Talk:List of commercial video games released as freeware

message: Should "Teen Agent" and  "Drascula: The Vampire Strikes Back" be included?. Lmcgregoruk (talk) 22:56, 9 May 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: After a quick look, yes if they have articles.81.17.198.126 (talk) 09:19, 16 May 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Teen Agent 

message: I've removed these to here for discussion. Without some sort of proof, I'd argue that the guy hosting the below links doesn't have permission to be doing so. Just because something was being distributed by the creator/copyright holder does not necessarily mean that offering them on your own is OK.
* Zork I (1980), by Infocom, (Get it here)
* Zork II (1981), by Infocom, (Get it here)
* Zork III (1982), by Infocom, (Get it here)
* Zork: The Undiscovered Underground (1997), by Infocom, straight-to-freeware release in 1997 as publicity for the release of Zork: Grand Inquisitor (Get it here)
At least the Zorks I-III include a licence notice from Activision, which forbids copying the games. Evktalo 15:33, 12 Jan 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Disputed freeware download links 

message: Shouldn't iD Software games like Doom and Quake be on the list here? Or does being opensourced mean it's not abandonware? Jacoplane 02:18, 13 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  iD Software Games 

message: What about Descent: Freespace game? --Varnav 16:52, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Source only. evktalo 09:22, 15 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Descent: Freespace 

message: Rockstar has released GTA, GTA2, and Wild Metal for free.  I'm pretty sure these count...
http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/gta.html --Chris Price 04:03, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I see Wild Metal on there after more checking, but GTA and GTA2 still aren't --Chris Price 04:03, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

text: Granted, but still, either Wild Metal should not be on the list, or GTA and GTA2 should be added.  Having one of the three listed makes no sense at all. --Chris Price 09:45, 3 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Rockstar Games 

message: The MechCommander series have not been released as freeware, the site www.mechcommander.org is offering pirate copies of the isos via torrent. Microsoft have released the source code for MC2 which the owners of mechcommander.org appear to equate with being the same thing as the entire game being released as freeware.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Deepcut (talk • contribs) .
: That appears to be correct... even more, ONLY MC2 source code has been released (and I'm not sure about the graphics data), I haven't found references on the rest of the series... Releasing one game's source code clearly doesn't affect the rest of the series. Even if the entire game was open source, it doesn't belong in this list. Removed the links to the illegal downloads site from the articles too.Sega381 20:00, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  MechCommander Series 

message: This page reads like a Web directory, more than an encyclopedic article.  Are there other Wikis this page could be moved to and maintained there? --69.54.29.23 13:17, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: There could be another article, but I haven't found one where this list fits well. However, it might be a good idea to remove the "Get it here" links; I'm not sure they really belong there in the first place...Sega381 19:51, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

text: Removed the links; they are at each article's page anyway. Shoule be less web-directory like now.Sega381 04:07, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Web directory? 

message: Should Starcommand 2:Ur-quan masters be here? Jefffire 09:40, 28 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Never mind, it goes under open-souce now. Jefffire 10:18, 28 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  Yes, it should. I have added it under its correct title Star Control II. -- Darklock (talk) 19:18, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Addition 

message: I've just notice factor 5 have their ports of r-type and bonks adventure aswell a katakis along with backup versions of the first three turrican games. so what part of the list should these be put in. link      Atirage 04:40, 21 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Factor 5 Amiga games 

message: Is this one worth mentioning?  Wouldn't this just be viewed as a patch since the single player game is necessary to play it? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Messatsu (talk • contribs) 06:33, 27 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  I haven't played the game, but as I understood, the multiplayer version of FEAR was available as a free download, and so it was playable without the original FEAR game. It's included in the original game; it's not a patch for the retail version (at least that's what is said in the FEAR article).Sega381 15:02, 27 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  F.E.A.R.'s multiplayer component 

message: Why "MUD" in the "see also" section? Palpalpalpal 19:53, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Good question... I think it was left over from when this list was part of another article. Link removed.Sega381 20:30, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  See Also 

message: Suggesting anti-chronological original release sorting for game list instead of alphabet name sorting. Because for video games, year of release is strongly linked to technologies SW & HW.
Would looks like nicer and easier to browse like this:
*2006 - FPS - FEAR combat
*2005 - RPG - [...]
*2005 - FPS - [...]
: It sounds like a good idea, it may be a better organization... however, most lists I've seen are ordered alphabetically... is there any Wikipedia rule or recommendation on this? What do everyone else think? Sega381 16:23, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  I don't really see a problem with the alphabetical ordering. The list isn't there for people to quickly find a free game to play, it's not a free games portal, it's a list of games which at one point weren't freeware but were release as such at a later date. Having said that, I am not strongly opposed to a re-ordering, and if more people want it, that's fine I guess. However, if someone is going to make the list chronological, it should be going from oldest to newest, as per this guideline, and not in reverse order. And I don't think the type of game should come before the name of the game, that just makes no sense at all. --Lijnema 18:48, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Page organization 

message: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (computer game) is available for free as a java applet online on Douglas Adam's website. Does this make it some sort of freeware?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.224.80.87 (talk) 17:30, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 

message: I saw Warzone 2100 in this list... Warzone 2100 was Open Source'ed, not Freeware'ed... and the Open Source version has most of the game content (short of the cutscenes). I will not alter this... as perhaps I don't know something. But I would strongly advise that someone else does.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.173.174.184 (talk) 00:19, 22 May 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: You're right, and it's alreay in the List of open source games article, so it's been removed. Sega381 (talk) 00:03, 23 May 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Warzone 2100 

message: TrackMania Nations ESWC & TrackMania Nations is Free
http://www.trackmania.com/en/index.php?lang=en&rub=downloads  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.166.67.196 (talk) 09:43, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: TrackMania Nations is a seperate freeware title, not a previously sold game. Deepcut (talk) 03:37, 15 September 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  TrackMania 

message: I don't think NetStorm is free. The disclaimer in the freely downloadable game is "NSHQ would like to inform you that Activision Inc. holds the sole legal rights to Netstorm:Islands at war. All logo's and software on this site are being distributed as abandonware and are trademarks of their respective owners. NSHQ thus accepts NO responsibility for any legal ramifications you may incur by use of the said material. By Downloading/Installing any material of NSHQ you affirm the above statement to be true and acceptable.    - The Management". 
Another source
This looks like abandonware, and not freeware. I remove it from the list. --88.161.150.94 (talk) 19:14, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  NetStorm not free 

message: Buzz Aldrin's race into space was released as freeware. Probably. See []. Is it OK to include BARIS to the list?
Someone adapted original source, so the game is using SDL [] .  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.194.247.92 (talk) 15:31, 16 September 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Race into space 

message: What the hell is this all about? The right to distribution is per the license agreement, the EULA, I don't think it is at all necessary to list every little deal of the license agreement on this list. After all this is not a "list of distributable games", it's a "list of commercial games released as freeware", can we try and keep it that way? Otherwise we're gonna need a table. --Hm2k (talk) 10:33, 16 December 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  NON-FREELY REDISTRIBUTABLE 

message: I see LegitimateAndEvenCompelling has already linked to the PC World article, above, but I just wanted to give everyone who worked on this article a "well done" for helping make it "convenient and verifiable". Wouldn't it be great if we turned it into a sortable list? Marasmusine (talk) 23:40, 5 January 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Agreed, and let's remember Jimbo Wales set up Wikipedia and directly or indirectly the rules such as WP:RS that make this page "convenient and verifiable."  --LegitimateAndEvenCompelling (talk) 23:47, 5 January 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  PC World article 

message: The entry Antheads: It Came From The Desert 2 was added by 75.147.102.41, then deleted by Sega381 for lack of related article. It seems that the said game is referenced in the article It Came From The Desert. However, this article mentions that Antheads is only an add-on. Should it be listed on its own, or as a sub-entry for It Came From the Desert, or not at all ? PS : whatever the answer is, I'm obviously too limited in english to modify this page ;) .  --gabknight2005 (talk) 17:05, 9 January 2009
:I think there is no problem with comercial expansion packs that were re-released as freeware. In this case, the problem was that the link was pointing to a non-existent article, when it should have been poiting to the section in the "It Came From The Desert" page. I'll re-add it with the correct link. --Sega381 (talk) 04:59, 10 January 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: Can Add-ons be listed as freewares ?

message: Specifically, Far Cry, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Rayman Raving Rabbids. Weren't the free ad-supported downloads of these also restricted to the US? I have a vague memory of trying to get hold of Far Cry in this way and being frustrated because I wasn't in the US. If so, that should be mentioned. Loganberry (Talk) 18:05, 17 March 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: And while I'm on the subject... Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War, from the main list, is apparently only playable to people with a US IP address. It is therefore not a free game to the vast majority of the world. Geographical restrictions definitely need to be mentioned unless this article is going to be retitled List of commercial games released as freeware in the United States! Loganberry (Talk) 18:12, 17 March 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: By all means, feel free to mark them as geographically restricted.--Sega381 (talk) 00:12, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks; I'll do so where I can get sources. Loganberry (Talk) 03:26, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: ...which is proving pretty difficult, actually, as most of the places offering the game (Raf:CaW) are US-based for a US audience, and thus don't mention the restrictions at all. There are quite a few irritable posts from non-Americans in the comments, but those don't constitute reliable sources. Loganberry (Talk) 16:56, 18 March 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Geographical restrictions (inc. the briefly-free Ubisoft games) 

message: I think it is misleading to put them in T. What do you guys think?81.17.198.126 (talk) 14:22, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Throughout history, "the" has been ignored when sorting lists, I bet there's even mention of it in a wikipedia article somewhere... --Hm2k (talk) 15:06, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Games starting with the word "The" 

message: About every other game related lists have tables. Why not here too? 81.17.198.126 (talk) 14:40, 19 May 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: If you feel it would improve the article, go ahead. --Sega381 (talk) 00:28, 20 May 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Tables for this article? 

message: Why was The Adventures of Fatman removed from the list? The original is freeware according to its wikipedia article.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.17.198.126 (talk) 07:04, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: It's a good question. However, I can't find a reference in the Wikipedia article which confirms that the game is actually freeware. The company's website is a little outdated, and only mentions a commercial re-release, after the mentioned freeware date. I think that if someone can find a reliable reference on the status of the game, we can re-add it. --Sega381 (talk) 21:10, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  The Adventures of Fatman 

message: As far as I know, Orbiter was never a commercial game and therefore shouldn't be listed here... however I don't know about the early days of the game. Clarification anyone?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.113.0.42 (talk) 11:08, 16 July 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Orbiter 

message: I believe Hades 2 should be added to this list. 90.225.93.214 (talk) 21:12, 18 December 2012 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks for bringing this game to our attention.  It appears to meet the criteria for inclusion, so I added it. --Mike Agricola (talk) 21:42, 18 December 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Hades 2 

message: Realmz is another game which I think might belong here. 90.225.93.214 (talk) 23:00, 18 December 2012 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks for the suggestion.  (Here's some background for those unfamiliar with the game and here is a link to the official Realmz website.)  It appears the basic game and two scenarios have been declared freeware with free registration codes provided for those who have previously downloaded the shareware demo.  However, the company is still selling additional scenarios for the game.  Thus the game isn't completely freeware.  It's definitely "freer" than it was before, but its current status is reminiscent of the shareware model formerly employed by 3D Realms and Epic MegaGames whereby a scenario or episode is freely distributed which serves as an advertisement for additional scenarios/episodes which must be purchased.  I'm not certain that this qualifies for inclusion, but I'll see what other editors have to say. --Mike Agricola (talk) 18:25, 19 December 2012 (UTC)
replies: text: OK, thanks for the clarification! 90.225.93.214 (talk) 14:44, 20 December 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Realmz 

message: I've found a website which features former commercial software later released as freeware. I thought some of you might find it interesting: http://www.infinitefrontiers.0catch.com/DownloadsCommercial.htm 90.225.93.214 (talk) 14:51, 20 December 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Found a related website 

message: Another potential addition Starshatter: The Gathering Storm. Seems it was released open source/freeware 2011 (website was hacked/went offline). This forum offers a download, source code here. cheers Shaddim (talk) 23:54, 8 January 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: Hi Shaddim.  The suggestion is appreciated.  However, the article's preface reads, "For FLOSS games, and proprietary games re-released as FLOSS, see List of open source video games."  It seems that editors who have previously worked on this article prefer that the formerly commercial games listed here should be those that remain closed source and that games re-released as open-source freeware should be listed elsewhere.  (I realize though that there's a few exceptions to the rule currently populating the list such as Star Control II which have already been there for quite a long time.  I mentioned this previously on this page, but I'm still waiting on further responses as I prefer to obtain an editorial consensus first before deleting Star Control II and a few other open-source freeware re-releases.) --Mike Agricola (talk) 19:46, 9 January 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: Hello Mike, thanks for feedback. I think some games are qualified for both lists, while I agree that in most cases it is exclusive. Many games like the ID or 3d realms games are "just" open source without releasing the content, others are just freeware without being open source. This is one of the rare cases were it is both at the same time, without being a completty free game (like FreeDink). Another one in this list is Strange Adventures in Infinite Space: source code available, also Freeware but not a Free Game (as content is not CC or Public Domain). cheers Shaddim (talk) 23:24, 9 January 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Starshatter: The Gathering Storm 

message: Wouldn't Conquest of Elysium II fit in this article? The game's official website: http://www.illwinter.com/coe/index.html  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.225.93.214 (talk) 23:53, 12 April 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Conquest of Elysium II 

message: This game was recently released freeware, see official web: http://amuletsandarmor.com/index.htm 90.225.93.214 (talk) 02:41, 28 April 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Amulets & Armor 

message: Some of Al Lowe's games are here for free download "As far as I know, these games are no longer of any interest to my friends at Disney or Sierra, so feel free to copy them and share them with your friends.": http://www.allowe.com/downloads/games.html cheers Shaddim (talk) 21:01, 13 August 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Al Lowe's games 

message: In this forum thread many more games are listed. http://www.classicdosgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1215&start=30 cheers Shaddim (talk) 18:59, 16 November 2015 (UTC)
thread_title: Many more contributions 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/games/permissions.php List of lemon64 freeware/public domain releases. cheers 19:11, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  another source for inclusion 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: Should Stacraft 2 be listed after the announcement made by Blizzard?
Link:
https://twitter.com/StarCraft/status/926514588031492097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2017%2F11%2F3%2F16603926%2Fstarcraft-2-free-to-play-blizzcon-november-14th-f2p
Kurt R. (Zirukurt01)✉ 14:07, 2 December 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Starcraft 2 goes free? 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: I reverted this article because the lead section was vandalised. Did I do good? Rmaster1200 (talk) 17:54, 14 January 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Reverted for vandalism 

message: As indicated by its Steam page, it appears that the copyright to Zero Tolerance has been purchased by Piko Interactive, who is now selling the game for $11.99 (as a consolation to anyone who wanted a legal method of emulating the game other than backing up one's cartridge, all Piko Interactive releases do at least provide the user access to the ROM file). While the Technopop website used to have regular and beta downloads available to the left of the paragraph that mentions the freeware status that can still be accessed and downloaded via the Internet Archive, the current state of the website and the Piko Interactive copyright notice appear to indicate that the game is no longer freeware. As I compile a list of freeware games on my own wiki, however, I believe that the unreleased sequel Beyond Zero Tolerance remains freeware, as listed here, though as it was never commercially released, it might not qualify for this list. While most of the games on my own list are either similarly unpublished games released as freeware or simply homebrew games, it appears that this article is lacking several of the formerly commercial games made available by their developers on the MAME website. CoolieCoolster (talk) 05:42, 15 August 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Zero Tolerance is likely no longer freeware 

message: Judging from the fact that the original Cinemaware site containing the ROM downloads is now completely gone, Cinemaware got acquired by Starbreeze, and the original Amiga and DOS ROMs can be bought on Steam, is it safe to take the related games off the list? They were added in 2012 so they've been there quite a while. DudePerson22 (talk) 04:53, 4 November 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Cinemaware games no longer freeware? 

message: There are several reimplantations, ports and a full decompilation of the original freeware, I think it deserves a spot here. 79.20.179.56 (talk) 11:29, 14 May 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Cave Story