Baggins

Speaking of limited 'free' giveaways, one example was Sierra back in the 90's gave out the disk version of Betrayal of Kronder, on their website. You could download it for free (this was to advertise the release of either Betrayal at Antara, or Return to Kronder), but the fine print was you couldn't redistribute it further.

So once Sierra took down the promotional, there wasn't a legal way to obtain the game. It's back to being sold again!

Mystery House was placed on public domain, and you read the whole facts behind it within some of the cracked copies that were made by other companies. For example the copy that was included in Roberta Williams collection was distributed by a third party other than Sierra, and has the Public Domain information included in one of its files.

"
The Public Domain Exchange
2074c Walsh Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 496-0624

From a great moment in history: Mystery House, the first graphic adventure, was created in 1980 by Sierra On-Line founders Ken and Roberta Williams, and released into the public domain in 1987 to celebrate Sierra's 7th anniversary.

We encourage you to copy this game, for yourself or to share. If you have enjoyed it you may send a $5 donation to Ken and Roberta's favorite Charity,


Sierra Historic Sites Association,
P.O. Box 451.
Oakhurst CA 93644


Note: because it is now free, Sierra's gift to you, we can no longer take calls on this game. If you need help. We suggest you contact your local Apple users group to talk with others who may have played it."

Baggins

Games given out by the publishers are 'freeware' or released into the 'public domain' by the publishers (see Beneath a Steel Sky or Mystery House). However some companies have limited free release, as in you can get the game for free from specific sites, but you cannot pass the game onto other people or upload the game to other sites.

There is no such thing as 'abandoneware'. It is not a legal term. If distribution occurs it is still breaking copyright laws.

shaddim

@Gaerzi: Abandonware in its essence is software which was abandoned by its publisher/developer, therefore a kind of orphaned work, completely legal concept. Abandonware which is redistributed by third parties is a form of "warez", only this form of abandonware is illegal. The concept of "abandonware" is not necessarily connect with the concept of "warez", that's my point. E.g. the preservation of abandware is now legal.

Gaerzi

"abandonware" is not "orphaned works". I go on abandonware sites, I see titles such as Doom on them. Despite the developer and publisher still being alive and well, and the game still being sold on the developer's site as well as on a popular digital distribution platform, and still getting officially ported to new platforms (PS3 and XBLA as part of that "BFG Edition" thing). But it's an old game and it's tiny and quickly downloaded and it doesn't have any sort of DRM, which means that it's abandonware! Weeeeee! Yeah no. This is why abandonware is not a legal concept. Orphaned works sure is; but most of abandonware is not orphaned works. It's just warez that you can get away with.

shaddim

@graspee: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_Work

shaddim

@graspee: I repeat, Abandonware is a complete legal concept, orphaned software. Illegal is ONLY the redistribution (Preserving became legal recently http://www.copyright.gov/1201/docs/fedreg-notice-final.pdf ), while it can be argued that even redistribution is legitimate.

krashd

How about freeware as well as abandonware?

http://www.freepcgamers.com/2008/12/prism-guard-shield-v3.html
http://www.freepcgamers.com/2008/12/suffering.html
http://www.freepcgamers.com/2008/12/area-51.html

3 free classics, more from same site.

Puddiman

@DarioGOII
Because TES2 has been free... for quite a while now.

Karoupa

@Ponchik, I feel like the biggest strength of GoG is their ability to offer a legal way to obtain a copy of an old, possibly forgotten, game that isn't offered anywhere else legally. That's why this abandonware struggle is worth it, even if it costs an extra $6-$10.

graspee

Abandonware is not "a completely legal concept" it's a distinction made by software pirates that has no basis whatsoever in law.

hamish11

how about the neverhood?You can vote here.https://secure.gog.com/wishlist/games#search=the neverhood

shaddim

Abandonware is a completely legal concept, it is the software variant of a "orphaned work". Also, abandonware is in general a challenge to our software ecosystem ( http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134641/where_games_go_to_sleep_the_game_.php ). We have a Game Preservation Crisis as several classics are already lost forever (Bubble Bobble etc). GOG should bring software (with source code) back to life from dusty backup tapes which are rotting in the cellars of the companies before it is to late! ( http://www.gog.com/wishlist/site/obtain_source_code_for_games_where_possible )

Gaerzi

You don't understand how things work. First: Beneath a Steel Sky is still a free game, even on GOG. Secondly: abandonware isn't a legal concept. A game being "free because the company forgot about it" isn't actually free. You're just getting away with pirating it.

Ponchik

No no no no no! If I have a reason for disliking Gog is that they take games that were free because they belonged to huge money grubbing company that forgot about them, and make deals with those companies to make those games that were free yesterday to cost 6 or 10 bucks.
If it is a game that didn't work with Dosbox and Gog did something to bring it back to life I'll be all for it. What I don't like is being made a pirate because a company like Hasbro wants to make a few more bucks off a 20 year old game.

Elros22

Yes twice! The greatest thing about GoG is that I dont have worry about setting up DoS box, or searching around shady websites and then figuring out how to run things. AT the end of the day I just want to pay my $5 bucks, install something and let the hours drift away.

:) I am very lazy after all.

More abandonware that runs on my new machine!!!

DarioGOII

there are games that are already free. I see almost no point in that. Abandonware mostly sucks (except rare exceptions like seven kingdom). I just want they continue to add GOOD OLD games XD. I'd like to try TES II, is that really true that it has been removed from GOG? why?

Brooks8314

The Ancient art of war Series was great. Namely in Ancient art of war in the skies.

StarSword

@JasonRain: GOG already released those, and not for free.

Gaerzi

Sango Fighter is a freeware available from http://www.sangofighter.com/download.htm and it would be nice if it were on GOG. The Super Fighter Team folk would probably be happy to see it over here; and the nostalgic of the shareware/BBS era would probably recognize that name.

Yulike

I would like it if they add Both of the now free Elder Scrolls (TES Arena, TES II Daggerfall) games as well as both the free GTAs (GTA I, GTA II). Would be awesome. :)

peterdk

One Must Fall 2097 has been released as freeware, and it's a very good PC fighter!

garryg910

Leagally there is no such thing as abandonware, but there are some very Good Old Games where the legal ownership has been lost or is very muddy, I would like GOG to track the best of these down and release them (remember someone own the copywright, so they may not be Free!)

Throneofanguish

I want Witchaven!

jema

I'm sure someone has already pointed this out but BaSS was released for free, not abandoned.

TheNineRings

I vote for more abandoneware games, if it means old games that were released for free, or the company that owned the copyright literally does not exist anymore. Like Zeliard!

DRM_free_fan

@ SirEyeball I know the wikipedia list is mostly duds. Which is why I recommend the scummvm and remaininplay links I added in a previous post. Most of the titles in those links are high quality.

SirEyeball

True that there a lot of duds on that list but also a lot of still playable games like Arena and Daggerfall to name a few and I believe one that is already here on GOG StarControl 2 ( I would not mind the Starfleet duo and Starlegions as well but I guess I might be on a limb there)

DRM_free_fan

Wikipedia provides a list of ex-commercial titles (with hyper links). See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_commercial_video_games_released_as_freewareI add that most of these titles are not worth playing.

DRM_free_fan

If, however, you are referring to ex-commercial games - titles that have been released as freeware by the copyright owners - then, by all means, I would love to see more of these on GOG. For a few ex-commercial titles that are now legally freeware see:http://scummvm.org/downloads/#extrashttp://www.remaininplay.com/

DRM_free_fan

If by "abandonware" you are referring to software that copyright owners are not actively defending and/or "orphaned works"; then GOG could never support this.

SirEyeball

I would love to have the old Bards tales on here as freeware

Fenrir007

Skyroads is freeware

nrjank

In the United States, no PC software has lapsed into the public domain, thanks to copyright extensions. But a lot of people consider Abandonware to include games where the publisher or rights holder exists, could be found, could be contacted about redistribution rights, etc. However the author/publisher has decided to let the old title collect dust 'unavailable' in any legally obtainable form. I think those are the games that this request would apply to. Games from the 1980's that can only be found/downloaded illegally at the moment, but we'd love to toss a few bucks at a version that is legal and we know will work in a modern OS.

thereidys1

I have massive issues with setting up Daggerfall. Arena and other DOS games work fine but having that would be brilliant. (Not sure if abandonware or just freeware) FUTURAMA FTW

ilivanov

ascendancy will be really great addition

dosgames84

Dreamweb is Freeware too. Downloadable on ScummVM.org... incredible genius game

SirPrimalform

PlanesWalker1337 - "abandonware is when a game is so old that the copyright has expired and hasnt been renewed so not all games are abandonware" . . No, you're thinking of 'public domain'. Given the current state of copyright law in most countries, I don't think any game is old enough to have fallen into public domain by itself.

SirPrimalform

Oh good god. How did this get 8000+ votes? GOG CANNOT ADD ABANDONWARE, IT'S COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. GOG has released, can release and should continue to release freeware after making a deal with the copyright owner. GOG has not released, cannot release and should not release abandonware.

blakeocity

Nice idea. Yes please!

Shiuman

If more abandonware games were here, maybe more people would come and buy other titles.

martiz

Dreamweb has been released as freeware if anyone is interested: http://www.scummvm.org/news/20121021/

XDMickeYXD

Impossible Creatures was a great RTS.

AwesomeTingle

Yes! Do this! We need more good free games

Rincewind1986

Great idea!

Ura1987

Dark Colony is a very nice abandomware rts game

Johnnybegood4281

Elite or Elite Plus would be a great addition .

Johnnybegood4281

How about the 80's version of Star Command by Strategic Simulations Inc.It is easily one of the best Scifi Inc.It.'s I have ever played.

Heartsib

I would love to see the "Wolf" and "Lion" sims here!

Revan67

I would love to see more abandonware.

Dassie14

I agree with adding Arena and Daggerfall