Anyone tried Maple Story?

Toby Newman <google RemoveThis @asktoby.com> wrote in
news:slrng0c6h6.7hg.google@ID-171443.user.uni-berlin.de:

> On 2008-04-14, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendrick RemoveThis @nospam.io> wrote:
>> In article
>> <9e1d142c-234b-41da-b20d-30ff0000e464 RemoveThis @f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>,
>> BLMX <junkbin5-02 RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> Why should anybody want a free version of WoW?
>>>
>>>LF2M to summon BlackHeart.
>>>Uh, why would anyone want a free *anything*... because it's FREE.
>>>Duh?
>>
>> Except that very few things come without cost.
>
> So let's list good things that are free. I'll start:
>
> Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (100% free)
> Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe (100% free)
> Psychonauts (Ad supported via Gametap)
> Tomb Raider Legend (Ad supported via Gametap)
> F.E.A.R. Combat (Free)

I just hope you'll forgive some repetition ^_^;

[Collections]

Grand Files
http://grandfiles.com/games/index.html

GameHippo
http://gameHippo.com/

Home of the Underdogs (yes, that 'abandonware site')
http://www.the-underdogs.info/company.php?id=167

Some 'Legal Abandonware'
http://www.student.oulu.fi/~einokesk/legalaw/

Some 'Liberated Games'
http://liberatedgames.org/

Some DOS games
http://www.classicdosgames.com/index.html (check the 'Legal Status')
http://dosgames.com/ (not all of it freeware but still...)

Apogee's freeware section
http://www.3drealms.com/downloads.html

Cinemaware's site (check -The Vault-)
http://cinemaware.com/

A Comcast site (that also has tips for tweaking XP)
http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/XPGames.html

The 'Caiman' Islands (WARNING: Ad-heavy. Visit at your own risk)
http://www.caiman.us/

And, who knows, maybe these guys will prove useful as well. ^_^
http://sourceforge.net/
http://www.download.com/
http://www.tucows.com/
http://www.madmonkey.net/
http://www.freewaregames.net/
http://www.fullgames.sk/
http://www.freeoldies.com/
http://www.worldoffreegames.com/
http://downloadfullversionpcgames.com/blog/2007/06/17/100-of-the-best-
legal-full-version-games-you-can-download-online/

....if only for a day.
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/
http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/

[Individual Games]

Elite (via Ian Bell's Page)
http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/index.htm

Lode Runner Online (via Ted Daggert's page. Explore a little.)
http://www.daggert.net/Folio/index.htm

Dink Smallwood (via RTSoft's page)
http://www.rtsoft.com/

Boppin (via the author's page)
http://jenniverse.com/

Elder Scrolls: Arena (just click on -downloads- and then -games-)
http://elderscrolls.com/

Ken's Labyrinth
http://www.advsys.net/ken/default.htm

Skyroads (if you don't mind a -History- lesson)
http://www.bluemoon.ee/bluemoon/index.html

Satan Sam
http://satansam.co.uk/satansam/home.htm

Happyland Adventures (among others in the -Games- section)
http://freelunchdesign.com/

Jetpack (among other -Classic Games-)
http://www.adeptsoftware.com/

Digger
http://www.digger.org/

Nyet III
http://www.coreloop.com/games/tetris/nyet3/

and maybe a little DND
http://members.tripod.com/~rancourt/default.htm

And that's just a sample - just a **sample**, Ruggles - of what's available
on the net, not counting the number of:

-Game Engines-
http://www.ambrosine.com/resource.html
http://www.senileteam.com/

-Mods-
http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/
http://planetunreal.gamespy.com/

-Remakes-
http://www.retroremakes.com/
http://www.omninet.net.au/~irhumph/apple2.htm

and emulated games available. (Note: a legal grey area)

Feel free to add to these lists if you wish.

If nothing else, they'll provide us with solutions/alternatives to the next
'Video Game Crash'. ^_^

Signed,
Warewolf
who is considering going the 'one game, infinite mods' route...one of these
days.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

And matrix games has released some games for free lately, the
latest bein' on tax day:

http://www.matrixgames.com/games/news.asp?gid=356

also:

http://www.matrixgames.com/games/downloads.asp?gid=237

and some others.

Leo
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

Ross Ridge <rri....RemoveThis@caffeine.csclub.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> Software companies can earn
> bigger profit margins selling games with subscription or pay-per-use fees,
> but most gamers aren't willing to pay for games that way.

Darin Johnson <darin.RemoveThis@usa.net> wrote:
>Right now gamers sometimes complain that there's not enough
>gameplay. If it was pay-per-use I can see them start to complain
>that there's too *much* gameplay in some of them
....
>($0.10) > north
>You are in a little maze of twisty passages.
>
>($0.20) >

Heh. I imagine paying to play games by the minute on the old Compuserve
and other online systems must've been something like that.

Ross Ridge

--
l/ // Ross Ridge -- The Great HTMU
[oo][oo] rridge.RemoveThis@csclub.uwaterloo.ca
-()-/()/ http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~rridge/
db //
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

Toby Newman typed:
> So let's list good things that are free. I'll start:
>
> Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (100% free)
> Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe (100% free)
> Psychonauts (Ad supported via Gametap)
> Tomb Raider Legend (Ad supported via Gametap)
> F.E.A.R. Combat (Free)

Freespace 1 (Port) + Freespace 2 (Open Source)
http://www.fsoinstaller.com/

I recently grabbed these two, weighing in at around 3GB complete - the
updated graphics are outstanding. Not had a chance to sink my teeth into
it yet, I played FS1 years ago, but never played FS2, so looking forward
to it. Super easy to download and setup with that handy installer.

At any rate, they might be free *now*, but they never would've existed
in the first place if not for selling.


--
};> Matt v3.2 <:{
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

I just read that there are more U.S. players playing Maple Story then
World of Warcraft. I guess people really like free!
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

Thus spake Darin Johnson <darin.TakeThisOut@usa.net>, Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:14:10 -0700
(PDT), Anno Domini:

>On Apr 16, 3:01 pm, Ross Ridge <rri....TakeThisOut@caffeine.csclub.uwaterloo.ca>
>wrote:
>> Software companies can earn
>> bigger profit margins selling games with subscription or pay-per-use fees,
>> but most gamers aren't willing to pay for games that way.
>
>Right now gamers sometimes complain that there's not enough
>gameplay. If it was pay-per-use I can see them start to complain
>that there's too *much* gameplay in some of them
>
>You are in a maze of twisty little passages.
>
>($0.00) > west
>You are in a twisty maze of little passages.
>
>($0.10) > north
>You are in a little maze of twisty passages.
>
>($0.20) >

I think we're gettin a bit carried away here

If WoW or CoX or LOTRO or any other major mmo gave me the *option* to pay
hourly, say .50c-$1/hr, I'd happily pay that per use instead of being locked
into $15/mth. My time is worth far more than $1/hr & some months I may only
play a mmo 4-6 hrs, so that would be better value for a time-limited,
'casual' gamer like myself. I also like some of the network models now
hosting multiple mmos/games for the only monthly fee - you just play the one
you want when you want. That's far better value than being locked into an
inflexible payment plan. Of course, WoW's success in part attests to the
contrary, so what do I know?

It would also be great if most of them took a leaf out of ArenaNet's (GW)
book & learnt how to program streaming content properly *sigh*. You could
then play one of a multitude of games, w/o the need for any client d/l or
install, just kick off a small .exe initially & it streams the rest as
needed (one shouldn't pay for downtime during streaming or level loading of
course .

--
Nostromo
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

In article <ld2e04hvljtk4ruv0mfn0su9rk5tt94050 RemoveThis @4ax.com>,
Nostromo <nospam RemoveThis @forme.org> wrote:
>Thus spake Darin Johnson <darin RemoveThis @usa.net>, Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:14:10 -0700
>(PDT), Anno Domini:
>>On Apr 16, 3:01 pm, Ross Ridge <rri... RemoveThis @caffeine.csclub.uwaterloo.ca>
>>wrote:
>>> Software companies can earn
>>> bigger profit margins selling games with subscription or pay-per-use fees,
>>> but most gamers aren't willing to pay for games that way.
>>
>>Right now gamers sometimes complain that there's not enough
>>gameplay. If it was pay-per-use I can see them start to complain
>>that there's too *much* gameplay in some of them
>>
>>You are in a maze of twisty little passages.
>>
>>($0.00) > west
>>You are in a twisty maze of little passages.
>>
>>($0.10) > north
>>You are in a little maze of twisty passages.
>
>I think we're gettin a bit carried away here

See, given how little challenge new gamers are able to handle, Darin's
model would lead to every game being only "Press Start. You've won! You
have been billed for $39.99"

>If WoW or CoX or LOTRO or any other major mmo gave me the *option* to pay
>hourly, say .50c-$1/hr, I'd happily pay that per use instead of being locked
>into $15/mth. My time is worth far more than $1/hr & some months I may only
>play a mmo 4-6 hrs, so that would be better value for a time-limited,
>'casual' gamer like myself. I also like some of the network models now
>hosting multiple mmos/games for the only monthly fee - you just play the one
>you want when you want. That's far better value than being locked into an
>inflexible payment plan. Of course, WoW's success in part attests to the
>contrary, so what do I know?

I've found the pricing and product structure of MMOs to be disturbingly
similar to American mobile phone offerings. By locking you into a contract
and overselling their capacity, they can count on charging people who
aren't using the service all the time and they can have more players than
their network can actually handle. That way, when some expansion or
special event happens that overloads the servers they can justify raising
rates 'to provide better service.' :/

Wasn't one of the Second Life programmers saying in the press that there
would be a universal MMO client in the future, and all online games past a
certain date would comply with the standard? I don't think it's more than
pie-in-the-sky speculation, but if it happened it'd certainly go a long
way towards addressing concerns about expense. I remember the story was
focused more on standardization of graphics and online identity, but to me
the interesting part was treating the MMO connection as just another type
of utility service, like your phone or home network. If one client gets
you to all the games and all the providers share that infrastructure, then
the $15 a month becomes just another normal bill. Try explaining THAT one
to your grandparents.

-KKC, listening to the Mana Khemia soundtrack at work.
--
-- "Arabs are the new Asians, at least in media. Stereotypes gave way to
deeper roles over 40 years of assimilation into western culture. Bruce Lee
kicks ass, Jackie Chan gets laughs, B.D. Wong is a top. Arabs have | kendrick
had Klinger and Monk. Clearly, they have some catching up to do." | @io.com
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:32:43 +1000, Nostromo <nospam DeleteThis @forme.org> wrote:

>If WoW or CoX or LOTRO or any other major mmo gave me the *option* to pay
>hourly, say .50c-$1/hr, I'd happily pay that per use instead of being locked
>into $15/mth.

I am not even sure casual gamers would go for this model. Even if it
ended up being cheaper for them. Watching the clock when you are
supposed to be enjoying yourself kind of sucks. I think there is
greater appeal in the 'play as little or as much as you want' pricing
model. Even for casual gamers.

>My time is worth far more than $1/hr & some months I may only
>play a mmo 4-6 hrs, so that would be better value for a time-limited,
>'casual' gamer like myself. I also like some of the network models now
>hosting multiple mmos/games for the only monthly fee

Hell yes, this is much better. But other then Sony Station, does this
model even exist for games that are more then just computer versions
of board and card games?
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

Thus spake Mike S. <mike RemoveThis @nowhere.com>, Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:55:22 GMT, Anno
Domini:

>On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:32:43 +1000, Nostromo <nospam RemoveThis @forme.org> wrote:
>
>>If WoW or CoX or LOTRO or any other major mmo gave me the *option* to pay
>>hourly, say .50c-$1/hr, I'd happily pay that per use instead of being locked
>>into $15/mth.
>
>I am not even sure casual gamers would go for this model. Even if it
>ended up being cheaper for them. Watching the clock when you are
>supposed to be enjoying yourself kind of sucks. I think there is
>greater appeal in the 'play as little or as much as you want' pricing
>model. Even for casual gamers.
>
>>My time is worth far more than $1/hr & some months I may only
>>play a mmo 4-6 hrs, so that would be better value for a time-limited,
>>'casual' gamer like myself. I also like some of the network models now
>>hosting multiple mmos/games for the only monthly fee
>
>Hell yes, this is much better. But other then Sony Station, does this
>model even exist for games that are more then just computer versions
>of board and card games?

There was at least one other network doing this for online
games/mmos...daymn, I can't find it now, but will get back to you once I do
(or someone else beats me to it .

--
Nostromo
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story? 

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:50:50 +1000, Nostromo <nospam.DeleteThis@forme.org> wrote:

>There was at least one other network doing this for online
>games/mmos...daymn, I can't find it now, but will get back to you once I do
>(or someone else beats me to it .

I'll definitely check it out if you or someone could give me a link or
just the name of the service.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone tried Maple Story?