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[hanging]

Originally posted by ReamusLQ@Dec 24 2004, 12:50 AM
So if you can still buy a game, it is considered NOT ABW, even if the company doesn't make it anymore? I mean, I bought my entire Quest for Glory Collection online at a site that had a bunch of old games that were never sold that they had found in their stock, yet the QFG series is ABW. So, what exactly makes a game ABW?

if a company doesnt support it - then it technically is abandoned - just if there is a way to buy it.. Most decent abandonware sites will put the buy link up..

it's not all about free games ya know

1: What is abandonware?

Abandonware is a piece of software (for any system, games or applications) which are no longer sold and/or supported by their copyright holder.

2: What about age and resellers?

Age does not enter into whether or not a game is abandonware. Many sites put a voluntary age limit on their games, but it is entirely voluntary.
Resellers also do not enter into a games abandonware status. A game might have 20 left-over copies at an online store or real world bargain bin, but that does not mean the copyright holder is still selling it. Again, some sites voluntarily link to resellers in order to give them support,.

(from ARP)


What is Abandonware?
Abandonware is an abbreviation for 'abandoned software'. That basically says it all. It is commonly defined as any piece of software (i.e. games and apps) which has been discontinued by its copyright holder. That means it isn't sold in the shops anymore. So the question if something is Abandonware or not can usually be easily answered by a quick check of the publisher's online store.
Some people also add a rule like 'older than three years' or 'older than five years' to the definition. The age of a game doesn't necessarily have anything to do with its availability though, therefore these 'age rules' can only be used as rough guidelines, but not as actual argument for or against something being Abandonware - the only thing that matters is the availability.

(from TANN)