Probably the best budget computer game store around.
Written: Jun 29 '04 (Updated Nov 09 '06)
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Sold Out Software specialise in budget rereleases of older game titles in various genres. I have bought many of their titles over the last couple of years – in fact, Sold Out games make up over half of my game collection! Those of us who haven’t got hundreds of pounds to spend on games, refuse to pirate software, and don’t necessarily mind not having the very latest releases, can be very thankful for the existence of Sold Out Software.
There’s a good choice of games in most genres, with a particular emphasis on Eidos games. There is a lack of depth in some areas – see the full list of software titles available (correct as of 29.06.04) further down in this review.
Sold Out games can be bought from shops like Game and MVC, which is where I have got most of my games from until recently. However they sell direct from their website, and after my experience with them, I will definitely be using them again from now on.
The site itself is attractive and well laid out, with just a touch of Flash animation to make it look a bit prettier without adding too much to the loading time (though the pages tend to be a little bit on the sluggish side for loading). The site features not only the product range itself but also a hints section for their games, which is a nice addition, and competitions from time to time. Tech support is also available online. On the online ordering pages, against each game’s description it tells you whether it’s in stock or not, which is obviously helpful! Ordering is quick and easy, with most credit cards accepted. Postage and package to the UK is FREE, and reasonable to the rest of the world. Despatch is same day. I placed and order for 6 games on a Wednesday, late at night – the package arrived first thing Friday morning. And these 6 games cost… £19.98. The games are priced at £4.99 each, but when you buy two, you get a third free. The packaging was top notch, neat and well protected with bubble wrap. So as far as delivery goes, there’s nothing really that could have been any better.
The games themselves obviously vary in quality (I’ve linked to each one I’ve reviewed so far, and will update every time I review another), but overall the quality is very good. Games such as Shogun: Total War, Pharaoh, Colin McRae’s Rally 2, Worms Armageddon, Broken Sword, & Pinball: Adventure Islands are just as playable today as on the day they were first released. There were a couple of stinkers (NASCAR 3 and Championship Manager 2 – though the latter was more annoying than actually bad), but the vast majority of these games have genuine quality. I have had one game – Homeworld - that refused to run properly after being installed, but I haven’t yet got around to emailing their technical support to see what’s wrong. If I ever do, Ill update this letting you know how good their tech support is!
Update - 09.08.04
Well, tech support turns out to be fast but not blindingly helpful. To be fair, if I hadn't sorted out the problem myself after their first attempt, they may have got there in the end. Not bad but could be better.
Update - 13.07.06
On the other hand, when I had a querry about my order (more than one querry in the end) - my fault by the way, not theres - the responses via email were extremely quick and helpful. I can now confidently say that this part of their service is second to none!
End of Updates
The installer software is very simple to use and works well, and usually contains the necessary patches – though it’s always worth checking the developer’s website to see if there’s a more up-to-date patch available.
Overall, the product is good, the delivery fast and secure, and the price excellent – what more can I say? The only reason I even thought about giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the product range is a little on the small side, but as it’s being expanded every few months anyway that didn’t seem right. If you want the very latest games ,look elsewhere and be prepared to pay a lot more. But for quality games at price that offers exceptional value for money, you can’t go wrong with Sold Out Software!
Catalogue
(This correct at time of originally writing this review, but is expanded at regular intervals.)
Special Offer
Varies
Adventure
American McGee's Alice
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Battleship 2
Original Publisher: Atari
Blood Omen 2
Original Publisher: Eidos
Broken Sword
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Evolva
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Heroes of Might & Magic 2
Original Publisher: The 3DO Company
Heroes of Might & Magic 3
Original Publisher: The 3DO Company
Project Eden
Original Publisher: Eidos
Sea Dogs
Original Publisher: Ubi Soft
Soul Reaver 2
Original Publisher: Eidos
Tomb Raider
Original Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Tomb Raider 2
Original Publisher: Eidos £ 4.99
Tomb Raider 3 - Adventures of Lara Croft
Original Publisher: Eidos
Tomb Raider Chronicles
Original Publisher: Eidos
Tomb Raider The Last Revalation
Original Publisher: Eidos
Beat ‘em Up
Mortal Kombat 4
Original Publisher: Midway
Flight Sims
Eurofighter Typhoon
Original Publisher: Rage
F/A-18E Super Hornet
Original Publisher: Titus
Flight Unlimited 2
Original Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Joint Strike Fighter
Original Publisher: Eidos
Puzzle
Archipelagos 2000
Original Publisher: Anthill Studios
Guess Who?
Original Publisher: Atari
Operation
Original Publisher: Atari
Virtual Chess 2
Original Publisher: Titus
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Original Publisher: EIDOS
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 2nd Edition
Original Publisher: Eidos
Shoot ‘em Up
Carmageddon II
Original Publisher: Sci
Carmageddon TDR 2000
Original Publisher: SCi
Codename Outbreak
Original Publisher: Virgin
Commandos 2: Men of Courage
Original Publisher: Eidos
Commandos Beyond the Call of Duty
Original Publisher: Eidos
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Original Publisher: Eidos
Deus Ex
Original Publisher: Eidos
Expendable
Original Publisher: Rage
GTA: London
Original Publisher: Take 2 Interactive
Gunman Chronicles
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Hitman: Codename 47
Original Publisher: Eidos
Incoming Forces
Original Publisher: Rage
Mobile Forces
Original Publisher: Rage
Project I.G.I.
Original Publisher: Eidos
Thief 2: The Metal Age
Original Publisher: Eidos
Thief: The Dark Project
Original Publisher: Eidos
Sports
Adventure Pinball
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Brian Lara Cricket
Original Publisher: Codemasters
Championship Manager 00/01
Original Publisher: Eidos
Championship Manager 2
Original Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Championship Manager 3
Original Publisher: Eidos
Championship Manager 96/97
Original Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Championship Manager 99-00
Original Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Colin McRae Rally
Original Publisher: Codemasters
Colin McRae Rally 2.0
Original Publisher: Codemasters
Cool Pool
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Excessive Speed
Original Publisher: Iridon
Extreme 500
Original Publisher: Ascaron
FourFourTwo - Touchline Passion
Original Publisher: SCi
Grand Prix 3 Track Pack & Editor
Original Publisher: Mavericks
Grand Prix Legends
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Jimmy White's 2: Cueball
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Jimmy White's Cueball World
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Jimmy Whites' Whirlwind Snooker
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Jonah Lomu Rugby
Original Publisher: Codemasters
Lotus Challenge
Original Publisher: Kuju
Manic Karts for Windows
Original Publisher: Sold Out Software
NASCAR Racing 3
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Need For Speed 3: Hot Pursuit
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Need for Speed: Road Challenge
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Offroad
Original Publisher: Rage
Rally Championship Extreme
Original Publisher: Activision
Screamer 4x4
Original Publisher: Ascaron
Superbike World Championship
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Supreme Snowboarding
Original Publisher: Atari
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2001
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
TOCA - Touring Car Championship
Original Publisher: Codemasters
TOCA 2
Original Publisher: Codemasters
Vegas Games 2000
Original Publisher: The 3DO Company
World Championship Snooker
Original Publisher: Codemasters
Strategy
3D Pets Vol 1 (PC Pup & Splat the Cat)
Original Publisher: Neechez
Abomination
Original Publisher: 3DO
Alpha Centauri
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Aquarium
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Army Men
Original Publisher: 3DO
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes
Original Publisher: 3DO
Army Men: World War
Original Publisher: 3DO
Caesar III
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Civilization II
Original Publisher: Atari
Command & Conquer Red Alert
Original Publisher: Electrnic Arts
Command & Conquer Tiberian Sun
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Dominion Storm
Original Publisher: Eidos
Dune 2000
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Dungeon Keeper 2
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Frontline Attack: War Over Europe
Original Publisher: Eidos
Gangsters
Original Publisher: Eidos
Gangsters 2
Original Publisher: Eidos
Heist
Original Publisher: Virgin
Homeworld
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Hooligans: Storm Over Europe
Original Publisher: Just Play
Hostile Waters
Original Publisher: Rage
Might and Magic 6
Original Publisher: The 3DO Company
Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honour
Original Publisher: The 3DO Company
Might & Magic VIII: The Day of the Destroyer
Original Publisher: The 3DO Company
Myth
Original Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Original War
Original Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Pharaoh
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Populous - The Beginning
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Rival Realms
Original Publisher: Titus
Shogun - Total War
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
SimCity 3000 UK Edition
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Spec Ops
Original Publisher: Take 2 Interactive
Theme Hospital
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Theme Park World
Original Publisher: Electronic Arts
Three Kingdoms
Original Publisher: Eidos
Total Annihilation: Kingdoms
Original Publisher: Atari
Train Town
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Warcraft
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Worms
Original Publisher: Team 17
Worms 2
Original Publisher: Team 17
Worms Armageddon
Original Publisher: Team 17
Worms United
Original Publisher: Team 17
Compilation
Army Men, Outlaw Racers & Dark Colony
Original Publisher: Various
CM2, Manic Karts & Space Clash
Original Publisher: Vivendi
Grand Theft Auto & GTA: London
Original Publisher: Take 2
Tomb Raider I & II Double Pack
Original Publisher: Eidos
Merchandise
Nothing in this section.
Recommended:
Yes
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