GOG News and Updates 2013

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Just wanted to say that Sacrifice and Unreal Tournament GotY Edition should probably be bolded on the complete list. Sacrifice is an incredibly unique action strategy hybrid with awesome voice work and Unreal Tournament is one of the best multiplayer shooters ever.
 
UT still has an active online scene? HMMMMM!! If it does, I would definitely recommend it. I spent THOUSANDS of hours playing that and Quake 3 back in the day. Comparing it to Q3 I would say it is less pure and more dynamic. Quake is more about raw shots and direct aim, where UT has a lot more mindgame to it with general area control, multilevel and corner play. A lot of people don't get to that level and just stick with the easy guns, but if you learn the true strengths of all of the weapons and when to switch for the advantage, it's completely crazy and awesome.

As for other games that need to be recommended...

Nox is an incredible ARPG with a cinematic feel even during normal gameplay. A lot of games have fantasy worlds and creatures, but come off as characterizations of something more genuine. Nox is like the GENUINE MAGICAL feel the whole time. It's like hopping into a storybook or something.

MDK 1&2 also really, really need to be on there. They are fantastic action platformers with a lot of style and personality. I feel like they were really ahead of their time, and the genre they are part of became a lot more scripted and too interwoven with adventuring elements (climbing and stuff) in later years, so they are one of the more advanced examples of the old arcade shooter feeling brought into full 3D levels.
 
Just wanted to say that Sacrifice and Unreal Tournament GotY Edition should probably be bolded on the complete list. Sacrifice is an incredibly unique action strategy hybrid with awesome voice work and Unreal Tournament is one of the best multiplayer shooters ever.

I concur. Sacrifice is a great genre hybrid (not as good as Battlezone, but still very, very good) and UT is Hall of Fame worthy (obviously).
 
UT still has an active online scene? HMMMMM!! If it does, I would definitely recommend it.

Unlike Quake, UT is still pretty fun against bots. There's an active online scene in the sense of being able to join populated servers at any time of day, but you likely won't have much fun unless you already know the game or are generally skilled at arena FPS.
 
Weekend promo: RPGs. Lots of them. I *think* all 50% off, but I can't see the discounts for some reason.

Witcher series
Divinity series
Gothic series
Geneforge 1-5
Torchlight
Darklands
Septerra Core

Probably a very smart promo from a marketing standpoint; I'd imagine that there's a fair amount of crossover between the audience for SS2 - some of whom will be new to GoG - and folks interested in these titles.
 
I wanted to get into Gothic but I don't really want to play through the entire series...


I'll get Septerra Core. I need to get Neverwinter Nights 2 eventually.
 
Beyond Divinity is a big step down from Divine Divinity, so no. Divinity 2 is an entirely different, but fun, beast. Hokey, but fun.

Mind elaborating about Divnity 2 please? I don't mind sequels being different so long as they are good in their own way.
 
Mind elaborating on that please? I don't mind sequels being different so long as they are good in their own way.

First off, Beyond Divinity is uninspired and very cookie cutter. you're also stuck with another character, effectively controlling two characters but the interface and the combat doesn't jive with this set up. It's also not an open world game like DD. Also, horrible voice acting.
 
First off, Beyond Divinity is uninspired and very cookie cutter. you're also stuck with another character, effectively controlling two characters but the interface and the combat doesn't jive with this set up. It's also not an open world game like DD. Also, horrible voice acting.

What about 2? I was actually asking about 2 mainly ^_^;
 
What's GOG's policy on distributing freeware of some old games? If one made them aware that a requested game was freeware, would it mean that GOG would pick it up and distribute it?
 
What's GOG's policy on distributing freeware of some old games? If one made them aware that a requested game was freeware, would it mean that GOG would pick it up and distribute it?
A lot of so called freeware or abandonware isn't actually freeware legally speaking.
 
Lowered regular prices for some games. Now you have even less excuses to not own Outcast.

We're trying out some new pricing, and we want to see what you guys think of it.

Prices changed from $5.99 to $3.99:
Alien Shooter, Celtic Kings, Commandos Ammo Pack, Constructor, Empire Earth, Knights and Merchants, Litil Divil, Lords of Magic, Lords of the Realm, Mobile Forces, Myst: Masterpiece Edition, Outcast, Personal Nightmare, Realms of Haunting, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Simon the Sorcerer, Waxworks.

Prices changed from $9.99 to $6.99:
Broken Sword 4: The Angel of Death, Ceville, Evil Genius, Haegemonia Gold Edition, King's Bounty, Moto Racer 3, Red Baron Pack, Shadowgrounds, Sherlock Holmes, The Incredible Machines, Warlords Battlecry 3
 
GOG truly is like being at a candy store.

I hope they stick with promos like the "Pick 5, Pay $10" promo instead of these new 40% price drops. Unless these prices stay permanent and then also get 50-60% off the lowered prices during Weekend/Holiday/Classic Gem promotional sales, it is better off waiting until those sales.
 
Releases:

Leisure Suit Larry: Love For Sail

I think - someone will be able to correct me if I'm wrong - this was the last 'proper' Larry.

Hocus Pocus

One of Apogee's later-published titles - indeed, I *think* this was one of their last platformers before they went full-on 3D Realms, isn't it? Perfectly competent, as far as I recall, but nothing that special. I assume the shareware version is still out there somewhere if you want to try before you buy.
 
Releases:

Leisure Suit Larry: Love For Sail

I think - someone will be able to correct me if I'm wrong - this was the last 'proper' Larry.

Hocus Pocus

One of Apogee's later-published titles - indeed, I *think* this was one of their last platformers before they went full-on 3D Realms, isn't it? Perfectly competent, as far as I recall, but nothing that special. I assume the shareware version is still out there somewhere if you want to try before you buy.
Holy crap LSL7!! I was disappointed when the previous release only had 1-6, so I decided to wait. Now I can have the full collection. Thank you GOG!
 
I still have a Hocus Pocus CD somewhere, decent little platformer. $5.99 seems a little steep for what it is though. Would buy for a couple bucks.
 
One of Apogee's later-published titles - indeed, I *think* this was one of their last platformers before they went full-on 3D Realms, isn't it? Perfectly competent, as far as I recall, but nothing that special. I assume the shareware version is still out there somewhere if you want to try before you buy.

It is, right on 3D Realms' own website, along with the sale of the game for the same price as GOG. :)

You can even download the shareware version in a pre-configured DOSBox GUI from D-Fend Reloaded's site (just scroll down), along with a dozen other old platform games, in the platform games package.
 
Releases:
Hocus Pocus

One of Apogee's later-published titles - indeed, I *think* this was one of their last platformers before they went full-on 3D Realms, isn't it? Perfectly competent, as far as I recall, but nothing that special. I assume the shareware version is still out there somewhere if you want to try before you buy.
Wow! Spent hours playing the shareware version when I was a kid!
 
This was tucked at the bottom of the Love for Sail news post:

also have some good news about the previously released Leisure Suit Larry 1-6 pack. We'll be adding the full-talkie SVGA version of Larry 6 today.
 
Friggin' loved Hocus Pocus as a kid. Still have the jewel case, disc and all for the full version, amongst my other jewel cases of PC software near my computer.

It's a pretty good game. It gets a bit samey once you realize that, bosses notwithstanding, there are basically only three enemy types (those that walk on the ground and charge at you, those that walk on the ground and shoot at you, and those that fly and shoot at you) despite them having a different coat of paint every two levels. Still, it's solid enough.
 
Never played Hocus Pocus but it reminds me of Dark Wolf, an old DOS game that I've been fruitlessly searching for a non-shareware version of for years and years -

byPf14z.png


/shameless attempt at hoping somebody here has a copy
 
Hocus Pocus

One of Apogee's later-published titles - indeed, I *think* this was one of their last platformers before they went full-on 3D Realms, isn't it? Perfectly competent, as far as I recall, but nothing that special. I assume the shareware version is still out there somewhere if you want to try before you buy.

Apogee's last platformer was Realms of Chaos. Hocus Pocus is a good game, though, of course.
 
They'll probably get all indignant and go "what? You have the Unreal series already! What more could you possibly want from us?"

Well, probably not, but it kinda feels like it sometimes

Hah... yeah, maybe. They certainly don't seem to have any respect at all for their great '90s shareware history, making them quite the opposite of Apogee/3DR, sadly. I really wish that wasn't the case; sure, I preferred Apogee to Epic, but Epic MegaGames published some pretty good games too.

And on that note, my favorite games published by Epic are Epic Pinball, Traffic Department 2192, and the first Unreal Tournament. TD2192 is freeware now (the developer made it freeware a few years ago), but Epic Pinball... yeah, they really need to re-release that game, with all of the tables!
 
I honestly don't get why a company would refuse to release their back catalogue. They're basically saying no to free money. Why would they do that?
 
I wonder if they'll release Apogee's edutainment titles?! :O

Word Rescue kicks major ass.


Edit: This is what's left of Apogee/3DR:
iD, available elsewhere
Commander Keen: Vorticons
Commander Keen: Galaxy
Wolfenstein 3D

Remedy, remake on Steam/iOS
Death Rally

Apogee/3DR, only available through 3drealms.com
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure
Crystal Caves
Math Rescue
Monster Bash
Mystic Towers
Paganitzu
Realms of Chaos
Secret Agent

Wacky Wheels
Word Rescue

Freeware
Adventure Fun Pack
Alien Carnage/Halloween Harry
Arctic Adventure
Beyond the Titanic
Bio Menace
Caves of Thor
Dark Ages
Kroz
Major Stryker
Monuments of Mars
Pharaoh's Tomb
Puzzle Fun Pack
Stargunner
Supernova
Word Whiz
Trivia Whiz
Xenophage.
 
GOG gave me Planescape Torment, and for that I love them. I never played it, but they had it on sale and looking back I would have easily paid double for this masterpiece
 
I wonder if they'll release Apogee's edutainment titles?! :O

Word Rescue kicks major ass.
Yes. Yes it does.

Your list omits some other titles, though, like the Catacombs Quadrology (Catacombs 3D, The Catacomb Abyss, etc). Wouldn't mind revisiting that, honestly... Softdisk, technically, but I think some of the first GOG Apogee lineup was SoftDisk, too.
 
Just noticed they have Superfrog on gog, is the original/classic game still worth getting and playing?

If you're talking about the Amiga version, then yes. The version of SuperFrog on GOG isn't the Amiga version, it's the DOS version. So, find something called Amiga Forever from Cloanto, buy whichever version you need, and then find the SuperFrog Amiga disk/CD images and away you go.
 
Your list omits some other titles, though, like the Catacombs Quadrology (Catacombs 3D, The Catacomb Abyss, etc). Wouldn't mind revisiting that, honestly... Softdisk, technically, but I think some of the first GOG Apogee lineup was SoftDisk, too.

I did some more reading on the subject and it looks like Apogee retained absolutely no IP for the external games that they published. So Word Rescue, for example, is retained by Redwood Games (who still have a website where they are selling it!) rather than Apogee. Looks like Catacombs and Dangerous Dave are now owned by Flat Rock Software, which seems to have taken over Softdisk's legacy software?
 
Hah... yeah, maybe. They certainly don't seem to have any respect at all for their great '90s shareware history, making them quite the opposite of Apogee/3DR, sadly. I really wish that wasn't the case; sure, I preferred Apogee to Epic, but Epic MegaGames published some pretty good games too.

And on that note, my favorite games published by Epic are Epic Pinball, Traffic Department 2192, and the first Unreal Tournament. TD2192 is freeware now (the developer made it freeware a few years ago), but Epic Pinball... yeah, they really need to re-release that game, with all of the tables!

Don't forget that ZZT is Epic, too. Tim Sweeney's finest hour, and that was something of a minor phenomenom when I was a teenager. I wonder how many of the old (and in many cases, hideous) ZZT sites I frequented at the time are still up.
 
If you're talking about the Amiga version, then yes. The version of SuperFrog on GOG isn't the Amiga version, it's the DOS version. So, find something called Amiga Forever from Cloanto, buy whichever version you need, and then find the SuperFrog Amiga disk/CD images and away you go.

Actually, the DOS version is pretty good, and that's coming from an Amiga fanatic.

Though there's a HD remaster on the way, so maybe wait to see how that turns out first.
 
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