When it comes to digital game preservation for future generations, no one is working quite as hard as GOG. After revealing their Dreamlist Tool for players to vote for which games they would like to see preserved on the platform next, they've made it their mission to regulary update their 'Preservation List' with new titles for PC, Mac, and Linux users to download and keep - 'keep' being the operative word there.
GOG's whole ethos is about selling games without digital rights management restrictions - you own your game fully and all the rights to it. They all come with modern enhancements to the graphics and audio engine too, as well as featuring extras like anti-aliasing and improved rendering, as well as online multiplayer in some instances. Preserved and improved - what's not to love?
These games are often super cheap to own too - Star Wars Battlefront is currently on sale for £2.19 down from £8.50, while Worm's Armageddon only costs £10.99! They make up the latest Game Preservation collection release alongside fan favourite Breath of Fire IV which has returned after first releasing 25 years ago. Star Wars games Dark Forces, Rebel Assault 1 + 2, Tie Fighter Special Edition and X-Wing Special Edition also made the cut, alongside the complete Ultima series, Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, Stonekeep, Realms of the Haunting, and Tex Murphy: Under A Killing Moon.
With Silent Hill 1 + 2 both receiving over 75,000 votes each, it looks like the fans are giving a clear indication of which games they would like to see preserved next. While it's always great to have actual games and institutions like the Embracer Archive are the masters of keeping physical media alive, I'm glad that GOG are doing their bit to make sure that gamers of the future can experience the classic titles we know, love, and grew up on. What would a world be without people playing Dino Crisis, after all?
