Well Loki games is closing ... As it is stated on their site they will send the source code to the license owner ... So as 3do is no more they will send it to ubi ...

Heroes 3 for linux is a version without add-ons ... And without them this game is really old and lacks many advantages (like random map generator)

The question is what are ubi plans for this game ? I can guess that they will not plan to sell it or/and try to port the add-ons ... IMO they will just keep the source code and do nothing with it

So basicly why not put it on ftp and give linux users a free download of this game ? Not the source code but the game ... I can only dream what fans would made if the source code was realsed, but I know it is impossible

I belive you to be correct

2 years have passed since my initial post ... well a long time Anyway before any mod decides to ban me for refreshing this topic I have a good reason to do so.

I never said anything about open sourcing h3 loki port due to no profit at that time in this move for Ubisoft.... but things have changed right now. h5 has been a big success and most fans are playing it right now. Also the graphic and design of h3 is right now pretty much outdated.

Recently Electronic Arts published one of their older games SimCity on the terms of GPL license (that means they open sourced it to the community). Links fallowing to that event :
http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2008/01/10/simci...the-ports-begin.aspx
http://osnews.com/story/19152/SimCitys_Source_Code_Released_Under_GPL

anyway why not to the same with HoMM3 Ubisoft ? I mean you guys got the loki port code and could do the same as EA did.

however I know what you think where is the money in this ? Ubisoft is a company after all ....

well it's simple here what you can gain :

-large advertisement without using the might and magic trademark .... just do the same as EA and rename the product (SimCity> Micropolis) and remove all other copyrighted things like campaigns or some heroes names...
Where is the advertisement ? One word OLPC (one laptop per child) get h3 on those little linux running laptops and you will get some new customers in the far future and a good promotion by supporting a great non financial projects that aims to help poor 3rd world kids ...
BTW OLPC is the reason why EA opened up Simcity

-smaller advertisemnt in the FOSS world ... FOSS
people will love you if you open a nice game for them, so they will talk good things about Ubisoft.

what's there too loose ? Nothing really ... I already mentioned h3 is an old game that doesn't attract people, beside that HoMM3 for linux is version without addons so it will not attract few windows people who still play h3 to it. Also (if u fear them) WoG team will not benefit from open sourcing a linux port without addons....
So really nothing to loose here for Ubisoft and good press and advertisement of your future Might and Magic products is possible to gain.

Cheers and hopefully this will be read by Mr. Fabrice or any other higher up person.