Grand Theft Auto Released For Free 443
Snover writes "It's already incredibly difficult to actually get to the site due to its extreme popularity, and can only get worse after the inevitable slashdotting, but Rockstar Games has updated their original hit, Grand Theft Auto, to run on 'modern' computers and released it for free to the public. It'd be nice if more gaming companies did this! Unfortunately, it (of course) is Windows-only and utilises the propietary DirectX API, but hey, free game for anyone that's paid the Microsoft tax! (The download speed, once you actually manage to connect to the site, is quite excellent -- it's maxing out my 2Mbps connection.)" Ah, what a classic game.
BRAVO! BRAVO! (Score:5, Insightful)
I've seen the opposite happen, where games are first freeware, then changed to a shareware or other license because they realized all the oodles of cash they could make off of it. I don't think that is a good practice and if more companies follow Rockstar's exmaple, they will have many more happy gamers that will gladly support their other products by purchasing them legitimately.
Ahh...the memories.
Put it on Kazaa! (Score:5, Insightful)
Since nobody around here really gives a crap about what the various companies think anywho, would someone please put this up on Kazaa or one of the other P2P networks? If we can make a habit of doing this when binaries are available then future /.ings might be somewhat abated.
Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:5, Insightful)
This is just about the most childish story post I have ever seen Hemos.
Re:Society loves violence (Score:5, Insightful)
Nope. We were fighting wars long before video game came about; they just make us good at using the drones.
Violence breed violence and encourages hate. Why do we love to hate?
Because hate encourages violence, they hate us, and thus they visit violence upon us and we visit violence upon them.
This is why "love thy enemy" is such an important part of our culture. We bomb Afghanistan out of the stone age, and then hold their hand as they struggle to sort out all the damage their ex-ruler did. We did the same thing with Japan and Germany, and we'll do the same thing with Iraq.
Perhaps you haven't noticed... (Score:2, Insightful)
Or do you think Saddam Hussein started making WMD's after too many rounds of Command & Conquer..?
Finally, someone gets it... (Score:5, Insightful)
"Microsoft Tax." (Score:0, Insightful)
Look, I'm a developer. I've written software for everything from a pocket pc to an as/400 adn that's included some work in linux. It's a nice unix. But it doesn't bridge the essential gap into the home market: it doesn't let me do what I want to do (like, say, play GTA) without forcing me to learn a whole bunch of things I shouldn't need to learn. A home user shouldn't have to learn how to "compile" everything. My toaster doesn't expect me to heat the coils myself!
So I paid $200 for remarkably less hassle. I wish all taxes were so painless.
I do think it sucks that you have to pay for windows even if you're not going to use it. But look at it this way: you probably spent less than I did at CompUSA. And everybody loves a bargain.
Not to rain on everybody's parade... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Society loves violence (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm all in favor of trying to root out the causes of hate, but it's annoying when you ask a question like "why do we love to hate?" as though you yourself were a pixie floating free above the human condition who had never actually hated anyone or anything. The roots of hatred go a lot deeper than video games.
Re:Sucker (Score:1, Insightful)
Should Microsoft.. (Score:1, Insightful)
Hell, should Ford continue to produce parts for the Model T?
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, and as such, programmers working for you need to be paid.
Any company that pays their programmers to work on free software, when the company's only source of revenue is selling software, will be visited by the Stockholder Inquisition. And rightfully so.
Once in awhile, you could probably get away with diverting a few programmers to work on something like this. It could be a useful PR ploy. (In this case, I can't see that happening. The latest GTAs have been selling like hotcakes, and if they make another, that will sell just as well from the looks of it.)
Now, what companies should consider doing is releasing the source itself, and washing their hands of the entire thing (save, perhaps, for a 'no profit for you!' license.)..
This gives them a PR boost (yay), saves money by not wasting the time of their programmers (yay!), and ultimately, stocks the industry with new talent. There's plenty of people out there who'd like to get into working on games. Buying a license to an engine usually isn't a good idea for them - they're usually too expensive and will be overwhelming.
If they had something to tinker on, for free, that'd be great. After all, in gaming, like any other programming discipline, the basics are the basics.
Re: unfortunately... (Score:3, Insightful)
Now, if more companies were like this, and less corporately minded then maybe we'd see more of this kind of thing.
Re:"Microsoft Tax." (Score:3, Insightful)
And I tend to agree with him. I'm a developer and I like to spend my time doing things that no one else has done before.
Re:Put it on Kazaa! (Score:5, Insightful)
Funny thing is, hardly anyone ever paid for GTA... (Score:5, Insightful)
Those with slower machines opted for multiplayer GTA, which was also not paid for. Unlike Quake, I was led to believe that this was the norm for GTA, and that compared to the sales, the number of GTA "users" was staggering. But this might have something to do with the fact that stores refused to carry the product.
Anyway, this is hardly amazing news, as there were already patches for GTA back in the day that allowed for Glide accelerated graphics ( for all that fixed overhead angle texture-scaling ). Moving it to Direct3D is simply a small step in the same direction.
But, then again, there are dozens of classic software titles that could receive a similar treatment. But the companies don't want to let go of anything remotely valuable, and even make up excuses about having to support a free product. I would not be surprised if the GTA community takes up most of the support slack on this one, so maybe that will blow one of the most common developer's excuses right out of the water.
Re:"Microsoft Tax." (Score:5, Insightful)
The relative quality of your experiences does not change the fact that for the vast majority of the population, it is perceived that one has no option but to pay for Windows. Therefore, it's a tax. The term describes the current status quo quite well really.
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:2, Insightful)
How does a summary of a story about a free game become a microsoft bashing opportunity?
Huh? The ms-specific things stated mean that a lot of us can't play the game. It's not ms bashing - it's avoiding wasting our time.
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:3, Insightful)
Can you please give me the URL for your slashdot? I think I may like it. The one I visit seems to have become overrun with astroturfers. :)
Re:wine(x) might work (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:"Microsoft Tax." (Score:2, Insightful)
'Microsoft Tax' refers to the fact that it can be difficult to avoid paying for a copy of Windows with a new PC even if you don't actually intend to use it. It's a complaint about Microsoft's business practices, not the fact that Windows isn't free.
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:1, Insightful)
In any case, when I hit the GTA executable, I really don't give a toss what OS it's running on.
Re:Finally, someone gets it... (Score:2, Insightful)
Yet the rewards for promoting your current product are potentially staggering.
Don't these guys ever go to the supermarket and eat the free cheese? They aren't giving that stuff away to feed the homeless or something.
I think every game marketer should be required to spend a few years at Proctor & Gamble first. Now those guys really know how to, ummmmm, play the game.
KFG
Re:"Microsoft Tax." (Score:2, Insightful)
except with a big BUT.
BUT, the general public does not see Windows as the scourge that most Linux users do. In fact, if you plopped down Linux in front of most users, in five minutes you would hear "I want Windows back".
WHY don't other companies do this? (Score:2, Insightful)
It's almosed impossible to properly run this game with sound and everything on a modern PC unless your modern PC happends to have a legacy sb16 awe ISA card.
If they released old titles perhaps small communities would pop up not to mention the good will the company would get.
just my $.02
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:2, Insightful)
First off, "person"? I suppose that works, but it reads strangely. We'd hardly expect a "David Weinberger" to be something else. Maybe "worker" or "contributor" or "author" or something, but "person" doesn't read well.
Next we have "haveput" - oops. Then we need a comma to keep the next sentance from being a runon or something. Particular should be particularly, and "like/d" is obviously a typo.
I don't think he's had his coffee yet... despite his belonging to the "and-i-feel-fine" department.
So as you can see, Hemos is evidently having a bad day. After being laughed at, he must have felt the need to take it out on Microsoft.
Actually, if you look closer at the italics, all he posted on this story was "Ah, what a classic game." -- presumably, that means that Snover is being childish, and not Hemos. And I should know - this entire post is, well, childish.
Re:Society loves violence (Score:5, Insightful)
All you proved is that the most popular online game is Counter-Strike, but I bet there are more than 120k players in Everquest... something like 400k players last time I checked, though I doubt they are all playing at once.
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:3, Insightful)
Could it be you own large amounts of Microsoft stock? Do you work at the company? Or, are you just ignorant of the findings in the antitrust case?
Feel free to bash the open source community, Apple Computing, Sun, HP, IBM, or anyone else you find loathsome. Don't tell me how to regulate my expression (only CowboyNeal and the gang can do that here).
(this almost begs a new discussion on how the supreme court views freedom of expression online - you probably wouldn't like what they have to say about it) [cdt.org]
Why not the source? (Score:5, Insightful)
One great example of how releasing the source brings benefits to fans of a game is Descent Freespace 2. Early last year Volition released the source code to the game. I know personally I enjoyed hacking around with it a bit for fun (and playing make believe that I coded games for a living instead of backend java apps
Releasing the source to GTA would undoubtedly spawn similar projects to enhance what is still a great game, and who knows some of the ideas the community may come up with could help Rockstar out with new innovations for latest games in the series.
Way to go Rockstar!!! I will go buy a game now! (Score:5, Insightful)
Half of them are games once bought that no longer run on modern PCs. So I've already spent the money. Populous, Warcraft I, all the old sierra games, etc.
It's really nice of them to release an updated copy but I'd appreciate just releasing the source even more.
I don't mind supporting a company that does this one bit!
Way to go guys!
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:"Microsoft Tax." (Score:3, Insightful)
For the medium term, bare boxes are a perfectly acceptable vendor alternative. They're still obligated to exchange defective hardware but most Linux users can support themselves. The "we can't support it." argument doesn't matter either. The vendor doesn't need to know what I'm running. Just fork over the box and I'll worry about the OS.
Re:"Microsoft Tax." (Score:2, Insightful)
I agree with your sentiment. Windows 2000 is the best OS Microsoft has ever put out. Absolute cream of the crop. Wonderful system. And, I would/have paid for it.
I've also paid for nine other copies of Windows for my three working computers. I was taxed. I keep my manuals, and moved not too long ago. On a whim, I located all my former Windows licenses. Nine. I've never had more than three Windows computers at one time, and I have NINE Windows licenses. Seven of them are OEM, five of those are a variant of Windows 95, two Windows 98. The other two are from Windows 95 and 98 that I bought on release day.
I was a loyal customer. Yet, without my cognizance, Microsoft managed to weasel seven useless, duplicate, licenses out of me. Pardon me if I want a refund.
Re:More places to download from (Score:2, Insightful)
http://files.volved.com/misc/GTAINSTALLER.ZIP [volved.com]
-VolVE
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:5, Insightful)
So why is it that when people are sick of the MS bashing, it has to be that they have some vested interest in MS? Why can't it be that they're just sick of it because it's repetitive, FUD filled, and a lot of it uncalled for? There hasn't even been any significant developments in that case for what a year now, maybe two?
"Boo hoo, they use Direct X so we can't play it on Linux."
That's like being upset that your PS2 can't play XBOX games. Who wants to listen to bitching about not having the right gaming setup? If you're not running Windows, but you want to play Windows games, that is your fault not Microsoft's.
So no, we don't want to listen to that childish bullshit. You made your bed, now lay in it.
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:5, Insightful)
Probably because the Linux Zealots out there who use Linux solely for the purpose of flipping off Microsoft are realizing that Microsoft got the last laugh. Windows can do something that Linux can't do: attract game developers.
Doh!
Re:Does everything have to be about MS? (Score:2, Insightful)
Gotta be a troll.
Re:BRAVO! BRAVO! (Score:5, Insightful)
I do. I respect the hell out of ID software, releasing source to their older versions of Doom and Quake. Not to mention supporting Linux far more than many others. As a result, I have some bit of loyalty toward them. I'll be purchasing Doom III the minute it is released. Partly because it looks to be a really cool game, and partly because I trust ID software to where I don't even feel the need to snag the demo first. I know it will be first rate.
If I can get to the server, I'll snag GTA. Perhaps it will prompt me to finally pick up a copy of GTA III, which I've been tempted to do... perhaps it wouldn't be "brand loyalty" per se, but I do have a bit of respect for them for having done this, and that will influence future purchasing decisions. If that's what they were going for, then great -- mission accomplished.
Re:GTA free - thats great but... (Score:1, Insightful)
Most Linux users are ashamed to admit it, but they typically have a dual boot set up that gives them the choice to either 1) enter the garish lair of Gnome hell and screw with their settings for hours on end until some obscure CPU feature starts working or 2) go into Windows and get work done. They only boot into Linux when their leetness levels start drying up and they feel the need to be haughty and condescending, just like you, my good man.
Re:BRAVO! BRAVO! (Score:3, Insightful)
They could port it to PDAs, GBA, GP32 etc (I believe it already exists for GBC). Or package it and its sequel into a 'greatest hits' disc for PS2 - it'd sell like hotcakes.
Those 'arcades greatest hits' and atari collections sell well enough that they keep making them. It's not just nostalgia, my 10 year old likes playing some of the old stuff every bit as much as I do. Good games are relatively timeless.
Just because something is a few years old doesnt mean its unmarketable.
Re:Old News (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:BRAVO! BRAVO! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:BRAVO! BRAVO! (Score:5, Insightful)
You're suggesting that gamers have brand loyalty.
May I bring to your attention the fans of a game series that have switched consoles/platforms in order to continue enjoying their games? The game company is Squaresoft [squaresoft.com] and the game is Final Fantasy [squaresoft.com]
Re:IP, Copyright, and the Public Domain (Score:4, Insightful)
I, for one, would be quite resentful of a system that reduced the value of my creation(s) based on that kind of system and I think most individual copyright holders would feel the same. So, since corporations have legal rights very similar to private individuals, the law would have to apply equally and it would be just another penalty for individual creativity.
Solving the "copyright problem" is very, very simple and we all know it: Limit copyright duration to a very reasonable 20 years and have done with it. Profiting from a creation for 20 years is more than adequate, and such a term would encourage creative output on the part of individuals AND corporations. That number may look short, but really any longer term primarily benefits behemoth corporations (see Disney) and encourages them to stagnate and get testy with consumers who don't want to pay for the same piece of work over and over again until they're dead.
Of course, it certainly won't change like that in my lifetime given the power that "big business" (ouch) exerts over our national legislature but I can dare to dream (and support the right lobbying/public interest groups - i.e., these peoples). [eff.org]