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Rockstar Republishes Wild Metal For Free

Posted by simoniker on from the now-that's-wild dept.

Thanks to several readers for pointing to the download section on the official Rockstar Games site, where they've just released full PC title Wild Metal (also sometimes known as Wild Metal Country) for free download. The page explains: "Another vintage title from Rockstar North, then known as DMA Design, Wild Metal (1999) is a 3D strategic vehicular combat game." The game originally debuted on the Sega Dreamcast, with the PC version getting a limited release, and a C+VG review mentions "this is a good [LAN-specific?] multiplayer game... lots of tanks, lots of ammo, lots of big explosions." The original, top-down view Grand Theft Auto is also available for download on the site.

5 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Three Cheers... by roseblood · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...for Rockstar! The game would have otherwise been abandon-ware and never again seen the light of day. But they apparently see the value of releasing older games as a marking moev to gain better exposure and build a customer base (those who get the old game today might get a new game tomorrow, and that's money in Rockstar's pockets!)

    --
    There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
    1. Re:Three Cheers... by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Companies whine about their titles being put up for download as abandonware, but the majority don't do anything about it. There are, in my eyes, two general solutions.

      1.) Rerelease the game, either solo or as part of a collection. Not exactly gamer-friendly, but at least the company is showing that they do have a legitimate use for their older titles.

      2.) Authorize free download of it. This is the course that Rockstar and several other companies have taken, and it's worked wonders. Having a chance to play games like Grand Theft Auto and Hidden and Dangerous again for free is a great thing for us gamers.

      This is the best way to combat abandonware - take it into your own hands. Makes gamers happy, great positive publicity, another use for those older titles...what more could a game publisher ask for?

      --
      Goo goo g'joob.
  2. Re:Wild metal conspiracy by MachDelta · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Whoa, whoa, whoa - put away the tinfoil hat there dude. The reason they don't want others distributing the file (or even links), is because they want people to actually have to stop by their website. Its all about advertising. They give away a free (classic) game, which makes them look good, and attracts attention. Then, people flock to download it from their site - and while they're there, they get to look at all the pretty ads and maybe browse around while they're D/Ling. Spread the word, maybe make a sale or two... all for the cost of bandwidth. If they just let the file run free on BT's and whatnot, no one would have a reason to stop by the R* website. Thats all. :)

  3. Re:Wild metal conspiracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here's my MD5 sum:
    0xgetatinfoilhatyoufreak

  4. When Free Isn't Free Enough by jvmatthe · · Score: 4, Insightful
    You GNU folks in the audience should like this one.

    I'm in favor of giving away games for free. Honestly I am. But Sometimes Free Isn't Free Enough explains why game companies should be doing the free games thing a bit differently.

    The upshot is: learn from id Software. Their games will now live forever, with no overhead for the developer, because they released their source. Even source releases under a not-quite-free license would be better than a binary-only release. As a bonus, the game assets (graphics, models, music, sounds, etc.) can all be sold for use with the freely available clients, providing a small trickle of income over the longer term.

    Anyway, I got flamed for this in the comments on the story when I wrote it, and I expect more, so FLAME ON! :^)

    --
    Curmudgeon Gamer: Not happy