Archive.org has put up a few legal copies of much several older games emulated via MESS (a Javascript emulator). Titles include Karateka, Pitfall, the ZX Spectrum version of The Hobbit, and more (including E.T. the Extra Terrestrial for the Atari 2600, because historical software should, by necessity, include historical flops). Also present is Akalabeth, the missing sort-of Ultima 0, which isn't on GOG, and Mystery House, the original Sierra game, which is also missing from GOG. With these games now available for anyone, I don't imagine we'll ever be seeing them here, but that's no reason not to go give them a play right now!

The site also calls this their "initial" collection, which is reassuring. Archive.org also hosts a wider spread of historical software here.

And if you think you're not going to spend part of the next hour playing Lemonade Stand, well, I just don't believe you.

Well, here's one reason. Mystery House is crap of the most dazzling magnitude. The text descriptions are lacking, because the game has graphics - the graphics are shit, and you can't figure out the names of items. Infocom, Level 9 and Magnetic Scrolls would laugh at the parser. There's also a maze with one picture representing every single room.

But everyone should play Karateka.

It's also unbelievably short, just to rub it in.

Cool!
How is it legal though? Because they're a library do they not have to worry about Intellectual Property rights to stuff like E.T.?

I think its legal, as long as the game isn't downloadable, but only accessable through a browser.
(only thing the user gets is visual/sounds, and all they do is input controls, they get no actual code)

Btw:
Libraries are all ways free. Heck, mine is less then 2 miles away, and it has nearly everthing to borrow.
Libraries also have ebooks/emovies/emusic/egames you can borrow, they are just timed. (unsure if they delete themselves, or it goes by the "honor system" where the users have to delete the borrowed items).

Our library is by the honor system for book loans.

When I was a kid, we had tons and tons of games that you could take home and play for absolutely no cost. It was a shame when the serious DRM came. It shut down our library's ability to provide those games.

Hey GOG! What an opportunity! You should get your games on our library shelves! GOG.com would be plastered everywhere and people all over the place would have the chance to try out some spectacular games!

Archive updated with old console games. In-browser emulation.
https://archive.org/details/consolelivingroom

Everyone, go play Ninja Golf https://archive.org/details/Ninja_Golf_1989_Atari_NTSC

I find it a little odd that archive.org has the entire TOSEC collection, including the Dizzy games, which I know Codemasters has not granted permission to redistribute.

Not that I have any problem with them offering it, but calling the site entirely legal is a stretch. I think it's more that many of these publishers really have nothing to gain from enforcing their copyrights in this area.

Surely a big organisation like them must have sorted out the rights issues? Otherwise they're just asking to be sued.

This is pretty cool. In-browser emulation of the games of yore is something I hadn't really considered, but makes perfect sense when I do. Glad to see it freely available. These games really have no value in digital form anyway.

I still prefer to have the vintage software collections stored locally.
Then it is also possible to run them on the raspi or just your favorite handheld - and you do not need to be on-line.

I second that. One of my favorites on the C64. Uniquely paced for a fighting game, which helps to make you feel being right there in the minimalistic, but very atmospheric environments.

Gonna see if Montezuma's Revenge is on the web, thanks for the tip :D

Archive is a really awesome site. Good for watching Computer Chronicles and searching through the Internet of the 90s.

I just downloaded a Super Mario World ROM from archive.org. They've lost their minds. :(