I've often wondered exactly what it was we paid for when MPS released Conflicts in Civilization, Fantastic Worlds, and the Multiplayer edition.Either
1. The scenarios were commerical releases, and therefore under copyright, or
2. MPS bluffed that the new .exe constituted a new game and with the scenarios could therefore be sold as such.
We know that the plan has always been to include a MP feature as evidenced by menu pop-ups in the original game.txt file, and there was sufficient code in place to allow an enterprising programmer to release his own MP patch for 2 players. This undermines any case which could be made arguing that Conflicts in Civilization was a new game to sold under commerical law.
If only the scenarios were sold and the new version a patch, would this imply that any version newer than 2.42 should be public domain? Has anyone ever asked before? And what the hell was the cynicism behind the decision about retro-compatibility for? Not exactly a good way of maintaining a loyal consumer base. [insert offensive adjactive of your choice here]
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