Difference between revisions of "Stormlord"

From Sega Retro
(→‎Lawsuit: big honkin rewrite, lots of things, words)
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==History==
 
==History==
 
===Lawsuit===
 
===Lawsuit===
−
[[File:Stormlord MD Breasts.png|thumb|320px|Video game controversy, circa 1991.]]
+
In 1991, disagreements between [[RazorSoft]] and [[Sega]] over the cost and order size of Sega's proprietary [[Sega Mega Drive]] cartridges{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}} led to Stormlord being released in a smaller run of self-manufactured cartridges (as opposed to purchasing them directly from [[Sega]], as contractually-obliged.){{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}} While the company still paid full royalties to [[Sega]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}, their developer license was revoked in June 1991, and Sega refused to publish any of their future games. RazorSoft then sued for breach of the Sherman Antitrust Act on July 22, 1991, with [[Sega]] then counter-suing both [[RazorSoft]] and [[Punk Development]] in August for copyright infringement and breach of contract.{{fileref|PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf|page=153}}{{magref|gamepro|28|142}}
−
''Stormlord'' was controversial due to the inclusion of naked fairy statues. Sega refused to manufacture the cartridges until the graphics were censored and revoked RazorSoft's developer license in June 1991. RazorSoft then sued for breach of the Sherman Antitrust Act on 22 July 1991, as Sega refused to publish any of RazorSoft's titles. Sega then counter-sued both RazorSoft and Punk Development in August for copyright infringement and breach of contract, demanding the US courts issue a restraining order against RazorSoft{{fileref|PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf|page=153}}{{magref|gamepro|28|142}}.
 
  
−
The restraining order motion was denied by the courts, however Sega won the battle after RazorSoft admitted it had infringed its copyrights{{fileref|PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf|page=162}}. In the end, the game was censored and released with a license, and the North American cover art even proudly puts the censored graphic front and centre of one of its screenshots.
+
The final outcome was settled out of court, with RazorSoft agreeing to purchase future cartridges from Sega, having their developer license restored, and Sega dropping the lawsuit. {{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}
  
−
Uncensored versions made it to [[Winter CES 1991]], and were reported by the gaming press prior to release (with ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' apologising for the naked faries in its May 1991 issue{{magref|egm|22|12}}).
+
{{quote|RazorSoft didn't like how much Sega charged to make cartridges. The minimum order was 30,000 units, and IIRC, they cost $17 each. So publishers had to pony up about a half million dollars, and the risk was all theirs if the product didn't sell. I never saw the contract between Sega and RazorSoft, but apparently it specified a royalty rate for cartridges (I don't know if that $17 per cart included the royalty or not).
  
−
Curiously, ''[[Keeper of the Gates]]'', the sequel to ''Stormlord'' was planned for release on the Sega Mega Drive, with Sega reportedly set to publish it.
+
So RazorSoft decided to manufacture their own cartridges for Stormlord instead of paying Sega to do it because they could do a smaller run, it was cheaper, and they could turn them around faster. They paid all of the royalties to Sega, just didn't have Sega make them (if you get your hand on a Stormlord cartridge, you will see they are shaped differently than Sega cartridges were).
 +
 
 +
Sega was annoyed because they obviously make a profit on making the cartridges and also like to maintain tight control over what gets made when.
 +
 
 +
IIRC, the final outcome was they settled out of court, RazorSoft agreed to buy carts from Sega in the future, and Sega dropped the suit.
 +
 
 +
...
 +
 
 +
Sega never made stormlord cartridges. Razorsoft decided to make their own cartridges, instead of buying them from Sega, to save money. If you look at a Stormlord cartridge, you can see the plastics are different than what Sega makes.
 +
 
 +
Sega had 2 different methods of profiting from 3rd party cartridges:
 +
– Licensing Fees (which Razorsoft paid)
 +
– Manufacturing Fees (which Razorsoft chose not to pay, by making carts themselves).
 +
 
 +
I don’t think Sega ever intended anyone to make their own carts, so they were surprised by this. A lawsuit did ensure, the resolution of which was never revealed, as they were sealed as part of the settlement. I wasn’t privy to the details of the lawsuit.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}|''Stormlord programmer [[Kevin Seghetti]]''}}
 +
 
 +
===Nude fairies===
 +
[[File:Stormlord MD Breasts.png|thumb|320px|A censored fairy.]]
 +
The original 1989 [[Commodore Amiga]] release of the game features nude fairies in certain areas. When developer [[Punk Development]] initially ported the game to the [[Sega Mega Drive]], the fairies were also ported over as nude. However, RazorSoft quickly called for their censorship, and programmer [[Kevin Seghetti]]'s wife later created the graphics for the fairies' bras.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}} However, preview builds of the uncensored version of the game had already been both seen at [[Winter CES 1991]] and sent to the gaming press, and the nude graphics were soon exposed to the general public. Game magazine [[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] even apologized for the publishing of nudity in its May 1991 issue.{{magref|egm|22|12}}
 +
 
 +
{{quote|When we did the port, Razorsoft specified they needed the Faeries covered up, for the American market. That was always the plan. So it wasn’t added later, my wife added in the bra graphics early on.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}|''Stormlord programmer [[Kevin Seghetti]]''}}
 +
 
 +
Due to a lack of information over RazorSoft's lawsuit with Sega over the cost of their proprietary cartridges, it was rumored that the lawsuit was instead a result of the company refusing to censor the nude fairies. While easily debunked in hindsight, as a few pixels of nudity would not be worth the loss of a developer license, Stormlord developer [[Kevin Seghetti]] definitely verified the rumor as false when clarifying the details of RazorSoft's lawsuit:
 +
 
 +
{{quote|The Wikipedia and SegaRetro pages on Stormlord do not match my recollection on this point.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}|''Stormlord programmer [[Kevin Seghetti]], referring to a previous and incorrect version of this article''}}
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==

Revision as of 23:03, 18 June 2021

n/a

Stormlord title.png

Stormlord
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: RazorSoft (US), Micro World (Japan)
Developer:
Sound driver: RazorSoft sound driver
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥6,8006,800 T-49113
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$59.9559.95[3] 56026
Non-Sega versions

This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.

Stormlord (ストームロード) is a sidescrolling action game developed for the Sega Mega Drive by RazorSoft. The Mega Drive version was only released in North America and Japan.

Gameplay

History

Lawsuit

In 1991, disagreements between RazorSoft and Sega over the cost and order size of Sega's proprietary Sega Mega Drive cartridges[4] led to Stormlord being released in a smaller run of self-manufactured cartridges (as opposed to purchasing them directly from Sega, as contractually-obliged.)[4] While the company still paid full royalties to Sega[4], their developer license was revoked in June 1991, and Sega refused to publish any of their future games. RazorSoft then sued for breach of the Sherman Antitrust Act on July 22, 1991, with Sega then counter-suing both RazorSoft and Punk Development in August for copyright infringement and breach of contract.[5][6]

The final outcome was settled out of court, with RazorSoft agreeing to purchase future cartridges from Sega, having their developer license restored, and Sega dropping the lawsuit. [4]


“ RazorSoft didn't like how much Sega charged to make cartridges. The minimum order was 30,000 units, and IIRC, they cost $17 each. So publishers had to pony up about a half million dollars, and the risk was all theirs if the product didn't sell. I never saw the contract between Sega and RazorSoft, but apparently it specified a royalty rate for cartridges (I don't know if that $17 per cart included the royalty or not).

So RazorSoft decided to manufacture their own cartridges for Stormlord instead of paying Sega to do it because they could do a smaller run, it was cheaper, and they could turn them around faster. They paid all of the royalties to Sega, just didn't have Sega make them (if you get your hand on a Stormlord cartridge, you will see they are shaped differently than Sega cartridges were).

Sega was annoyed because they obviously make a profit on making the cartridges and also like to maintain tight control over what gets made when.

IIRC, the final outcome was they settled out of court, RazorSoft agreed to buy carts from Sega in the future, and Sega dropped the suit.

...

Sega never made stormlord cartridges. Razorsoft decided to make their own cartridges, instead of buying them from Sega, to save money. If you look at a Stormlord cartridge, you can see the plastics are different than what Sega makes.

Sega had 2 different methods of profiting from 3rd party cartridges: – Licensing Fees (which Razorsoft paid) – Manufacturing Fees (which Razorsoft chose not to pay, by making carts themselves).

I don’t think Sega ever intended anyone to make their own carts, so they were surprised by this. A lawsuit did ensure, the resolution of which was never revealed, as they were sealed as part of the settlement. I wasn’t privy to the details of the lawsuit.[4]

„

— Stormlord programmer Kevin Seghetti


Nude fairies

A censored fairy.

The original 1989 Commodore Amiga release of the game features nude fairies in certain areas. When developer Punk Development initially ported the game to the Sega Mega Drive, the fairies were also ported over as nude. However, RazorSoft quickly called for their censorship, and programmer Kevin Seghetti's wife later created the graphics for the fairies' bras.[4] However, preview builds of the uncensored version of the game had already been both seen at Winter CES 1991 and sent to the gaming press, and the nude graphics were soon exposed to the general public. Game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly even apologized for the publishing of nudity in its May 1991 issue.[7]


“ When we did the port, Razorsoft specified they needed the Faeries covered up, for the American market. That was always the plan. So it wasn’t added later, my wife added in the bra graphics early on.[4] „

— Stormlord programmer Kevin Seghetti


Due to a lack of information over RazorSoft's lawsuit with Sega over the cost of their proprietary cartridges, it was rumored that the lawsuit was instead a result of the company refusing to censor the nude fairies. While easily debunked in hindsight, as a few pixels of nudity would not be worth the loss of a developer license, Stormlord developer Kevin Seghetti definitely verified the rumor as false when clarifying the details of RazorSoft's lawsuit:


“ The Wikipedia and SegaRetro pages on Stormlord do not match my recollection on this point.[4] „

— Stormlord programmer Kevin Seghetti, referring to a previous and incorrect version of this article


Magazine articles

Main article: Stormlord/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Stormlord/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[8]
ACE (UK)
63
[9]
Ação Games (BR)
67
[10]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
67
[11]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[12]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
92
[13]
Games-X (UK)
70
[14]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[15]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
80
[16]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
82
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
75
[18]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
60
[19]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
45
[20]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC
57
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
57
[22]
Power Play (DE)
43
[23]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
75
[24]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
79
[25]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
77
[26]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
46
[27]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
63
[28]
Sega Mega Drive
 65
Based on
21 reviews

Stormlord

Mega Drive, JP
Stormlord MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Stormlord MD JP CartTop.jpg
Stormlord MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Stormlord MD JP manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
Stormlord MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Stormlord md us cart.jpg
Cart
StormLord MD US Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 39ab50a5
MD5 73070170122193915b7f8af945ef426c
SHA-1 1bf4b58d50fdc0fdc173ce3dcadcc5d9b58f0723
512kB 1990-09 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 0b440fed
MD5 689634797f5da35d026593fb240f5fe0
SHA-1 fe06ea2d7fcccecce337a535ae683c31aae4a637
512kB Cartridge (JP)

References

  1. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-08), page 24
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  3. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 39
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti (Wayback Machine: 2021-06-08 05:24)
  5. ↑ File:PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf, page 153
  6. ↑ GamePro, "November 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 142
  7. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 12
  8. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 223
  9. ↑ ACE, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-08), page 72
  10. ↑ Ação Games, "Maio 1991" (BR; 1991-05-21), page 45
  11. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1991" (DE; 1991-10-11), page 146
  12. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-08), page 36
  13. ↑ GamePro, "April 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 42
  14. ↑ Games-X, "15th-21st August 1991" (UK; 1991-08-15), page 39
  15. ↑ Hippon Super, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-04), page 82
  16. ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-17), page 42
  17. ↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 166
  18. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  19. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
  20. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 63
  21. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 80
  22. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  23. ↑ Power Play, "10/91" (DE; 1991-09-xx), page 159
  24. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  25. ↑ Sega Power, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-04), page 27
  26. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  27. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  28. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 179


Stormlord

Stormlord title.png

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