How much development is needed to MP4 transcode a movie (that somebody already made) and poll for user input at key points (that are already decided), the result of which may trigger a branch from the main movie to small death scene video (which is also in the bag).

Hell, all of the coding could be completed without paying a penny for Dragon's Lair IP - just use placeholder MP4 footage and drop in the DL video, timing and alternative video branch references in the 5 minutes before going gold.

It's the kind of stuff a decent PSP homebrew coder could get running off a memory stick in a couple of days.

No offence, United Coders, but why would a publisher not negotiate the rights directly and a coder to do the (relatively trivial) job in-house? Said publisher could then licence Space Ace and bang out another game, barely lifting a coder's finger in the process. Hell, put the bugger to work for another day or two and you could have Night Trap's "gameplay" included. Ick.

Although I might like to own Dragon's Lair someday [maybe on a 3DO ^_^ ], I have never in my life seen a positive review of Dragons Lair. Every incarnation has always been slagged off. Nice to watch, crap to play, isn't that what they always say?

That said - I'm currently hoping to purchase Kingdom: The Far Reaches for the PC. =)