The Godfather

Well,
someone WAS trying to bring this game back to live..... in 2005....

http://www.godfatherpbm.com/abindex.html

I think it's well and truly dead, which is a pity because it was a very good game. A rewrite with modern graphics, a few rules mods and so on and it would have been great.

I wonder who owns the rights now? It would be a good learning project to develop.

Hmm, Keith Burnham ( if I spell his name right) was the last moderator in the UK who was running Godfather. The company name was Pagoda games... Maybe Keith knows the current owner?

[quote='walter' pid='1186' dateline='1308988963']
Hmm, Keith Burnham ( if I spell his name right) was the last moderator in the UK who was running Godfather. The company name was Pagoda games... Maybe Keith knows the current owner?
[/quote]

The rights reverted back to John Merrels (the original author), I believe, after Keith stopped running the game. Then they went to a guy called Bruce (owner of the Godfather web site, which hasn't had an update in years). Bruce intended to start games towards the end of 2007.

Maybe they're back with John? I'll try and follow up - I'm sure I have his details somewhere!

(It's quite possible I'm the only person interested in seeing this game brought up to date, but what the heck!)

Nope, your not the only one wanting to play the game again.
Bringing back the game would be a great thing for the pbm players around here.
Keep us posted.

[quote='walter' pid='1188' dateline='1309034552']
Nope, your not the only one wanting to play the game again.
Bringing back the game would be a great thing for the pbm players around here.
Keep us posted.
[/quote]

Much to my surprise, the first John Merrells I emailed turned out to be the right one. We've been having an interesting exchange throughout the day and I've even had a peek at a bit of the code (which he still had, tucked away after all these years!), so maybe something might come of it after all. I don't think he would do the update himself, but he might authorise someone else to do it - we'll see.

Seems a very nice chap indeed.

He!
Thats REALLY good news!
Are you gonna do the job :-)
I hope so!

Wow, a year seems to have gone by!

I have now started a project to create a web-based front end, complete with full graphics. I have also made quite a few changes to the rules to reflect what I felt was missing.

At the moment, this is a purely personal project (mainly to prove to myself that I can do it!), but I've let John know what I'm up to anyway.

Are you currently programming the Godfather game then????

Cool..

Yes, but... At the moment it's purely a personal project. I haven't discussed anything about licencing with John - I want to get a "proof of concept" version working first. I may post a test link here in a few weeks, but don't hold me to that!

I also want to see if there's any interest in this, apart from you 'n' me! If there's no real interest, I'd just run it as a game among friends/acquaintances for free.

Count me in then!
I never played the game, but always wanted to give the game a trye.

me too

me three

I played the game. In fact, I wrote the U.S. rulebook for John, and at one point ran a couple of games for American players. So... me four!

So, no pressure then, eh Bob!

Nah, no pressure, pal, as long as the booze comes when it's supposed to, and don't even think about tossing one of them pineapples my way.

Just practicing my Godfather diplomacy...

Here's a little something to keep you up to date. The game will be web-based.

The first image is the main control panel, on which you are presented with a graphic overview of the city. Tooltips will provide detailed info on each block, or you can click on a block to bring up a very detailed 3 by 3 ward view. In this view, you are Capone.

[attachment=38]

The second image shows the rackets that you know about. The third image shows the expanded description when you click on a racket - in this case "Numbers".

[attachment=39]

[attachment=40]

All order entry will be via drop-down lists and edit boxes. It will be virtually impossible to submit invalid orders.

Some of the proposed rules changes/updates:

• Enforcers have a minimum number of hoods in their section.
• Bagmen do not automatically take over rival blocks: you have to "convince" the current bagman to leave.
• New items for purchase, including v expensive cars, a few extra weapons, a delux hotel...
• Reinforcing premises is more robust.
• Payoffs are a percentage of the take.
• Stores have a location and can be raided or destroyed.
• Pineapples are less effective. Choppers require an experienced enforcer (they were more difficult to handle than the movies let on!).
• Enforcers can be targeted for a "hit". Very difficult, very risky, but a great payoff if you succeed.
• Enforcers who are unhappy and/or underpaid can be persuaded to jump ship.

Cool!
Is it possible to join yesterday?
:-0

Walt

So! Whats the state of the game right now? Ready to start?
Looking forward to it.

[quote='walter' pid='2059' dateline='1345982264']
So! Whats the state of the game right now? Ready to start?
Looking forward to it.
[/quote]

There's still a lot more to do, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.

I hope to put up some new screenshots in the next couple of weeks.

Alrighty!
Can't wait to get a peek at it!

For those watching at home, this is still on the cards. Unfortunately, real life health issues put in an ugly appearance and everything has had to be put on the back burner for many months. I am still recovering from complications arising out of the surgery and don't expect to be able to do much more on this until the Autumn. However, I do still hope to have something nice to show off before the end of the year!

Thanks for the update, gwj! My best wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery.

[quote='walter' pid='2009' dateline='1340564032']
Count me in then!
I never played the game, but always wanted to give the game a trye.
[/quote]

I used to play this years ago with Pagoda Games. Would love to have another go at it.