challenge. I think games can be used for personal development, but only if you use the skills you developed from the game in the real world.

But Steve is past all of that and has been for some time. I highly doubt Steve plays any games, and is completely done with his games as far as selling them. I am not really a gamer either, but if I had a copy, I would loan it to the first poster.

[Mounds]

By the by, I'm very pro-gamer. I'm not terribly concerned if that does or does not fit a personal development lifestyle. Just because your into PD doesn't mean you have to breathe it.

[invisiblehouses]

Hey...yeah, you...over here...you know anybody's got a copy that's...you know...a little bit on the...like...you know, like..."Hargh, me mateys! Avast!"...knowhattuhmean? Nudge, nudge?

Actually, as much as I'd like to be able to one day get my hands on a (paid-for, mind you) copy of Dweep (the first five levels are great), I just spent several weeks eliminating a lot of distractions from my life, and an absolutely addicting many-leveled puzzle game is probably not what I need right now.

This is the same reason I haven't bought Interstate '76 from Good Old Games. The total time I spent on that game from 1997-1999 could probably be measured in weeks. I know me too well.

[Bizarre Jester]

Originally Posted by danas

Wow I admire your ability to say no to something like that.

How could he not say no to something like that? That guy clearly had no respect for Steve's time and was trying to get something out of this forum other then personal growth. He tried to cover it up by addressing him as "Mr. Pavlina".

[Savage]

It's hard for me to summon much enthusiasm for re-vitalizing stuff I did 10-15 years ago.

The request mentions a game I didn't even write (StrayFire) and in which I don't own any rights, so this comes off as random fishing that has nothing to do with me.

In other words, you lost me at "hello."

[starlord]

Forgive me, but the guy in question (me) has made no attempt at fishing anyone... This was a genuine question to preserve something which is viewed by many as programs with some historical importance... that is all and it was not meant in any ill way!

I have addressed many former companies this way, and I can assure you that many have actually contributed to the effort! You certainly have your reasons to say no and that is most intimate right, therefore I respect that! However, I would certainly not qualify my attempts as being hostile! As for the Mr Pavlina, I didn't realise that being polite might sound shocking! as for strayfire, there's been a mishap somewhere it seems as this one is from gradient... Not that much of a problem!

I have already preserved many games for the PC (generally from the DOS era) and made contact wish several former companies leaders such as "silver lightning software", "elpin systems", "raylogic", "maxdesign", "inspire arts interactive" and the french company "loriciel" (among others) as well as unreleased prototypes for the amiga and PS1 and all have been met with resounding success! I know that the dosbox emulator has alone been satisfied with the host of new uncovered programs as the emulator is being constantly tested with these in order to provide compatibility info!

Once again, this request's goal is not to harm anyone! I simply want to know if it is possible to think of preserving those programs... It seems you have made it clear that the contrary was true... that's fine!

Also, the guy's name is starlord. Let's please not forget that.

best regards.

[James81]

Originally Posted by starlord

Also, the guy's name is starlord.

Was that from your mother or your father? (Just curious to know who would name their kid "starlord".)

[starlord]

Actually, this nickname has been given to me by my childhood friends when I was in junior school in France back in the day... due to my passion for astrophysics and astronmy and a lengthy exposé I once did... It's more of a funny token than anything!

Should you wish to contact me by my real name, you can call me mikael.

Actually, I'm quite far from the astrophysics department today (even if still there on a personnal level) as I'm currently studying medecine.

[voyager529]

Steve,

I signed up to the forums here specifically to underscore the request from the original poster. The classic Dexterity games (I was a fan of Brainwave myself) are a memorable part of my childhood, from back when my friends and I were too young to have credit cards, and our parents too scared to use their credit cards online. While your sentiment infers that your memories of the era are less fond than mine (and that of the original poster), I'd like to respectfully request that the petition be reconsidered. If you'd not like to sell them yourself, the people over at Good Old Games could likely do them justice. If you're not looking to sell them, then put the zip file up for download on Rapidshare. Heck, I'll host it myself if that's what it comes down to. While the view expressed here makes it appear that the aversion is more than mere logistics, I'd be eternally grateful for your reconsideration.

Thanks for reading.

Joey

[starlord]

It seems I'm not alone in considering the worthiness of preserving those old works of art! Interesting...

I harbor fond thoughts of jumpstar myself.

[Weena]

Originally Posted by James81

Was that from your mother or your father? (Just curious to know who would name their kid "starlord".)

Is that a "Meet the parents" reference?

[starlord]

I'm sorry, but what would you be referring to by a "meet the parents" reference?

I assure you that this is nothing more than a nickname that stood well against the ages...

[HiImJeremy]

i had a gut feeling that voyager529 is the same person as starlord. What a coincidence (not) that similar requests are being made. Voyager529 only has one post too! hahaha created for the purpose of showing popularity? maybe someone who agrees with Starlords point of view. Hmm lol.

[voyager529]

Originally Posted by HiImJeremy

i had a gut feeling that voyager529 is the same person as starlord. What a coincidence (not) that similar requests are being made. Voyager529 only has one post too! hahaha created for the purpose of showing popularity? maybe someone who agrees with Starlords point of view. Hmm lol.

Your gut feeling is mistaken. I am not Mikael, nor have I ever met him. I simply saw his post during my quest to find the old Dexterity games. While I concur that there is a coincidence between our timing, I can most assuredly tell you that we are different people.

Joey

[Weena]

Originally Posted by starlord

I'm sorry, but what would you be referring to by a "meet the parents" reference?

I assure you that this is nothing more than a nickname that stood well against the ages...

Oh, no offence to you, just that when James said this I remembered that quote in the movie "who would call their son Gaylord?". That's all that was .

[James81]

Originally Posted by voyager529

Your gut feeling is mistaken. I am not Mikael, nor have I ever met him. I simply saw his post during my quest to find the old Dexterity games. While I concur that there is a coincidence between our timing, I can most assuredly tell you that we are different people.

Joey

You are not who you seem.

You gave yourself away by referring to him as "Mikael." Now, I know that he mentioned his name was Mikael, but only someone familiar with him would refer to him by anything other than his screenname.

Thus, if you are not him, you and him have a connection that goes beyond these forums in some way.

<----Not just a hat rack my friends.

[James81]

BTW, welcome to the forums Joey.

[spacecadetglow]

I have no opinion on this issue, I'd just like to say that the name starlord is AWESOME. End.