Abandonware Blog

Wordpress migration

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 08:30:00 +0200

There will be a small downtime somewhere this weekend since I'm (manually) migrating this site and all of it's posts to Wordpress. Fork CMS was a nice experiment but lacks too many features, mainly the SPAM handling is killing me.

Wordpress migration written by Muaddib in News.

Tags: wordpress, spam.

Two Ultima games on GOG for free

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:50:00 +0200

GOG has added two new free games to their catalogue, both of them Ultima games: Savage Empire and Martian Dreams.

Never played any of the Ultima games, should really do that some day...

Two Ultima games on GOG for free written by Muaddib in Games.

Tags: gog, ultima, free, freeware, good old games.

Always had to remove Quake in order to play other games

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:13:00 +0200

Always had to remove Quake in order to play other games written by Muaddib in Memes.

Tags: meme.

Small collection upgrade

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0200

Me and my wife were checking out the closeout sales of a local toys store and to my surprise found three old boxed games: Normality, Bedlam and Blackhawk. Luckily the owner had no idea there are people collecting these things. She said to me "You do know these games are for really old computers do you?". I said I knew and I could have them for a mere 3 EUR. I've never played any of them, only know them by name so I'll be adding them to my "to-play" pile.

Always cool to find such games, it's extremely hard these days to get your hands on old games without having to spend a lot of money on eBay.

Small collection upgrade written by Muaddib in My collection.

Tags: normality, blackhawk, bedlam.

Something we've all done

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:00:00 +0200

Something we've all done written by Muaddib in Memes.

Tags: meme.

I'm annoyed

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:50:00 +0200

If there's one thing I learned since helping out at the Abandonware Ring is that of every new website there's almost no webmaster that knows what abandonware is. It seems like they heard or read something about it and decided to create a website containing old games, add some advertisements, and join the rings for some extra visitors.

They have no idea what they are doing and don't even bother doing some research. The most common examples are games like Doom or Duke Nukem 3D, they put them available for download but don't even know these games have never been abandoned. 3DRealms and ID Software has always kept selling them on their websites, and when that stopped Steam and GOG started selling them. If these webmasters had any idea about the meaning of abandonware they wouldn't make stupid mistakes such as this. To me it seems they don't really care about the term "abandonware". They only see it as an extra keyword for more visitors and see the other abandonware websites as some extra backlinks.

Honestly I don't understand how Abandonware Ring has ever got to the point that they stopped looking into their new applicants and stopped bothering to contact them about what they are doing wrong. Robot Ring doesn't even seem to have any rules. Only Abandoned Places seems to have kept a high standard.

Anyway, I had the idea of trying to create a website that explains the history of abandonware, what abandonware is (and isn't) and create a database of games that are still being sold and so can't be called abandonware. Maybe even turn it into some kind of quality label where webmasters can sign up when they agree to the rules. This way we could have an official abandonware website where rings and websites could link to so they don't even have to explain it all themselves.

I'm not sure what other people think about it?

I'm annoyed written by Muaddib in Discussions.

Tags: abandonware, label, quality.

Unofficial Prince of Persia website

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 07:56:00 +0200

Once again I was going through the Abandonware Blog archives and found a post introducing you to the Unofficial Prince of Persia website. I thought it would be worth mentioning again since the webmaster has really kept his website up-to-date and now has an amazing collection of downloads, info and more.

I've always liked these kinds of websites. The last 15 years I've always wanted to create a Quest for Glory fan site but for some reason it hasn't happened yet. Maybe some day it will, but first there are some other personal (abandonware) projects that need to be finished...

Unofficial Prince of Persia website written by Muaddib in Websites.

Tags: prince of persia.

What I played when I was 14

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:59:00 +0200

What I played when I was 14 written by Muaddib in Memes.

Tags: meme.

Good old Sierra soundtrack

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:48:00 +0200

If you're looking for the great soundtracks of classic Sierra games you should definitely check Quest Studios. You'll find thousands of original MIDI files, and renewed MP3 music. Even the tracks of Quest for Glory 5, arguably one of the best soundstracks ever created, is free for download.

Many people, especially the newer generation of gamers will probably get headaches of all these tracks which I don't really understand with Dubstep being quite popular and all.

Good old Sierra soundtrack written by Muaddib in Music.

Tags: quest for glory, sierra, king's quest, soundstrack, leisure suit larry, mp3, music.

17 most crappy games ever

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:00:00 +0200

When we talk about crappy games we often forget that the worst games are the ones that don't even make it to gaming magazines, the so called budget games. This guy gives you his 17 worst games ever...

17 most crappy games ever written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: crappy games.

Abandonware archive - The Thing: Lost Eden

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:30:00 +0200

The Thing was one of many low-profile abandonware site I've always liked a lot. Somewhere in 2009 it sadly disappeared, here's one of the reviews I found in Wayback Archive.

Abandonware archive - The Thing: Lost Eden written by Muaddib in Abandonware archive.

Tags: iceman, the thing, lost eden, cryo.

No more Hero 6

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 12:11:00 +0200

Did you guys ever hear of Hero 6? The fan based game that should've become the successor of Quest for Glory 5? Never mind if you haven't because the project has shut down some months ago. I guess it was just a matter of time before it became official since it was hardly updated the last 4 or 5 years.

I've been following Hero 6 since the start in 1999 and year by year I was hoping to finally see an announcement that would say the game would almost be finished. Sadly this never happened, it never even got close.

No more Hero 6 written by Muaddib in News.

Tags: quest for glory, adventure, sierra, fan-based, rpg.

Blade Runner trailer

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:13:00 +0200

Had a couple of busy days recently, when I wasn't working I was simply enjoying the sun with my wife and kid.

Anyway, I'm working on some interesting abandonware-related projects right now, can't tell you too much yet. In the meantime you can enjoy this nice Blade Runner trailer:

Blade Runner trailer written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: trailer, blade runner.

Baldur's Gate trailer

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:33:00 +0200

Baldur's Gate trailer written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: trailer, baldur's gate.

Peasant's Quest

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:30:00 +0200

I've been searching in the Wayback Machine archives again and found an old post of mine introducing you to Peasant's Quest, an AGI game you can play in your browser. The link still works and if you're into old Sierra games you'll probably have some fun with this one.

Also check out this funny trailer: http://www.homestarrunner.com/pqtrailer.html

Peasant's Quest written by Muaddib in Games.

Tags: sierra, agi, flash, peasant't quest, king's quest, space quest.

Lands of Lore II trailer

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:02:00 +0200

After a brief vacation I'm back online a ready to do some updating. Today I'll keep it simple and give you this nice Lands of Lore II trailer

Lands of Lore II trailer written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: trailer, lands of lore.

Abandonware Archive - Everything but Oldgames

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:27:00 +0200

I was browsing my stats checking out the referers and to my suprise found a copy of Everything but Oldgames. I don't quite remember the full story but what I do remember is that abandonware veteran Voh started EBO using a fake alias and wanted to review abandonware websites and do interviews with the webmasters. If I hadn't found this site I probably would have never remembered this but it all comes back now :).

Those were the times when the abandonware scene was still alive and kicking.

Abandonware Archive - Everything but Oldgames written by Muaddib in Abandonware archive.

Tags: abandonware scene, voh.

Playing Wolfenstein 3D in your browser

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:50:00 +0200

Wolfenstein 3D is 20 years old and Bethesda is celebrating this by making the game playable in your browser. Too bad you can't play it in full screen.

Also check out this great video about the legacy of Wolfenstein 3D:

Playing Wolfenstein 3D in your browser written by Muaddib in News.

Tags: fps, wolfenstein, wolfeinstein 3D, id.

Computer Gaming World Magazine Museum

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:15:00 +0200

Just recently I discovered this amazing website called CGW Museum. On this site you can download about every issue ever released of Computer Gaming World Magazine.

I never really heard of it before but it seems to have been a very popular magazine in the US. Great site for collectors like me!

For some reason I just love reading reviews that are written on the dates the games were released. It's amazing to see how people thought of those games back then. Most of the regular Abandonware reviews are usually written with a huge amount of nostalgia, telling us about the impact of the game, how it used to play, how good it used to be etc. Good reviews tell us how it feels to play the games right now, how or why it could still be fun, or why it's not so much fun in modern times. But imho, the interesting reviews are the ones you read in the old gaming magazines.

Computer Gaming World Magazine Museum written by Muaddib in Magazines.

Tags: cgw, computer gaming world, magazine.

Abandonware archive - GROG: Dune 2

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:11:00 +0200

There once was a small but very decent abandonware site many probably have forgotten by now: GROG. This site was all about quantity. The two webmasters Anti and Jante didn't put many games online, but the ones they did had long, inspiring reviews. Check it out yourself:

Abandonware archive - GROG: Dune 2 written by Muaddib in Abandonware archive.

Tags: grog, dune.

Quest for Glory finally available on GOG.com

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:20:00 +0200

Heads up to all abandonware webmasters. GOG has finally added the complete Quest for Glory series to their catalogue. This means it's time to remove the downloads links.

Quest for Glory finally available on GOG.com written by Muaddib in News.

Tags: quest for glory, adventure, sierra, rpg, gog, series.

Interstate 76 Nitro Pack trailer

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:43:00 +0200

Interstate 76 Nitro Pack trailer written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: trailer, interstate 76.

Abandonware archive - Diskworld: Abuse

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:00 +0200

In my previous post I told you about this idea I had with content from abandonware websites that have disappeared. Well, this is one of many posts that are on their way. I think we've lost too much quality content and from now on I'll regularly try to get some of it back.

Abandonware archive - Diskworld: Abuse written by Muaddib in Abandonware archive.

Tags: diskworld, diskboy, abuse.

Flight Unlimited 2 trailer

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 +0200

I'm personally not really into flight sims but people who do might like this old trailer of Flight Unlimited 2, a game released in 1997

Flight Unlimited 2 trailer written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: trailer, flight unlimited.

What happens when sites go abandoned

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:34:00 +0200

I seem to have lost about every Abandonware Blog backup I used to have so I decided to check out The Wayback Machine. Apparently the site has archived a lot and while searching for some interesting posts I found a discussion written by Jman, the Just Games Retro webmaster who used to write some great stuff for this blog. Sadly the comments are not archived.

What happens when sites go abandoned written by Muaddib in Discussions.

SimCity 3000 in the early stages

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:08:00 +0200

Apparently the original idea for SimCity 3000 was to make it a 3D game. Luckily EA bought Maxis in 1997 and scrapped the version. Even though you don't see much, this early trailer I found makes it pretty obvious it would've been crap:

SimCity 3000 in the early stages written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: simcity.

Finishing Quake in 52 minutes

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:30:00 +0200

There are too many crazy people in this world and this movie will prove it once again. This guy finished Quake in 52 minutes while playing it in nightmare mode, killing everything and finding every secret.

Finishing Quake in 52 minutes written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: quake.

6 websites for endless Duke Nukem 3D gameplay

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:00:00 +0200

Duke Nukem 3D is without a doubt one of my favorite games of all time. I can't even remember how many times I've re-played the original episodes let alone remember how many different user-made maps or total conversions I've finished. I even became pretty good at making maps after trying it non-stop for 3 years. Never thought that 14 years later I'd regret not making backups of them... All that hard work is now gone forever...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that anyone that has played Duke3D just won't get enough of it. For that reason I decided to show you 6 websites that'll make you spend many more weeks and months playing this great shooter.

6 websites for endless Duke Nukem 3D gameplay written by Muaddib in Add-ons.

Tags: duke nukem, 3drealms, build, addons.

Dungeon Keeper 2 funny trailer

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sat, 05 May 2012 23:40:00 +0200

I have a shitload of work that needs to be done by tomorrow and here I am trading links with my fellow abandonware webmasters, and searching for interesting stuff related to classic games. I'll just finish this day with a funny Dungeon Keeper 2 trailer:

Dungeon Keeper 2 funny trailer written by Muaddib in Videos.

Tags: dungeon keeper.

A Force for Good presents... the discussion review

muaddib@example.com (Muaddib) — Sat, 05 May 2012 23:35:00 +0200

Rik and Stoo from a Force For Good have recently tried a new way of reviewing by both playing a certain game for some time, and then start a conversation/discussion about it on MSN. Their first effort is Hardball III and even though I have absolutely no interest in baseball, it was still fun to read. Can't wait for a discussion about a game I've played, or at least a genre more interesting than the most boring sports ever invented.

A Force for Good presents... the discussion review written by Muaddib in Websites.

Tags: a force for good, stoo, rik.