# i'm looking for a computer game... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701 "2007-02-03T21:33:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/1 "2007-02-03T21:33:13Z")
It may have been one that came free with a Windows iteration, but I don’t know. Basically, you built a tower, in which you could put businesses, homes, and so on. it was a 2D view. Little people walked around in it. I don’t remember it being any more complicated than that. Ideally i’d like to not only know what it is, but also if I could download it for free anywhere. It seems like the kind of game that would be free by now anyway, though of course i’m not looking to get it for free if it’s still being sold. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/2 "2007-02-03T21:37:57Z")
[Sim Tower](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimTower) maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/3 "2007-02-03T21:45:09Z")
That does look like it! Seems as though it’s an actual game to buy, though. Drat. Ah well, thanks anyway! ---
**Author:** ![metonymic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@metonymic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metonymic)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/4 "2007-02-03T21:50:34Z")
You can download it for free from Home of the Underdogs (a great site). Seems it’s now abandonware. There’s a link near the bottom of the page, beside “Where to get it:”. Check it out ! ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/5 "2007-02-03T23:20:51Z")
Shiny, many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/6 "2007-02-04T00:42:38Z")
While the site may say something is “abandonware,” the legality is still murky. Closed. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/7 "2007-02-04T01:39:28Z")
For legal options to acquire it, I believe it was in a bundle sold by Maxis in 1997. Amazon appears to have a used copy… plug in 156754388X in the search field on Amazon’s front page. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/8 "2007-02-04T01:48:33Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Slant] For legal options to acquire it, I believe it was in a bundle sold by Maxis in 1997. Amazon appears to have a used copy… plug in 156754388X in the search field on Amazon’s front page. [/QUOTE] In before the portcullis comes down! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/9 "2007-02-04T01:51:36Z")
Nah, if SamClem hasn’t already locked the thread, it’ll require more naughtiness than we’ve seen so far to get it shut down. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/10 "2007-02-04T01:57:13Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Slant] Nah, if SamClem hasn’t already locked the thread, it’ll require more naughtiness than we’ve seen so far to get it shut down. [/QUOTE] His Mod-Fu is weak. He is heistant. He says "Closed’ but the Mod-force will not obey him. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/11 "2007-02-04T02:22:06Z")
A lot of these aBandonware websites offer much older computer software games that Are no longer oN the market. Due to nOn-existent sales, many maNufacturers have released these games as shareware. I have visited many of these websites And found many games that are no longer on the market. Downloading a copyrighted game, even thOugh you thought it was shareware, could get someone in trouble, as **samclem** indicated. To list these websites, which may be offering Copyrighted material as shareware, on a message bOard may also be suspect, also noted by **samclem**. Much shame that is, because no one can tell you which website to visit to click on the simulation link and go to the “s” category to download the game you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/12 "2007-02-04T04:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=Mince] A lot of these aBandonware websites offer much older computer software games that Are no longer oN the market. Due to nOn-existent sales, many maNufacturers have released these games as shareware. I have visited many of these websites And found many games that are no longer on the market. Downloading a copyrighted game, even thOugh you thought it was shareware, could get someone in trouble, as **samclem** indicated. To list these websites, which may be offering Copyrighted material as shareware, on a message bOard may also be suspect, also noted by **samclem**. Much shame that is, because no one can tell you which website to visit to click on the simulation link and go to the “s” category to download the game you are looking for. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry, but this cracked me up. You sir are awesome. _whistles nonchalantly_ ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/13 "2007-02-04T11:11:33Z")
Steganography in action! Cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/14 "2007-02-04T16:45:36Z")
You could also buy it for the Gameboy Advance, under the name Tower SP. [Tower SP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tower_SP) ---
**Author:** ![metonymic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@metonymic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metonymic)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-computer-game/390701/15 "2007-02-04T16:58:23Z")
Apologies, **samclem**. My impression of Home of the Underdogs was that they provide access to ‘out of print’ games legally, instead providing links to places you can purchase the games whose publishers/owners/whoever still require that. But it seems abandonware isn’t as legal as I’d thought – whoops! I hope this doesn’t violate anything: you can read about HOTU’s discussion with the ESA in 2001 [here](http://www.the-underdogs.info/partdeux.php). (end hijack) You also might be able to find the [SimMania Series](http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-11892-SimMania-Series/dp/B00004NHFO) on Amazon, which includes SimTower.