ScummVM has hit its first double digit (but still beta) release. ScummVM started out as a game engine capable of running old LucasArts games built for the Scumm engine. Over the last few years, it's transformed over the years into a cross-platform system for running dozens of classic video games, including some early Sierra Adventure games.

Version 0.10.0 is available for OS X, Linux, Windows, Windows mobile, the Nintendo DS, and a bunch of other operating systems/platforms. Updates include:

• Support for Future Wars
• Support for Gobliins 2
• Support for Gobliins 3
• Support for Ween: The Prophecy
• Support for Bargon Attack
• Support for Nippon Safes
• Support for Sierra AGI games including the early Kings Quest, Police Quest, and Space Quest titles

There are also under the hood tweaks and bug fixes which should mean improved speed and reliability, particularly on the mobile versions for Nintendo DS, Symbian, Windows Mobile and Palm systems.

Remember, most of these games are still protected by copyrights, and it's only legal to play them if you own the original disks. A few adventure games have been released for free, and can be downloaded from the ScummVM downloads page.

[via AximSite]

GameTap is sort of like Netflix for old video games, except without the mailbox. For $10 per month, you have access to an online library of older video games from a variety of consoles ranging from PC to Nintendo.

The company currently offers access to 864 games, and the catalog is growing. Now GameTap is planning to launch a new site that will provide access to about 30 popular games for free. Titles will include Metal Slug, Joust, and Rampage.

The site will be advertising-support, and is set to launch on May 31st.

[via Ars Technica]

If you grew up in my generation, you'll understand when I say that there are some classic games that stay with you through the years. For me, my short list includes M.U.L.E., Out of this World, and Rampart, amongst hundreds of racing and sports games that all seem to blur together.

Short of setting up a MAME environment and dealing with the dicey licensing situation with respect to these classic games, there's really no way to play most of these games. Well, that's not entirely true - my old Commodore 64 is still in working order... but that's not really an option either.

Luckily, one of my classic favorites has been recreated in a Windows-compatible form, and it captures the original game perfectly. Rampart is sort of a turn-based real time strategy game, maybe one of the first RTS games. The game consists of two phases that cycle throughout the game: the building phase and the battle phase.

During the Building phase, you are given differently shaped blocks with which to build walls around your castle. The blocks are shaped like random Tetris blocks. There's no indication of what the next block will look like as you place your current block, and you are very time-limited to build your wall. Any castle that has a fully closed wall around it will be allocated guns, so the more that you can enclose the better.

Once the Battle phase starts, your castles are attacked by boats shooting cannons at you. Your job is to defend your castles by shooting at the boats, and this is where having more guns becomes helpful, since you can only have one cannon ball in the air at any time from any specific gun.

Game play is frantic both during the building and battle phases, and the ability to use a mouse is a welcome change from the atrocious joysticks we used to use "back in the day". If you're looking for a quick 10 minutes of fun, or to lose a couple hours, Rampart is a great way to spend your time.

Note, it's unclear whether this version is officially sponsored or condoned by the copyright holder of the original game. The incredible trueness to the original game makes it seem to be a legitimate version, however I can make no claim of legitimacy for this version. I feel comfortable playing this version as I have my Nintendo cartridge of the original packed away in my basement.