Most often it's licensing reasons, though a few times it's technical reasons that prevent those. There are a few threads about the licensing issues games have, and those should include one about 3rd party license games (Star Trek, real car racing games, movie tie-ins), 1st party license (2000AD), public domain 3rd party license (Sherlock Holmes) and there's also a thread where GOGlodytes try to uncover the people who own the license to a game, with quite a few successes.

For the specific games you've asked, GOG does seem to have a contract with the rights holders, but no idea if the hold up is on the rights holders side or GOG's. Best I could suggest would be to raise awareness of the relevant wishlist entries, and send a tweet or e-mail to the rights holders (EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Tommo etc). But few discuss ongoing negotiations, and fewer still discuss non-existent ones.
Apologies, went by GOG's release date, which is for the English release of the Gold Edition. 2003 for the German one, 2005 for the English one.

So scratch that example, reply for the others.

I don't recall there being much of problems getting the original (CD-version) of System Shock running on DOSBox.

But then, you really need the mouse mod for it which changes the controls more like a modern game, with proper mouse aim and WASD controls. The game controls are much more enjoyable with it. I originally played it without that mod.


As for the definition of "classic"... for some it probably means "something I can't already buy from Steam", regardless of its age. The people who would buy from GOG only the obscure games that don't find their way to Steam for some reason. Is e.g. Shadow Man a classic? Did these people buy it from GOG, or Steam?

The word "classic" refers to quality, not age.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/classic

It was in English in 2003.

I bet you love your spreadsheets. =P

Edit: Also, arguing with Crosmando is not a good use of time. He likes to be quite the contrarian if you hadn't noticed by now.

maybe we should start complaining that gOg do not release more antique games?

These might be post-2K games technically, but all of them have something in common, I'll let you guess. Cult classic. Basically a late 90's game with extended development. None of these are classics. They are modern games. God no.

They are all sequels or in same series and are re-using engines/assets from previous games during the 90's.

I like to think of GOG as not just Good Old Games literally, but also Good Old Games metaphorically, as in a throwback to days when games didn't have DRM.

So, old games, new games, and actual classics, as long as they don't have DRM all qualify for me.

However, like many of you I'd love to see more 90s era games on here.

Gold Edition. Which includes Night of the Raven. Translated in English in 2005. Base Gothic 2 game was available in English in 2003, Gold Edition wasn't.

They do not satisfy you, since they don't run in DOSBox or ScummVM. Am I right, or are you wrong?

Why is this in a different category from the others? This also doesn't satisfy you, since it's not DOSBox or ScummVM game, yet you do consider it a classic. Hm, weird...


OCPD actually, though I do every now and then stop paying attention to them.

Dead in current mafia game, so I do have to have my fun somewhere. Why not here?
So a 2004 game that reuses assets from a 1999 game can be considered a classic? Like Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire?

JMich, here's a better task for you, list me some post-2K games which not PC exclusive, which you would consider classics.

And then list how many post-2K games you would consider classic, which are PC exclusive.
You said Gothic 2, not Gothic 2 Gold. No, I wouldn't personally consider Arcanum a classic because it it way too flawed, I would consider it a good game though. It does have a strong following in dedicated RPG audiences though, which is why I said cult classic. Same could be said for Troika games though. Your taking what I said too literally, what I mean is that if GOG wants to show their serious about classics, then best to go right for an oldie on DOS/SVM, rather than so-so titles from 2004 or something. Hmmm, Wildfire is weird because it started out as a mod I believe, and it wasn't developed by Sir-Tech, but I'll say yes.

I wanted to join the discussion but nah... I will do something crazy instead. I'll play some games that I already own. Madness, isn't it? ;)

yes I'm sick of this discussion already

I do believe that the OP (original poster of thread) has agreed, like most of the rest of us, that the consideration of Classic status is not confined to a period of time, or age of a game.

Thus, we must conclude that the term Classic is subjective, when applied to many things, including gaming, and may be viewed differently through the eyes of each beholder, including disagreement with a community or Industry perspective.

In short, ‘tis quite alright to agree to disagree on what is, or is not, a Classic...