What Makes A Game Abandonware

[kev123]

Is it the fact that it is over 5 years old?

If so does that mean that windows 98 is abandonware?

sorry saw this was "general talk"

didn't realise it was Multiplayer - Please move!!

[Danny252]

^_^ someone who knew they posted wrong
well, anyway, the definition for abandonware (as I remember) is:
8 years old or more
Not sold by ANYONE (ok, maybe ebay..)
Not ESA protected
The company is not Lucasarts or Sierra (they almost never let anything become abandonware if they made it)

[kev123]

what about kingsquest, Spacequest police quest Etc for sierra and monkey island for lucas arts??

[Havell]

Monkey Island is not Abandonware and is not on any true abandonware site. The quest games aren't either, the reason that they are on the site is that there is an agreement with Sierra.

[kev123]

Oh right the monkey islands are here but not for download sorry

[BeefontheBone]

there's a few reviews up for games that are ESA protected, like the MI ones and Raptor for instance.

[Eagle of Fire]

I am really wondering what this thread have to do with multiplayer games... :blink:

[kev123]

sorry saw this was "general talk"

didn't realise it was Multiplayer - Please move!!

I think I answered that in the first post Maybe its a good idea to read all posts before you say something useless!!

[BeefontheBone]

Erm, fair enough you did say that, but there's no need to slam other members, particularly the active and generally useful ones like EoF - check the group and postcount, bud.

[kev123]

Originally posted by Eagle of Fire@Apr 29 2005, 10:33 PM
I am really wondering what this thread have to do with multiplayer games... :blink:
wouldn't take me long to get a post count like that if I posted a useless comment in every topic either

[Jman4117]

let me guess....you are 8 years old?... :eeeeeh:

[Timpsi]

Age isn't an issue - it depends on ehwther the software is still supported by the creator and whether it is still possible to acquire the title from them. Just being old has nothing to do with the abandonware status.

Also, Abandonia (and for example HOTU) takes the matter one step ahead and links to webstores that sell the title.

Technically, the ESA thing doesn't mean the game wouldn't be abandonware. It just means that there's an organisation preventing offering the titles for download.

[a1s]

well, how do you know if the game is still supported- they might not have any demos, or patches, and it might take tech support a whole 10 minutes to understand what you are talking about, and still they could claim they supprort it.


As for EoF, we can all see the bundle of medals on his chest, but it doesn't kill one to read the previous posts (especialy if there are only 6 of them :)), if anything, just to see if your opinion has allready been expressed or answer given. and Eagle isn't the only person on this forum who has this trait...

[GraveDigger]

Noun: Abandonware

Computer software that is no longer marketed or distributed by the company that created it or the copyright holder, but obtainable from some other source.

Quote: WordWeb

[Borodin]

Originally posted by GraveDigger@May 2 2005, 03:41 AM
Noun: Abandonware

Computer software that is no longer marketed or distributed by the company that created it or the copyright holder, but obtainable from some other source.

Quote: WordWeb
That may be their definition, but a realworld one would have to note that several game companies no longer distribute or market certain titles--yet still own them, have plans for them, and will prosecute their free distribution by third parties.

[LordHart]

Originally posted by kev123@Apr 29 2005, 08:24 PM
If so does that mean that windows 98 is abandonware?
If Microsoft was not an ESA member, then in 2007 when they drop support for it, it would have likely been classed as Abandonware by many people in the abandonware community. I believe a few warez places and such try to suggest that Windows 95 is abandonware.