Well, the guy sounds good-hearted, I'll give him that. But if you're going to write a letter to Epic asking permission to use the Jazz trio, make sure it's written well. No "please ^^" and smilies and whatnot. Make it sound as professional and flawless as you can.

Also, Jazz3D doesn't look or play like a terrible game, but no one showed interest in publishing it (or at least I think that's how it went..). Like Stijn said, what makes you think anyone is going to want to publish a sequel to a game that didn't do so hot the second time around?

I think this could work out more if the whole publishing and making money idea was thrown out. It would be much more approachable to just say, "Hey, we're making a freeware game, we don't want to screw up the plot and characters like JJGBA." You know.. For the fans, by the fans. Which is basically what half these kids have been attempting to do for years.

What you're asking is like a hamburger. You've got the buns, but where's the beef?