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patrickl:
I wonder if this isn't gonna take a turn for the worse somewhere in the (near) future. Like the way Namco artwork can only be purchased from TwoBits. They can (and do) charge a fortune and lack the drive to produce good products. All because they have no real competition.

Anyway, I paid for my licenses in full when I was a kid ...  :P
bigmoe:

--- Quote from: patrickl on May 12, 2004, 03:30:12 pm ---I wonder if this isn't gonna take a turn for the worse somewhere in the (near) future. Like the way Namco artwork can only be purchased from TwoBits. They can (and do) charge a fortune and lack the drive to produce good products. All because they have no real competition.

--- End quote ---

Good point.

To me, Starroms is a little problematic pricewise as well.

$4-$6 per ROM may be reasonable by some estimations, especially for a game I love.  And Starroms needs to make enough to keep afloat.  I admire and respect what they're doing: lighting a candle and making a compromise.

However, prepackaged, I can buy 20+ mostly-decent Midway games for my PS2 for $20 (less if I go used).  Similarly, if I buy some of the Atari titles Starroms carries repackaged for the PC, the games come out a lot less than Starroms is charging.

I know, the repackages are not the original roms, but they actually cost more to produce and distribute since additional software must be written (if they're not complete rewrites anyhow), packaging made, advertising paid for.  The ROMS are basically already out there...Starroms is just selling rights (that aren't even on a piece of paper, just the Internet).

So I would really like to see the prices come down, or for them to offer some bulk pricing, or something.

b
DaveMMR:

--- Quote from: bigmoe on May 12, 2004, 04:33:04 pm ---
--- Quote from: patrickl on May 12, 2004, 03:30:12 pm ---I wonder if this isn't gonna take a turn for the worse somewhere in the (near) future. Like the way Namco artwork can only be purchased from TwoBits. They can (and do) charge a fortune and lack the drive to produce good products. All because they have no real competition.

--- End quote ---

Good point.

To me, Starroms is a little problematic pricewise as well.

$4-$6 per ROM may be reasonable by some estimations, especially for a game I love.  And Starroms needs to make enough to keep afloat.  I admire and respect what they're doing: lighting a candle and making a compromise.

However, prepackaged, I can buy 20+ mostly-decent Midway games for my PS2 for $20 (less if I go used).  Similarly, if I buy some of the Atari titles Starroms carries repackaged for the PC, the games come out a lot less than Starroms is charging.

I know, the repackages are not the original roms, but they actually cost more to produce and distribute since additional software must be written (if they're not complete rewrites anyhow), packaging made, advertising paid for.  The ROMS are basically already out there...Starroms is just selling rights (that aren't even on a piece of paper, just the Internet).

So I would really like to see the prices come down, or for them to offer some bulk pricing, or something.

b

--- End quote ---

I completely agree with you.  Noble effort but the pricing needs to be more realistic.
Zakk:
What do you get that proves useage rights with starroms?  I figure even if you just get a verification via the net you could print that out and have proof of ownership "on paper".  No?  I should take a poke around their website out of curiosity.
bigmoe:

--- Quote from: Zakk on May 12, 2004, 05:41:23 pm ---What do you get that proves useage rights with starroms?  I figure even if you just get a verification via the net you could print that out and have proof of ownership "on paper".  No?  I should take a poke around their website out of curiosity.

--- End quote ---

For all my posturing, I have yet to take the plunge  ::).

I assume one gets an email or somethiing, which as you say, can be printed out.  They must keep a list somewhere, too, because the site says that if your ROMS become inoperable in a new version of MAME, you can email them and get new ones.
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