Where can a guy find a copy of Wasteland?

[Mkoda]

Seriously, haven't played it in a decade at least. Wondering if there's a way to find a legit copy of it. Figured if I'm going to shell out 20 bucks when I get my VA disability check the first of next month towards a pre-order I may as well get down and dirty with the original again.

[bustaballs]

I'm not sure if you're a collector or interested in a new factory sealed copy but I just put one up on ebay. It'll be up for 10 days.

[Drool]

The only way to get a 100% legal copy is via eBay or similar sites. Either the Interplay re-release, a copy of the re-releases from Computer Gaming Magazine, or an actual copy of the game.

It's also possible to get a "gray market" copy via Abandonia.

[Mkoda]

Shame is I had the Interplay collection and somehow it vanished. After I got back from the service it was missing from the stuff my folks kept for me during my time on active duty.

[Drool]

Well, that puts you in an even grayer area of an already gray area.

Depending on how strong your convictions are, you could easily justify downloading it from Abandonia since you once owned a legal copy and simply lost it, as opposed to having sold it. Incidentally, that's the moral gymnastics I engaged in, as I owned a C64 copy and a re-release from Computer Gamer. Probably still have that PC copy bouncing around somewhere, I just don't feel like looking for it.

[Mkoda]

Well, that puts you in an even grayer area of an already gray area.

Depending on how strong your convictions are, you could easily justify downloading it from Abandonia since you once owned a legal copy and simply lost it, as opposed to having sold it. Incidentally, that's the moral gymnastics I engaged in, as I owned a C64 copy and a re-release from Computer Gamer. Probably still have that PC copy bouncing around somewhere, I just don't feel like looking for it.

That's exactly my issue. I hate piracy. It's theft, don't care how you justify it. Megan Fox could show up in a thong made of twizzlers and a bra made of whipped cream and make a strong, poignant argument as to why it's okay and I'd kick her ass so hard out of the door that she wouldn't feel the first bounce. Someone worked to make that game, however long ago and I'm sure some cousin found my CD book and someone told them to go ahead and borrow those old disks...Matt doesn't play computer games anymore anyway. The worst possible explaination is it was in a box that got purged by accident. Sucky but still it makes me do moral yoga and not the awesome nude kind I saw online once.

I'm not a collector so a mint copy is of little or no interest but I did remember that my brother Carl who gave me that collection for X-Mas along with Elder Scrolls Redguard-one of the most udnerappreciated games ever- has the exact same collection. He should be down tomorrow so if I can get a hold of him in the AM maybe he can bring down his copy.

[Drool]

I hate piracy too, but abandonware is such a horribly gray area, that I have real trouble working up a head of steam over it. It's kind of like watching non-DVD released episodes of MST3K on Youtube. Do they violate copyright? Probably. But nobody's claiming those rights so it just sort of gets ignored. Hell, I supposed that technically, all video Let's Plays of games would be a violation of copyright, because you're putting the entire game online in video form without paying for the right to do so. And playing through the entire game can't possibly be viewed as fair use, since you're using the whole thing.

Still, technically, abandonware isn't legit. EA still owns the rights to Wasteland, even if they aren't exercising those rights, and "abandonware" isn't a legally recognized term. To be strictly legal, your options are limited to A) your brother bringing his copy, B) finding a copy on eBay or other auction/2nd hand sites, or C) hoping EA does another release of Wasteland (preferably with the reset utility and via GOG or bundled with WL2).

[Mkoda]

My brother pulled one out of his ass and I now have the Interplay collection again. Guess he forgot he even owned it, told me I could have it. Something to be said for family. After work it's time for some Wasteland.