For those who want to check out Wasteland...

[Lord Blade]

http://www.abandonia.com/games/436/Wasteland

Abandonia has the game up for download. They also provide a nice explanation of the game.

Also, while you're there, Burntime is another great post-apoc game.
And Darklands is just an amazing RPG in general. Just saying. :p

[Sensuari]

You can also get is here as a 1-Click installation

http://www.oldgames.sk/en/game/wasteland/

Cheers

[zebe]

Mac OS X users: Boxer (boxerapp.com) is a great, easy-to-use DOSBox-based emulator that can play Wasteland easily on just about any Mac hardware.

[Tynblade]

Here is a fantastic Let's Play Wasteland video series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvYcu5qaO-s

This is for someone that wants to see what it's all about but not necessarily play it.

[RangerBen]

For those who want to legally own their own copy of Wasteland (1988):

Wasteland / C64:

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Wasteland-Commo ... -/70179849

Interplay 10 Year Anthology / IBM-PC:

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Interplays-10-Y ... -/56279383

The Ultimate RPG Archives / IBM-PC:

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/The-Ultimate-RP ... -/58010242
http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Ultimate-RP ... 0668253838 (this one is the manual only)

[Logan_5]

Don't waste your money on the IBM verions, only the dos verions will work with modern windows. And who the f has a C64? Download the game, if Brian Fargo has a problem with this after we just raised him over a milion dollars then he can kiss my ---.

[Celtic927]

Another great site is home of the underdogs and then of course you can use Dos Box to run it if you run into problems...I understand the concern about LEGALLY owning your own copy, but lets be realistic...The game is difficult to find, difficult to buy, and hardly worth on a avg $60 this day and age...To put what the lLOGAN 5 wrote in a more diplomatic fashion...I think getting this game out to people who haven't played can only help aid the cause of making this sequel the best game it could be, through allowing people who haven't paid yet to see why they should and those who have to see how they can more efficiently participate in the convo to improve the new game.

I know this is a touchy subject, but again be realistic...everyone should have an opportunity to play the original and not everyone will be able to EBAY a copy or afford to EBAY a copy AND none of the EBAY $$$$ is going to the original. artists anyway.

[Celtic927]

Although seeing those old 5-1/4 C64 Flops do bring back some great memories...Although I think it took 45 mins to and hour to make all the initial copies you needed
ha ha

[Aiydee]

I'll point out that Wasteland has NOT been abandoned. The rights are still owned by EA. It can still officially be run (Using DOSBOX) and as such downloading it from any of the above links is ILLEGAL! (And EA will come and eat your 1st born and do nasty things to you. But EA does that anyway even when you buy their software. They just call it DRM)

Please look for legit ways to purchase the game.

Either that, or save up and buy the rights for the game from EA and then voluntarily relinquish the rights, then it can officially and legally be downloaded as abandonware.

AD

[Wild_Bill_711]

Completing the Wasteland "Mission" in a 'Nutshell' - A 15 minute "speed-run" through the game:
NOT my idea of enjoying a game & getting the most out of it !!!

Note - this 'approach' takes advantage of a "Super Loot Bag" (cheat) ONLY available in the IBM/PC version... in the Apple ][ and Commodore 64 versions the 'second loot bag' is always 'empty' rather than providing all the 'unique' items.

Further, the "NAME A/C" item was functioning as 'super armor' (a 127 protection level) with the old DOS systems... believe it 'still worked' under Windows Me, but with Windows XP no longer 'equipped' as armor... UNLESS running the game in DOSBox !

To summarize - the game is 'completed' by doing the bare essentials... dropped 2 rangers, sold 'excess equipment' for money to 'gamble' with, picked-up a 'NPC recruit who has 'Rifle' skill, acquired level 2 'gamble' skill for the NPC, picked up a 2nd NPC who has 'Rifle' skill, entered casino to 'gamble' & get "Super Loot Bag"..... got the 'Super Armor', 'Red Ryder Air Rifles' (a super weapon) and a large supply of 'rockets' (primarily to be used in place of explosives)... returned to store to sell several rockets.... buy 7.62 mm 'ammo clips', a shovel, and TNT explosives.

Next 'raided' the Citadel to gain essential 'keys' for Cochise... followed by the Temple in Vegas (getting a Sonic Key outside) to get to the Sewers beneath the Temple (completing Sewers reveals / opens Cochise on map !

Finally off to Cochise... straight to the front / main gate... then find a Plasma Coupler by a wall to the West... back to front gate & get inside base... proceed to next level inside... activate 'draw-bridge' & get 3rd NPC recruit (Vax) who will do the more 'dangerous' "Training Areas" which lead to the final level.

Rockets (used as explosives) open the door into the last level, the 4 doors leading into the 4 rooms,... 'do' the NW room last, WHEN night-time begins (and Radiation is 'visible) enter room and 'use a Rocket' on glass wall to access 'machine' (to repair machinery with Plasma Coupler)...

Your choice... either way, go around to all 4 rooms to activate 'mechanisms' in corners OR send a 'character', with the 'proper Key', to each room... ultimately need a character in each room to begin the 'process'... the proper sequence of rooms & colors begins the "self-destruct" process !!!

GET OUT of the Base and back into the desert WITHOUT DELAY !!!

"Mission Accomplished" ... Game 'Won'... but not without causalities, someone got 'left-behind' !

(see it done for yourself) at -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtUMIOYVFWk&noredirect=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyzT_G31 ... re=related

[WarpCrow]

I'll point out that Wasteland has NOT been abandoned. The rights are still owned by EA. It can still officially be run (Using DOSBOX) and as such downloading it from any of the above links is ILLEGAL! (And EA will come and eat your 1st born and do nasty things to you. But EA does that anyway even when you buy their software. They just call it DRM)

Please look for legit ways to purchase the game.

Either that, or save up and buy the rights for the game from EA and then voluntarily relinquish the rights, then it can officially and legally be downloaded as abandonware.

AD

You can't really blame people for not wanting to jump through needless hoops just to acquire something legally when it doesn't benefit the rights holder or the original developers in any way. If they want me to purchase it legally they can let GOG put it up for $6 and I'll gladly buy it like I've bought so many other oldies from them. Believe me, I wish I could.

[Drool]

If you're using a party that's already gone through once, you can actually skip a few steps. When using a veteran party, you just need to:

Go to Citadel.
Get in Helicopter.
Fly to Cochise.
Blow up base.

Even if you dropped the keys and Secpass B, all five can be found in the Citadel. Furthermore, the preset loot bags on the ground around the entrance to Cochise have both the plasma coupler and all the explosives you'll need. Also, you don't have to leave someone behind, but I usually leave Vax because A) I like watching him being vaporized and B) I prefer a 4 person party.

Also, if going through with a fresh party, I find its best to just make my own party to that everyone has a 2 or 3 in rifle, everyone has perception, and one person has a 3 or 4 in gamble. Then I swipe the pre-made party's gear, head to Needles and sell everything to fund Acapulco. With a touch of luck (and repeat saving), it's possible to get from the entrance to Needles to the store and to Acapulco without a random combat. Finally, grabbing rockets from the loot bag to sell is silly. It's better to grab Proton Axes. A handful of those and you'll have all the money you'll ever need.

[BrotherMagneto]

You're definitely going to want the unofficial reset utility as well so you can keep playing with your old characters.

Edit: and be sure to give it about 5 minutes to reset the maps for you. Wait until your HD light stops showing access or else you can screw it up. Make copies of your original disks!

[Drool]

Oh yeah, that tool is really, really slow.

However, if you use the batch file, when you pick 1, 2, etc, look over to the left side of the screen, and you can see the numbers you pressed. During the long ones (1 the first time, 3 every other time), I'll go ahead and hit the next button but wait for it to appear before hitting enter.

[Wild_Bill_711]

When using that (Jeremy Reaban's) Unofficial Game Reset Utility, as suggested in the accompanying text, it's much faster to just COPY the ORIGINAL Game1 & Game2 files to a new/separate 'file'... there, 'rename' them Master1 & Master2, then 'move those (masters) back to your Wasteland file/directory ! (you want both Game1/Game2 AND Master1/Master2 files in your Wasteland file/directory for the utility to work !

[PancreaticDefect]

Don't waste your money on the IBM verions, only the dos verions will work with modern windows. And who the f has a C64? Download the game, if Brian Fargo has a problem with this after we just raised him over a milion dollars then he can kiss my ---.

I have a C64. Sadly there is something wrong with the keyboard controller so certain keys dont work anymore. You know...all the one needed to enter commands..like the spacebar and R key..

[Lord Blade]

Does anyone know what DOSBox commands one should use with a good system (8 gigs RAM and video RAM) to make the game run at a non-insane speed?

[Hell Razor]

Does anyone know what DOSBox commands one should use with a good system (8 gigs RAM and video RAM) to make the game run at a non-insane speed?

Ctrl-f11 and ctrl-f12 adjust the clock speed of the virtual CPU. Try knocking it down by tapping ctrl-f11 a few times.

[rurouni]

I have a question/suggestion, if inXile owns the rights to Wasteland now, why not also sell it (together with the reset utility) to all the fans? I'm assuming that its more of an IP issue now? I'm currently avoiding the abandonware route.

It would also make a great lead up to Wasteland2 for those who have not played and give a really good grounding for the other forum topics on what to have/avoid for Wasteland 2.

[Brother None]

I have a question/suggestion, if inXile owns the rights to Wasteland now, why not also sell it (together with the reset utility) to all the fans? I'm assuming that its more of an IP issue now?

inXile would love to re-release Wasteland but does not own the full rights to do so. They have been talking with EA about it and as far as I know talks are still going well, though we shouldn't expect it to suddenly be re-released tomorrow.