Computer gaming nostalgists will be able to go home again with mouse and keyboard in hand thanks to the official release of Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection for PC!

GamersGate currently have the game listed for $9.95, for a 428.81MB download file. Arcade Kollection contains versions of the original games that made the series, a perfect package for curious millineals and 2011 converts who missed the early nineties originals -- Mortal Kombat (1992), Mortal Kombat II (1993) and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995).

System requirements:
Operating system Windows Vista (32/64 bit) / Windows 7 (32/64 bit)
Processor: 2.0+ GHZ Single Core Processor (Minimum Requirements) / 3.0 GHZ Dual Core Processor (Recommended)
Memory: 1GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 3 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA 6200+ or ATI Radeon 9600+ Video Card, Shader Model 3.0 compatible, Supporting 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Minimum Requirements) / NVIDIA 7900 GS or Equivalent (Recommended)
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c

The apparent release puts to bed confused speculation about the status of a Games for Windows kollection. In December, Joystiq reported quotes from series Director and co-creator, Ed Boon, who added fuel to the fire of a possible cancellation. Arcade Kollection was released digitally in August, 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 [full story].

Dedicated members of the kommunity continue to call for a PC release for Mortal Kombat -- the award winning 2011 game that rebooted the franchise. The last time the series produced a new game for PC platforms was Mortal Kombat 4, in 1998. Warner Brothers Games and NetherRealm Studios have not shown interest in pursuing a PC alternative to the immensely successful console title.

[MK4] received mixed reviews for its similar PlayStation and PC arcade ports, which were anecdotally unprofitable for then series owners, Midway Games. In 2002, Midway Marketing staff, David Tokheim and Randy Severin, told Mortal Kombat Online that PC versions had notoriously failed to return cost, resulting in an absence on computer from Deadly Alliance, onward.

Franchise rival, Street Fighter IV, has enjoyed a noteworthy foray into the traditionally small fighting game market on PC. A bouyant addition to Steam saw the game a top seller on its release, in July 2009 [via Kotaku]. With arcade versions developed using Taito Type X systems, Capcom's unlikely PC release may have been precipitated by existing technologies, the Taito system noted for using existing Windows XP components, a unique advantage.

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection is expected to join the Steam store soon. Update: MKAK is now on Steam and 15% off, to boot! Mortal Kombat Online will keep PC gamers up to date on developments. Discuss your feelings about MK on PC on the forums, and follow @MK_Online for more.