Not a "legal" version. But in the case of this game, and the copyright hell it's stuck in, I wouldn't see anything morally wrong with that portable version.

No, I'm not wrong, there's plenty of games out there where there are no legitimate copies available for sale.

Ever notice how nearly all the links for purchase on abandonware sites are for used copies? It's because those are the copies that are available for sale, and often times it takes a really long time to track down a working copy of a game. Often times it's not possible. Good luck trying to buy a copy of a game that was released on Floppy 20 years a go.

IIRC, when GoG announced they snatched up EA, they said (I think in a video interview) that they've contracts for 25 games. They've thus far delivered 13 of them, or 19 of them, if they were speaking of packaged deals as individual games bundled together (ie- Do they consider Ultima 1-2-3 as one of the twenty-five, or three of the twenty-five?).

So according to my calculations, GoG either has 12 or 6 more EA titles to deliver, that they already have under contract.

I collected old games for a loooooong time and never had a game not have copies available somewhere. No matter what you think of that though, my definition of abandonware is still the correct one. You might not agree that it's okay, but that is the definition.

No, your's isn't the definition, never has been. The reason why the definition stands as I put it is because abandonware sites don't want to get sued, and ultimately they're the ones that defined the term as there is no legal construct to rely upon.

Abandonware sites are there so as to provide access to games which are out of print and no longer commonly available. I'm sure there probably are a few copies available, but that doesn't mean that they're available for purchase or that people know where to find them.

Ultimately, if you can find a copy on the second hand market with a 10 second google search it's not abandonware and no amount of rationalizing changes that fact. It's just as much piracy as if the developer was still selling it, at least in cases where one can't find a copy there's at least a plausible argument to be made that one isn't liable for damages in the event that EA or whoever has bought the rights decides to sue.

You two, don't make me get the hose! ;p

You realize the abandon in abandonware is referencing how the publisher or rights holder has "abandoned" the game, right? It's like you're arguing with me about what water is or what the sky is... these things are defined. Abandonware is software no longer supported, sold or made available by the rights holder. That is what the term means.

Now if you do not personally agree with downloading software "commonly" available used or re-sold new on ebay or amazon then okay, that's fine. It's your right to disagree with that practice, though I have no idea why you so gallantly defend the profiteering of resellers. Don't say used boxes on ebay make a game not abandonware though, you just look silly.

Personally, I don't give a shit if it is sold or abandonware. I downloaded a copy and just play that. Maybe one day GOG will get it.

You can grab the first one from Abandonia. The second one, well, you're on your own :)