Good Freeware Games (RPG or Non RPG)

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:06 pm

@ Aegis, I work for Ford, we're all about CYA..

@ Vicsun, Nice one

ik911 · Post by **ik911** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:35 am

Good site too! Almost brought a tear to my eye seeing the great classics like Settlers two, Civilization two, Simcity twothousand 'n stuff.

(okay like that, Vicsun?

)

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 7:19 am

[QUOTE=ik911]Good site too! Almost brought a tear to my eye seeing the great classics like Settlers two, Civilization two, Simcity twothousand 'n stuff.

(okay like that, Vicsun?

)[/QUOTE]
No.

WARNING: Grammar Nazi-ness follows!

In the titles of books, games, movies, et cetera, you should use numbers.
For example:
Dawn of the Dead 2
Baldur's Gate 2: The Throne of Bhaal

When writing however, numbers below ten should be written out. You bought three cookies. But you bought them 35 days ago.

This above applies especially to the word one. Abbreviating one to 1 is in my mind as horrible as abbreviating you to u and to to 2, because quite often the word one isn't referring to a number.

Consider:

One does not simply march into Mordor!
versus
1 does not simply march into Mordor!

See what I mean?

Additionally, using letters when you should use numbers, or vice versa, can cause confusion when used in a specific context.

If I write:

I read The Elegant Universe 2 days ago

I am implying that I have read the book called The Elegant Universe 2 an unspecified number of days ago, not that I have read the book called The Elegant Universe two days ago.

It's English!

</grammar>

On a related note, my gripe with the original post was the lack of content combined with the use of lol and 1 intead of one. None of those things would have warranted my response on their own, but combined their power of annoyance increases exponentially! And I am also rather easily annoyed

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:47 am

[QUOTE=ik911]Good site too! Almost brought a tear to my eye seeing the great classics like Settlers two, Civilization two, Simcity twothousand 'n stuff. [/QUOTE]

Abbandonia has a nice selection of that stuff. Even better is Home of the Underdogs, though the former tries to include items the latter misses. Both are extremely careful to avoid anything under copyright, or claimed under copyright (which is not the same thing). For example, I was surprised to see that Hyperspeed, an old favorite of mine, has moved from a download on HOTU to a reference for the Web, and a notice that its licensed ESA software. I suspect that means Andy Hollis finally got off his butt and claimed the code of this brilliant old title that Microprose never sufficiently advertised.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:17 pm

Just wondered if anybody had tried out either Starship Tycoon, or Smugglers 3. They have freeware demos, at least. Both look interesting: space-faring strategic sims, with a strong economic element. Positech Games, the manufacturer of ST, worries me, though. Their forum doesn't show much support for their product.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:48 pm

I should try those.. I am a fan of the Tycoon type games.. I really liked Mall Tycoon, did anyone play that one?

ik911 · Post by **ik911** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:13 am

[QUOTE=jopperm2]I should try those.. I am a fan of the Tycoon type games.. I really liked Mall Tycoon, did anyone play that one?[/QUOTE]
Wow, I didn't know it was meant for playing

.

My sister got it from santa this year. She installed it herself (meant I had to re-install the whole thing) and played it for about less than an hour.

That was longer than I did!

Transport Tycoon, now that's the bomb! It's downloadable somewhere.
Do not highlight if you do not wish to be involved with a possibly illegal site: Try this one: http://home.aland.net/toffe.eriksson/tycoon.html

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:22 am

Mall Tycoon: what a horrific idea. It's like coming across a game called "Axe Murderer Tycoon."

It seems that every little company these days thinks "Hey, we'll make a cheap ripoff of best-selling strategy sim tycoon games, and rake in a fortune!" The same philosophy led to all those RTS clones and Diablo lookalikes. And very few of the imitations made back their investment.

ik911 · Post by **ik911** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:44 am

@Vicsun's bright Grammar lesson...
I no that... Jost teasin' yua.

@fable...
Very true, and certainly the case with Mall Tycoon. I think that's the finest example of cheap money gathering. Zoo tycoon, same story, and certainly the Expansions!

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 am

It was a cheesey rip-off, but I like the format of shopping malls.. It would be nice if it were better better made, but you can get it for like $5.. If I only play it for a day that's worth it.

GFreeman · Post by **GFreeman** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:05 pm

How safe are freeware games anyhow? Im always skeptical that any game would be free for download....anyone?

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:26 pm

You just need to consider the source you are getting them from. Abandonware sites are usually good, if they are bad, they get taken out quickley. I wouldn' download anything from kazaa or anything like that though.. If it comes from a game company site it's probably fine.

Ekental · Post by **Ekental** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:17 pm

Anyone mention
Nethack?
http://www.nethack.org/

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:45 pm

[QUOTE=GFreeman]How safe are freeware games anyhow? Im always skeptical that any game would be free for download....anyone?[/QUOTE]

I run AdAware and Spybot, two excellent, free anti-spyware search-and-destroy programs, immediately after installing, and deinstalling new apps/games. I also run 'em each once a week, in case a site sends a cookie through my my screening process. Can't hurt. A screensaver I tried out a few weeks back put no less than 8 spyware files on my computer. No viruses: just stuff meant to monitor my access to the Web, and send the info back to them. I say "just" with full sarcasm, since I find those kinds of things unwarranted intrusions.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:24 pm

*bump*

I needed to bump this. GTA 1 goes Freeware! Also, GTA2 and a shooter from Rockstar games.

Link: GTA 1, 2 & Others. Rockstar Games

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:47 pm

oh gta, how intensely i loved thee

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:02 pm

Good reason for a bump aye?

Dont you think Id Software should do the same with the ancient doom/hexen games? Or at least with Commander Keen's games?

ik911 · Post by **ik911** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:09 pm

[QUOTE=Luis Antonio]Good reason for a bump aye?

Dont you think Id Software should do the same with the ancient doom/hexen games? Or at least with Commander Keen's games?[/QUOTE]

Commander Keen

Yeah!

blake · Post by **blake** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 8:04 pm

I found Civilization 2 on that abandonia site and i have been addicted since installing it. I bought the game when it first came out and now i have all these fond memories of playing coming back into my head. And i have doom 2on my hd safe and sound. I still have the disk so i can install it on any computer i want.

Embry · Post by **Embry** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:51 am

I highly recommend Aleshar: World of Ice. First it is really hard to understand how the controls work, but once you get in, you're hooked. I think you can download this RPG from the Underdogs or Abandonia and some finnish sites (It's from finland

Aleshar - World of Ice download and info

Just click the Get it- button and download. Also I recommend you download the manual for the game. Just click the Manual-link next to.