I'll probably get ripped to shreds for using a term that is not a real legal status, but obviously it is a word with /some/ form of meaning. Could we say something like, "Abandonware is not a real legal status, and is illegal (although not necessarily immoral) to download/pirate. However, it can be used to describe games whose IPs are not being actively managed and controlled by their current owners, and therefore have seemingly been "abandoned" and left to be managed by fans of the games." (something like that)

Anyway, actual topic:

So something I think a fair portion of us like about GOG is how they bring dead-but-not-forgotten games back to life, resurrecting them out of obscurity often for the price of 5.99. I was wondering, though, do you think there are ever times when GOG should consider not bringing a game here for a price, even though it might be good and old? Are there times when even good games should be left on places like Abandonia, free and open to those who are willing to fiddle with DOSBox themselves? Does it ever help GOG's image to leave certain classic titles alone and free (for those who like "abandonware" and don't like what GOG does), or should the focus always be on what GOG's customers want (even if that means attaching a 5.99 price tag)?

Not sure how much of this makes sense; I was browsing http://www.gamespot.com/games.html?platform=5&mode=all&sort=release&dlx_type=all&sortdir=desc&official=all&page=15 and somewhere along the line these thoughts came to me.

Would you like some links with GOG games that can be downloaded from abandonware sites? :P Just because GOG sells a game doesn't mean it's being pulled off from anywhere.

In short: No.

I think one thing you are underestimating about GOG is that it doesn't only provide the games, but a stamp of legal legitimacy that is much desired by many gamers. I'd happily pay GOG for any game on abandonia.

Absolutely not, GOG should in no way condone or look idly upon illegal behavior. Part of their reasons for existing is to make such behavior unneccesary.

Just so you know, "free" abandonware downloads are still illegal. Don't get me wrong, I think they are great. But still illegal. GOG gives you a chance to get them legally, too. So why not do so?

*Legitimacy.

Ta, that was my first inkling, I'll edit. It just felt like the wrong word. I tend to spell by feeling, it may sound odd to a non english native linguist, but sometimes words just feel wrong.

Everything in the English language sounds weird to me. Romanian is phonetic, and therefore much easier :P

I'm a Basque native speaker. I sooo get it.

I don't think so. The service has value and if someone who owns the rights wants to sell a game that should be their decision. I only support abandonware as a way to keep lost games available, not as a "these should be free" thing.

test, my post not showing up?

i do think that some older games - including some of those offered on GOG - should officially be given away for free by now. this is out of GOG's hands, of course, but games like the early Ultima titles or Wolfenstein 3D should be legally downloadable for free, like GTA 1 & 2 are, for example.

From my experience most gamers don't play free games, even these older ones who were certainly up for a price at some point. Sadly there is this mentality of value correlating with quality (or should I say polish?). Bringing these games to places like GOG, even if for a price, can increse their visibility and get more people playing them, which is always a good thing.

I wouldn't necessarily call it the "stamp of legality" people want (considering how willing people are to take humble indie bundles apart). But the convenience. Plenty of people are rebuying their disc versions on GOG because, quite frankly, fiddling around for an hour to get a game running is often costly than 6$.

Also, a game being on GOG is very important to "revitalize the brand" so to say. A game that still sells good after fifteen years will turn heads on several levels, which is good.

Now, abandonware, even though illegal, is one of the most noble and important endeavours in this time and age. Because somebody has to take care of those cultural goods. And the owners are often enough either unable or unwilling.

Also, there are games which will never be legally available again (eg licensing). Those games need abandonware sites.

Now, the reason GOG has a game for sale does not mean it is any harder to pirate. Quite the contrary. Even for people with no money for all the games they want, the second a game on GOG is released, it is somewhere on the internet similar to abandonware.