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To celebrate its 16th anniversary, digital games store GOG.com has announced a new program that aims to preserve older video games and ensure they can run smoothly on PCs for years to come. From the site:
The GOG Preservation Program ensures classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their developers stopped supporting them. By maintaining these iconic titles, GOG helps you protect and relive the memories that shaped you, DRM-free and with dedicated tech support.
The initial list includes one hundred games. These include classic favorites such as Diablo, Star Control II, X-Com: UFO Defense, System Shock 2, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, and Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger, as well as newer titles such as Dragon Age: Origins and The Witcher.
Here’s an example of GOG’s new game preservation logo on a store page—and also, if you’re a CRPG fan, you need to buy this bundle if you haven’t already.
Credit: GOG.com
For now, the program is Windows-only. A series of OS and silicon updates on the Mac side has damaged compatibility with older 32-bit games and popular front ends such as Boxer for DOSbox (although an alternative is in place). Linux support may also be in the works.
GOG.com said other games may qualify but haven’t been tested against the new program’s standards. “There is a long backlog of classic games available on GOG that may already qualify for the program, but our team has not been able to confirm that yet,” the site said. “We aim to support as many games as possible, but it’s not always entirely up to us.”
I always recommend GOG.com as a terrific place to buy older DOS and Windows games, as they lack DRM and can be installed on whatever devices you want. They also come with scans of the original manuals and packaging, and the copy protection has been removed. It’s a great way to get older PC games running with minimal fuss (although other good ways exist to play them as well).
For more information, visit the GOG Preservation Program page.