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| | Message text imdog wrote:
markrendl wrote: dcr66 wrote: markrendl wrote:
I'm fine with incremental updates as you have the time and interest in doing so. I'd hate to see the site go pay to play.
About 12 years ago, Hexcell games put a version of Blue Max that a few of us here played. Aspects that I liked included:
1. Replay of the whole match.
2. Pilot XP which led to options for abilities for experienced pilots in campaigns.
...and thanks again for all your work for keeping this site going so we can play!
Regards,
markrendl I remember the Hexcell, what happened to it? Some trademark violations by the creator of Blue Max or something? According to the Hexcell programmer, he tried to contact Phil Hall before proceeding on his version and got no initial response, so went ahead and built his version and put it up online. Then, after awhile, Phil did contact him and asked him to take it down as it might create legal issues if/when he tried to further develop an online or computer version of the game. Naturally, he complied as he wasn't looking to cause any problems; he was probably a bit miffed though given he'd asked earlier, gotten no response and then sunk his time and money into developing his project. TBH, I'm not sure why that would be the case as YPI already had Phil's blessing and had been up and running for many years at that point. Phil passed away 4 years ago and nothing further has been done with Blue Max as far as a computer version AFAIK. Even Canvas Eagles, the successor to Blue Max is fairly dead online as far as I can tell. There are no working forums at their site and no recent updates. I tried contacting the owner to see about plugging YPI there last year and got no response at all. In light of that, I dropped by Hexcell's site this week and posted a note to the programmer suggesting he might consider rebooting his project as there doesn't seem to be any sign of life in Blue Max as a computer game elsewhere, aside from here at YPI. I seriously doubt anyone will come after him at this point if he restarts. markrendl
You are asking a very good question. I may be the one have quite a picture of the subject matter as I have contacted both Justin Warwick and Phil Hall personally talking about the future of Bluemax.
For Justin, his work log is still here.
http://www.hexcellgames.com/blog/phil-hall-blue-max-and-hexcell-games/
For a complete recap of the ongoing, to my understanding some of the active players do use hexcell for two thing.
1. one pilot control multi-plane
2. pilot / campaign mode
3. Replay of the game,
He didn't mention anything about bluemax/canvas egale since 2012, I think he lost interest to it long time ago.
For Phil, the story is much more comlicated. Since all the member here is fans of bluexmax, I have just digout my last couple of email with him day back 2015, his mind is still very clear. Here is the picks of the dialogue.
The context is from this thread
https://www.youplayit.net/play/forum_showmessage.asp?msgid=26000 (this thread is very important as it is almost his last public words about the status of copyright and ongoing development of bluemax.
To keep thing in short, Bluemax copyright is NOT in Phils hand, so for his new work at that time (Canvas Eagle) he can't use any materials from Bluemax and need to develop a new system from scratch, and that prove to be not successful.
That's why both Justin / Phil are both not wrong, as if Justin continue the work, the owner of Bluemax will definitely sue him. However on a personal note to Justin, he already use another name and developed based/ reference to Bluemax idea only.
However, Justin is just a programmer and not a lawyer. He would like to do something much simpler. So he has delveop other interest and avoid developing bluemax at all.
This is the exact wordings from Phil regarding Bluemax copyright status and I think it is final.
"Hi Imdog.
I haven't felt well enough to play lately. I'm still the owner of Blue Max but Stratelibre have the rights to it for the next 25 years. I made sure that they wouldn't interfere with YouPlayIt's use of the online version. You should not have any problem with them and if you do let me know and I'll see what I can do for you.
Good gaming"
The information could be confirmed on Phil memorial page (https://www.owensfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Philip-Hall)
As I have talked with Nick (the very original founder of the site）, Jim burke personally. They are stuck with the copyright days back 10 years ago. Stratelibre of Italy seems to be all the source of the issue, my italiano is not good enough for any investigation.
What Phils offer to nick is the simplest form of bluemax without any advanced feature, as Phil and Stratelibre have some other thing in mind that wish to develop and enjoy the license fee for bluemax in the future. However they won't do any R&D at all for online version.
But someone in Italy may contact them directly to ask for the status. Or check if the company is still existing  , if not that we could think of something different, OR according to my dialogue with Nick/Jim/Phil, if you are not using the terms "bluemax" or any printed materials of ruleset, plane status, plane design, but just using the concept like hexcell is completely legal.
Just not mention anything (either print / online with keywords "bluemax" will be fine. But again anyone interested please contact Stratelibre directly for confirmation.
Cheers,  .
--- Message edited by imdog
Thanks for the interesting background.
I did a bit of poking around and discovered the following:
1. Stratelibri is apparently out of business; closed down in 2003 according to one site. The company website is gone, though you can find archived copies.
2. The last edition of the boardgame, 3rd, is published by Fantasy Flight Games. A visit to their website reveals Blue Max is not listed as a product, though I did find mention of it in one of the older sales pages when I searched their site.
While listed on Amazon, it is currently unavailable with no info on if/when it will be back in stock.
3. GIOCHI UNITI, another Italian company, apparently bought out Stratelibri at some point and in 2013 announced it was bringing it back as a separate company to handle it's international board gaming business. It listed a new website and facebook group. Neither of those are working now.
They are still selling an Italian copy of what looks like 2nd edition under their and Stratelibri label. Perhaps they retain the rights to 2nd edition?
4. Fantasy Flight Games was acquired by the French company Asmodee in 2014. Thus, they are the likely owners of whatever 3rd edition board game rights there are.
I did have the time or patience to check all the Italian sites related to my searches, so I may well have missed a few things 
Regards,
markrendl
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