The future of the (older) M&M games

[Hobbun]

I recently installed MM6 & MM7 recently as they are probably my two most favorite PC games. However, since these games are pretty old now (at least old in regards to computer games), I am having issues (like many others) in running them.

It concerns me on the future of these games. If I am having problems now with these games at not even 10 years old, what about 15? Or even 20? Yes, I could see myself playing these games at 20 years (if I am able to run them).

Is the only way to assure being able to play these games in the future is to build a computer of the late 90's? Can you even find new components that old anymore? It just seems like a losing proposition for these older games.

[Secret_Holder]

You can find a fix for these games at https://www.celestialheavens.com
Left hand side, click 'M&M on XP' (I think it's spelled like that)

[Apeman]

Has anyone tried one of the older games on Vista yet? I'm curious what the problems are.

[Hobbun]

You can find a fix for these games at https://www.celestialheavens.com
Left hand side, click 'M&M on XP' (I think it's spelled like that)

I appreciate the link, but that was not the point of my post. I actually do know about the fixes for the Might and Magic's and have downloaded Mok's patch for VII.

But my point was I am concerned about the future for these games as we may not always have a "fix" for future operating systems, video cards, direct X, etc. The more advanced and powerful computers become, the more difficult it will become to run these games. And that is what concerns me. As I said, I would like to be able to run MM6 and MM7 aways down the road. Whether that is 15 or 20 years (or even more). But how we are already having to make "fixes" not even 10 years after MM6 was released, it is hard to fathom these games being playable that far down the road.

[theLuckyDragon]

Nothing lasts forever...

[Hobbun]

Nothing lasts forever...

Not asking for forever, but I don't think 15-20 years is asking a lot.

[Secret_Holder]

But my point was I am concerned about the future for these games as we may not always have a "fix" for future operating systems, video cards, direct X, etc. The more advanced and powerful computers become, the more difficult it will become to run these games.

I believe there will always be dedicated fans with the skills to fix these things for the rest of us who do not.[/code]

[DaveO]

I've heard horror stories about Vista, so I'm not about to be a guinea pig for an operating system that could be worse than Windows ME. Right now the issues I'm hearing about are poor performance, problems running games, hardware driver issues. At this point, I'd not bother with Vista until Service Pack 1 and even then it will take a LOT to convince me to change. I've not had problems getting MM6 thru MM9 to work with XP, so as long as you have the XP OS CD you can always install that OS on your computers.

Fortunately, the DosBox program is a good way to run the older Might and Magic(1 thru 5) games. You can find the program thru a Google search, and create a separate post asking for assistance if needed.

[RiccElijah]

solution is.. try to get hands on an old laptop and keep it only for retrogaming...

as for vista, ME and other Windows.. I'm still running on a perfectwin'98...

[InvisibleTerror]

With Microsoft's freeware Virtual PC + copy of, say, Win 98, you will be able to play at least MM6, MM7 and MM8 (with software acceleration) for quite a long time. So the future is not so bad after all!

[Karry]

If Microsoft wouldnt CREATE these kind of problems in the first place - we wouldnt need this VPC thingie now.
I dont recall hearing about something like this on Unixoids.

[DaveO]

'The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.' - Scotty from Star Trek 3

'If it's not broken, don't fix it!' - A universal axiom that Microsoft fails to learn.

[Corribus]

'If it's not broken, don't fix it!' - A universal axiom that Microsoft fails to learn.

That is such a narrowminded, naive way to look at it. Putative problems with Vista aside, it is mandatory for software companies to periodically release new versions of their software. That is because they are a business. It is the price we pay for living in a capitalist society. Was there anything wrong with XP? No. You could probably happily run it for years. But a company can't sit on the same old software for years and continue to make profits. They must release new software, and they have to change things and make it different in order to sell it. Nobody is going to shell out money for something they already have. So they change this and change that and new software is released that is marketed to do bigger and better things than what we have already. And we buy it because we want to have bigger and better things. And then we bitch and moan because those changes introduce problems that take time to fix. And four years from now, when MS releases a new version of Windows, we'll all lament the passing of Vista or whatever the current version is, and spiteful blowhards will talk about how evil Microsoft is and how Vista was perfect and how the new OS sucks, and they'll whine, "Oh greedy Microsoft, [insert OS version] was so great and we loved it - why did you have to change it? Just to make money? Greedy bastards." Sure sometimes the nature of business sucks for the consumer. Do I want to have to buy all new software for my computer? No. But I understand that if it weren't for business, there would be no software in the first place.

And to the original question: I wouldn't worry about older games. I'm sure there will be always fans with programming skills that will continually make older games available to us.

[DaveO]

I appreciate the comment, but I truly think that the customer should come first for a business. I realize that Vista is likely a better OS to utilize dual core capability than XP, but at the moment that are few programs designed to take advantage of multithreading. Progress just for its own sake has to have a reachable goal. Perhaps Microsoft tried to do too much with Vista.

[Corribus]

Progress just for its own sake has to have a reachable goal.

The only goal of progress this day and age is money. There are some people who build something just to build something, but by and large, they build it to sell it. Miicrosoft, intel, etc., aren't designing new software or new microschips to push the boundaries of technology or for intellectual curiosity. They are doing it to make money. That's what technology and science in the public sector is all about. Money.

So people can whine and complain all they want about how great the status quo is, but the point of fact is that the status quo doesn't bring in the moolah. The boundary will always be pushed because he who pushes the boundary first can profit most. And because of that, we, the common folk, will always be rushing after those who push it, either by choice because we want to be there to see the next great thing (and fork over a lot of dough to do so) or by necessity, because old boundaries - no matter how satisfactory or stable - are no longer profitable. This is the state of society and technology. It's neither good or bad, right or wrong, but crying foul about it or criticizing the companies that are responsible is just silly because it's not likely to change anytime soon.

[HodgePodge]

Progress just for its own sake has to have a reachable goal.

The only goal of progress this day and age is money. …

Blah, blah, blah …

This is the state of society and technology. It's neither good or bad, right or wrong, but crying foul about it or criticizing the companies that are responsible is just silly because it's not likely to change anytime soon.

Ugh! Your mindset is exactly why corporations like Microsoft et al get away with screwing the public. If no one bought their needless products, they wouldn't be able to render software we paid good money for become obsolete. Then they would have to take the time to make sure our already owned products ran on their newest operating system!

[Omega_Destroyer]

What system are you running Hodge? Linux?

[DaveO]

I do know the three things that make the world go around: Money, love, and politics. I do realize that Microsoft did have to make a change by developing Vista. Vista is NOT my gripe with Microsoft. It's the shoddy design and support of Vista that is my main complaint. I realize that nothing lasts forever(especially in the computing industry, when you're already obsolete the moment you design the next product), but wouldn't you rather have something that has quality to it rather than the equivalent of a Ford Pinto which may literally explode(and cause PR as well as other damages)?

Consumerism for its own sake is how merchants like Wal Mart exploit their customers. I buy what I want and need. I don't make impulse purchases or buy things that I won't use. A lot of what goes on in the consumer market is 'keeping up with the Jones family'. Quite frankly, that's just a lifestyle that I refuse to accept.

[MistWeaver]

That is because they are a business. It is the price we pay for living in a capitalist society. Was there anything wrong with XP? No. You could probably happily run it for years. But a company can't sit on the same old software for years and continue to make profits. They must release new software, and they have to change things and make it different in order to sell it. Nobody is going to shell out money for something they already have.

So.. I need to buy & use Vista (which I find much worse that XP), also upgrade my PC - so it could run it, just because poor microsoft needs profits ??! Sounds like pure nonsense to me.

And can I just buy Vista (to pay my price to capitalist society) but still use XP, please ?

In capitalist society if you want to sell something, you need to make it worth buying... or be monopolist.

Corribus, tell me, how bad next OS from Microsoft should be, in order you to change your mind ?

[DaveO]

Given XP's difficulty running MM6 thru MM8, Vista may be even worse. And I don't even want to think about how the DOS games would be affected. One of my goals is to provide resources as long as possible to other players to assist them in playing ALL of the M&M games. I will admit that my fondness of the series is highest for World of Xeen, but I still enjoy the other titles.