Grim Fandango's suave hero, Manuel "Manny" Calavera.
It used to be that playing classic, out-of-print PC games required you to find shady download sites or old dusty retail boxes on eBay, then hope that your ancient Windows 3.1 game would work under XP or Vista.
One of the most welcome recent developments in gaming is the relatively sudden availability of a huge back catalog of classic games, across multiple platforms.
Like classic films finally being released on DVD, you can now play great (and not-so-great) games from the '80s and '90s via the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii, as well as on your PC via download platforms such as Steam, GameTap, and Good Old Games (which is especially notable for offering DRM-free versions of classic games for $5-10).
Recent examples include LucasArts' The Secret of Monkey Island (available on Xbox Live and the iPhone), and the classic Fallout and Tex Murphy games on GOG.com.
While the future of PC gaming may be in question, many of our fondest video game memories are not of console games played on a living room TV, but of classic PC adventure games -- a genre virtually ignored today.
Sadly, many of our favorites are not yet available on any of these retro gaming platforms, so we present for you, in handy gallery form, our list of five classic adventure games that need to be re-released as digital downloads, pronto. Disagree with our choices? Let us know what classic games (adventure of otherwise) deserve a second chance in the comments section below.
[Note: We fully admit to not playing any of these games since their original release, so our fond memories may be more nostalgia than reality.]
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(Credit:
Chip Chick)
You can't really blame the makers of this "Blade Runner" MP3 player if they go all-out on the marketing front despite its mediocre features. Given the cult status of its namesake movie classic, just about anything bearing that title might well send droves of fans reaching for their wallets.
But we agree with Chip Chick that it looks as if it were made from leftover Razr cases, which doesn't help its 2GB of storage, 1.8-inch display, and other decidedly unimpressive specs. And we're curious to know if any copyright issues will be raised, because we'll go out on a limb and guess that this isn't a studio-sanctioned product. With or without the unicorn.
Blade Runner Ultimate, unboxed.
(Credit: Amazon)Sorry if the is old news to some, but I just got back from vacation and noticed that details are out on the hotly anticipated new version of Blade Runner that's due to arrive December 18. Blade Runner was one of the first movies released on DVD, and while it sold well, the video transfer sucked. Well, for the 25th anniversary of the film, Warner Brothers and director Ridley Scott finally got around to restoring and remastering the thing--and a lot of folks are pretty stoked, especially now that the film will be available on both Blu-ray and HD DVD.
The "standard" Blu-ray and HD DVD versions of the Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition will run you $27.95 ($24.95 for the DVD) at Amazon, but real aficionados might just have to step up to the Ultimate Collector's Edition, which you can pick up for $54.95.
According to Amazon, the Ultimate edition "will be presented in a unique five-disc digi-package with handle, which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard's own briefcase. In addition, each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, and collector's photographs, as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott."
Anybody think it's worth paying double for the cheap imitation briefcase, a unicorn, a little car, and that really personal letter from Sir Ridley?
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