Are you a gamer? Do you like free things? Of course you do!

We here at the Tech Deck are just like you: poor gamers looking for cheap entertainment. And nothing's cheaper than cost-free gaming. Each week, we'll bring you a title (or two or three) you can legally play at home without plopping down a single dollar. If you see games you think we should be featuring on the blog, email us at dang@spokesman.com or kiph@spokesman.com.

We're sticking with the space-theme from last week's Star Wars game to bring you Tyrian 2000 this week, a free download from GreatOldGames.com that channels the spirit of Capcom's 1942 and other classic vertical-scrolling shooters from the arcade era. You'll download the title from the gog.com website, which requires an account with an email address. Click below for the link, then follow the download steps:

1) Create an account by clicking "Sign Up" on the top toolbar.
2) Click the green "Add to Cart" button once you're signed in.
3) Click the green "Checkout Now" button that appears in the upper right corner. You will not be charged any money.
4) Click the "Account" button on the top toolbar to access your game library.
5) Click the icon for Tyrian 2000 in your list of games.
6) Select the PC or Mac version for download, then click on the Installer.
7) Run the game on your rig. You may be prompted to turn "Enable accessibility devices" on, as you'll be hitting the space bar - a lot - which can wreak havoc on your operating system.

Go inside the blog to learn more about Tyrian 2000 and its maker, Epic Games.

Tyrian 2000 is a re-release of the original game, Tyrian, which was initially launched as shareware for the DOS operating system in 1995. A three-man team is credited for almost all the work on the game: Alexander Brandon, Jason Emery and Daniel Cook. The team sent the title to Epic MegaGames, which would become Epic Games, makers of the wildly popular Gears of War franchise and creators of the ubiquitous Unreal engine.

The game would eventually see releases on Nintendo's Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, as well as ports for the iPhone, Zune and Blackberry.

Brandon would go on to produce music for many of Epic's major releases, including several titles in the Unreal shooter franchise. He can be heard voicing the characters Ancano and Amaund Motierre. 

My favorite space shooter is Galaga, but I've yet to find a serviceable port that feels just right outside of the arcade. What sidescrolling shooters would you like to see featured in The Tech Deck? Let us know in the comments below, and check back next week for another free title.