Yes, you can ask if a game should be tried in Wine.
Yes, you can ask if a game should be tried in Wine.
The title refers to a Hot Wheels game called Beat That! The release year is around 2006 for various platforms including Wii, PS2, Windows, and a DS version. It hasn't been officially updated, so it's likely available on certain distribution sites for old games. I downloaded it from an ISO file onto my Windows PC and it works without needing the disc connected. A few notes: the game runs at low graphics settings by default, so you may need to adjust it in the settings menu. Some features feel too flashy, especially the shiny effect that doesn't match real materials. During the Attic Stage, you can see toy train sets moving along tracks. Occasionally, the game locks during events and requires you to stop play and replay them.
What are you asking about? Tested in Wine and how it works? Also, items that are no longer available don’t always mean they’re considered abandonware. Please check the definitions carefully. Abandonware refers to software where the copyright owner no longer cares about it (often leading to lack of support or possible copyright issues). The exact meaning is unclear. If you own a game, using alternatives isn’t a problem, but sharing your copy or linking won’t be permitted.
Testing to see if it works is the goal. I verified both Winedb and Lutris before sharing. Neither platform provided any details about the game. I also tested distribution sites like Steam and Gog. Not only isn’t it available there, but none of the Hot Wheels titles from before digital release exist. I located a PC version on the Internet Archive, alongside Stunt Track Driver Games. (Yes, the Archive site has a full backup of the WII U servers, though copyright violations are common.) I’m familiar with abandonware—games whose creators are no longer active, such as the PSX platformer Croc, and the path I’ve traced via Wikipedia shows: the developer Argonaut Software closed in 2004. The publisher Fox Interactive was bought by Universal in 2008, then merged with Vivendi, which was eventually acquired by Activision. All these titles still appear on GOG’s wishlist, but there’s no reply yet.
I didn’t find this game’s copy on the Internet Archive (which was allowed as a download mirror at the time) nor on the official site. That means even though the publisher isn’t listed, it can’t be labeled abandonware since the developer is still active. However, every retail listing I saw mentions Activision directly.