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![]() By Marc Saltzman Most seasoned computer gamers will likely grin ear to ear when asked to recall their most memorable moments in PC gaming history, be it taking over the world in Civilization, going back in time in Day of the Tentacle, or rescuing the princess in Prince of Persia. But you can't find these "classic" computer games from the late '80s and early '90s, on store shelves--not even in those value-priced compilation packages.
If you know where to look, that is. Welcome to the controversial topic known as "abandonware." Coined roughly five years ago, the term simply refers to computer software--like an operating system, application, or game--that is no longer marketed, distributed, or supported by the company that published it. Abandonware advocates argue that once the software has been discontinued and cannot be easily purchased through retail channels or online stores, it should become public domain. Therefore, these so-called software saviors (as they'd like to be considered) take it upon themselves to use the Internet as an effective distribution medium to share these older programs, be it via Web sites, newsgroups, FTP servers, or peer-to-peer file-swapping programs. The abandonware providers claim that companies are not losing any revenue since the software is no longer accessible, so it should be freely distributed for those who want to enjoy it. Some believe software must also be at least five years old to become truly "abandoned," though not all share this common addendum to the definition.
This exclusive GameSpot feature discusses this growing trend of seeking out abandoned games, who's providing the games and why, what developers and publishers think about abandonware distribution, and what's being done to curb it. So what do the experts say?
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