The Round Stable

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:43 pm

GOG.com is a digital storefront, similar to Steam or Desura or even Amazon's digital games. However, their gimmick is that they sell DRM-Free games primarily from the DOS, Windows 3.11, and even Windows 95 era. Games that are near impossible to get running on modern systems unless you spend about an hour messing with the game in DOSbox. GOG took out this need, and already sets up the games to work on modern systems with DOSbox pre-configured for you! They usually come with all sorts of extra goodies too, like wallpapers, avatars, the classic manuals, and occasionally even soundtracks or ringtones. Now they're starting to feature indie games and other smaller studio games as well, in addition to some of CD Projekt's releases, seeing as how they own GOG and all.

Almost all of their games fit in the $5.99 or $9.99 price range, so they're cheap and affordable! Similar to Steam, they also tend to give insane deals on games. Some of the newer games, such as the indie titles, push the pricing just a tad higher, but they're still good value.

So go, and enjoy the retro and indie goodness of GOG's games! Also figured this thread would be good for helpful tips and suggestions on which games are worth buying and still hold up today as some of the greats to play.

Here's the list of free games that GOG offers year round, to get you started and acquainted with the service:

Beneath a Steel Sky

From what little I played of it, it's a Sierra point and click adventure set in a futuristic, almost Blade Runner-like, city. Quite a bit of fun, if that's your thing. Most of the free games are old point and clicks, so it's a good place to snag some freebies if you like them!

Dragonsphere

Another point and click adventure game, this one has some minor RPG like elements to it as well. This one, I regretfully have not spent much time with, so I cannot give a more in depth analysis.

Lure of the Temptress

Hey look! Another point and click adventure game, this is also set in a more fantasy landscape. It reminds me heavily of "Thy Dungeonman!" of Homestar Runner fame, or more accurately what that game would have been if it was serious, and made in that era. At least starting out, I think it goes a bit more in depth to some other stuff later.

Teen Agent

More point and click adventure goodness, this time it's set around a teenager who apparently is some sort of super spy and is called on to save the world.

Treasure Adventure Game

This one is a new indie game. It's quite similar to something like Cave Story, in which you have an open world to explore and sail, and many platforming challenges to handle. It's pretty solid as far as indie games go, and for the price of free it's hard to argue with giving it a shot!

Tyrian 2000

Another point and cli--wait, no, this one's a top down shooter. Phew, some vareity! It's pretty solid, but the controls seem a little weird since it defaults to wanting you to use a mouse. I'm sure there were other options, I just always tend to do it that way 'cause it's just so weird.

Ultima IV

This one's not quite unique to GOG, as it's been available on Ultimaforever.com for quite some time before this. However, as I mentioned, that version requires you to futz around with DOSbox and try and get it running correctly, while the free GOG version is preconfigured for you. This one's an RPG, and if you don't know much about the Ultima series, it's a long running PC RPG franchise, that I'm sure someone could fill you in better than I. I've only played Ultima Online, but was interested in finding out more about it since then.

Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2 Martian Dreams

There's not much I need to say about this. It's about a Victorian era mission to Mars, and has Nikola Tesla and Sigmund Freud meeting the Avatar from the Ultima games via time travel.

(?) · by **Aramek** (?) » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:44 pm

"Oh, how can I play the best game ever made when I use an advanced operating system, like Windows 7?"
GOG's got you covered, my friend.

(?) · by **Artificer** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:44 am

Also, Freespace 2 is incredible. :-D

If you want an involved story, beautifully made graphics (especially with the Freespace Open graphics mods), well-designed space dog-fighting, and emotional, well-fitting music, then you need to get this game.

(?) · by **ozone** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:49 am

Just some of my recommendations:

Heroes of Might and Magic 3

My favorite and arguably the best game in the Heroes series. If you like turn based strategy, then this is a game you don't wanna miss.

Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Even if this game isn't old, at 40% off it's completely worth the price of admission. In my opinion, it's one of the best RPGs made in recent years with an engaging story, fun combat and amazing graphics. Just make sure you have a powerhouse of a PC before you play.

Baldur's Gate 1+2

If you like RPGs and you haven't played either of these games, what are you doing with your life? If you get these games then you should also get Planescape, like Aramek suggested above.

King's Quest 4+5+6

The King's Quest series is probably one of the more iconic series of adventure games and 4-6 are definitely the best ones. If you want batshit adventure game logic and cheap deaths, then look no further than these games. Also, only play KQ5 if you want to hate owls for the rest of your life.

(?) · by **Kraps** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:55 am

The OP needs a link to the site. :rainbert:

Downloading EE right now. :awesomedash:

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:04 am

Kraps wrote:The OP needs a link to the site.

Fixed! Still kinda new to making a quality OP, so there will probably be some changes. Thanks for the tip.

(?) · by **Kraps** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:19 am

Dodger wrote:
Fixed! Still kinda new to making a quality OP, so there will probably be some changes. Thanks for the tip.

It'S better than anything I could have made, I was just "AAHHHH LINK" :iamapony:

(?) · by **brightman** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:56 am

Also Fallout and Fallout 2 are on there. And Another World, Psychonauts, Beyond Good & Evil, Painkiller, Redneck Rampage, and a handful of old adventure games for free. That's right, free games!

They also seem to be selling Star Control 1&2...which are freeware...so...huh? Yeah, no, that game is all kinds of awesome, but it's here for free, so this makes little sense. Hell I have it on my phone for free too. Don't pay 6 bucks for it on gog, but do give gog money for the other games, because they're awesome.

(?) · by **diribigal** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:17 am

Aramek wrote:"Oh, how can I play the best game ever made when I use an advanced operating system, like Windows 7?"
GOG's got you covered, my friend.

You just made a sale :applejargh:

(?) · by **Aramek** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:26 am

Not I. Not even GOG. You just made a sale. You bought a ticket to the grandest place imaginable. :ohboy:

(?) · by **Walkin Goon** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:49 am

Artificer wrote:Also, Freespace 2 is incredible.

If you want an involved story, beautifully made graphics (especially with the Freespace Open graphics mods), well-designed space dog-fighting, and emotional, well-fitting music, then you need to get this game.

Came into this thread with the sole intent of gushing about this; really have to second any love for Freespace 2 here. :awesomedash:

It's a space-combat sim with a basic premise: you're treated as a fighter pilot, and tasked with a number of roles that become part of a grander scheme of war/survival. Sure, you'll often be given command over a squad and the occasional option to call in backup from home base, but for the most part, you're a welp providing cover and support when the much larger gunships decide to blast the bejesus out of each other amidst the crossfire. To top it off, there's a surprising amount of depth the story, which unfolds throughout your various briefings, missions, and hell, even the tutorials (which are optional, but recommended in the event you want to know how to fly your damn ships).

Putting it in context to this site: better than ponies. :chillin:

Even if you're a prat who thinks any game pre-Y2K is dated and horrid-looking, the modding community backing the Freespace Open project gots ya covered, from pretty graphics to player-made campaigns that— get this— aren't half bad.
Seriously, the amount of work they've put into this game is simply a wonderful labor of love, well worth the discounted price of admission (which is $3, by the way).

Now that my spergin' is out of the way, I've been meaning to pickup Planescape: Torment for awhile, seeing how it, too, is apparently better than ponies. A bit daunted though, what with Baldur's Gate 2 and its expansion being part of my backlog, and I think I've barely even scratched the surface of that game, as fun as I find it.

How does Planescape compare lengthwise? Would it be better to try to finish BG2 first?
:rariwhat:

(?) · by **The great M** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:42 pm

Walkin Goon wrote:Now that my spergin' is out of the way, I've been meaning to pickup Planescape: Torment for awhile, seeing how it, too, is apparently better than ponies. A bit daunted though, what with Baldur's Gate 2 and its expansion being part of my backlog, and I think I've barely even scratched the surface of that game, as fun as I find it.

How does Planescape compare lengthwise? Would it be better to try to finish BG2 first?

Planescape has way better writing and story than BG2, but much worse gameplay. I'd say go for Planescape first, otherwise you might burn out on Infinite Engine stuff and miss out PS. It's also a bit shorter than BG, espacially with Throne of Baal.

(?) · by **Aramek** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:32 pm

It has been a while since I beat BG2 and Throne of Baal, but, I remember BG2 being a lot longer, and a lot harder.

Granted I was a lot younger at the time but "Oh, great, something instantly killed me again. Nice." was a common sight. :ohrarity:

(?) · by **brakeless** (?) » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:13 pm

Getting Freespace 2 made me get a joystick. Which was good, because the game was amazing with it.

Another good reason for getting a stick is IL-2 Sturmovik, the best WW2 game ever.

(?) · by **Captain Rufus** (?) » Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:25 am

They have about half the Ultimas now. Which makes it totally worth going there.
Which ones I consider worth it though?

1, 5, and 6 are still rock solid.

2 is... weird and mostly just boring grindy.

3 is just grindy.

4 is considered a classic but its like a bridge between 3 and 5.

7 and Serpent Isle are Real Time and NO REAL TIME RPG IS AS GOOD AS A DECENT TURN BASED ONE. But otherwise they are really amazing. They just have shitty combat, some inventory issues especially 7, and your party demands you feed them entirely too much.

I don't think the Worlds of series, Underworlds, 8, or 9 are up yet. The Worlds are Steampunk and Pulp adventure before those things were Internet Nerd Cool (for a week before bashing those genres was cooler-er...), the Underworlds are primitive but amazing for their time 1st Person Action RPGs, 8 is a TERRIBLE Isometric action RPG like Landstalker on the Genesis only 100% less fun, and 9 is a buggy terrible clone of Ocarina of Time that has very few redeeming features whatsoever.

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:21 am

Actually. Ultima Underworld 1+2 are on GOG! They're quite on top of things lately. Ultima VII is also a really recent release, so I'm sure they're working their way through all the other Ultima games, eventually.

(?) · by **Captain Rufus** (?) » Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:44 am

Which is good. The thing is I own almost all of them and most in an original 80s-90s format on top of CDROM versions I can run with Exult or fanpatches and DOSBox.

Honestly I think the only game I don't have in some legit form is Savage Empire.

The Ultima series really is my favorite RPG series of all time, with Phantasy Star and Fallout coming in close and the D&D Gold Box & Dragon Quest filling out my top 5.

Ultima 5 is just one of the most innovative games and I think its still pretty awesome to this day and overall the best of the series.

(?) · by **I Ran So Far Away** (?) » Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:30 am

Their versions of Wing Commander I-III, Privateer, Descent I-II, and Crusader No Remorse and No Regret are all fantastic, would buy again. I really really wish they would do Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe (SWOTL) sometime soon :fluttersmith:

(?) · by **Glaed** (?) » Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:07 am

I have no idea what Empire Earth even is but hey I snagged a copy last night!

(?) · by **The great M** (?) » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:52 pm

Glaed wrote:I have no idea what Empire Earth even is but hey I snagged a copy last night!

It's an Age of Empires-y strategy game. Pretty good, from what I remember.

(?) · by **Glaed** (?) » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:56 pm

Well add another awesome game to my list of games I really need to play.

There's nearly 15 game shortcut icons sitting on my desktop that belong to those types of games. :fluttersmith:

/

(?) · by **Vulin** (?) » Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:39 pm

This site is awesome! :awesomedash:

Just bought Master of Orion 1+2, Duke Nukem 3D, Fallout 1 and Alpha Centauri from there, all together only like 12 dollar.

(?) · by **Pocket** (?) » Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:05 am

Hmm. Does anyone know if their version of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 is modded to accept modern resolutions and/or offer a windowed mode? Because I already own the original version of the game on CD-ROM, and it's tied down to the sorts of resolutions people were using back then. Not very convenient for my HD monitor. Such an upgrade might be worth the five bucks.

(?) · by **milesluigi** (?) » Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:53 am

My solution for Roller Coaster Tycoon (and this will apply to RCT2 too) was to run the game inside of a virtual machine. The solution is a little overkill, as you basically create a new operating system just to run the game, but it is probably the best solution as it allows you to actually interact with your main operating system and the game as two different windows instead of RCT overriding the system while it's running.

Virtualbox is a free virtual machine solution. https://www.virtualbox.org/
If you've never setup a virtual machine, here's a guide on how to do so: http://lifehacker.com/5204434/the-begin ... virtualbox

Be careful playing RCT. I've had a tendency to name my rides after a My Little Pony pun. (Just looking at Giggle at the Ghostly makes me feel sick.)

(?) · by **Pocket** (?) » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:23 pm

Incidentally, I have found a hack on GoG's forum that seems to be making this work properly. It periodically forces the window into the top left corner and has to be restarted whenever I change the resolution to fix a bug with pointer positioning, but it's definitely in a window now. Thanks, GoG forum! Now I don't have to re-buy the game from your actual store! :smug:

(I had already tried the virtual PC option using Windows 7's "Windows XP Mode" and it didn't work, by the way. Wasn't particularly interested in something that, from the looks of things, would have made me install another whole copy of Windows, anyway.)

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:08 pm

New free game added to GOG today, to celebrate their $12 million in free games given away. It certainly sounds intriguing. Treasure Adventure Game is an open world platforming adventure game. It seems to be similar to Cave Story in some regards (mostly in looks and gameplay). I'm currently getting a 404 error when trying to download it, but I'm sure they'll get that sorted out! Edit: It's working now!

(?) · by **MetalSonic** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:26 pm

Wow, Spellforce and Spellforce 2 are at GoG. They are still classic games.

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:30 pm

While I'm at it, I should mention that GOG recently set up a deal with Square Enix to add their old PC catalog to GOG! And by their I totally mean Eidos' old catalog, including the old Hitman games, Deus Ex, and the Thief series!

(?) · by **Bobinator** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:46 pm

If you enjoyed Duke Nukem 3D in any way, shape, or form, you're pretty much going to love Blood. It's another early first-person shooter in the same vein as Duke, with more realistic (well, they TRY, anyway) level design, a ton of satisfying weapons, and of course, a snarky protaganist. Only this time, you're an undead cowboy seeking revenge on an evil cult. Keep in mind that it IS a difficult game for the genre, with a lot of key hunting and enemies that can absolutely RUIN your health abound. Also, lots of silly references abound, including a jab at Duke which gives "Shake it, baby" a whole new meaning. :V

Just don't get Blood 2. Just... don't.

(?) · by **Frosthawk** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:56 pm

None of these are retro enough. Pong is literally the best game ever.

(?) · by **Mordja** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:13 pm

So hey, given that Freespace 2 is such a feathering awesome game that more people need to play, I'll be giving away a single copy, just one because I am very, very poor. :fluttersmith:

So anyone interested can just shoot me over a PM with your email, I'll put all the names into a randomiser in a day or two and whoever comes out on top will get to Shoot Shivans in Space.

(?) · by **Artificer** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:24 pm

Speaking of Freespace 2....

has anyone been able to get a joystick throttle to work on it?

(?) · by **Grilox** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:00 pm

This is the best turn-based strategy game ever, and it aged fine and is still worth the 6 bucks in my opinion:
Master of Magic

It's got lots of races and spells and a unique magic system and building towns is fun and the music's great and oh gosh. :awesomedash:

(?) · by **Pineapple** (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:02 pm

Even though they don't support linux their tech support peeps are mad nice and tried to give me a hand with my problem with Fallout crashing in Wine/running like total ass under virtual box.

(?) · by **Mordja** (?) » Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:28 pm

So there were only three takers; congrats to tdkgunghoul. :yay:

(?) · by **Lobst** (?) » Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:38 pm

The new site is up! It's no longer Good Old Games; now it's simply just GOG.com. They've remade it into a zone for DRM-free games of all eras, indie and AAA alike -- and reworked their proprietary downloader to support patches, notifications, and bonus content.

I was so pleased with the changes, I bought Anachronox to reward them! (also it's apparently pretty good, you guys)

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:20 pm

Lobst wrote:The new site is up! It's no longer Good Old Games; now it's simply just GOG.com. They've remade it into a zone for DRM-free games of all eras, indie and AAA alike -- and reworked their proprietary downloader to support patches, notifications, and bonus content.

I was so pleased with the changes, I bought Anachronox to reward them! (also it's apparently pretty good, you guys)

I'm on the verge of buying Anachronox myself, it just looks so interesting and the thought of a Western studio doing a take on a JRPG was something I always was interested in seeing, but didn't think had ever happened.

My other recent purchases were Stonekeep and Realms of the Haunting. Realms of the Haunting was decent until I managed to get stuck and couldn't figure out how to progress. Unfortunately, I figured it was going to be more survival horror and less shooter, and I was wrong about that.

Stonekeep I wanted to pick up 'cause it was an old game I remembered seeing when I was a child and was always fascinated in. I'm not far enough to where the game gets interesting though, so my current hit and run tactics are a little dull.

Speaking of Stonekeep though, it has me interested in the new indie game coming out that almost perfectly matches its style, but with some new modern mechanics and stuff: Legends of Grimrock, also going to be available on GOG, and currently available for pre-order.

I'm glad they're increasing their diversity, but at the same time now I get the feeling I'm gonna have to decide if I want my indie games on Steam or not, unless GOG's getting some of these exclusively. :gonkity:

(?) · by **Lazy** (?) » Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:51 pm

Been thinking about getting Rayman 2 again off of this. Been years since I played that game and I lost the disc a while ago.

(?) · by **Dodger** (?) » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:52 pm

What's that? You want the original Fallout for free? Well, what are you waiting for? A written invitation?

(?) · by **Tailspin** (?) » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:54 pm

So, i guess it's time to reedeem myself, having never played the original.

The Round Stable

To GOG! The DRM-Free Game Storefront

To GOG! The DRM-Free Game Storefront

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