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    Maelstrom New Horizons


    Visit our website www.piratehorizons.com to quickly find download links for the newest versions of our New Horizons mods Beyond New Horizons and Maelstrom New Horizons!

Free Pirates!

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":no" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
 
Sonicsfan, Cat is right, Pirates! is not adandon/free/share or any other type of `you-don`'`t-have`-`to-pay`-`for-it` ware. It'd be great for those who want the games if they were, and so thanks for the link, but it's probably not a good idea to be advertising the piracy of Atari/Firaxis's old games, especially when people from those companies frequent these boards. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":no" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
 
Sorry Sonics, but I removed the link to it. I'd rather not piss off Jeff or Barry over it by promoting it.
 
Just to play Devil's advocate (and please do not think I am condoning software piracy by asking this question), I wonder how this applies to games that are no longer sold or available on the open market. It is very possible and probable that many people would love to buy these old games but they are simply not available. Pirates! Gold for the PC was released in a gamepack called "Conquer the World" a few years ago but it would simply not run on modern machines --- and still they released it with no support (to my knowledge) for those who could not run it. I know this is like asking "Is it okay to steal the old lady's diamond ring since she doesn't wear it anymore?", but honestly, if people just want to PLAY the game and these sites are the only ones offering it, can you blame 'em?

<img src="http://publish.hometown.aol.com/markquinn2k3/images/mqbw.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
 
I wouldn't blame anyone for <i>wanting</i> anything, and if something is no longer available, obtaining a copy of it would seem not to harm anyone since sales would not be affected (since there are no sales).

However, no one has the right to simply take something because they want it. That's a huge problem with today's society and the media has a huge part to play in this "you deserve it" world. You don't deserve jack unless you earn it. So if you take something that you do not rightfully own, you "deserve" a severe head bashing.
 
You can still buy Pirates! on eBay and like sites... Original versions, sometimes even with the books and box... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />

William, I didn't remove the link because I thought Jeff or Barry might like to know WHERE this site is so they can tell them to stop...
 
I'm just trying to figure out why Firaxis would care. I guess I can see one main reason. Firaxis might one day decide to sell the original version again, or perhaps incorporate it into a Gold edition of the new Pirates! or whatever ... they may or may not, but it's their choice. If these sites start offering it for free then Boom, no demand whatsoever for what might otherwise be a decent "nostalgia" pack.

There, see, I talked myself out of my own Devil's Advocacy. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" />

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So if you take something that you do not rightfully own, you "deserve" a severe head bashing.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I think they are still practicing Hammurabi's Law in some Muslum countries. Hell let's just line 'em up in a soccer stadium and shoot 'em all in the head ... with spectators even. Lovely.

<img src="http://publish.hometown.aol.com/markquinn2k3/images/mqbw.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
 
<!--QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->You can still buy Pirates! on eBay and like sites... Original versions, sometimes even with the books and box... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />

William, I didn't remove the link because I thought Jeff or Barry might like to know WHERE this site is so they can tell them to stop...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh, come on, if the link was to the the Apple online disk archive (complete with Java emulator), who does it hurt? The machine isn't availible anymore, and most of the companies who did those games are out of business, heck, most of the games are even collector's items!

If anything, that site promotes people to find out what the guys who made those classic old games are up to these days. Also, I have a bunch of old software (and old machines) which who knows if they work or not. Emulation is often the only way to play those games these days.
 
Ugh ...

Okay mates, I am sure Jeff and Barry will pop in on this one at some time in the near future.

"Abandonware" as it is called is when a product previously supported or published by a company is no longer due to the company having folded or being bought out and said rights no longer applying to the product. However, when most companies are bought out all property rights are generally transferred per the binding contract.

...So we will stick to saying that Abandonware are games or software no longer supported by a company - or a person. Many developers have purchased or signed intellectual property rights over their products before and after the collapse of companies.

Atari OWNS Pirates! and Pirates! Gold. Regardless of whether or not they publish the game, the fact is they own all rights to it and control how it is distributed. They have not released them to Public Domain - which at that time would be free for all to use. So any other activity involving the game without permission or consent from Atari is illegal and subject to prosecution.

Believe me, I feel the pain on a lot of avenues involving this because I can't get Pirates! Gold to work on my machine anymore and as I have stated before, I LOVED the Amiga version of the game. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

I do not own the emulator for it. I am anxiously awaiting the new release and trust me, after seeing the goods in person I can only wait to get behind the wheel, er , mouse and keyboard and play the new rendition.

To sum this up - What you choose to do in your own time is up to you. But, please do not post links to warez or abandonware on this site. I am not trying to sound like a jerk or other four letter words - just trying to keep the peace with both YOU the user, and guys like Jeff and Barry who have been incredibly nice and willing to work with us and to teach us more about their realm of work and flash off SMP with joy.
 
AMEN. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> Thanks, William.
 
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