After looking through the instructions for the SkyNet demo, I couldn't help but think. "Wow, this is way too complicated". So, armed with DOSBOX and WinRAR I set out to try a different way. A simple, GoG-like, one-click, ready-to-go installer. Specifically, I wanted to create a Settlers demo, which runs well under any Windows version (the main problem was actually finding an English demo version of this at all).
So, this is the first result. It's a simple WinRAR SFX and could easily be used to package other demos as well. Tell me what you think (but keep in mind that the "installer" is actually just a self extracting archive, so there's not a whole lot I can do).
Download
Sadly, the demo version includes neither music, nor the "hires" mode, so buildings are a bit bigger than they are in the full version.

Making fun in the way I setup stuff, eh? I don't have an installer program, and I thought 'well if they want to play a 10yr+ old DOS game in multiplayer, they probably already have these skills or close to 'em' ;)
I love Settlers, especially 2 - I even have the (awful) port for NDS!

No, not making fun of, it really was my first thought once I saw the description page. I just thought it would be simpler and was a bit surprised at the long list of instructions.
BTW, Settlers (even the demo!) has multiplayer, too. Although I'm not sure if the two-mice mode works in DOSBOX, but the mouse/joystick certainly does.
I'm a big fan of the first part, I don't really know why. I guess I liked the freedom that came with these large open areas, while in S2 you always had to think about where to put stuff, as the islands are usually very narrow.

Well, the first two parts are if you want to set it up on your own. The third part is for the precompiled one. It really isn't a whole lot, I just make sure its pretty idiot proof. :)
I've never played Settlers 1 sadly. :(

Ah, OK, I started reading from the top and well, aborted the mission when it looked like too much trouble. Anyway, try the demo. It doesn't have the HR mode, which his a shame, but aside from that it's almost a full version. You can basically play random matches for as long as you like.

Reading this makes me want to code better.

It makes me want to know how to code at all. It's time to start learning. I think I'll go with Python at first.

Visual Basic is easier.

But it also fosters some very, very bad coding habits. Heck, I started coding with Basic (GFA Basic to be precise) and even I can't make sense of some of the strange language constructs Microsoft has invented in order to bring C# feautres to VB.
Personally, I think Javascript is a very good language to quickly get started (I mean just the language, not necessarily the implementation in today's browsers). It teaches you the basic structure of a C-like language, but just leaving out all the complex stuff.
Take a look at this. It's a simple Javascript command line where you can just type away. There's no browser, just some very basic text I/O (type "help();" to get a list of descriptions, readline and print is what you want). Then, grab some Javascript language introduction (I'd suggest SELFHTML, because that's where I started, but that's sadly only in German).
If you want to see a (pretty obscure) example of what you can do with JSShell, just look at this mounting script. (Ignore the |!0 , it's a little C utility that works around a Windows bug that's been fixed after XP).
But there's no coding involved in this anyway, just config files.

Thanks guys, I think I'll go with Python first. I'll also look into JavaScript, as I'm currently working on a website and it could be useful as an addition to my basic xhtml and css knowledge.

I'm writing a short JS tutorial as we speak. :)

I've been looking to get into coding as well. What would you recommend for a newb? I can't read in German...

VB for wannabe Microsoft Certified Professionals, AJAX/Javascript for Web 2.0 hipsters in the Valley and CSS for web designers. Your pick.

CSS is not a programming language. It's a description language. And for god's sake, stay away from VB!!! And likewise Lingo. People who started wih these languages never learn anything else. It's a curse.
I'll just post the beginning of the tutorial and post updates as I write:
Moved here

I'd say Python is a decent starter language. There are certainly far worse choices :)
A free book, aimed at the beginner is located here.
Also, obligatory XKCD.