Amazing site- has EVERY old game!

[sum-41]

 :oAll the old games are here- search for something, and to download it click 1 or 5. 2-4 are all Bulgaria only. Post in if you found something good up there, or you know a better site.
http://oldgames.bgbest.net/

[Vel]

I do not think abandonware linking is allowed. If one is in great need, he will find the game he seeks.

[MrColossal]

as far as i know abandoneware is a ok. it isn't illegal or anything

the site has warez on it apparently [it's wicked slow it wouldn't load for me] but it's mostly abandoneware...

so it shall stay

eric

[Vel]

It has both abandonware and warez. I think that the link should be deleted. Most of the games there are still being sold.

[Nostradamus]

Well, as for the law abandonware is illegal because of copyright issues.

As for moral, I think it's OK to download abandonware that is not sold anymore because there's no other way to get those games.

[Vel]

Are you SURE there is no way to get games like full throttle and King's quest?

[Pumaman]

Rather than do the whole debate again, let's just say this:

Abandonware is software which is over 5 years old, and is no longer sold through mainstream channels. It is software where the only ways to get it are through buying it off eBay or downloading it.

Software newer than 5 years ago, or software which is still sold (for example, in a Budget line) cannot really be counted as abandonware.

[sum-41]

I have a Mac, so otherwise finding the LEC games would be impossible.

Oh yeah- "5" is quicker than "1", though some games aren't found on "1".

Anyway- I only download the old games, which I, a Mac User, would never find elsewhere. I never download anything I can buy, unless it's some rip-off by some non customer-caring monopoly. :

[rodekill]

You can also check mac.the-underdogs.org

[remixor]

I never download anything I can buy, unless it's some rip-off by some non customer-caring monopoly. :

But you wouldn't want those games anyway, right?

[jannar85]

Where does FTPs go? :o
hehe.. just kidding

http://www.the-underdogs.org ?

[Trapezoid]

By the way, I think "abandonware" is no more legal than warez. The "older than 5 years and not sold in stores" thing is a myth.
Not that I don't love abandonware, but I don't try to justify its legality.

[remixor]

By the way, I think "abandonware" is no more legal than warez. The "older than 5 years and not sold in stores" thing is a myth.
Not that I don't love abandonware, but I don't try to justify its legality.

Exactly.  Morally, I personally don't think it's wrong, but it is illegal.  It's not as if the developer/publisher is going to take legal action though (particularly since most developers of old abandoned games don't even exist anymore).

[Pumaman]

Indeed. The amount of time copyright lasts depends on the country, but it's usually between 20 and 50 years. So actually, KQ1 might almost be out of copyright by now

[Red_Armadillo]

If anybody cares go to DOSgames it has alot of different games and demos that aren't sold anymore...

[AGA]

Sierra are almost certain to re-apply for it as soon as it runs out though.

[Matt Brown]

naahhh, they really dont care about their adventure games now. really, they gave me their blessing to download their older games, like KQ3, and longbow, and SQ3. all they said was, dont ask for tech support.

[DGMacphee]

http://www.freeoldies.com

It has links to EVERY old game -- and I mean EVERY!

[Esseb]

You're forgetting KQ was made in the land of Mickey Mouse CJ.

[rodekill]

Translation: Because of Disney, copyrights now last until the sun expires.

It's actually an interesting story, because the original Steamboat Willy cartoon was on the verge of becoming public domain. It's a shame too, because I was soooo ready to start production on Steamboat Willy: Special Edition, with new voice overs by such famous people as me and my drunk friends.

[eVOLVE]

I bought Full Throttle not too long ago... I got it in a multipack of various LucasArts games (that is still in stores at least in the UK) including Sam & Max, The Dig and Grim Fandango for about £20... pretty amazing value, even though I already had GF

Still, abandonware is definitely illegal... There's an intellectual property issue that basically means that if companies don't 'try' to prevent abandonware on their products then they can be exploited by anyone... This means someone could sell a product based on their original work. This is why they all cooperate with some IP company, I can't remember the name...

Actually I believe it's the licence to play the game thats the issue... as far as I'm aware, downloading the game isn't illegal, but playing the game without a licence from the developer (either by buying the game in the shop or from a direct licencing agreement) IS illegal. It's not that developers don't want people playing their old games, and more recently it's become viable for devs to distribute their old games themselves and grant licences this way over the internet, such as Codemasters who I believe are doing this kind of thing, and closer to home (i.e. adventure games) companies such as Revolution Software (with Lure of the Temptress and Beneath a Steel Sky - both available from their website).

Hopefully more companies will follow suit, so they won't have to worry so much about appearing to be overprotective over their works, and still get it out to the people who they want to have it... the gamers.

[m0ds]

Look in the right places, and you'll still find these games being sold. There's the MI pack with either the first three or all four (not too sure).

There's also the multipack that eV mentioned.

However, it's silly that such a company as LucasArts continue to keep their "copyright" if they can't be arsed to sell their older games.

Although I have been known to download abandonware, I think its unfair. A game is never "abandonned" until it's made freeware by the developer/publisher in my opinion.

"m0des"

[rodekill]

You've got to realise that there's a difference between protecting your copyright and giving something away for free.

I can make games and give them away, that doesn't mean you can then turn around and sell it or do whatever with them. I still own the copyrights.

Anyways, I have no problem with abandonware. If you can't bother to make it available for me to buy, then tough. It's not profitable enough to start selling again? BS. There are other alternatives. I'd pay a couple of bucks for a working downloadable version for gods sake.
Once again, it's because of corporate blahblahblah. I'd be willing to bet the original creators of the games would love to have them available to fans, but of course, Joe Fatcat CEO doesn't "get it".
Like every other creative industry, video games have been taken over by boring old men with accounting degrees who were too old to play games when Atari came out.
They don't give a crap about me, and I don't give a crap about them.