542 replies to this topic 7 votes

[EugeneE3RD]

This post has nothing to do with games but with commerical apps re-released for free download.

Xbasic is a Basic compiler for Windows/Linux. It was originally sold as commerical software but it was re-released as open source several years ago. The original re-release of Xbasic is at http://www.maxreason...asic/share.html (this is the original Xbasic release. The downloads here are very old).

http://xbasic.sourceforge.net/ contains the new releases of Xbasic which is being worked on by people since it is open-source.

Borland has re-released their old commerical programming software for free download. The progs are:

Turbo Pascal v5.5
Turbo C++ version 1.01
Turbo C version 2.01
Turbo Pascal v3.02
Turbo Pascal v1.0

These are old programming languages but it's great that Borland is releasing a part of history. These are famous programming softwares & these can be downloaded from http://bdn.borland.com/museum/ , you have to register with Borland (for free) to be able to download these classic programming softwares.

Watcom C/C++ which used to be commerical software is now open-source. You can get downloads of this prog at http://www.openwatcom.org/

Borland has also released their commerical programming software called C++ Builder for free. This is the command line version which means that if you don't like typing in commands to compile your source code, you will have to download an IDE. The downloads for this prog are at http://www.borland.com/products/downloads/...d_cbuilder.html , there are several downloads, you want to click on the link which says compiler.

The BD Software C Compiler has been re-released as public domain. This is a C compiler released in 1979 for CP/M-80 systems. Yes, I know this is an old compiler for a very old comp/os but it a part of history & the author has made it public domain (in 2002). The prog's downloads are at http://www.bdsoft.co...urces/bdsc.html .

[CoolCatBad]

Ya just gotta get Crimsonland. Top-down shooter with pickups galore. Only 8.5 mb.
This is a link to the last freeware version, 1467_crimsonland_v140.exe.

http://gamehippo.com...oad2_1467.shtml

[EugeneE3RD]

CoolCatBad, on Mar 6 2005, 09:41, said:

Ya just gotta get Crimsonland. Top-down shooter with pickups galore. Only 8.5 mb.
This is a link to the last freeware version, 1467_crimsonland_v140.exe.

http://gamehippo.com...oad2_1467.shtml

Thanks, I've kind of forgotten about this game. Here is a little history of the Crimsonland game for anyone who cares. Crimsonland began as a freeware game but sometime during the game's development, the author turned Crimsonland into shareware. The older versions listed in CoolCatBad's post are the freeware versions. Versions of Crimsonland released after v1.40 are shareware.

[EugeneE3RD]

About 4 years ago, Marble-Eyes Development released their Amiga game called Genetic Species for free download. They uploaded the game onto Aminet & it can be downloaded from http://www.aminet.ne.../actio&start=50 . The game is very large, it is 19 .lha files, you have to download all of the files starting with GS-FullGame01.lha & ending with GS-FullGame19.lha.

If you don't believe that the game is free, Marble-Eyes Developmen mentions about the uploading of their game at http://www.marble-eyes.dk/gs/news.html under 28-june-2001 .

The files on Aminet are not disc images, they are pure Amiga files, if you want to run on UAE or Fellow, you will have to convert them yourself.

[EugeneE3RD]

Martin Rebas released his former shareware Amiga game called Martinsoft Pengo as freeware & you can download this game & his other Amiga games at his webpage located at http://www.rebas.se/...migagames.shtml .

[Goble]

The Softdisk game Galactic Battle became freeware according to GameHippo.

[EugeneE3RD]

Recently, 3D Realms has released the source code to thier game called Shadow Warrior under the GPL. Only the source code is GPL, the data files for Shadow Warrior, just like Duke3d, are commerical which means that you can only download the source code for Shadow Warrior. Downloading the data files for the game is illegal which means that you have to purchase Shadow Warrior.

[EugeneE3RD]

evktalo, on Dec 9 2004, 21:35, said:

Hi there,

I've mailed SSG if they still offer the free download of their game The Ardennes Offensive - couldn't find it on their new site.

I also finally mailed Bob Bates about Gateway, if it's freeware or not. I don't think so, but maybe we'll get a confirmation.

I also mailed the admin of bombs-away.net, who have had - I think it's legal - free download of the old B-17 Flying Fortress by Microprose. The site is now on a hiatus, it seems.. I sent a query if they're going to host the file in the future.

Hopefully, I'll get some replies.

Let's keep our fingers crossed about the Star Trek game.

--Eino

Well, it turns out that the download of B-17 Flying Fortress is infact not legal. This was reported over at the Liberated Games forum by forum member JimBobStuart & here is what he wrote:

After a little digging I have found out that this game is not liberated, even though its was available for free download for a number of years. The rights to the code have been sold to shockwave who are rebuilding and improving the game for new release.

The game is still available through the link in the post above but this is not a legal download and as the rights have been bought for release there is little chance of seeing this game released in the near future.

Good game though.

___

You can read the whole post over at http://www.liberatedgames.com/forums/index...oto=227#msg_227

[bifu]

The Ardennes Offensive can't be downloaded from the australian site but on the US site it is still available for download as freeware: http://www.ssgus.com...es-download.htm

Bye,
bifu

[EugeneE3RD]

Geckosoft has released their shareware games called Fracas & Enigma for free download & you can download these 2 games at http://www.coolbubbl...ures/geckosoft/ .

[EugeneE3RD]

EugeneE3RD, on Aug 27 2004, 09:58, said:

3D Rad is a shareware game creation system but the company did release a new freeware version. The freeware version can be downloaded from http://www.3drad.com/dloadfre.htm . The freeware version can't compile games & you have to release your games as freeware.

3D Rad originally began as freeware software but after it became popular, the author's decided to sell 3D Rad as shareware. I played with the original 3D Rad which was released as freeware around 1997/1998. I'm still searching for the original 3D Rad which is 3D Rad 1.01 because it is freeware & you can compile your games with it even though it is very old.

Well, I found the original freeware release of 3DRAD from 1998. You can download it from http://www.filelibra...dows/115/1.html . 3DRAD originally began as a freeware game creation system then it became shareware after the software became popular. Remember, this is the original release of 3DRAD, this is not the same as the newer shareware releases of 3DRAD.

[EugeneE3RD]

A French company named LOGITRON who made games during the 1990's for the Atari ST system of computers have released several of their games for free download (they use the term abandonware for their games). Their games which were released for free download (on 10/1/2004) are SHEER AGONY, AAZOHM KRYPHT & OPERATION SKUUM. The games can be downloaded from http://logitron.atar...ist_english.htm & you read about why this company decideded to re-release 3 of their Atari ST games for free download at http://logitron.atar...are_english.htm .

[EugeneE3RD]

The people who run JAY Software released (in 2002) there game called ZebuLand along with the editor as freeware. This is an Atari ST game & it can be download from http://phoenix.inf.u...tgames.htm#zebu . I'm guessing that this prog used to be shareware since in the page above under Zebuland level editor it says "The registered ZebuLand was included level editor", so this sounds like Zebuland was once shareware.

[Pox]

i've got a install of the original gta1 here, when zipped the install directory is only 28mb
seeing as its available for free download, is it legal for me to post that up?

[EugeneE3RD]

AMDPOX, on Jun 2 2005, 06:35, said:

i've got a install of the original gta1 here, when zipped the install directory is only 28mb
seeing as its available for free download, is it legal for me to post that up?

The answer is no. Even though Rockstar has GTA1 avaliable for free download, only Rockstar is allowed to distrubute the game for download. Basically put, you can't upload your version of GTA1 because that is illegal.