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Classic PC games Colonization, Pirates! Gold hit Steam
Retro-focused publisher Tommo announced plans to revive and distribute a number of classic PC games via Steam, GOG.com, and other digital platforms as part of its newly announced Retroism initiative. PC strategy games Sid Meier's Colonization, Pirates! Gold Plus and Sid Meier's Covert Action are first in line, returning as individual downloads and as part of the collected Retroism Explorer Pack on Steam this week. Tommo's plan is part of a continued partnership with Night Dive Studios, which previously spearheaded Steam releases for Putt-Putt Joins the Parade, Spy Fox in: Dry Cereal, and other classic games from Humongous Entertainment's back catalog. Retroism will soon expand its scope to bring "dozens of games originally published by MicroProse, Accolade, Infogrames and other iconic publishers" to Steam, GOG.com, Amazon, the Humble Store, MacGameStore, GamersGate and Green Man Gaming. A hub site will additionally host retrospectives, historical documents, and supplementary material for featured games. [Image: MicroProse / Retroism]
Humble Weekly Sale: System Shock 2, The 7th Guest, Wizardry 8
It's a fine week for classic PC games as the good people at Humble Bundle have set their price-cutting sights on Night Dive Studios, a developer focused on resurrecting the hits of yesteryear for modern hardware. As with all Humble Weekly Sales, this entry operates on a "pay what you want" basis. Spend at least $1 and you'll receive classic roleplaying games Wizardry 6 and Wizardry 7, as well as voodoo-tinged dark adventure Shadow Man. Throw down $5 or more and you'll also walk away with controversial horror classics Harvester and The 7th Guest, as well as the less controversial but more existentially disturbing I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. The final tier of games is only available to those who spend $9 or more, but adds 7th Guest sequel The 11th Hour, epic RPG Wizardry 8 and System Shock 2, a survival horror game with such excellent atmosphere and tone that even waist-high telekinetic monkeys seem a terrifying threat. Best of all, while you're spending a few hundred hours sorting through the handful of classic games you just bought at a huge discount, your money can go to help the less fortunate. Everyone who buys items from the Humble Weekly Sale can earmark their money, either for the American Red Cross or Child's Play. Your third option is to send your money to Night Dive Studios, a move that you could still feel good about given that this week's top contributors tally lists Night Dive in the number one spot thanks to a $1,000 donation of its own. [Image: Humble Bundle]
Classic game distributor files for 'No One Lives Forever' trademarks
Four trademark applications have been found which suggest that beloved yet largely forgotten spy spoof shooter No One Lives Forever may make a return in one form or another. Siliconera discovered applications filed by Night Dive Studios for "No One Lives Forever," "The Operative," "A Spy In H.A.R.M.'s Way" and "Contract J.A.C.K." If those titles sound familiar, that's because they were the same monikers used for No One Lives Forever, its sequel, and a prequel spin-off. That makes sense, as Night Dive Studios has made a name for itself by re-releasing older PC hits that have long since fallen out of publication. Most notably, Night Dive is responsible for bringing System Shock 2 to Steam, so it seems likely the company plans to do the same for No One Lives Forever. Night Dive CEO Steven Kick contacted Siliconera following its report to offer first-hand clarification, but his words were coy and noncommittal. "At this time we are unable to comment on future plans. I would like to add that our team has a great fondness for these games and our hope is that they will one day be re-released." [Image: Monolith]
Putt-Putt, Spy Fox join Humongous Entertainment's Steam catalog
Putt-Putt Joins the Parade, Spy Fox in: Dry Cereal and other classic children's adventure games from publisher Humongous Entertainment are now available via Steam as part of a new partnership with Tommo and retrogame restoration group Night Dive Studios. Co-founded by The Secret of Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert, Humongous Entertainment produced dozens of kid-oriented point-and-click adventure games for PC platforms throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Other Humongous Entertainment games making their Steam debut this week include Freddi Fish and The Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds, Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside, Putt-Putt and Pep's Balloon-o-Rama, and Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness. Tommo plans to launch Steam versions of many more games from Humongous Entertainment's back catalog in the coming weeks, including Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon, Pajama Sam 3: You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet, Spy Fox 3: Operation Ozone, and Putt-Putt Travels through Time. All of this week's featured games are available for 50 percent off through April 24. Steam is also offering a Humongous Entertainment Complete Pack, which grants early access to all 27 games in the collection for $99.99. [Image: Humongous Entertainment]
Steam's Daily Deal offers System Shock 2 at half price
If your life is painfully lacking in malevolent AI and angry, telekinetic monkeys, today is your lucky day: Steam is currently offering survival horror classic System Shock 2 at a 50 percent discount. Co-developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios, and designed by BioShock maestro Ken Levine, System Shock 2 drops players into the dark corridors of a faster than light spaceship where a routine rescue operation has gone horribly wrong. Armed with scavenged weaponry and a handful of special powers, players must battle the twisted denizens of deep space, all the while being mocked by SHODAN, a once helpful AI that has started to lose her virtual marbles. Despite being a "Daily Deal," System Shock 2 will remain at its current $5 price point until Monday, April 21 at 10AM PT. Would-be players need not worry about system compatibility, as Steam offers System Shock 2 in PC, Mac and Linux flavors. [Image: Night Dive Studios]
PSA: System Shock 2 on Steam, 30 percent off until May 17
System Shock 2 is now available on Steam for $6.99. The first-person survival-horror game is 30 percent off until May 17. System Shock 2 found its way to the platform courtesy of Night Dive Studios, the outfit who picked up the rights as the game's publisher in February, when System Shock 2 also launched on GOG.com. To those of you that have yet to play this game: You're running out of excuses.
