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?
I don't have a problem with video game violence for the most part, but there are a few titles that have taken it too far.
The worst one this year was Manhunt by far, but it's not alone. As it stands, the gaming industry is still not looked positively upon by most people. Games like Manhunt aren't helping the industry at all.
Same thing goes for games like DOA Volleyball and BMX XXX - the sexual content adds nothing to the game, and only hurts the industry.
If we ever want to get to a point where we don't hear constant stories about how gaming influences murderers or makes people violent, reclusive, horny old men, these games will have to stop coming out...or possibly become so mainstream that no one blinks at DOA Extreme Nude Hockey
From what I've read, they're planning a space expansion for sometime in 2004. User owned space craft, gigantic space battles, free reign in space...the works.
It's impossible to alter the games that have already been sold, or at least the PS2 versions. An XBox patch might be possible, and a patch for the PC versions is almost a certainty. Still...what do they do with the PS2 versions?
The hard drive hasn't been released yet, so there appear to be only two viable options. Either try to destroy all existing copies of the game and replace them at no cost, which would cost a huge amount of money, or find some way to alter the game via a file on a memory card.
Neither of these solutions are at all financially feasible for Rockstar. Unless the state of Florida is willing to pay to replace all existing copies of the game, I suggest they stop bitching ASAP.
1.) The game has been released to the public domain
2.) The emulated game was released LEGALLY and you've paid for it.
I'm not saying that I don't use emulated games; that would be a complete lie. I'm just pointing out that there's no way in hell that the 7,000-in-1 is legal.
Just so you know, you're most definitely not the only one who feels this way.
Gabe, of Penny Arcade, covered this about a week ago in their news section (fourth post down, second of Gabe's).
Having new games in unestablished territory would be great. Come to think of it, any games set in timeframes not covered by the movies could be extremely cool. Look at KOTOR. The developers were bound by some basic Star Wars rules, but they didn't have to worry about fitting the storyline into a movie's plot. Not having story constraints almost definitely made the game a better one. It's not a very fair comparison, but...
The Episode I Game = Crappy game
KOTOR = Great game
There's definitely support for games outside of the movie timeframe, but we'll have to wait. Look at how long it's taken to get the original trilogy on DVD.
The way things look right now, it seems like we'll get some non-canon Star Wars games...in 2008.
Hmm...anyone else find it that the game starring a character who inhales his enemies supposedly sucks?
That said, a difference of 2.8 on their rating scale is pretty damn big. We have to remember, though: all ratings are subjective. There are some people out there who probably think that KAR and MK:DD are the Cube's two best games. Obviously, they don't work for IGN.
Anyone can hate any game for any reason. (The previous sentence also works great when you replace "hate" with "like," "love," or their ilk, by the way.) As long as you have fun with the game, it's a good one. Simple as that.
As great as this idea is, it will never happen. The RIAA, MPAA, and the entertainment industry in general will blow their tops if anything similar to this appears in front of Congress.
That said, I love this idea. Do actors and musicians really need millions to live on? No. $40,000 a year should be enough for most of them. Live with one car! One house! Don't buy $1,000 suits! Live like a normal American! You don't NEED to be rich to have a good life!
Beyond that...free is always good. I still don't think it will happen, but I'll support it wholeheartedly if someone tries to make it so.
From what I've heard, PS2 machines are very unreliable. I've had more than a few friends complain about their PS2s not working properly, and I've heard tales of machines that have been sent back to Sony four or five times without any resolution to the problem. Supposedly, the systems have a high return rate because they just don't work like they should. This sounds like a design issue to me.
My suggestion: get the XBox or Cube as they seem to be much more durable than the PS2. And if all else fails...
...get the only current system that physically can't have a disc read error: the Game Boy Advance.
First off: the bundle is more or less a certainty at this point - there's been enough proof to support it (box art, advertisements, etc.) That said...
Supposedly, there are going to be two other ways to get the bonus disc besides getting the bundle. You can either subscribe to Nintendo Power (total cost: $20) or buy two of four games (Mario Party 5, Mario & Luigi, Mario Kart DD, and 1080 Avalanche) and register them online (total cost: $80 minimum, since M&L is a GBA title).
Maybe we won't need to shell out $100 for another Cube after all...
Let's face it: streaming music is nice (and better for the record labels), but it's not the only way to hear it for free.
How to now get free music? There are more than enough geeky MIT students to find a solution to the problem. MIT-only file sharing? Passing around burned copies of CDs? Having everyone switch to using Kazaa? All I know is that something new will show up sooner or later to replace LAMP.
Taking away music from college students won't do anything but make them mad. If this was the RIAA's doing, they've just screwed themselves. Dealing with a few bitter music fans is bad enough; a college campus full could be their undoing...
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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?
The worst one this year was Manhunt by far, but it's not alone. As it stands, the gaming industry is still not looked positively upon by most people. Games like Manhunt aren't helping the industry at all.
Same thing goes for games like DOA Volleyball and BMX XXX - the sexual content adds nothing to the game, and only hurts the industry.
If we ever want to get to a point where we don't hear constant stories about how gaming influences murderers or makes people violent, reclusive, horny old men, these games will have to stop coming out...or possibly become so mainstream that no one blinks at DOA Extreme Nude Hockey
*shudders at the thought*
My $.02
Does this mean that now we'll be mapping het the genome of aliens with AIDS?
Be patient, young Padawan...
They're relatively simple RPGs, but they are RPGs. Leveling up, item collecting, fighting battles against random rats...it's all there.
I know that's not quite what you want, but it's your best option as of now.
...here are the lyrics to the DK Rap.
How the bloody hell is this informative?
If you don't mind me asking, what issue number is it?
It's impossible to alter the games that have already been sold, or at least the PS2 versions. An XBox patch might be possible, and a patch for the PC versions is almost a certainty. Still...what do they do with the PS2 versions?
The hard drive hasn't been released yet, so there appear to be only two viable options. Either try to destroy all existing copies of the game and replace them at no cost, which would cost a huge amount of money, or find some way to alter the game via a file on a memory card.
Neither of these solutions are at all financially feasible for Rockstar. Unless the state of Florida is willing to pay to replace all existing copies of the game, I suggest they stop bitching ASAP.
So when is Take Two going to remove the alleged anti-seagull content from the game?
Now THERE's a minority we don't want to piss off!
*thinks of poo-splattered car* *shudders*
You've got a pink slip!
Emulation is illegal in all cases but two:
1.) The game has been released to the public domain
2.) The emulated game was released LEGALLY and you've paid for it.
I'm not saying that I don't use emulated games; that would be a complete lie. I'm just pointing out that there's no way in hell that the 7,000-in-1 is legal.
I'm still not sure about the Clone Wars cartoons, though.
Addendum: anyone else think it's ridiculous that Lucasarts has released three Rogue Squadron games, all dealing with the same events and time period?
Gabe, of Penny Arcade, covered this about a week ago in their news section (fourth post down, second of Gabe's).
Having new games in unestablished territory would be great. Come to think of it, any games set in timeframes not covered by the movies could be extremely cool. Look at KOTOR. The developers were bound by some basic Star Wars rules, but they didn't have to worry about fitting the storyline into a movie's plot. Not having story constraints almost definitely made the game a better one. It's not a very fair comparison, but...
The Episode I Game = Crappy game
KOTOR = Great game
There's definitely support for games outside of the movie timeframe, but we'll have to wait. Look at how long it's taken to get the original trilogy on DVD.
The way things look right now, it seems like we'll get some non-canon Star Wars games...in 2008.
Those are cool, but I want a plush NES and Game Boy next...
It's about damn time they found an explot for an Apple computer!
That said, a difference of 2.8 on their rating scale is pretty damn big. We have to remember, though: all ratings are subjective. There are some people out there who probably think that KAR and MK:DD are the Cube's two best games. Obviously, they don't work for IGN.
Anyone can hate any game for any reason. (The previous sentence also works great when you replace "hate" with "like," "love," or their ilk, by the way.) As long as you have fun with the game, it's a good one. Simple as that.
What's next? Tiny robotic bands? Crappy minute singers that call themselves Micro Bolton?
I'm scared for our future...
That said, I love this idea. Do actors and musicians really need millions to live on? No. $40,000 a year should be enough for most of them. Live with one car! One house! Don't buy $1,000 suits! Live like a normal American! You don't NEED to be rich to have a good life!
Beyond that...free is always good. I still don't think it will happen, but I'll support it wholeheartedly if someone tries to make it so.
/my $.02
My suggestion: get the XBox or Cube as they seem to be much more durable than the PS2. And if all else fails...
...get the only current system that physically can't have a disc read error: the Game Boy Advance.
Suggested new headline: "Still no cure for AIDS." Not nearly as funny, but...
Supposedly, there are going to be two other ways to get the bonus disc besides getting the bundle. You can either subscribe to Nintendo Power (total cost: $20) or buy two of four games (Mario Party 5, Mario & Luigi, Mario Kart DD, and 1080 Avalanche) and register them online (total cost: $80 minimum, since M&L is a GBA title).
Maybe we won't need to shell out $100 for another Cube after all...
How to now get free music? There are more than enough geeky MIT students to find a solution to the problem. MIT-only file sharing? Passing around burned copies of CDs? Having everyone switch to using Kazaa? All I know is that something new will show up sooner or later to replace LAMP.
Taking away music from college students won't do anything but make them mad. If this was the RIAA's doing, they've just screwed themselves. Dealing with a few bitter music fans is bad enough; a college campus full could be their undoing...
I feel so...shortchanged.