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As you might guess, a lot of work goes into this site, often touting the greatness of some old piece of software - much of which was developed in the time span between the late 1980s to the middle of the 1990s. A time period I would venture to call the "Golden-Era" of PC games. For those who would ask, "Why continue to use or research that old stuff?" I would comment as detailed below... To call most of these products "games" is actually a bit of a disservice. In general they are far more, especially in the realm of simulators. These products can require a good degree of learning and commitment from the user (prior to and during use); yet what they often offer is a totally engrossing, exciting, and thought provoking experience - equal to or perhaps surpassing that which you might expect to obtain from taking a formal course on the subject matter in the halls of a fine ivy league college or military institution. That is, if you could indeed find such a course... Sometimes, the topic has been little covered anywhere else. In essence, many products are quite unique. This collection of work involves a massive body of programming effort in all computer gaming entertainment genres from many different developers and publishers; these titles number in the hundreds. They can be amazingly creative and well developed; with their concepts deployed with expertise and zeal. Sometimes, a product's program manual - alone, is indeed, a serious treatment of the subject matter in its own right. Flash to the present... We find few of the original large block of developers and publishers still "at-it". They have moved on to other endeavors; or their attempt to run a profitable company somehow failed. Perhaps, they created what they wanted to - job done. In some cases, they were eaten up by the competition, "bought out", perhaps paid off - told to go home and enjoy their new found wealth and leisure. Today, many of these now older programs will not run properly, or at all on newer computing platforms and operating systems. There are a couple of "Old PC Emulator" attempts currently on the web (that run under Windows 98/XP) - the leader being: DOSBOX. But unfortunately, this type of "machine within the machine" software approach can be rather tough for non-ultra tech types to configure properly; and even then, it can still have serious issues with game frame rate timing routines, sound problems, and or induce random crashing and lock-ups, that do not happen when the program is run on an older platform. To be at their best, these software products require the original hardware/software set of technology (circa early to mid-1990s) for which they were designed; and presently - perhaps the only avenue available for potential new users to obtain such equipment is in the backs of dusty used computer shops or on auction sites like eBay. If one was to assume that most of these products, concepts, and ideas have been remade... carried forward for another generation of consumers to enjoy and revamped for the newest ever evolving game platforms... that assumption would be wrong, sadly - dead wrong. Many were lone efforts; like that of some small working artist - unique... here once, then gone. Their creations taking on lives of their own well into the future. Unlike so many a good book which are reprinted, this was/is not the case with most of these older computer software products. Some were rewritten to "game consoles" like Nintendo or X-Box, but the end result has been almost always far less than their PC powered predecessors. Most game console products are indeed only "games". They are little more than glitzy shallow shooters or action object controllers - usually scant of educational value; they trade complexity of concepts for color, and advanced programming code algorithms for action. It is a grave mistake to compare most PC simulation software with any remake of the title on console cartridges or disks. Since Golden Era PC software had finite production life, with limited copies now available, I have noticed something interesting has begun to percolate in the pots of many a recent auction of eBay. This older game software seems to becoming a desirable - if not, highly sought after commodity! More often now, they command high price and interest. I recently watched an auction for an obscure 1991 Origin title: Martian Dreams, start bidding at $8.88, and sell seven days later in a frantic flurry of snipped offers - closing at $66.00, or $5.00 higher than it's original full list price! I have also seen this situation happen recently with other older titles, especially if the game has a "following", or there exists tribute sites on the web about it (like you find here). Just as the birth of MTV's music videos in the early 1980s, inspired dozens previously successful musical artists to enjoy incredible new streaks of creativity (due to the "new medium"), so it was in the case of computer gaming software development during the Golden Era - with respect to evolving hardware... Through the late 1980s, game developers bumped up the beauty and functionality of programs... the hardware followed along or perhaps even lead in harmony. By early 1991, the default standard gaming platform was an IBM PC CLONE 386SX, running the Microsoft DOS operating system, a less than 100 meg hard drive, 256 color VGA 1 Meg Video Card, 2 meg of RAM, and a Creative Labs Soundblaster (the winner of the race for ISA audio card dominance in the early 90s). Other platforms like Apples and Amigas hung on for a year or two more... and indeed they were first with many of the game running enhancements (better sound and high color) - which arrived later on the PC. However, the sale numbers were overwhelmingly with the PC crowd and, would be well into the future. Additionally important, was that some projects were undertaken by programmers and designers - just to see if they could done. They were often personal challenges, and indeed almost love affairs for a few. This is clearly evident in the massive attention to detail found in some products; both within the program's functionality and sometimes, in the associated documentation. It was common for good products to be filled to the box lid with bound 100+ page manuals, perhaps maps, a keyboard overlay or command summary cards. Documentation was professionally printed, sometimes in color, made to last like any good book! On occasion they were spiral bound (great for placing beside the keyboard). Unfortunately, genius is not always rewarded (as is so often the case) properly... or at all. By 1994, retail software specialty stores like Electronic Boutique or Babbages (in the U.S.) became totally glutted with PC products. In response, game distributors widened their customer base to include chain department stores who established their own rows of PC game software shelves squeezed into their electronics departments. The war was on - with rabid competition, deep discounting became the order of battle, with the final output: an unprofitable venture for all sellers concerned. The one upshot was for the buyers - who experienced racks of game boxes at $9.99 or less - clearance priced. Also around this time, the birth of the CD medium blazed across the planet of game development. While it promised an end to multi-disk installs for users and the luxury to create huge multi-media extravaganza programs, much of what resulted was bugged code, bloatware - prettier pictures, but less functionality and gaffed gameplay. It also ushered in the rise of the "on-disk" documentation... and the ability to sell without a game box (jewel case only required). Gone where the beautiful game manuals of the past; these great companions, which were (and still are) so necessary to introduce, inspire, and teach oneself complex new programs and ideas. This physical documentation became slimmer and slimmer, until ultimately - they devolved to mere swatches of folded paper on the inside of the CD's case lid. Now, the only way a user can "curl up in bed" with a favorite game manual is the print and bind the PDF file - oneself. The process is usually laborious, not to mention the exhaustive use of paper and an expensive ink cartridges. While CD games were spinning up, quality was spinning down. More and more titles were released in a highly bugged state, forcing paying users to be free "beta testers" for schedule driven developers. The problem was further exacerbated by a pull back from tight Assembly and C coding, morphing towards "high level" tools which required a less than a crystal knowledge of core game programming languages. Add to that the rise of the Windows GUI environment and everything changed again - much for the worse! Windows did not kill the unique game companies of the early 1990s, but it's compatibility issues with running older DOS programs surely did not help. There were other factors, often internal, in the demise of many a fine entertainment software firm. PC gaming software became big business... it was no longer the norm for a small group of folks to get together and have a nice little software company that produced great well thought out and pre-tested products. Projections now had to be done by large marketing research firms well in advance of any concept being taken under wing - "If we can't at sell at least 500,000 copies, its not worth it!" - was the mantra... and still is! The summation of this discussion is that these older or vintage PC gaming software products are still fun, entertaining, educational, often inspiring, now precious, and unique. They should not be forgotten to the annuals of the past, they can still be thoroughly used and enjoyed today with just a little effort to assemble and operate a nifty 386/486 processor based, good old DOS powered PC. Just as many people keep around an antique record player to enjoy rare recording from the past on 78s or 33s; so it is worthwhile to keep an old PC alive to enjoy all the wondrous fruit from the Golden Era of PC gaming. Its a terrific body of varied efforts, which may not come again. There is literally enough content, entertainment, learning value, and gameplay to last a lifetime - maybe two! Don't miss out waiting for a remake that might never come... (Hey, you may even grow to love DOS!)
One of the guiding principles of planetmic.com has become a growing
focus of attention on some of these great titles. I hope you will
review these areas and, if inspired, search out a copy of the program(s) and
a platform on which it can run. I believe you will not be disappointed!
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