Windowed games, multiple instances

[APTYP]

Does anyone find the ability to run a game in a window instead of a full-screen mode useful?

And did anyone ever run more than one copy of a game at the same time? Was the game ready for this?

 

[Revolver]

I've been trying to get some old games (dos based, like Rise of the Dragon) to run in windowed mode so that I could browse the Internet while I played without Alt-tabbing and also take screenshots with prtscr, but couldn't, as it either maximizes or minimizes.

 

[victor]

Some games can run in Software mode, which means that they run in a window. UT2004 can, for example. Check the game settings.

 

[APTYP]

I know. That wasn't the question. The question was, did you ever use that feature?

 

[alec]

I HAD to use it with Deus Ex. I bought a budget version of the game a month or two ago, and for some strange reason I was only able to play it in windowed mode. Never used it otherwise.

 

[Roshambo]

I like the windowed modes on some games, especially the Spiderweb games. They allow me to work on a project while the game is running in the background, and every so often I'll play through a bit more as a break. I think that explains why I'm just now getting through to Geneforge's ending, slower than the Avernum series. I always liked Vogel's work for the ability to play while doing other things and in not having to use a fullscreen mode.

In today's environ, I would seriously be on the lookout for more windowed or window capable games becoming feasable to play in such a manner, as they are getting quite popular. I believe the browser-based games and Flash games might have kept this alive and gave it a boost from the Windows 3.1 period of the windowed games boom.

As for multiple game instances, those are fun to play around with, like Fallout.