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<i>Today is the last day for our Hidden Gems Summer Extravaganza! To celebrate today's hidden gem, we're adding soundtracks, artworks, wallpapers, and a reference card to [url=http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/independence_war_deluxe]Independence War Deluxe's bonus content. We've also added soundtracks to Independence War 2's bonus materials today. Pick that game up while you're at it for double the rockin' soundtrack awesomeness.

As our catalog gets bigger and better every week, it's easy to lose track of some of the awesome games that we have to offer. We've been running one day "Gaming Gem" promos for a while now to highlight some classic titles that don't get the love of some of our best-known blockbusters like Baldur's Gate or Duke Nukem 3D. We think every game we're going to be offering on our Summer GOG.com Gem Extravaganza will be an excellent title, and we hope you give them all a try.

Dear Smartypants McAdviceColumnist;

I am looking to pursue a career as a commander of an interstellar dreadnought. What should I do to train myself in preparation? I am 12.

--Starstruck

P.S.
What did you do to make your mother hate you so much she named you "Smartypants McAdviceColumnist"?

Dear Starstruck;

The studious youth looking to command a space ship across the interstellar lanes of space is probably doomed to a life of bitter disappointment and alcoholism, but with that proviso in place I would recommend that you investigate sophisticated simulations like such as "Independence War Deluxe". With Newtonian physics and a realistic flight model, this simulation brings a level of realism unseen in the space fighter sim market. As it turns out, controlling a wallowing space turkey armed to the teeth with particle beams is a more complicated endeavor than flying around in your space superiority fighter, and the skills you would learn from this game would prepare you well for your career.

Although horrible little children who mock others' names are more likely to find themselves in dull jobs like "Xeno-Accountant" or "Spacesuit Protein Spill Recovery Expert".

A complex storyline and branching mission structure combine with respectable graphics and a UI that helps make sense of the intricate issues that a space commander would need to balance help even terrible people like you feel in command of their hollow lives or, at least, the simulation.

Basically, I am suggesting that you pick up Independence War Deluxe for just $2.39, as the happy times that you spend pretending that you have a future will soon be eclipsed by the bleak despair of a grey and dull life wasted.

Best of Luck, Starstruck!

--Smartypants MsAdviceColumnist
Just to radically change the conversation...

I just picked up this game, the only one from the whole promo, I had been tempted for quite a while now.
Pulled the trigger on this one, purchased six from this awesome sale, Thanks GOG for giving us the opportunity to get these gems at these ridiculously low prices!
Not my cup of tea.
Shame. Come home with aching feet and heavy shopping bags to find a game I'm not really interested in.

I was hoping this last one would be one I pounced on. Never mind.
Thanks god for having sparef me from temptation ...

I couldn't have resisted some games in the catalogue (phantasmagoria f.i ) , but I wasn't very tempted by what was offered on sale. I only bought Enclave, to give it a try on a rainy day.
Man, we'll never get System Shock on GoG, won't we? :(

EDIT: I was hoping to get Evil Genius on discount at least, but no luck. 10 bucks is a bit too much for me.
Post edited July 25, 2011 by ColdZer0
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ColdZer0: Man, we'll never get System Shock on GoG, won't we? :(

EDIT: I was hoping to get Evil Genius on discount at least, but no luck. 10 bucks is a bit too much for me.
What has System Shock got to do with Hidden Gems? :)
Slightly disappointed with the last promo if I'm being totally honest. The last two games have not appealed to me at all; on the plus side I now have two days worth of money saved up which will buy me one from blood, commandos or desperados. This will be the last game I get then until my wife gets me some Christmas presents. Decisions, decisions. :-)
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wolfsnake: Slightly disappointed with the last promo if I'm being totally honest. The last two games have not appealed to me at all; on the plus side I now have two days worth of money saved up which will buy me one from blood, commandos or desperados. This will be the last game I get then until my wife gets me some Christmas presents. Decisions, decisions. :-)
Frankly , I would rather have a good, faithfull, loyal and loving wife than any "blood, commandos or desperados" game. However , as I am both rather special, picky (seen from other peoples point of view) and got a lot of extremely unpopular point of views and opinions then I don't expect to get what I really wish for in my heart. ;-)
Post edited July 25, 2011 by FiatLux
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ColdZer0: Man, we'll never get System Shock on GoG, won't we? :(

EDIT: I was hoping to get Evil Genius on discount at least, but no luck. 10 bucks is a bit too much for me.
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tarasis: What has System Shock got to do with Hidden Gems? :)
It's nowhere to be seen on GoG :) I need it.
My first pickup on the Hidden Gems though a couple of others tempted me greatly, I have Independence War 2 and heard this was a better game. Its great to play space sims albeit old ones since the genre has kind of been dead for a decade.
Today I was inspired to go to goodwill and buy a joystick for this game and freespace. :D
4$, the joystick works like a charm!
I got:

Celtic Kings
Septerra Core
Enclave
Lords of the Realm
The Longest Journey
Dark Reign
Independence War

I already had Unreal Gold, Freedom Force vs. the 3rd Reich, and Uru on Steam, and In Cold Blood on the Playstation. And I totally would have bought Sanitarium and Earth 2150, but I was out of town and had no computer access when this sale started. Bah.
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tarasis: What has System Shock got to do with Hidden Gems? :)
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ColdZer0: It's nowhere to be seen on GoG :) I need it.
I think its because of the System Shocks engine, which is also used on Thief 1 and 2. That engine has some terrible compatibility issues with modern PC and OS. Even on xp, which is already old enough, it doesnt work out of the box. To make matters worse, the studio that made these games was shut down a long time ago, and even though community is asking for it, Eidos (the publisher of these games) seems to have absolutely no interest in releasing the source code or do something to help bring these games back to modern systems.

However, it is still possible to get these games working on a modern PC with Windows 7, im playing Thief myself on Windows 7 x64 on a Core i7, but you need patches and fixes made by the community. I really dont think GOG can put a game here that relies exclusively on patches made by the community to work. I think GOG would need proper developers tools to put the game here.

So if i were you, i wouldnt really expect to see System Shock here anytime soon.

About todays deal, i was kind of disappointed, i was waiting for something really big on the last day of hidden gems. Unfortunately for me, i lost some deals on games i wanted because i couldnt access my PC.
That's a very bigoted statement to make about people from the third world......I am from India and I don't see myself asking anyone for free gifts.....It's understandable if you happen to be around 8 years old or so living on an allowance . However everyone else should be able to fend for themselves.Especially since the prices on GOG are very low....$9.99 for a game like baldurs gate or the witcher isn't asking for much.
Post edited July 26, 2011 by Lionel212008