Original Falcon 4.0 now available via GOG.com
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Hello!
I’m probably not the only one who had to do some digging to find a copy of the original Falcon 4.0 so I could get BMS installed. I ultimately had to go through eBay (and got the full set of manuals).
I just discovered, however, that GOG.com (the outfit formerly known as Good Old Games) has recently released The Falcon Collection, including the original Falcon, Falcon AT, Falcon Gold (Falcon 3.0 plus expansions), and - most relevant to this forum - Falcon 4.0 v1.08.
I suspect that this should be enough to get a BMS installation rolling.
Hope this is useful!
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Excellent news! Fingers crossed it will be compatible for the BMS install process…
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First post here and celebrating the GOG release. The original Falcon4 is probably the game I spent most hours with until today and this is a very good occasion to try BMSFalcon as well.
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I wonder if GOG has legally acquired the rights to F4.
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Just snapped it up!!! - i can report the 1.08 version install supplied runs on windows 10; just waiting on bms to dl to see how it runs.
EDIT: Default install folder is C:\GOG Games\Falcon 4.0 - BMS 4.32 recognises install!
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Just snapped it up!!! - i can report the 1.08 version install supplied runs on windows 10; just waiting on bms to dl to see how it runs.
There is no need to install Falcon 4.0. Just need to point Falcon BMS to the file where “.exe” is located.
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Good news, finally falcon is free… To fly.
All good.
Does this mean that the exe alone can circulate freely?
So ppl will not have to go through the install process -
Good news, finally falcon is free… …
Except it’s not. It’s being sold. For money.
Which means someone has a stake in the game. Do you know who? Do you know the ownership status? Who is Retroism? What is their arrangement/stake in Falcon4?
What is this about? http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/10/retroism-microprose/
What does this mean?
Retroism.com is a venue for publishers who want to expand beyond the Steam portal but maintain maximum control of their products’ distribution.
It must be easy sitting there, Arty, with no concern for intellectual property and no fear of cease and desist letters to push your agenda.
Maybe not so easy for those creating add-on modifications for Falcon4.
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(snip)
Maybe not so easy for those creating add-on modifications for Falcon4.Take a look at this post https://www.gog.com/forum/general/release_falcon_collection_361fd/post62
Seems that GOG is aware of turbulent past history of Falcon, the leakage of source code and all that. It’s even stated that one of main reasons to include Falcon 4.0 with the package, despite compatibility issues, was because of community projects like BMS needing a proof of game ownership.
Given the fact that GOG specialised in “retro” games (hence the old name, Good Old Games) I’m pretty sure they know their ways to ensure who currently own the rights for old games and what to do to have it legally distributed.
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Take a look at this post https://www.gog.com/forum/general/release_falcon_collection_361fd/post62
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Thanks for that. But I still don’t think there is anything to clearly indicate that the exe is considered by it’s publisher to be ‘free-ware’ or ‘abandon-ware’ or elsewise in the public domain (despite what some might wish to be true). And it is still likely to be in the best interest of the BMS community in general NOT to condone or facilitate the unauthorized distribution of the Falcon4 exe.
@GoG:
…. in order to install community projects like BMS, you need to show that you have the original game ….
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Hello all,
Got here today because of GOG surprise. Was looking for F4.0 for a long time but prices on ebay were sky high for me. I grabbed this package without a second thought. BMS works just fine with that version. No problems installing it. Went fast and smooth.
Thank you BMS for your outstanding work!
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Thanks for that. But I still don’t think there is anything to clearly indicate that the exe is considered by it’s publisher to be ‘free-ware’ or ‘abandon-ware’ or elsewise in the public domain (despite what some might wish to be true). And it is still likely to be in the best interest of the BMS community in general NOT to condone or facilitate the unauthorized distribution of the Falcon4 exe.
GOG sells all the games in its catalog with express permission from the developers and/or publishers/rights holders.
They have complied with requests to remove games from sale when legal rights to distribute go into dispute.like when the bethesda/interplay fallout rights hit the courts. there was a order for all digital distributors to cease selling, Fallout 1,2 and tactics eventually returned to steam, but eventually they were put back on sale on GOG, GoG also recently added the Doom/Quake series for sale.
in short, the falcon 4.0 on gog isnt freeware or abadonware its equivalent to purchasing the CD from EBay and owning it yourself.
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GOG sells all the games in its catalog with express permission from the developers and/or publishers/rights holders.
They have complied with requests to remove games from sale when legal rights to distribute go into dispute.…. in short, the falcon 4.0 on gog isnt freeware or abadonware its equivalent to purchasing the CD from EBay and owning it yourself.
Yes, I totally understand and agree. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I don’t see any issue at all with someone buying the GoG pack and then using the F4 exe as ‘proof of ownership’ during the installation of BMS. This protects all parties involved.
My concern was the Arty’s implication that the F4 exe could then be shared freely. I do not believe that is, or should be, the case.
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I can’t believe that original Falcon 4.0 is available for $6, including all the Falcon 3 stuff, manuals, etc., and you guys manage to go and start worrying about how “legal” it is. Amazing. Something that can only be good for BMS, to make this game accessible to more people, bring more people into this community, increase visibility and enthusiasm for flight simulation, and yet within a handful of posts someone is already attempting to dampen the good news.
Amazing.
How about this. How about you let whoever has ownership of the Falcon 4 property, whoever that is, let them worry about the legalness of GoG’s release. I mean seriously, why does every single thing that pops up on this site immediately turn into a witch hunt? Enough already.
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Yes, I totally understand and agree. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I don’t see any issue at all with someone buying the GoG pack and then using the F4 exe as ‘proof of ownership’ during the installation of BMS. This protects all parties involved.
My concern was the Arty’s implication that the F4 exe could then be shared freely. I do not believe that is, or should be, the case.
No it is not, you are right on the money there, I was just making sure, since people assume that older games are “abandonware” which legally does not exist, unless the game exists in the public domain, someone, somewhere holds the rights to it.
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My concern was the Arty’s implication that the F4 exe could then be shared freely. I do not believe that is, or should be, the case.
Agree with this fully. Pony up the $6 and buy the damn game if you want to play BMS (unless you already own it, like me).
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I can’t believe that original Falcon 4.0 is available for $6, including all the Falcon 3 stuff, manuals, etc., and you guys manage to go and start worrying about how “legal” it is. Amazing. Something that can only be good for BMS, to make this game accessible to more people, bring more people into this community, increase visibility and enthusiasm for flight simulation, and yet within a handful of posts someone is already attempting to dampen the good news.
Amazing.
How about this. How about you let whoever has ownership of the Falcon 4 property, whoever that is, let them worry about the legalness of GoG’s release. I mean seriously, why does every single thing that pops up on this site immediately turn into a witch hunt? Enough already.
I want to pick it up, but I discovered I am broke and my credit card is locked.
