OT - What was your first TBS/War game?

[rdouglass]

Originally posted by Taz-in-Space:
First one?

Hmmm, I think it was: Reach for the stars
for the Apple II+ A primitive (by SE4 standards) Space 4X game. Anyone remember this???

(Taz feeling REALLY old now... must rest!)

That was one of my fav's as well, but I remember playing it on a Mac Plus in '86. I didn't know they made it for the II. However I do remember AutoDuel for the II+, now that was one of my all-time greatest games for eating up all my time. Anyone remember AutoDuel? Taz?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

a note, P, technically abandonware's illegal.

[Puke]

no, techically its a large grey area of debate. copyrights do expire, and must be actively defended to cary any weight. some games that are advertised as abandonware are actually not, as they are still available commercially in compilations and collections - and more recently in packages that come with emulators and arcade consoles.

there is no sweeping illegality of abandonware, as it depends on each individual case. do some research into copyright law, or just read the press about it.

Most abandonware sites (including the one referenced) remove links to games that are commercially available, and instead provide information regarding where the game can be purchassed. They are, in fact, good citizens with a healthy respect for the law and intelectual property rights. please refrain from making unfounded acusations of theviery, without knowledge of the facts.

This is not to say that a previously abandoned piece of software can not become commercial again, if someone acquires the publishing rights and decides to sell it. It is then the responsibility of the copyright holder to notify people whom are distributing the software without authorization - in which case abandonware sites will generally cease distribution of that particular piece of software, and instead link to where it can be purchased.

For this reason, it is a truely bothersome hassel to operate an abandonware site, with the constantly shifting availablility of some titles, and the fluctuating interest / disintrest of the current copyright holders. It is truely a commendable effort to put up with all that crap, for seemingly no profit to themselves. We're lucky someone is willing to do it, or these great titles would be lost.

[Gryphin]

Puke, could you please edit your post to shorten the string with "ohmygod". It is making it hard for others to read it because they need to scroll left to right.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

P, it was underdogs itself which posted a notice saying abandonware is illegal. i certainly do not say that a person who download's abandonware is a horrible person; it is only technically illegal as someone does hold the copyright but no damage is done to them except on the off-chance they decide to sell it again. i don't see how not selling a product looses the company the copyright.

[TerranC]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
P, it was underdogs itself which posted a notice saying abandonware is illegal.

Abandonware is not illegal; circulating old titles and using the term abandonware as an excuse to circulate such old titles even when companies that own such unabandoned-wares still sell them is illegal.

A game is classified as an abandonware when the game becomes abandoned, hence the term, for various reasons, and it becomes no-one's property.

When it becomes nobody's property, it should free to distribute, and it does become free to distribute, as if you were handing out pieces of garbage.

As such, The-Underdogs only post download links to games that are out of stock; It does not offer free downloads of, let's say, Simcity 2000 since it is still sold by Maxis, and is still owned by Electronic arts.

So it is illogical to call true abandonware illegal.

Furthermore, I'd like to see where you got your statement from Narf; I consider myself a The-underdogs regular, and I have never seen such a statement made by the website.

Edit: And on topic: The first war game I fell in love with was, and still is, SE4.

[ January 26, 2004, 22:52: Message edited by: TerranC ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

i can't remember, it was years ago.

so, again, what would constitute abandonware and how would that void the copyright?

[TerranC]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
what would constitute abandonware and how would that void the copyright?

- Discontinued Games - for various reasons, but mostly because of failed sales expectations

- Disowned Games - also for various reasons, but mostly because of Company takeovers, bankrupcy, etc.

- Games which their Copyrights have expired and were not renewed by their companies of ownership

- Games released into the public (this one's in a grey area)

- Games without copyright whatsoever

And so on, and so on, IMHO.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

well, this page was certainly interesting: http://www.the-underdogs.org/scratch.php

but it's no longer my turn on the computer.

thanks.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

what about that 'failure to enforce any portion of this agreement does not constitute a waiver of any portion of this agreement' etc. part of eula's?