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Shareware Heroes: The renegades who redefined gaming at the dawn of the internet

A really awesome book about cool people and things.

Links

Further reading

Further playing

  • DOSGames.com - Loads of old DOS games to download, with a brief review, star rating, and video attached to each; includes filters for shareware and freeware titles
  • Archive.org's MS-DOS Shareware Software Library - A big collection of DOS shareware, playable in your browser
  • Archive.org's Windows 3.1 Shareware Software Library - A big collection of Win3.1 shareware, playable in your browser
  • Macintosh Garden - The definitive collection of old Mac software, with a great community of vintage Mac lovers
  • Atari Mania - A huge database of software/games for various Atari systems; link goes direct to the list of all PD & shareware Atari ST software
  • Lemon Amiga - One of a few excellent databases of Amiga games; link goes direct to the list of all non-commercial (including shareware) softwre and games they have

Further watching

  • FPS: First Person Shooter - A 3+ hour documentary I'm working on as producer and co-writer (fellow author David L. Craddock is co-writer/co-director)
  • Matt Chat - Matt Barton's excellent video interview series, where he talks to game devs and authors like me in depth about the history of video/computer games
  • DOS Nostalgia - Videos about old DOS games
  • Pixelmusement - More videos about old PC games, with a special series dedicated specifically to the stuff that would get put on shareware compilation CDs
  • Play Different - Videos about old Mac games, HyperCard stacks, and multimedia software, with a particular focus on obscure and community works
  • [let me know if you think something else should be here]

Further listening

  • Fringe Game History Podcast - A short-lived interview podcast dedicated to obscure games
  • The Retro Hour - An interview-focused podcast that talks to a different industry figure each week about the history of video/computer games
  • DOS Game Club - A community and podcast that plays a different old DOS game every month, many of which were shareware
  • The Life & Times of Video Games - My documentary/narrative podcast about games history, which often delves into indie games
  • [more to come]
New edition coming late 2025 or early 2026.
Buy your copy

First edition may still be on sale, but none of the proceeds will make it to the author due to publisher liquidation; there'll be an updated second edition late 2025 or early 2026, or if you can't wait please contact me directly — I have some physical copies left and can also send you an ebook.

BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!
BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!
BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!
BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!
BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!
BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!
BUY IT! BUY IT BUY IT!

...I mean, only if you want to.

WEBSITE STILL WIP — STAY TUNED FOR MORE

Progress:

(While you wait, you can play with the Classic Mac-themed website for my other book.)

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