Abandonware?

[M@ster-$]

First of all, is abandonware considered highly illegal?

 

[Redcoat-Mic]

Technically? Yes.

 

[M@ster-$]

And... in reality? At least, in common cases.

 

[Redcoat-Mic]

Doubt it, namely because there's no one to take up the case and press charges. The very point of it being abandonware is that there's no where to purchase it save internet second hand.

 

[Skyrage]

I could care less about "abandonware" being illegal. If I wanna play a really old classic and there's no place on earth that sells it then I will download it rather than having that game turn into a dinosaur.

 

[Archonsod]

There's an industry group dedicated to stamping it out, but it really depends on who owns the licence.

 

[Skyrage]

Problem with licenses though when it comes to many of the older games is that when companies die out the licenses are usually spread between many different owners who in turn perhaps die out as well and before you know it no one has a clue as to who owns what.

 

[Vovolov]

I could care less about "abandonware" being illegal. If I wanna play a really old classic and there's no place on earth that sells it then I will download it rather than having that game turn into a dinosaur.

Transport Tycoon Deluxe! I got it a few weeks ago, and it's still pure ownage.

 

[Dain Ironfoot]

Get the patch!

 

[Vovolov]

What patch?

 

[Iron Count]

Problem with licenses though when it comes to many of the older games is that when companies die out the licenses are usually spread between many different owners who in turn perhaps die out as well and before you know it no one has a clue as to who owns what.

Depends on the license, publishers like EA and Atari will sit and guard the better licenses like dragons and their treasure and ultimately do nothing with it - if you try to suggest that the license is anything but their's they'll want you dead, your family dead, your house burnt down so they can piss on the ashes (quote anyone?).

 

[David Derde]

About 10% of my games collection is abandonware,
but I only use stuff like The Underdogs if the game isn't even available
second-hand. It's never quite as good as retail anyway, since they
strip out most of the movies and sound. My rule of thumb is usually
that if it's over 10 years old, and it's not owned by EA, or Ubisoft,
or anyone likely to want to waste a few million to sue you for £20, it's fine.

 

[peerLAN]

I could care less about "abandonware" being illegal. If I wanna play a really old classic and there's no place on earth that sells it then I will download it rather than having that game turn into a dinosaur.

Transport Tycoon Deluxe! I got it a few weeks ago, and it's still pure ownage.

Must have: http://www.openttd.org/ . It includes a strong multiplayer, bigger maps, tons of bugfixes and a lot of new stuff. Plus is in active development and open source.

 

[Vovolov]

I could care less about "abandonware" being illegal. If I wanna play a really old classic and there's no place on earth that sells it then I will download it rather than having that game turn into a dinosaur.

Transport Tycoon Deluxe! I got it a few weeks ago, and it's still pure ownage.

Must have: http://www.openttd.org/ . It includes a strong multiplayer, bigger maps, tons of bugfixes and a lot of new stuff. Plus is in active development and open source.

Cool, I'll have a look at it.

 

[hayabusa12]

So, what exactly is abandonware? would this be considered abandonware? http://www.fileplanet.com/131330/130000/fileinfo/Hidden-&-Dangerous-Deluxe

 

[M@ster-$]

would this be considered abandonware? http://www.fileplanet.com/131330/130000/fileinfo/Hidden-&-Dangerous-Deluxe

Wikipedia

 

[Simo]

Here's a good site for abandonware. There are some that you can't download because they are protected or still sold somewhere.
http://www.abandonia.com/

 

[Zed]

Ah, yes. Darklands.  The game that I'm reminded of every time I create a character or move around on the map in Mount and Blade.

 

[Dain Ironfoot]

I could care less about "abandonware" being illegal. If I wanna play a really old classic and there's no place on earth that sells it then I will download it rather than having that game turn into a dinosaur.

Transport Tycoon Deluxe! I got it a few weeks ago, and it's still pure ownage.

Must have: http://www.openttd.org/ . It includes a strong multiplayer, bigger maps, tons of bugfixes and a lot of new stuff. Plus is in active development and open source.

Cool, I'll have a look at it.

There is also TTD patch which is a patch for the existing game which adds far more features than Openttd.

 

[Vovolov]

I could care less about "abandonware" being illegal. If I wanna play a really old classic and there's no place on earth that sells it then I will download it rather than having that game turn into a dinosaur.

Transport Tycoon Deluxe! I got it a few weeks ago, and it's still pure ownage.

Must have: http://www.openttd.org/ . It includes a strong multiplayer, bigger maps, tons of bugfixes and a lot of new stuff. Plus is in active development and open source.

Cool, I'll have a look at it.

There is also TTD patch which is a patch for the existing game which adds far more features than Openttd.

Already had that one. Didn't get to trying out Openttd, so I wouldn't know about the features.