Freeware Gaming

[Ming]

Originally posted by CapTVK
Abandonware = commercial games no longer sold or distributed through standard retail channels. The copyright still stands so it's illegal to distribute them (abandon ware tries to keep a low profile for a reason ) Some old commercial titles have been released however as freeware or even as Free software including source code (this doesn't always include the data files like graphics, music etc...).

Please keep this in mind folks... Abondonware discussions aren't allowed either. These games are still illegal to copy.

If you have provided a link to a site that provides Abondonware, I would suggest that you edit them before I check back here.


And I would recommend you keep you discussion to TRUE freeware...

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by War of Art
Scorched Earth -

helluva game/. I can't remember how long ago I played this one, great multiplayer fun for the time.

Also another one, not sure what it was, with worse graphics but more fun IMHO, called tanks or something similar. love those games.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Ming


Please keep this in mind folks... Abondonware discussions aren't allowed either. These games are still illegal to copy.

If you have provided a link to a site that provides Abondonware, I would suggest that you edit them before I check back here.


And I would recommend you keep you discussion to TRUE freeware...

Is this a new policy or somesuch?

I've previously linked/referenced several of the more "respectable" (ie: nothing available that is still sold commercially) abandonware sites and Mark has never objected (and he has oft posted within a few posts of mine so I'm pretty sure he did see the links).

Underdogs in particular has been linked too many times by quite a few people.

[CygnusZ]

I don't see how it'd hurt to abide by Ming's request. After all, there's enough dicussion on the subject of the underdogs that somebody could easily find it without having the link explicitly spelled out.

[Ming]

Originally posted by CygnusZ
I don't see how it'd hurt to abide by Ming's request.

Thanks for the support...

And oh... to everybody else... it wasn't a "request"

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Ming
Please keep this in mind folks... Abondonware discussions aren't allowed either. These games are still illegal to copy.

It's a grey area.

Some companies have gone poof, and the copyright reverted back to the programmers. Some companies know this, but they have no intention of enforcing the copyrights, since they no longer profit from the games. Some companies are anal rententive, and wouldn't allow others to copy the games even though doing so incurs no actual damage.

[Jamski]

Exactly, if a company's gone bankrupt, then you're not really cutting into thier profits by DLing their games. And I'm sure noone has ever been prosecuted for hosting an Abandonware site. Who would do it? The defunct company's lawyers?

Anyway, Ming should not be defyed.

The games Sleepy was thinking of were Tanx and Scorched Tanks. The second is particularly fine with four players, and actually leads to some fist fights in my experience. (With 4 players its always 3 against 1, but one of the three will always turn traitor)

-Jam

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by War of Art
And a fabulous shareware RPG is Avernum 3 - even looks fantastic, and has the most superb character design system.
-Jam

It's nice but have you played Exile, Exile 2, or Blades of Exile? They are the earlier games in the series.

ACK!

[Jamski]

Not yet, but I imagine I'm going to very soon... thanks for the tip

-Jam

[Zero]

Wasnt there a talk about modifying copyright issues so that the copyright protection period is actually sensible to modern era?

[Naiveplayer]

Funny.

I went to idsoftware.com after remembering Commander Keen (they were the ones that made it). I searched on Commander Keen...and found it! You can buy it for $15 but tech support isn't available.

I also went to apogee.com (I think they were the distributors)...and it's so funny! They make programming tools now instead of distributing games.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Calc II
Wasnt there a talk about modifying copyright issues so that the copyright protection period is actually sensible to modern era?

That's one of the hot topics in Off Topics. This is not one of the cases though, since most persons agree that the publishers still rightfully own the copyrights. It's just that they have the choice of letting gamers to freely copy their games once they no longer make any money from the games.

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by War of Art
Not yet, but I imagine I'm going to very soon... thanks for the tip

-Jam

Actually, I just found out that Avernum 1,2,3 are simply remakes of Exile 1,2,3.

Updated graphics and such, so just get Avernum 1,2. Also, get Blades of Exile.

ACK!

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by War of Art
Exactly, if a company's gone bankrupt, then you're not really cutting into thier profits by DLing their games. And I'm sure noone has ever been prosecuted for hosting an Abandonware site. Who would do it? The defunct company's lawyers?

Theoretically the company's creditors, who would then own the copyright (IIUC). IIUC some sites make it a point of offering to pull the game if ANYONE contacts them to object. So it ends up being a question of who has the burden of contacting - the publisher to say dont offer my game for DL - or the site to contact the publisher to get explicit permission.

I agree - dont defy Ming.

[lord of the mark]

by the way ming


I assume discussion of purchase of used games IS permitted here? Although theoretically in violation of some EULA's it is hardly low profile, and is in fact supported by some of the largest game retailers like EB, without legal intervention (AFAIK) from publishers.

A lighter shade of grey?