Tinsel
| Tinsel | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine developer | ||
| Companies that used it | Psygnosis | |
| Games that use it | Discworld 1, Discworld 2 | |
| Date added to ScummVM | Error: Invalid time. | |
| First release containing it | None | |
We are currently investigating reimplementing the 'Tinsel' engine, as used by Discworld 1 and 2.
Ender is organizing this.
Status
The rights situation is not yet fully cleared up. All rights were returned to original authors due to disbandment of IP holder for the games (Psygnosis). Terry Pratchett and his agent Colin Smythe have approved the source release and future freeware re-issuing of the game, so did 3 of 4 core developers. Though, there is still one developer, Mark Roll, left whom we were not able to locate in order to obtain permissions.
Sources for both DW1 and DW2, and even DW Noir were located, but not yet obtained due to situation described above.
Update
Around October 2005 we learned that the source code has been successfully located and started waiting for it to be sorted and sent to us.
As of 26th May 2008, we are still awaiting delivery of the source code. Additional attempts to locate a second copy of the code have not been successful, and we are now waiting on final word on whether the code we have located will ever be released. If not, a more serious attempt at reverse engineering will be made, although the time this process takes cannot be estimated.
Music Enhancement
The ScummVM Music Enhancement Project has worked on Discworld's music. Permission has been given to release this soundtrack. As of 27 Dec 2007 the full soundtrack is available for download.
Summary
In short, we have all the approval needed to move forward with supporting the game and making Discworld freeware. However Discworld is NOT freeware at the moment. It may be in the future, assuming all goes according to plan.
Whether the gamedata release will have a DFSG/OSI compatible license remains to be determined.