I'm aware of that, that's why I named them that way. Formally Space Rangers HD is the same game as old Space rangers, but there is some new content added (and I dislike it to great extent, besides I can't turn it off), so I can't name that game to be an "exact remake". 

Call it a matter of taste.

Basically:

• The Banner Saga (almost there!)
• Pillars of Eternity

Then...

I don't expect Gal Civ III for this year (I mean Gold, not alpha...). Wasteland 2 doesn't work on my current machine so no for this year for me. Some kind of Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition or so would be sweet but I don't think it will happen. Never got into Age of Wonders but willing to keep an eye on the new one. Might and Magic X has good potential but we will see. Star Command for PC would be sweet, specially after reading the last Kickstarter thread but... er... not holding my breath just in case. Dragon Age III could be interesting. Could be.

Unfortunately I already purchased the disks... i have Nvidia card, intel i5 processer, win 7.  been reading about tutu (program that runs BG1 on BG2engine), and weidu, some kind of program (ing langauge) used to install mods for BG / icewind.  looks complicated, would appreciate any solid advice...

 EDIT:  I also ask if there is any way to make a copy of the disks (in case they wear out) or make a copy of the installed game and write to a DVD so i can restore the game if I mess it up modding?

edit 2.  here is link to page i'm basing my install on.  Are these programs you used?  http://forums.gibberlings3.net/index.php?showtopic=8122

edit:  was not my intention to get off the main purpose of thread, please accept my apologies.  I do appreciate the help. 

I purchased games on disks, but all ended up with me buying them from GoG. Yes, I know the pain - several disk copies, and then digital...

If memory serves, most basic issues with functionality could be solved with choosing compatibility with earlier Windows version. Also IWD (of that I'm sure) required playing with settings, turning some effects off (something transparency related, if I'm not mistaken, otherwise some spell effect will cause enormous lag, slideshow, naturally, especially if "Spike Growth" spell is used (added in Heart of Winter for druids)). Then games became playable, to an extent. I don't remember using any third party sorftware to make then work (just work). Not sure about mods, it's been long ago.

I don't know about making copy of disk (couldn't do that when my first (and second (*sigh* and third )) became broken, but copying files to restore improper modding could be achieved simply by copying whole folder, and then restoring it completely. "But then I bought copies from GoG and forgot about that!" Sorry, couldn't resist.

I can try to check my previous PC, it still have those games installed, but it'll take some time - I'm away from it, can't reach it right now.

I could always install old version on my current PC, but it has ATI card, so experiment wouldn't be perfect.

None so I can keep working on the one I'm creating. 

Honestly

Age of Wonders 3, and GalCiv3. I'm also hoping more 4x games show up on mobile and iOS. I think it's a great device for these games even despite the limits. 

Adding to what Rudy said. I was going to suggest backwards compatibility wizard. You could also try a virtual machine, They can be free. You could try loading the recommended operating system in a virtual machine. I think you could control how much memory in a virtual machine. You could set the machine to the recommended memory this way. Personally never tried this. I usually have the other problem. Not enough hardware for the software. Last I checked Vmware player was the best free virtual machine out there. I guess if you paid for one it would be better.

You could try to back up through windows. It sometimes works. If this does not works. There is another way. You could copy the disk program per program to the computer. You should probably check the hidden files on the disk to make sure. After you do this you could change the attributes of each program on the computer. Copy of the disk in the folder. You could do this through Dos. You probably should write down which read only programs you changed the attribute so you could change this back after you copy it. I don't know how to do these things. I've seen it done before. If this is successful you've just created another write protected disk of the program that can't be copied.

I would probably recommend not to do this. I don't know, but I think this is probably illegal, so whatever you do don't do this. Also don't tell anyone I suggested this, or that I know how to do this.

Use some disk burning program (here's a link to a free one: http://www.imgburn.com/ but there are lots of alternatives) to create ISO images of your CDs.  For what you are describing (making a legitimate backup) there should be no legal issues (standard IANAL disclaimer.)

I used to do this for Baldur's Gate back in the day (and then I went further and mounted the ISOs with a virtual drive application so it wouldn't have to actually spin up the CD - but that's a bit more complicated.)

Of course, there's a time/effort factor there - it will take quite a while to create all those images, vs. the cost of re-buying it in some downloadable format.  

Steam has altered the way I look at games, sort of.  I credit Steam here because it makes obtaining so many games easier and convenient.  Plus, the sales...oy, the sales!  IMO, Steam is a factor in whey PC gaming is so strong these days.

I mean, there are games like GalCiv3 that drive me nuts with anticipation but that's partially due to the fact that there just isn't anything else like it, just a lot of pretenders that fail to deliver or games too old for me to enjoy anymore.  And I love GalCiv  For most other genres, the big budget AAA titles are just same old same old and nothing I care to buy upon release - I'll wait for the sales.  I don't need ultra linear console-influenced story-based FPS #9,998 with 15 hours of gameplay and $50+ in DLC the moment it comes out.  Quality strategy games - not so common - and where there's so little variance between linear story-based shooters there's tons of room for variance between strategy games.

The other thing is that there are SO MANY great games around these days.  I buy older AAA titles at low prices, lots of indie games, early access...steam sales are killing me - I have games piling up that I've yet to play or that I barely play - and I play PC games A LOT.  So while there are games I'm looking forward to, it's not so much likes years past where I was just burning to get something new to play - I'm perpetually overloaded as it is.  Also, in these days of tons of early access/alpha availability, I find that I anticipate that kind of thing just as much or often as I do full releases, so, for ex, I'm as excited just to get ANY access to GC3 as I am for any full release game coming soon.

I'm to the point where I just keep money in my steam wallet so there are fewer overall charges - it helps fuzzy my game purchasing habit from my wife/accountant

Anticipating:

GalCiv III alpha/beta access

Age of Wonders III

Wasteland II

Pillars of Eternity (an RPG that recaptures the spirit of BG/IWD would be GOTY for me...badly missing this style of game)

Dragon Age Inquisition (looks pretty, but looks way too consoley...we'll see)

Warlock II (guessing it'll pop in 2014)

Endless Legend

As a side note, I'm not happy with how Wasteland II's early access has been handled.  I play a bunch of early access games and support a lot of games in alpha and the way WL2 is being handled just looks insanely greedy and pig headed.  It's interesting how the devs of WL2 and SRR freed themselves of the corporate yoke via KS just to turn around and behave like anal corporate types.

I paid $100 for GC3 the moment it was announced - because it's galciv3 - something I've dreamed of for years -and because I trust Stardock to deliver (a AAA title).  If Stardock puts out the base game via early access at the base game price I will not care - my GC3 fate is sealed and I couldn't be happier.  I want to see Stardock and GC3 succeed because that means I'm enjoying great games.  I would THINK that backers of WL2 would hopefully feel the same way, and not have some petty "well I paid earlier so I need to have special treatment - screw the devs and everyone else!" attitude.

I'm not paying $60 for early access to an indie, low budget, RPG rehash no matter the pedigree of the producer, especially when the game has been community funded!  WTF.  Yes, it's optional to participate by why, in this day of low priced indie games and boatloads of them out there getting tons of sales via early access would anybody do something so incredibly stupid (the idea of not upsetting backers is ridiculous when so many other community funded games go the early access route for additional funding, and since WL2 is already behind schedule you might think getting more money now would be a good thing).

They basically make my decision very easy.  I'm not paying $60 for their game - period.  So instead of having my 25/30/whatever it is NOW where they could invest it in their game, they can wait.  Seems like a bad business decision.  Some people who are waiting may end up not purchasing - why wouldn't you want to capture sales at the earliest opportunity?

I came real close to not buying SRR due to how they handled that game, and I find it to be pretty lackluster so I could've lived without it.  The way WL2 is being handled makes me pause a bit too - sliding from sure sale to maybe I'll wait and see what people are saying after playing - due to the handling of it, weak communication thru the entire dev process, and the not so hot reports of how the game plays in alpha.  Sad because I wanted both to be amazing and there's a strong chance both will end up being mediocre.

ANYWAYS.

I guess I could include the multitudes of early access/alpha games I'm playing even though I'm already playing them.  I suppose we still anticpate their full release and them someday being a finished product.  With many of them they need a bit more love to really hit their potential, but are going well, games like:

Starbound

Factorio

Gnomoria

Craft the World

7 Days to Die

Blackguards

Grim Dawn

Horizons

I like the look of WildStar for MMORPGs but their CREDD thing (facilitated cheating - buying in-game gold for cash) makes it a no sale/no play for me - it's a huge bummer since I'm usually playing some MMORPG and the MMORPG landscape is very bleak right now (IMO).  Plus I haven't got beta access yet, which is a major strike against.  I have ESO beta and the very idea of ESO is an abomination against gaming.  My typical beta luck in action.

I've installed and uninstalled Witcher II like 4 times now - I just cannot get into it.  Every time I get a bit further and some day I may finish the tutorial (well, I finished the tutorial once and the game ridiculed me for sucking at it so badly - sad since I'm at least competent at almost every game I play).  I understand there's some learning curve with the combat and maybe it's that I hate the controls or console feel - dunno.  Trying again lately.  So while Witcher III looks pretty, it's not something I have to have immediately.  DAI looks pretty too but might be too consoley for my tastes - I keep hoping BioWare will get away from console design and get back to making real games.

Thank goodness for a strong indie scene innovating and bringing back older styles in a way the corporate clones will never do.

Spell Force 2 Demons of the Past

Divinity: Original Sin

Age of Wonders 3

Star Wars: Attack Squadrons

The Elder Scrolls Online

Dragon Age: Inqusition

Tropico 5

Chaos Chronicles (but it is in legal limbo)

Star Citizen

Demonicon

World of Warships

EvE Valkryie

Age of Decadence

Mount and Blade 2: Banner lord

Galactic civilizations 3

I want to like Star Citizen. I loved the old wing commander games and space sim games are rare now but the the economic model bothers the crap out of me. I don't like the idea of buying one of the best ships in the game instead of working up enough points for it. I donno just me. 

A couple of games

a) An indie game called Void Destroyers on Steam Greenlight

D3 Expansion - (loved playing co-op with family and friends)

c) Warhammer 40K : Storm of Vengeance

d) Dragon Age : Inquisition

e) Witcher III

f) GC III (Of course)

Where you seen those? 6 hours, tops. Maybe 7, if game is long.

If we try to distance ourselved from our preferences, what is the difference between WL2 and GC3?

Both offered "early", only GC3 offered even before it was cool alpha.

"Earlier" access costs more than "later" access. By the way, I remember Planet Annihilation WTF when I saw the price.

Basically, the only difference is that GC3 is partially "community funded" through pre-order, and WL2 funded only through KS.

And I don't really know we should call GC3 "AAA" - it doesn't look like anti-aircraft artillery those "ultra linear console-influenced story-based FPS", with celebrities on voice-over and story-line told in phrases which could be used for outro song.

Yes, I consider "AAA" to be negative meaning.

What's wrong with it? I liked first Witcher combat because it was first and only game with "QTE" I could tolerate. Not just meaningless clicky-clicky-click, but well, rhythmic clicky-clicky-click! It wasn't annoying, wasn't about click-per-minute rate, you had to pick up proper style - almost ideal controls I could imagine.

W2 gave us different combat, and even if I miss W1 combat, I got used to W2. I even like it, to an extent, even if I'm not sure it fits the Sapkowski's writing.

At least it gives better feeling of actually participating in combat that Skyrim (or any TES's) picking and poking. Not sure for Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, it was quite different.

What's Wl 2. What are the abbreviatopns for this. Is it a space game like Galactic civilizations 3.

WL 2 is waste land 2

So far looks more like "wasted" land. DUI of a sort.