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Posted: Sep 03 2006 07:52 pm

I have a question regarding what constitutes a game developer...

Take for instance this scenario: (Bally) Midway created an arcade game in 1983 called Spy Hunter. They designed the game and they hold the copyright on it.

In 1987, Sunsoft released a port of the game for the NES. Even though they didn't create the concept, are they still considered the developer of the NES version since they built the port from the ground up, or are they just the publisher?

Posted: Sep 03 2006 07:59 pm

Normally, if the game is developed from the ground up, than the company or person who did it is the developer of that version. If the code was just changed to accomodate different systems (done a lot of the time for games that are on both the PS2 and Xbox), than the company recoding it is just the publisher.

Posted: Sep 06 2006 09:05 pm

How about this one: Shadowgate.

ICOM Simulations did the original game for the Mac in black & white.

Kemco did the NES version and they redid all the graphics and some of the game text, but they were following a predetermind storyline.

In this case, what would the situation be?

Would it be considered to be developed by Kemco under license from ICOM?
The game was published Kemco▲Seika.

Posted: Sep 07 2006 02:11 pm

If the code was changed more than 50%, then Kemco gets developer credit for the NES version. At least, that's what I go by.

Posted: Sep 07 2006 02:18 pm

That would have been my call too... just wanted to make sure.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

For what it's worth -- perhaps nothing -- MobyGames.com gives ICOM the developer credit for all versions, including NES. Kemco/Seika gets publisher credit.

Posted: Sep 07 2006 02:34 pm

Yeah, I've seen that. Moby Games isn't a reliable source for that info though.

According to them, the Three Stooges NES game was published by Activision and developed by Cinemaware. That is incorrect.

As per the game's opening credits, it was developed by Beam Software and published by Activision, under license Cinemaware.

MobyGames also lists Namco as publishers of the NES Pac-Man game. Unless there were two versions (as with Tetris), this is blatantly incorrect. Tengen published NES Pac-Man and I have the cart to prove it.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Zoiks. So much for that.

Out of curiosity, are you specifically looking for info regarding Shadowgate, or just in general?

Posted: Sep 07 2006 03:25 pm

A bunch of games, one of which may or may not be Shadowgate. I'm trying to compile the data myself, going primarily by instruction manuals, packaging, and game start-up screens and some additional background info. I want it to be as accurate as possible, but people are gonna jump on me no matter what because some of it conflicts with GameFAQs/MobyGames/everywhere else.

Posted: Sep 07 2006 03:37 pm

I thought the "developer" was strictly considered whoever coded the game...the publisher is just who slapped their name on it and sold it, like EA games. Publishers can have in-house developers, but there are also third party developers who work for bigger publishers, or are self published. If that team re-coded the game they were porting, or did coding work on it, I guess they could say they were the developer in a way.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Syd Lexia wrote:

A bunch of games, one of which may or may not be Shadowgate. I'm trying to compile the data myself, going primarily by instruction manuals, packaging, and game start-up screens and some additional background info. I want it to be as accurate as possible, but people are gonna jump on me no matter what because some of it conflicts with GameFAQs/MobyGames/everywhere else.

I'd go straight to the source. Let's say for the moment that Shadowgate is one of those games. Call up Kemco (their number is here) and see if there's anyone there who can give you the straight dope about development of that game, and maybe even development creds in general. I'd try their public relations dept.

Posted: Sep 07 2006 04:51 pm

Syd, disregard all of that crap I said if the actual game or the game company tells you different. I was just saying what happens generally.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

How'd you end up getting the straight dope on game development for the article? And, assuming your dope is indeed straight, what DOES constitute a game developer?

Joined: Jun 15 2006 Posts: 143

Syd Lexia wrote:

I have a question regarding what constitutes a game developer...

Take for instance this scenario: (Bally) Midway created an arcade game in 1983 called Spy Hunter. They designed the game and they hold the copyright on it.

In 1987, Sunsoft released a port of the game for the NES. Even though they didn't create the concept, are they still considered the developer of the NES version since they built the port from the ground up, or are they just the publisher?

I think so. Super Spy Hunter is DEFINITELY their work, though.

Posted: Oct 08 2006 06:45 pm

DarkMaze, are you talking to me? If you are, I'm just using common sense, and some info that a lawyer gave me when me and my friend were thinking about making and publishing some games.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Hey, Char. Sorry, I meant to direct that question at Syd. 'Cause of the 100 Top NES Games article.

Posted: Oct 08 2006 08:16 pm

Ah, maybe I shouldn't have overlooked the FOR THE ARTICLE part of your post. I'm retarded. Embarrassed

Posted: Oct 08 2006 09:04 pm

DarkMaze wrote:

How'd you end up getting the straight dope on game development for the article? And, assuming your dope is indeed straight, what DOES constitute a game developer?

I went with primary source material available to me... mainly, the game manuals and game start-up screens. I had to make judgement calls myself, to an extent, so some of them may not be 100% correct.

Like take the ICOM ports. Kemco-Seika definitely published Shadowgate and ICOM definitely did the original Mac version. Kemco generally seems to be credited with doing the porting and making certain text edits and puzzle edits to fit the limitations of the NES as well as NOA guidelines, so I gave them the developer credit. My info may not be 100% correct on some games, but I put a lot of time and effort into researching it, so it should be pretty accurate.