Tell me more ×
Arqade is a question and answer site for passionate videogamers on all platforms. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 7 down vote favorite
1

Are any of the original Gold Box engine based games (i.e. Pool of Radiance, Champions of Krynn, etc.) available via digital distribution?

GoodOldGames and Steam don't seem to have them in their catalogues.

Original boxes are pretty rare (especially for further installments of the series) and thus quite expensive. Sometimes they also come on 5.25" floppies, which are tough to use on any modern PC.

If they are not available via DD, are there any rumors or plans connected with their release?

share|improve this question
1  
Don't forget to vote for the games to be added to GOG's catalogue here. Just because they don't have 'em yet doesn't mean they won't later. – Fambida Nov 1 '11 at 6:46
Good point. I guess even a compilation or collection of SSI games would be good enough, maybe some alive publisher still holds rights to these. – acalypso Nov 1 '11 at 20:18

1 Answer

up vote 5 down vote accepted

SSI, if they even exist anymore, no longer has a D&D license. I haven't seen them available for any platform in about a decade.

However, it's not hopeless. Prior to the end of the last century, the Gold Box games (except Unlimited Adventures) were compiled on various CD-ROM collections, making them more accessible for a modern PC. (Though you may still need to use DOSBox to get them working, and they don't have print copies of the cool journals and such -- it's all PDF.) I myself have one of these collections. You might check eBay, though a quick check at this moment in time revealed only floppy-disk versions. Other auction sites, or second-hand software resellers may also have them available.

share|improve this answer
If it has been over a decade, at what point are they truly considered to be "abandonware"? – The Sasquatch Jan 5 '11 at 13:18
7  
Unfortunately, as far as I know abandonware is not a legal term, thus copying or downloading such software is still illegal. – acalypso Jan 5 '11 at 13:27
According to Wikipedia, SSI is now part of Ubisoft, but no longer publishes under the SSI brand. – bwarner Jan 5 '11 at 14:20
3  
@The: abandonware as a concept may be morally sound, but (at least in the U.S., where I'm based) there is no legal precedent for it yet. Thus, tge options I listed above are still the best ones. – John Rudy Jan 6 '11 at 1:03

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.