Thanks for the additional Info BentlyTCow. :)

I did as the oh so wise Jorpho recommended and got the portable version:

http://www.systemshock.org/index.php/topic,211.msg8246.html#msg8246

It seems to run ok.. if you use the mouselook mod in the custom menu it makes it a bit easier to move around and also adds an 800x600 and 1024x768 resolution. There's a 1280x1024 resolution as well but it keeps locking up on me when I enable it. At any rate, the mouselook mod makes it a lot easier to play. Next I'll get SS2 again and update the resolutions and I'll be set!

Hehe thanks :)

I thought this was worth bringing back to the front page. :)

Phew!

You're very welcome ringo.

Hurrah! :)

Sorry for the delay in replying, I got it sorted with a re download and install. Seems my download manager needed an update that I'd overlooked and corrupted the file during said update.

I'd read the tut on dosbox and NC some time ago (different problem) and that's how I managed to get it up and running.

Thanks for all the suggestions :)

My only comment to ringo would be to please take Wrabbit's advice and use the link he kindly provided for Wizzard's instructions using DosBox set up with Norton Commander, even if you're used to the other set-up. I was a total DosBox flub-a-dub until I set it up with NC according to Wizz's step-by-step instructs, and now I'm DosBoxing with the rest of 'em! Just tried this one, and both commands work, but I think cdshock is a bit clearer.

Let's get back to answering ringos query please. The arguing really isn't worth it. I hope you've managed to get it sorted ringo, but if not hopefully someone will come up with a better solution than mine.

Regards

Whiterabbit.

You miss the point: stuff on Abandonia isn't necessarily 'free' either. They say so themselves in no uncertain terms. System Shock was probably not there before simply because they had not gotten around to putting it up. (You don't see _them_ calling it free anywhere, do you?)

If you (or anyone else) wishes to discuess this further, perhaps it is indeed best that we avoid cluttering this thread further and that we take it to PMs.

And I can see how that peaked your curiosity. But I guess something indeed happened. One of the biggest sites for abandonware released it as free, where before it didn't consider it so; I realized after exploring your comment a bit that no one is "selling" it, and that the company that developed it encouraged fans to download it for free as long as they could keep their servers up, as someone else wanted rights to the name only. A trusted game poster put the abandonia link here for those who were unaware of it. That's what happened. And I do think Looking Glass would smile if they thought some where enjoying their game, which is what they intended. &;-)

Since people continue to comment, I will add that I came across the link to this thread while browsing the comments of the latest Giveawayoftheday. I was actually kind of curious if something had in fact happened to the legal status of System Shock recently since it was being called 'free'.

hmmmmmmmm - sometimes

Do bagels and cream cheese come with that? &:-d

Thanks, lox of many names :)

Wizz I should have reloaded the site, haven't seen your last post.
I back you to 100%, everybody who likes to condescend or insult other members is not welcome in these forums and will not find any friends.
However there is a good custom to grand a second attempt...
graylox

PS: even when I don't write every day and don't try every game - I am happy about our Games-Master-Gang, and thank you, and you, and you, and you and not to forget you and you ...
gaminglox

Sorry, people, that I'm late again in the discussion; however I have to put in my
2 €cents.
Jorpho you dropped some hints "but no one ever explicitly, legally released this game as freeware..." without any evidence. What was this? A try to cast a damning light on our Master-Gamers-Crew? Did you just enjoy to play troll? An academic discourse?
Okay, the show is over, I hope in future you will have as much fun in our games-corner as we have. Your input is welcome, your concrete input (to be precise).
Now I'm going to download the pre-configured portable version. Even my last reserve against dos-box is melting down as I have recognised that the strangebedfellows are Germans. sorry - I had to mention this though it makes no sense :)
graylox

Something tells me that jorpho isn't going to be a very welcome addition to the forums if he continues to condescend the other members. We're here to help each other and get along not make snide remarks to each other.

Thanks for the info Jorpho. Here's the easily found and posted link:

http://www.strangebedfellows.de/index.php/topic,211.0.html

Ahem. I would suggest that you instead Google for "System Shock Portable", a download which packages the game with a neatly pre-configured version of DOSBox, all set up and ready to go in XP or Vista.

And it probably isn't technically "free" either. Nyah.

As for ringo, I'm not sure what the problem could be. Perhaps a fresh install of the game? As rabbit said, if you havn't checked out my tutorial on setting up dosbox, you should. I'm curious though, you said you ran setup...I'm not seeing a setup exe. You should be able to play the game without doing a setup anyway. If you can get it up and running, please use cdshock exe. This version is an enhanced version of the original game. The other sshock exe is the original.

I'm sorry for continuing this issue rabbit but I've got just one thing to say because I thought about it all night at work and I think the general public who doesn't contribute to the forums should hear it because I know it offends me.

Rabbit, reverseorder, albesir, pavid, and myself all contribute to this "side project" on our own free time as ibwebb stated. The whole point of this project was to provide freely available games legally to the public because the site shut down the daily giveaway. I know rabbit, reverseorder, and I all spend quite a bit of our free time researching games for everyone. We get no kind of compensation for our time. The only thing that keeps me going is the regular's and rabbit's appreciation for what I do. But, when someone who has not contributed at all to the forums, let alone the project, steps in and insinuates that we post games hap-hazardly without checking on the sources it offends me. The least you could do is type a simple thank you and then voice your worries. I know rabbit feels the same about appreciation because he stated so in a post earlier on in the project.

Jorpho obviously has been following the project due to his/her knowledge of past games. Did he/she stop to thank us for our time and effort? No. He/She immediately made it seem as though we were doing something intentionally illegal. That is the whole reason he/she joined the site.

Please people, your worries are fine but don't forget that we are all just like you. Here on our own free time. Topic closed as far as I am concerned.

Let’s not argue semantics please. As I already said Abandonware has no legal status which I would say means exactly the same as, and I quote your own words "Abandonware is a legally meaningless term"

Thanks for the support from our regulars here. All I can say at this juncture is please do enjoy your stay in these forums. I appreciate your worries. I think it admirable that you feel so strongly about this issue, but let me assure you that we do research our sources and would never knowingly post software that was still considered shareware or for that matter full blown commercial. Lets just agree to disagree about the status of abandonware; (We’re all aware of the Wikipedia definition) I'm just sorry you feel you have to argue over such an issue, but that's your perogative.

I think we should close the issue and concentrate on posting about the game. I was tempted to lock these forums; however I won't be doing so because ringo requires an answer to his query and this is still a thread about System Shock and not about the where's and wherefores of legal software.

Sorry I can’t answer your query at this time ringo, I’ve not booted up the game yet as I’ve been busy writing this weekends game giveaways. Though have you followed the instructions on how to set up DOSBox with Norton Commander that Wizzard posted several weeks ago; it’s a sticky so should be easily found? (I realize you are familiar with DOSBox, but perhaps that familiarity has stopped you from bothering to read the thread?

You’ll find details of the Norton Commander/DOSBox combo’ HERE

Hi all
I've a little problem with this game. Extracted the file, moved to Dosbox and installed. Then ran setup but I can't get the game to load! I'm quite familiar with dos based commands but can't seem to figure out how to launch it. I've tried the usual suspects (sshock.exe etc.) wont work.
Any help is appreciated.

Win XP Pro SP2
Thanks :)

In my personal opinion.. it seems every now and then (more and more often lately) when one of these wonderful people that find, thoroughly research (did I mention THOROUGHLY research), describe, review, find screen shots, find video on, give their personal opinions on, and then post all of it here (on the OWN time WITHOUT compensation) comes across a game that someone seems to think is too good to be free; we get someone that has to start posting 'challenges' about if it is legal to offer. I personally trust these people and NONE of them have ever steered me wrong. I do remember the game that WhiteRabbit mentioned about finding wasn't being given out legally. With a quick search you can still find that game on a few sites. What I am getting at is this.. unless you can prove that they are doing something wrong.. you need to get off your soap box. Dont download it if you dont feel comfortable about it, but dont go off saying they are doing something wrong unless you have proof. If (as midori stated and I have found myself) it was encouraged to be given freely at some point then it would be incredibly hard to reclaim it and ask people to pay for it.

I dont know, maybe I am not in the majority here, but I see the Wizzard stamp of approval and the WhiteRabbit stamp as well... it is good enough for me. If they come back later and say they found some mistake; I will delete with no hesitation. In the words of Mr. Gump.. Thats all I have to say about that.

ibwebb

Yes it is a pity, but perhaps there is. I read it after looking at approximately five to ten sites on a technica openforum about this same subject, and everyone agreed on the haziness of abandonware, and that was an example. I really didn't have the choice to spend the evening trying to pin it down elsewhere.
But I think we all tend to do what we feel comfortable with, and I tend to think most of us are honest people... I know the game posters/sharers on this site are very much so. And if I thought for one moment something was illegal, I certainly wouldn't do it. Obviously, you're very upset by this, as you just joined today and have only posted on this thread. So I can understand your side also. But perhaps it also speaks of your unfamiliarity of the honesty of those who post here, and the self-volunteered time they take to post free games for others to enjoy, since the giveawayoftheday team isn't posting a game each day anymore.

For the record, I really don't think Abandonia put the game on their site just because something suddenly happened to the legal status of System Shock recently. Also, copyrights take many decades to run out.

But I hadn't heard this "encouragement" story before. Pity there doesn't seem to be much testimony about it.

Hi, Jorpho... Now please. How could anyone put System Shock in the same category as Mr. Stump's Dentures. &:-B
But seriously, if it bothers you, please don't download it from here or the hundreds of other sites out there that offer it as 'freeware,' even tho the term itself is debatable, I agree. I tend to trust the friends on here who DO do the research before they haphazardly post something as what it's not, as well as the abondonia site itself. As I understand from all the reading and cross-referencing I've just done myself on it: when Looking Glass went under, EA took over the rights to the NAME 'System Shock,' as if they were planning to release sequels. However, the last thing Looking Glass did before they died was put it up on their FTP and 'encourage all their fans to download it.' Regarding SS2, Irrational has explicitly stated that SS2 is not abandonware and asked that people kindly don't warez it... quite different from their feelings on SS1.
Of course it's a gray area, as pointed out, and one could argue till the cows come home. Yet the people on this site have gone out of their way, removed links, apologized, etc., if anything was questionable. So I tend to draw the line where they do, in this respect.

true, but copyrights run out and when companies don't renew them, they become "abandoned."

I have already removed one game from this project because the site illegally identified it as abandonware. I have not used that site again because I don't trust them. You can look through abandonia's site and see that not all of the games they have on there are open to the public to download for free. Up until recently, System Shock was one of those. They follow the strict ESA (Electronic Software Association) guidelines on what is morally legal and what isn't.