Should we have to pay for every game, no matter how old?

Excuse me if the title is a little confusing. Last night I was exploring on XBL to check out the changes. I went into the Arcade section and into the Atari 2600 arcade to be specific. Although it's a pretty bad game, I wanted to play Combat. It was the first video game I ever played at home as a kid seeing as it came with my Atari 2600. I was truly convinced that the game would be free. I mean come on, it's Combat. I don't remember what they were charging (less than $5), but the fact they were charging anything at all for that game seemed ridiculous to me. For an entire Atari compilation I can understand paying, but just for Combat? Do you all agree that there are certain games we shouldn't have to pay for, or am I way off base? Should I have to fork over money to play Combat?

Well yeah... someone has to make a profit off of an idea, no matter how old.

same with cars. i saw a 1960's Ferrari 250gt that i wanted. but can you believe they still charge for them. its like over 50 old and stuff

I understand what you all are saying, but you can go online and find alot of classic games for free. The other day I was playing Burger Time while sitting in my cubicle :D. I figure the makers of Combat made their money years ago. Charging for combat is just another way for MS to line their pockets.

I understand what you all are saying, but you can go online and find alot of classic games for free. The other day I was playing Burger Time while sitting in my cubicle :D. I figure the makers of Combat made their money years ago. Charging for combat is just another way for MS to line their pockets.

incuensuocha

[QUOTE="incuensuocha"]

I understand what you all are saying, but you can go online and find alot of classic games for free. The other day I was playing Burger Time while sitting in my cubicle :D. I figure the makers of Combat made their money years ago. Charging for combat is just another way for MS to line their pockets.

dog_dirt

I agree, it's terrible. I just wanted to play it out of nostalgia.

Money is the least of your concerns with buying combat. You're gonna be paying for playing that game in sooo many other ways.

Well yeah... someone has to make a profit off of an idea, no matter how old.

foxhound_fox

it like you saying we should be getting free muscle 70s cars

Excuse me if the title is a little confusing. Last night I was exploring on XBL to check out the changes. I went into the Arcade section and into the Atari 2600 arcade to be specific. Although it's a pretty bad game, I wanted to play Combat. It was the first video game I ever played at home as a kid seeing as it came with my Atari 2600. I was truly convinced that the game would be free. I mean come on, it's Combat. I don't remember what they were charging (less than $5), but the fact they were charging anything at all for that game seemed ridiculous to me. For an entire Atari compilation I can understand paying, but just for Combat? Do you all agree that there are certain games we shouldn't have to pay for, or am I way off base? Should I have to fork over money to play Combat?

incuensuocha

I actually agree with you. Royalties, I believe, get in the way of that. This doesn't make complete sense though, because I can play games like Tetris and Pacman for free, all over the place--through flash. Not that they will, but instead of charging for the game, they should charge for the game player(an app, of sorts).

Would you like to get paid for working? or are you going to work for free for a few weeks a year?

I think after the creators die and 50 years pass an IP becomes public domain. In this case it's like the bible and no one owns it thus you could get it legally for free then. So when games start to get really old in like 50 years we're going to see a lot of public domain classics for free legally.

They're not running a charity. There are options to play the game for free anyways. Especially on PC.

Excuse me if the title is a little confusing. Last night I was exploring on XBL to check out the changes. I went into the Arcade section and into the Atari 2600 arcade to be specific. Although it's a pretty bad game, I wanted to play Combat. It was the first video game I ever played at home as a kid seeing as it came with my Atari 2600. I was truly convinced that the game would be free. I mean come on, it's Combat. I don't remember what they were charging (less than $5), but the fact they were charging anything at all for that game seemed ridiculous to me. For an entire Atari compilation I can understand paying, but just for Combat? Do you all agree that there are certain games we shouldn't have to pay for, or am I way off base? Should I have to fork over money to play Combat?

incuensuocha

Microsoft and offering something for free don't go together in the same sentence.

[QUOTE="incuensuocha"]

Excuse me if the title is a little confusing. Last night I was exploring on XBL to check out the changes. I went into the Arcade section and into the Atari 2600 arcade to be specific. Although it's a pretty bad game, I wanted to play Combat. It was the first video game I ever played at home as a kid seeing as it came with my Atari 2600. I was truly convinced that the game would be free. I mean come on, it's Combat. I don't remember what they were charging (less than $5), but the fact they were charging anything at all for that game seemed ridiculous to me. For an entire Atari compilation I can understand paying, but just for Combat? Do you all agree that there are certain games we shouldn't have to pay for, or am I way off base? Should I have to fork over money to play Combat?

loadedboon

Microsoft and offering something for free don't go together in the same sentence.

Sure, just like we have to pay for old movies, old music, etc. Heck, you can still find old Beatles albums full price or more than newer music.

And don't knock Combat! It's a great game against someone!

I understand what you all are saying, but you can go online and find alot of classic games for free. The other day I was playing Burger Time while sitting in my cubicle :D. I figure the makers of Combat made their money years ago. Charging for combat is just another way for MS to line their pockets.

incuensuocha

Yeah the developers have the rights to the original game for 70 years after the original was released. So for you to legally get 2600 games for free you have to wait 38 years roughly for the developers not to have the license for those games on the 2600.

It might be different with every company because I'm using Nintendo's policy as the basis for my claim. Nintendo keeps the license from every game they make for 70 years since it went on sale after the 70 years are up they would have to relicense the game.

Some games are freeware public domain like Ultima 4.

Should I have to pay for the statue of liberty, no matter how old it is?OreoMilkshake

Do you even have the money to pay for the Statue of Liberty? :P

[QUOTE="incuensuocha"]

Excuse me if the title is a little confusing. Last night I was exploring on XBL to check out the changes. I went into the Arcade section and into the Atari 2600 arcade to be specific. Although it's a pretty bad game, I wanted to play Combat. It was the first video game I ever played at home as a kid seeing as it came with my Atari 2600. I was truly convinced that the game would be free. I mean come on, it's Combat. I don't remember what they were charging (less than $5), but the fact they were charging anything at all for that game seemed ridiculous to me. For an entire Atari compilation I can understand paying, but just for Combat? Do you all agree that there are certain games we shouldn't have to pay for, or am I way off base? Should I have to fork over money to play Combat?

I actually agree with you. Royalties, I believe, get in the way of that. This doesn't make complete sense though, because I can play games like Tetris and Pacman for free, all over the place--through flash. Not that they will, but instead of charging for the game, they should charge for the game player(an app, of sorts).

[QUOTE="OreoMilkshake"]Should I have to pay for the statue of liberty, no matter how old it is?Lionheart08

Do you even have the money to pay for the Statue of Liberty? :P

Of course if a game is old and you still want to play it. Good job then by the devs they made a game that peoplea are going to want to play for years to come

The only games you are going to get for free are freeware and some abandonware. Sometimes companies will give a game away for free as freeware, in other cases the copyright holders aren't around anymore to collect royalties, and in the odd case a company is still around to collect royalties but they don't and will not go after people breaking copyright (ie nintendo with mother 3).

Get it to your PC! I always play Enduro (and Custer's Revenge :P )