With a full set of files you can use alternatives even for modern systems. In the case of Lucasfilm/LucasArts games there is for example DREAMM as an alternative for ScummVM:

https://aarongiles.com/dreamm/

With DREAMM you can run these games more like they did on original hardware. But DREAMM also requires the executables:

"Important: DREAMM requires the original executable file in order to run a game. Many Steam releases and a few GOG releases fail to include this critical file, and so DREAMM won’t be able to identify those games."

DREAMM is also one possible way to run Escape from Monkey Island on modern systems. It is not supported in the current stable releases of ScummVM and it is bugged in the daily releases.

Then there is the specific case of Lure of the Temptress. It is partially broken in ScummVM (this includes the latest release).
https://www.gog.com/forum/lure_of_the_temptress/is_this_game_just_fundamentally_broken
https://www.gog.com/forum/lure_of_the_temptress/glitched_movement_in_this_version

It is better to use DOSBox for this game. But you need the missing executable to do so.

And then there are still games like Loom where the uncensored EGA version is missing. The short audio drama is also absent.

There is absolutely not one single reason to not release the full set of files for every ScummVM supported game or old game in general. What the people are doing with the files, e.g. using alternatives on modern systems or running it on original hardware, is a different story.

SCUMM is great, I like how it makes games work out of the box. So please do not stop releasing SCUMM versions of DOS games. Of course, having the original executables is also good and desired by some customers as proved by this thread, so I'm all for having them as well - just not at the expense of SCUMM.

Yes. I mentioned it because there are two additional ways to run the game and ScummVM isn't always the best choice. The advantage of DREAMM is to run the game more similar to the experience on original hardware.

Yes, ResidualVM - which was based on ScummVM - was basically a one man project. It now got integrated into ScummVM, but it still doesn't have the highest priority.

However ... so far I could play MI4 just fine.
Before Residual I used dgVoodoo for it and had to tweak around a bit to avoid the lines between the 2D tiles but that worked as well.


I used to have all these games in a DOS folder, but I prefer playing the games in ScummVM for it's different rendering modes and much better support of General Midi / Roland. Also they use a standardized savegame format (except for very few games like Fascination - I don't know why).

Heck, to complete my collection I bought some games on GOG because they are supported by ScummVM, I probably would not have touched them otherwise.

I can see both sides of the argument; but there is a slightly stronger bias on the OP.

1) GOG mission is in preserving games; if that is the case, I don't see a problem in including the original media (and in some cases they do include the original version of the game)

2) Nobody said that they need to "support" DOS; but if you have websites that have zip archive with the actual "abandonware" of an application; would make sense for GOG to offer the same as legit, when offering the Scumm version of the games for example. Most of the work has been done already; like asking for licensing and "cracking" the game so it can run without protections after all; as all the GOG games do not require the manuals or paper wheels with codes that old games had.

3) Having the chance to install old games on old hardware like W98 or XP is one of the reasons why I get games on GOG; as the fact that I have games in electronic format that can run without a CD, so I can preserve my original CDs and as bonus I don't need to use a physical media to play games. These are already compelling reasons to buy on GOG; but having also the chance to get these adventures on DOS would be nice. I don't think GOG support neither XP nor W98, and yet I can use the installers on both OS and get the games going without issues.

So to recap:
- They are here to make money, but they marketed their service to collectors and retro gamers; and saving an offline installer with a game that does not require a media to be played is part of preservation for many of us.
- They do not need to support a game on an ancient platform; just offer the original media as other illicit sites do, as bonus when getting the modified game they sell.

If there is no media that's OK; but I find it silly and depressing that I can find almost every old game cracked online for free; and when I want to buy it legit I have to deal with Scumm conversions. That is an oxymoron to be honest