# Download Only Games? Yay or nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 13, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739 "2012-05-13T00:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/101 "2012-05-25T23:00:07Z")
**Lynn Bodoni** , I think you’d love Good Old Games ([GOG.com](http://GOG.com)) if you checked them out. Unlike Steam, you don’t have to download a client on your computer. You just individially download the games you want, and install them. Every game “tweaks” itself, for lack of a better word, to run as flawlessly as they can make it on modern PCs. If it’s an old game that ran in DOS, then when you run the game it makes it’s own DOS-emulation that runs in the background and you never see/notice (it uses DOSBox.) Every game is 100% DRM free, and are downloaded as one self-executable installation file, so it’s insanely easy to back them up. Just copy the installation file to a DVD, thumb drive, a cloud service, whatever. Once you have that game, you’ll be able to run it forever…well, hopefully. I suppose eventually there will be a version of Windows where it won’t work, but Win 7 will stay for a while, and they will almost certainly work in Win 8 when that gets released too. Here’s just a small sampling of games they have: Syndicate Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri King’s Quest Series Space Quest Series Quest for Glory Series Sim City 2000 Pharaoh + Cleopatra Dungeon Keeper Baldur’s Gate I + II Icewind Dale I + II Planescape: Torment The Myst Series The Journeyman Project The Wingcommander Series And dozens more. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/102 "2012-05-26T09:41:19Z")
I was never able to get Alpha Centauri to run on my computers (I tried two different computers). I might have to break down and try GOG. I’ve never played Planescape, and I kept meaning to try it, as it sounds right up my alley. I loved Baldur’s Gate (Go for the eyes, Boo! Go for the eyes!) and Icewind Dale, though ID kept crashing on me during the final battle. I was less than enchanted with Myst. Gah. On the one hand, I hate downloads. On the other hand, this is so very tempting. If the devil wants my soul, he’d probably get it if he offered classic games in exchange. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/103 "2012-05-26T13:57:04Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > I don’t really think the industry cares abotu people like you. As I said, I don’t personally like it (what the OP asked), but I do see it as inevitable. If they ever do do it exclusively , I just won’t buy it. No skin off my teeth. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/104 "2012-05-26T13:59:57Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Here’s just a small sampling of games they have: > Syndicate > Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri > King’s Quest Series > Space Quest Series > Quest for Glory Series > Sim City 2000 > Pharaoh + Cleopatra > Dungeon Keeper > Baldur’s Gate I + II > Icewind Dale I + II > Planescape: Torment > The Myst Series > The Journeyman Project > The Wingcommander Series Already have most of those on disc, and those I don’t I’m not interested in. But I see your point, and I don’t think any of us that don’t like d/l “only” games are complaining about games that can be backed-up on a DVD. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/105 "2012-05-26T14:04:05Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I was never able to get Alpha Centauri to run on my computers (I tried two different computers). Something’s wrong with your copy then, as I bought it when it first came out and have had no problems running it in W98/XP/Vista64 straight from the “box” with no compatibility mucking about at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/106 "2012-05-27T14:25:34Z")
I downloaded Arcanum and Planescape last night. Just got done installing Arcanum. If y’all don’t see me again, you will know why. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/107 "2012-05-28T03:16:25Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Already have most of those on disc, and those I don’t I’m not interested in. But I see your point, and I don’t think any of us that don’t like d/l “only” games are complaining about games that can be backed-up on a DVD. I’m pretty much in this boat with regard to GOG myself (Though I’m enjoying my free Ultima IV). That said though, sometimes it’s easier to pay $5 to get a game set up and guaranteed to work than it is to waste a ton of time tinkering around and trying to get your 15 year old disc to function. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739/108 "2012-05-31T05:37:48Z")
To **Airk’s** point, GOG just released _Sid Meier’s Colonization_, the DOS original, which I snapped up for the low, low price of $5.99. Yes I have it in a directory somewhere on my computer, but why wouldn’t I buy a backup to a game I like to trot out every couple of years? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/download-only-games-yay-or-nay/621739.md?page=5)