Because I really want to play it but I don't want to get it illegally.
AFAIK it isn't on GoG, Steam or any other online game sellers, except abandonsites.

Nothing is legally "abandonware" unless the developers/publishers release it as freeware. I'm not sure about the state of this game as the developers seem to have been long out of business.
Edit: It looks like their (European )publisher was acquired by Take-Two Interactive, so maybe they have the rights?

If you mean "Is Powerslave/Exhumed legally sold anywhere" then the answer right now seems to be "no", so the only way to get is either via used copies or abondonware.

Keep in mind that abandonware is not legal, (it is piracy where the right-holders no longer care), so your question is a contradiction in terms.


Edit: I might add, though, that it is one of the games it is rumored Night Dive is working on - but the rights to that game is in a right royal mess

Yes, it may be. Because I asked bluntly.
When I asked, I didn't know abandonware was illegal. I thought the developers either didn't care due to low sales, or that the devs were out of business. Now when I know it's illegal, I rather buy a used copy from eBay. With box, disc and all.

If you are so righteous about this matter than go eBay (just as example)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXHUMED-aka-Powerslave-Pc-Cd-Rom-ORIGINAL-BIG-BOX-FAST-SECURE-POST-/181605119529?pt=UK_PC_Video_Games_Video_Games_JS&hash=item2a48823629

I just added that to the wishlist :) Thanks though. Legal is the best way to go.

Yeah, 'abandonware' pretty much means 'Not added to GOG... yet' these days, especially with people like Night Dive now on the case - the term pre-dates our Polish friends and their games rights necromancy!

except gOg, by their own admission, have more or less stopped focusing on reviving old games. They will take them as they come along, that's all. It seems that if what you really want is old classics back onto the marked, our Polish friends are making themselves more and more marginalised. Which is a shame, I think.

For now, you can also try the shareware demo.

Used to play that alot. Now on the other hand I'm having a hard time getting it to run proper on DOSBox without flickering.
Switching to vesa in the conf doesn't help either.

playmates was the usa publisher
so either bmg interactive ( ie rockstar ie take two ) or playmates still have a stake in it

take two seems more likley

Thanks a whole bunch, that actually helped. :)

Except that in the last public conference they explicitly said that they were going on a mission to Japan to woo the Japanese publishers and are opening offices in LA to be closer to the Americans to get those deals done and get the 'triple A's' of yesteryear back on the market...

I hope they manage, and they will no longer make statements like "the well is dried up"....