I've managed to keep my game purchases surprisingly low during the holiday season. It seems I have most of the games I wanted already from GoG, so I've only purchased three so far, and one of them was a repurchase of "Space Rangers 2." I've yet to purchase anything from Steam, but they have the daily "Wishlist Giveaway" drawing that I participate in.

As for Space Rangers 2, I have the original CD version, but the Starforce copy protection system was a barrier to playing. Now I don't need the CD's and can just play straight from the hard drive. :-)

I just read the user reviews on GoG, and some people are reporting problems running Space Rangers 2 on a Windows 7 64-bit system! I hope you don't get burned by this!

Here's an apparently unofficial trailer for "Space Rangers 2." It doesn't show the text adventure portions, but it does show you the 3D real-time strategy portions and the top-down shooter sections. And, of course, the turn-based ship battle sections. This video should give viewers some idea of what they're getting into with "Space Rangers 2."

Well Robs list also pointed out SPace Rangers, not a game i have, I have noticed some posative comments on it, but assumed it was just another space 4X ( i have 20-30 of those already) I didnt grab at gog (steam had a combo pack) and I looked at the first one very briefly last night before bed, little light on tutorial (and im sure that becuase its ment to come with a manual) will take some more time and reading to get a grasp on.. I did figure out some stuff as the buttons all hove tool tips. Im a huge fan of the simulations and space combat games (wc3 and freespace) but must suggest if you are leaning towards that type of game to check out BattleCrusier 2000AD its a Derek Smart game (infamous game designer who has massive scope to all his projects, but has small development staff so makes the scope hard to achive, and is VERY VOCAL on the web) When released it was a HUGE MESS, but is one of the BEST starship combat simulators out there, and with its patchs and other versions (battlecruiser 3000AD (note the change of one number) it improved and got much better. Its a nightmare to learn (dwarf fortrees) but once you grasp it, its one of the best games ever. I would suggest reading up on it even if you dont play it as that is a story in itself about a designer who had GRAND ideas, and ALMOST got it right. Battlecruiser was simply to huge in scope to ever work the way it should ( complete solor sytems that made peace and war reguardless of what you did, but you could effect it, a GIANT spacehisp with luanch bays for fighter squads (which you could pilot) plantfall with planet based battles and resources, .. it was just such a giant scope (oh, both versions are free to download nowdasy, but expect some of the steepest learning curves ever, the printed manual is about as thick as the bible). Independance War is also a lighter version of it that is quite well done you man 4 stations instead of just a cockpit/fighter view like most, its giant capital type ship, not a small escort

dang it tack Independance war, and freespace and freespace2 onto my GOG account (and space rangers to my Steam account.. dang you rob!). and when i got space rangers on Steam I also picked up EARTH DEFENCE FORCE: IINSECT ARMOURGEDEON MUST NOT buy a game for at least a week or untill i finish one. Im in the middle of thief and pure ice mage Skyrim games, Witcher 2 is half finished, DAII is less thant 1/4 done (assumption) and ... .. man.. Idont even want to talk about the console games. got to resist...

I didn't realize it, but we get these six games for free on GOG: http://www.gog.com/en/catalogue#all_genres/price/0/

Add 'em to the list!

You're killing me, Rob! I just bought "Space Rangers 2: Dominators" and "Freespace 2". The former I never heard of (but clearly should have) and the latter I always wanted. I hope there's nothing else I'm "forced" to get!

I have a total of 45 games in my GoG.com library, so I thought I would give some recommendations amongst the ones I have that might be of interest to some of you wanting to cash in on the GoG holiday sale. For $5 or less, some of these games are worth taking a gamble on if you haven’t already spent too much money on games. Although I listed them numerically, there’s no ranking intended, except for number ONE. The rest, you should consider according to your taste in games. DON'T go crazy and buy them all, but if you have to buy just one, I recommend my number one choice.

#1 - Space Rangers 2: Dominators

This is my number 1 recommendation, and is an epic game that deserves to be played, but few here have played it (that I know of). It is an all-in-one-boat galactic romp that successfully (for the most part) combines elements of many game genres. It has galaxy eploration/conquest, turn-based 2D space combat, trading, land-based 3D real-time strategy (RTS) combat (with mechs!), ship upgrades, player upgrades, diplomacy, top-down SHMUP sections, planetary research, RPG-ish elements, and..... text adventures. That’s right, I said text adventures. Granted, the text adventure portions are “choose-your-own-adventure” style, rather than parser-based.

It’s kind of a “sandbox” galaxy game not unlike a 2D “Elite” at it’s core, but with so many facets to discover (text adventures?!?!? 3D RTS mech combat!?!?!). Plus, it has the ominous “Dominators” slowly conquering the galaxy, not unlike Star Control 2. The sheer ambition of this game is astounding.
I won’t say it’s without it’s problems, but I consider "Space Rangers 2" an unheralded classic, and it’s well worth the holiday sale price to take a gamble on it. Don’t bother with the first Space Rangers game, go directly to Space Rangers 2:Dominators.

#2 - Tie Between “Freespace 2” and “Wing Commander™ 3 Heart of the Tiger™”

Both “Freespace 2” and “WC3” are rather hardcore space combat simulators. Freespace 2 is the smoother-playing experience, being entirely(?) 3D-polygon based, and although the graphics are primitive by today’s standards, they hold up surprisingly well! WC3, with it’s full-motion cut-scenes using famous live actors, is by far the more cinematic experience, where you feel like you’re in a real movie! I had some issues running WC3 until I figured out how to configure DosBox to run it properly, and it has no tutorials on how to pilot your ship ( read the manual!). Freespace 2 ran with no problems, and it has tutorial modes, but it doesn’t have Mark Hamill (!). The spectacular FMV and movie-like plot is the selling point for WC3, the slick gameplay and in-game tutorials is the selling point of Freespace 2.

#3 - Might and Magic® 6-pack: Limited Edition

You know this one. You probably already have this. If you don’t have it, now’s the time to get it. You get the first six games in the Might and Magic series. Worth the price for Might and Magic 6 alone. It's a no-brainer if you’re into CRPG’s.

#4 - Any game from the Pro Pinball series

GoG sells three Pro Pinball games separately, so you have to choose between Pro Pinball Timeshock, Pro Pinball Fantastic Journey, and Pro Pinball Big Race USA. Which one is best? Opinions seem to differ according to taste. Fantastic Journey has a sort of “H.G. Wells Time Machine” whimsical vibe, Big Race USA has a sort of laid back “Crazy Taxi” vibe. My personal favorite is Timeshock, with it’s pulse-pounding rock music and sci-fi theme. But any one of these is better than the other pinball packages GoG sells (Pure Pinball2, Dream Pinball 3D).

#5 - Prince of Persia®: The Sands of Time

In my opinion, this is the best game of the PoP franchise, except maybe (I stress “maybe”) the 2D original. The graphics still look great, popping with color in the later levels, and the animation is fantastic. Many action puzzles in the game will leave you scratching your head until you figure them out. Very frustrating camera problems at times, though. It’s not an easy game, and requires good dexterity with the controller, but very fun.

#6 - The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

For $4.99, this is a no-brainer. This is a very competent and involving modern-style CRPG. It has arcade-style action combat, which may be off-putting for some (it was for me), but everything else is pretty respectable CRPGing. Modern graphics are icing on the cake. Playing Might and Magic 6 made me appreciate this game more, and now I want to give The Witcher another go.

#7 - Stonekeep

Smooth-scrolling block movement, real-time gameplay, cool-for-their-time FMV segments. Not unlike some of the modern Wizardry games (or that clone that Bill featured) with its smooth block movement. This was the PC game that made me realize the Amiga era was over. Its still fun, but not too hardcore, making it a fair introduction to CRPG-ing for newbies.

#8 - Capitalism 2

Think SimCity meets Tycoon game. The game is used by Harvard Business School in their economics/business classes, but is fairly approachable to play (but tough to win). If you’re not into business/tycoon sims, this probably won’t convert you, since it is pretty realistic and brutally hardcore at later levels.

#9 - FlatOut

Sort of a “death race” driving sim. Approachably arcadish and not too hardcore sim-ish,
playable with a joystick, but great fun if you have a steering wheel controller. Fun mini-games and violent crashes up the ante. Decent PS2-era graphics. Skip this if you have a more modern game of this ilk.

Not sure if i should be embarassed or happy when you mention my lists. I simply have to many games and will never get a chance to play them all (first step is to admit you have the problem, right?) but i keep telling myslef someday. Problem is as years pass games I skipped in the last few years alos adds ot that list of 'want to play", and Unless one games non stop, i doubt I will ever even remolty catch up. I notice you do a good job of diverse games, I tend to gravitate to action/RPG/FPS myself so miss alot of good titles. I ma shocked at how many great games I glanced at in my pirate days and never played and now find quite fun. But then there are games Like Magikia (see you have it and all its addonds) me too.. but I really dont like the game (so does that make me a game horder?) the idea of the game is cool, but it starts feeling like a football game on a modern console- to many buttons to remeber to play effectivly. SO after day one purchase i havent played, yet i keep grabbing addons for ONE DAY.. but a game i dont like (for control reasons.. im addicted). Yes i bought about 30 games on GOG on the sale and had about 20 already. I kinda get worried when i see im 6 game short of 500 on Steam http://www.steamcalculator.com/id/clok1966 Steam and GOG better stick around a LOOOOONG time :)

For my own sanity, I did a quick inventory of my digital PC games across the various services, and it's quite sobering. Without even trying hard - and in fact, thinking I was rather restrained - I've found a way to acquire more digital games than I could ever possibly play for at least several years and that's just under very specific paramaters on a very specific platform. A modern world of gaming plenty indeed... (I can't imagine what Clok's list is like) [EDIT: Just added Humble Indie Bundle #4, which is not on the list below... :-(]

Land of Lore- Didnt remeber it being quite so hard and.. suprisingly its becuase have no idea what im doing. All the plants.. and honeycombs? do i eat um or mix um as potions or? I dont remeber at all... I picked the human .. not sure why one would pick the other classes.. they are all gimped badly and the human has better stats across the board.. Its strange they gimped the others so badly, 18 magic and 3-5 for other stats.. whenthe human is 12 across all stats.. and its not like htey all got the same total amount and mixed it up.. some stats way better other worse, they just gimped um and gave one stat a huge boost.I suppose its for hte people who like a challange.. I seem to remeber I took the mage in my original play, maybe he is much better than i rembere. I guess some manual reading is in order.. havent done that in ages.. I dont mind tutorials in game.. but i think I might enjoy some manual reading.

But .. SACRAFICE i forgot how complex this game was.. I know I loved it back in its day.. and when i put it in about 10Pm (as I watched my NFL RAMS be smoked) i quit this morning at 3am.. and was late for work! doh.. overslept. I have my email saying my early access to Star Wars is ready.. and I think im going to play SACRAFICE.. tough choice... maybe I will get in a bit of both.

Dang it i forgot utlima 7, and I want Starflight... I loved the original, never did play 2. So im going back to GOG!

/edit/
Dang $34 more.. i added all my WISH List ones (GOG puts them on top of list) didnt see there where PAGES of games on sale.. I only saw the first page.. I ahd to quit.. I should wait but its such a good deal.

Of the ones I wanted that I already didn't have, I ended up with: Stonekeep; Realms of Arkania 1, 2, 3; Ultima Underworld 1, 2; Starflight 1, 2; Ultima VII The Complete Edition; Ultima IV, V, VI

Insane, but for $20 for all that, hard to pass up, and it lets me more easily play my boxed copies.

I obviously want others (in fact, many on Clok's list), but I can wait on those when I'm "ready," even if I pay a bit more.