There are three things that break any genuine PC game over the years:

- DRM (I'm looking at that StarForce thing);
- Backends... Yeah, these things break for obvious reasons on new GPUs;
- Audio drivers in some cases.

All the other things that can cause games to break on newer systems are rare, and in many cases specific to obscure software/hardware combinations.

Fortunately, scene groups for decades have resolved the first issue (DRM), in most cases. If it weren't for these guys, physical games that never saw the light of any digital store would be completely unplayable (I'm still looking at you, evil lady StarForce).

The second issue (backends, APIs, I never know what to call it), were resolved by fans, great programmers passionate about games, examples: cnc-ddraw, the one already mentioned in the DxWrapper topic, among tons of patches and source ports released for decades. By the way, a side note for source ports: Releasing game source code with the aim of preservation would be a great way forward. Good thing Mr. John Carmack saw this need decades ago! Thanks John! Thanks to your altruistic vision I can play DOOM, QUAKE 1, 2 and 3 even in blenders, refrigerators and in the toilet at my grandmother's house.

Finally, and in short, the solution to the last question is the same as the first question, as previously stated, in some cases it can cause problems, rare cases, but even so it requires a little attention.

Footnote: Emulation of portable and desktop consoles was, and will always be, the salvation of many games on these systems. It is also a way to take the art/culture of games to all corners of the world. Unfortunately, not everyone looks at emulators favorably. Now I'm looking at you, coughing, coughing... Nintendo... (well, that topic is for another place, hehe XD).

Is it the case though, that every old game needs to be preserved, especially when the differences between some of them are very minimal?

Just like you wouldn't save every old building would you, only the important ones.

Important doesn't always mean good.

No doubt there would be a subjective element though, so some kind of consensus would need to occur.

In fact! This is also an important point. Examples of this: Diablo, Warcraft 1 and 2 as well as Metal Gear Solid received special attention in bug fixes, and many well-known PC games also received a lot of attention, examples: Heroes of Might and Magic III, System Shock 1 and 2 ( especially 2). All other games for the most part, those less known or loved among a small or large group, are being left to the flies, unfortunately. =/

It immediately came to my mind: Superman 64 and Mortal Kombat - Special Forces! The two worst of both worlds? XD

Well, the problem with the industry, in order to understand them better: A majority of those is not really interested into preserving a classic game in the best shape possible because a game is not really worth its software.. instead the true value is its "IP" with the franchise attached to it, simply its name.

If i would be the most powerful entity ever seen and i would ask Square Enix, "You got 2 choices, either the name Final Fantasy will cease to exist, forever... only its name, nothing else... or you have to make open source any software you ever made which is older than 10 years."

I am almost sure... they would vote for "Open Source", although both scenarios are considered fatal for them.

So, a IP can be recreated over and over again including countless remakes/remasters, but as long as the name is not "burned into most of the gamers mind" it can be very ineffective. Reason why Square Enix actually made so many "lazy ports" with inferior quality... yet the fans are fixing and patching up almost any "ugly thing" they ever released. Because those fans love the game and even more the name... so the name is the true value, not the game itself. Not much reason contacting GOG because their main interest is "generating new income"; not to preserve something.

However... a newer or new game is not necessarily better, not even with "cutting edge tech". I am a lover of the good old "Phantasy Star Online Episode 1&2", yet the official server has been shut down for 15 years already. Up to this point the official support was already pretty low because there was almost no updates nor "life-service" going on. Still... many of the fans love this game, no matter how few of them are around and in my mind... the new and apparently "supreme" PSO2 which is still supported by Sega with many updates... is a inferior game. It is just way to bloated... it lacks any charm... and the good old simplistic design... a easy access for almost any player. To me.. i have almost no love for this soul-less new PSO2. I play it for free on my PS5 but everytime i log into this game i always think "Oh... not so great... i get some rewards i never cared about on a game i barely... not even for free... can feel the love for" so i look around a bit... watch some new "clothes collectors" bragging around in the lobby with... and then i am gone after... for many more months.

Mainwhile... some "fans" are keeping up a free private server on the old PSO BB (which is basically with EP4 added) and even without any official support for nearly 2 decades... the game still got the charme and identity any other PSO (Online) never had... and the classic episodes (1+2) can even be played offline without a server.

If Sega would have developed this classic game properly.... i do not dare to imagine what could have come out of it. It will probably never happen; because in the "new age" gamers seem to have a extraordinary weird taste with things like "Fortnite" even the little chields know this game well (way below the intended age)... yet. the fans simply try to keep up this heritage of very "different" games on their own.

For me it is totally clear... a great work and a great art is never "Out of date" and its preservation is critical... although, just as i told; most companies do not really think this way, unless they can make some serious money out of it... and they will only support it as long as there is a sufficient amount of popularity surrounding it.

At least PSO2 is able to survive thanks to near a million purchase-able clothes and whatelse... yet way lesser because of its supreme gameplay nor its "social features". I almost feel, the only reason games like Fortnite are so successful... and why a inferior PSO2 can be keept alive for a huge timeline... is because it is stimulating the egoistic greed of a huge mass and they are wiling to pay near endless coins for it, it seems... and ultimately... a game will be keept up for as long as the totally overbloated cash-stream is keeping it alive... not much further than this.

What goes beyond this... need the support of those without such "temporary or limited interests"... those who simply love the work and art, nothing else.

I mean, the fans actually did great work on that old "console version" of PSO EP 1+2, because... although it still looks nice... because it was just so advanced already, several decades ago: There are now even texture mods applied and if those are used as well... holla... the game looks better than almost any "modern Indie game" and its art is better than many "new hype games" (made by using a charm-less UE engine, able to offload the important art creation)... yet it is almost as old as a shattered rock... and... some fans are able to polish it that well... it is still a shiny crystal never truly becoming "old". Guess... if the industry continues to be so "soul-less"... i am gonna slowly turn into a "classic gamer". There are way more games like this... but it is always good bringing out some good examples.

So you're saying we needing some lords and ladys of the flies?

Honestly, I don't understand your question.

No worries as it wasn't being a serious question. For reference, look at the plot summary of lord of the flies.

The idea of how many years does it take before grave robbing is to be considered archaeology really applies well here. When a game gets removed from the only marketplace where it was purchasable (screw this digital only age we are running towards), going yo ho ho is actually preservation.

I read the summary... Interesting story!
After reading an analysis, I found this part very interesting:

"Lord of the Flies is a book about human evil, which is inherent to us. It calls into question substantial differences between adults and children. It denounces the romantic naivety of savage nobility. It is a definitive narrative of the loss of our innocence. We are not, and We were never innocent. We are perhaps pure instinct, disguised in a cunning reason and a malignancy disguised in rules of coexistence that many do not respect."

Thanks for the tip! =)

I was being quite preservationist back in the day. Ah the memories!
No problem!

... and then there's the real-life opposite of it.