From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 1 11:01:53 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:01:53 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] [Monthly SIG Roundup] December 2008 Message-ID: <49340A71.3050204@aarmstrong.org> December has us rolling along with the white paper , and the GDC Preservation SIG round table announced, hooray! Preservation SIG Updates Our first white paper titled "Before It's Too Late: A Digital Game Preservation White Paper " has been started, we're still looking for contributions, especially on the topic of case studies where the lack of preservation has hurt developers. Opinions on the white paper are also welcome, if something seems missing. The Internet Archive has a new collection of Let's Play videos with help from the Let's Play Archive - thanks to baldurk the site admin for his generous help. There are many up already, so check them out :) Other Internet Archive uploads I've done have centred on the vast array of intros and cutscene files from games. Age of Empires II , Assassins Creed , Battlefield 2 , Call of Duty 4 , Call of Duty: United Offensive and Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior . Yes, most of these are pretty new games (ones I had easy access too) - so if you have any more intros, cutscenes or in-game footage that isn't in the archive already, please contact us so we can get it online :) December Preservation SIG Work We've got the white paper ongoing, and I also intend to finish updating some of the memorials pages which we've left for a few months due to work. If you know of any missing memorials not in our collection we'd love to hear from you at memorials -at- igda.org Finally, I hope with my sorting of the IA's videogame collections icons, I can also do something about the SIG's lack of one. We've now got a very nice Memorials icon so it'd be a shame if the SIG as a whole doesn't have one. Ideas welcome and I'll post up any prototypes (is that the right artistic term?) if I do some. Mailing List Discussions If you've not joined our mailing list , please do so. We've never tried using our forums it seems :) we stick to old-fangled email. In November we have had discussions on the aforementioned case study white paper research , some notes on Google shutting down lively , a brand new Memorials icon and also some ideas for a SIG icon (which still needs doing as I've noted above), and also my visit to the National Videogame Archive . Preservation SIG Blog Updates / Links /Have I missed anything this month? Then email it in to preservation_news @ igda.org !/ I'm afraid as of making this newsletter something is up on the IGDA.org site, and I can't access the Preservation Blog front page. I'll update the wiki entry with the November entries as soon as I can access it. Final Thoughts White paper work is ongoing, wish us luck doing it before our set deadline :) and Happy Christmas from your site/blog editor! Ho ho ho! Andrew Armstrong IGDA Game Preservation SIG Site/Blog editor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From evilcowclone at gmail.com Mon Dec 1 19:06:22 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 17:06:22 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] [Monthly SIG Roundup] December 2008 In-Reply-To: <49340A71.3050204@aarmstrong.org> References: <49340A71.3050204@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: Cool updates, Andrew! I will have to get my part of the paper done before Christmas as I JUST got my tickets to Japan (Dec 26-Jan 16). If it comes down ot it, I may be able to help edit Section 3 while I'm in Japan, but I expect to get most of it done the next two weeks (I ALSO have to get my paper done for Albuquerque!). Also, we are allowed to upload videos to Internet Archive of intros and trailers? I thought some companies didn't like uploading footage for legal purposes (Squaresoft, for instance, will sue anyone who tries to distribute FF cutscenes). On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 9:01 AM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > December has us rolling along with the white paper, > and the GDC Preservation SIG round table announced, hooray! Preservation > SIG Updates > > Our first white paper titled "Before It's Too Late: A Digital Game > Preservation White Paper" > has been started, we're still looking for contributions, especially on the > topic of case studies where the lack of preservation has hurt developers. > Opinions on the white paper are also welcome, if something seems missing. > > The Internet Archive has a new collection of Let's Playvideos with help from the Let's > Play Archive - thanks to baldurk the > site admin for his generous help. There are many up already, so check them > out :) > > > Other Internet Archive uploads I've done have centred on the vast array of > intros and cutscene files from games. Age of Empires II, > Assassins Creed, > Battlefield 2 , Call > of Duty 4 , Call of > Duty: United Offensiveand Warhammer > 40,000: Fire Warrior. > Yes, most of these are pretty new games (ones I had easy access too) - so if > you have any more intros, cutscenes or in-game footage that isn't in the > archive already, please contact us so we can get it online :) > December Preservation SIG Work > > We've got the white paperongoing, and I also intend to finish updating some of the memorials pages > which we've left for a few months due to work. If you know of any missing > memorials not in our collection we'd love to hear from you at memorials -at- > igda.org > > Finally, I hope with my sorting of the IA's videogame collections icons, I > can also do something about the SIG's lack of one. We've now got a very nice > Memorials icon so it'd be a shame if the SIG as a whole doesn't have one. > Ideas welcome and I'll post up any prototypes (is that the right artistic > term?) if I do some. > Mailing List Discussions > > If you've not joined our mailing list, > please do so. We've never tried using our forums it seems :) we stick to > old-fangled email. In November we have had discussions on the aforementioned > case study white paper research, > some notes on Google shutting down lively, > a brand new Memorials iconand also some ideas for a SIG > icon(which still needs doing as I've noted above), and also my visit to the National > Videogame Archive. > > Preservation SIG Blog Updates / Links > > *Have I missed anything this month? Then email it in to preservation_news > @ igda.org !* > > I'm afraid as of making this newsletter something is up on the IGDA.org > site, and I can't access the Preservation Blog front page. I'll update the wiki > entrywith the November entries as soon as I can access it. > Final Thoughts > > White paper work is ongoing, wish us luck doing it before our set > deadline :) and Happy Christmas from your site/blog editor! > > Ho ho ho! > > Andrew Armstrong > > IGDA Game Preservation SIG Site/Blog editor > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 1 19:24:04 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:24:04 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] [Monthly SIG Roundup] December 2008 In-Reply-To: References: <49340A71.3050204@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49348024.9010703@aarmstrong.org> Okay to keep it short (deleting 4 paragraphs of stuff) I take the stance that the IA will at least be able to dark archive any material I upload, it's the public facing bit a company might take issue with. If they do, despite the fact it's dubious if captured footage could be considered any kind of infringement or that it is even damaging (it's not like you're able to play the game) it'll be dark archived I guess. Pretty simple, lucky we haven't got any Final Fantasy material, eh Squaresoft? (crazy guys I think! I saw Video Games Live, and it had fanart for the Final Fantasy sections!) So, send anything you have in! More the merrier, the very small amount of companies who'd take issue with archiving of their game material can be dealt with in a case by case basis. This is kinda what the IA does already, according to this nice discussion where Brewster Khale explains how the IA operates with legality and archiving material (with Henry being a slight opponent of this). Good luck on writing your white paper material, I know I need to crack on with mine too. Andrew Devin Monnens wrote: > Cool updates, Andrew! I will have to get my part of the paper done > before Christmas as I JUST got my tickets to Japan (Dec 26-Jan 16). If > it comes down ot it, I may be able to help edit Section 3 while I'm in > Japan, but I expect to get most of it done the next two weeks (I ALSO > have to get my paper done for Albuquerque!). > > Also, we are allowed to upload videos to Internet Archive of intros > and trailers? I thought some companies didn't like uploading footage > for legal purposes (Squaresoft, for instance, will sue anyone who > tries to distribute FF cutscenes). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 1 20:27:42 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:27:42 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> Okay, here we go, my pixel-art creative skill pushed to it's limits. I've put up some concepts for 2 of them (since I can't be bothered to do more just now) the Diskette (3.5" floppy) and Pixel Man + Belljar. http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/ There's all my iterations of the idea - the "better" belljar is better because the other one didn't scale down well (the sides of the jar disappear!), but I think the better one needs the "top" sorted. The disks were pretty simple and do stand out well. The variation of IGDA swirl and a possible "P" for "Preservation" is there, but can be altered - we could put our entire name there if the lettering looked good enough at smaller resolutions. I also made a mistake on the diskette I just realised, the label is one pixel too small on the right side, oops! Pixel art does work well though, it's nice and distinct and retro-y. I'm game for doing more - anyone have more specific examples? I did want to do a joystick, but I don't know exactly what Devin means by "Generic Joystick" (I can give it a shot of course). As for Vectrex stuff etc., I've no idea what any of the good stuff looks like. Source pictures welcome! If anyone is better at pixel art and so can do better then me, or has any feedback, it's welcome - I think "P" works well for "Preservation". I'm also only looking at the icon at the moment, I suggest that we have an icon then put next to it "IGDA Game Preservation SIG" in a suitable font (possibly using the IGDA font to keep it simple). Andrew Henry Lowood wrote: > It's possible that some product icons might be available for our use. > I'm thinking, for example, of the old Epyx "thinker". Also, I believe > that anything connected to Vectrex is in public domain, and there > might be some cool images there. But it's probably also true that > something generic, not tied to a product or company, would be a better > expression of the SIG's goals anyway. > Another thought, something that ties the idea of an archive to games, > like (copyrights aside), dropping Pac-Man into a storage box -- hmm, > that's horrible, but you get what I mean. > > Like Andrew, don't count on me for graphics ... > > Henry > > > > Devin Monnens wrote: >> You know, I photoshopped a bunch of videogame icons in bell jars for >> business cards a few years back when I did a presentation on game >> preservation. I can dig some of those up when I get off work. The >> thing to keep in mind though is that the Space Invader is copyrighted >> by Taito... So a joystick or even a generic pixel man might be better. >> >> I'm thinking though that our icon should be similar to others used by >> IGDA SIGs. I'll forward this to my brother as well as he's in graphic >> design; maybe he's got some ideas :) >> >> -Devin >> >> On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 11:18 AM, Andrew Armstrong >> > wrote: >> >> I'm not too good on visual ideas or I wouldn't ask, I'd suggest ;) >> >> Bell jar, awesome, I remember those, hehe. Atari Joysticks are >> pretty classic too as an icon, as is a space invader. >> >> The featherduster/dust, perhaps not, since I really don't think >> this is a dusty group of old people doing this ;-) >> >> I'll try and think of some ideas. We do kinda need an artist for >> this, but I can try my leet GIMP skills at editing some >> photographs or pixel art to try these ideas. Full photographs >> wouldn't be a great idea I think, if we really want a true icon. >> >> Could put the icon on the right of the classic IGDA swirl or have >> the swirl as the background or incorporated somehow if anyone has >> any ideas on that angle. >> >> Andrew >> >> >> ommail at cox.net wrote: >>> Hi All. >>> >>> I know I'm the new guy, but I just wanted to throw out some >>> ideas...get the creative juices flowing... >>> >>> Andrew is right--text with the IGDA logo is boring. A graphic would >>> be preferrable. I think that having a theme focusing on the words >>> 'game' and 'preservation' should be followed: >>> a space invader inside a bell jar? >>> a 5.25 disk with a cobweb, and a featherduster? >>> An open vault door, with atari joysticks spilling out? >>> >>> Do any of these have any merit? >>> (sorry--just musing...) >>> >>> Joe >>> >>> ---- Andrew Armstrong >>> wrote: >>>> Hey all, >>>> >>>> My last newsletter got me thinking - if we're publicising anything >>>> (and the IGDA is being updated eventually, we hope to a better >>>> setup) we really need something to easily display who we are. Most >>>> of the other SIG's have a good icon, perhaps we need one too. >>>> >>>> Anyone here have any ideas what it should be? Anyone here able to >>>> put a design forward? >>>> >>>> Here are the other SIG's that I could find, all of them are varied >>>> in their design. >>>> >>>> http://igda.org/education/img/Topc.jpg >>>> http://www.igda.org/wiki/images/9/9a/SIG_Logo1_small_text.jpg >>>> http://www.igda.org/mobile/images/header.gif >>>> http://www.igda.org/qa/images/QASIG.jpg >>>> http://www.igda.org/women/images/header_new01.jpg >>>> http://gwsig.quantumcontent.com/images/personalheader.jpg >>>> >>>> If we're going to be boring, doing it as the mobile guys have (some >>>> text next to the standard IGDA header) would probably work. I'd be >>>> also interested if anyone has any theme ideas for colour schemes or >>>> site layouts - I'm beta testing the new IGDA site and will >>>> investigate what we can change (and complain a lot if we can't, >>>> since I want to make a site at least as good as the QA site! >>>> ) >>>> >>>> If no one comes forwards, I'll put forward my own ideas, although >>>> since I'm no graphic artist, it'll be of limited imagination and >>>> competence :) >>>> >>>> Thanks all, >>>> >>>> Andrew >> >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> >> >> >> >> -- >> The sleep of Reason produces monsters. >> >> "Until next time..." >> Captain Commando >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > From stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com Mon Dec 1 21:05:09 2008 From: stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com (Stuart Feldhamer) Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 21:05:09 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <493497da.12025a0a.40a2.61fe@mx.google.com> You need a better model for your disk : ) I don't think I've met the 3.5 inch disk yet where the sliding thing didn't go all the way to the bottom of the disk. Not to mention that you're missing the write protect tab and the diagonal notch on the bottom left (oh wait, I just did). Anyway, if you are going to use a disk, I would suggest a 5.25 inch one. Stuart > -----Original Message----- > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 8:28 PM > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > Cc: Aiden Monnens > Subject: Re: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme > > Okay, here we go, my pixel-art creative skill pushed to it's limits. > I've put up some concepts for 2 of them (since I can't be bothered to > do > more just now) the Diskette (3.5" floppy) and Pixel Man + Belljar. > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/ > > There's all my iterations of the idea - the "better" belljar is better > because the other one didn't scale down well (the sides of the jar > disappear!), but I think the better one needs the "top" sorted. The > disks were pretty simple and do stand out well. The variation of IGDA > swirl and a possible "P" for "Preservation" is there, but can be > altered > - we could put our entire name there if the lettering looked good > enough > at smaller resolutions. > > I also made a mistake on the diskette I just realised, the label is one > pixel too small on the right side, oops! Pixel art does work well > though, it's nice and distinct and retro-y. > > I'm game for doing more - anyone have more specific examples? I did > want > to do a joystick, but I don't know exactly what Devin means by "Generic > Joystick" (I can give it a shot of course). As for Vectrex stuff etc., > I've no idea what any of the good stuff looks like. Source pictures > welcome! > > If anyone is better at pixel art and so can do better then me, or has > any feedback, it's welcome - I think "P" works well for "Preservation". > I'm also only looking at the icon at the moment, I suggest that we have > an icon then put next to it "IGDA Game Preservation SIG" in a suitable > font (possibly using the IGDA font to keep it simple). > > Andrew > > Henry Lowood wrote: > > It's possible that some product icons might be available for our use. > > I'm thinking, for example, of the old Epyx "thinker". Also, I believe > > that anything connected to Vectrex is in public domain, and there > > might be some cool images there. But it's probably also true that > > something generic, not tied to a product or company, would be a > better > > expression of the SIG's goals anyway. > > Another thought, something that ties the idea of an archive to games, > > like (copyrights aside), dropping Pac-Man into a storage box -- hmm, > > that's horrible, but you get what I mean. > > > > Like Andrew, don't count on me for graphics ... > > > > Henry > > > > > > > > Devin Monnens wrote: > >> You know, I photoshopped a bunch of videogame icons in bell jars for > >> business cards a few years back when I did a presentation on game > >> preservation. I can dig some of those up when I get off work. The > >> thing to keep in mind though is that the Space Invader is > copyrighted > >> by Taito... So a joystick or even a generic pixel man might be > better. > >> > >> I'm thinking though that our icon should be similar to others used > by > >> IGDA SIGs. I'll forward this to my brother as well as he's in > graphic > >> design; maybe he's got some ideas :) > >> > >> -Devin > >> > >> On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 11:18 AM, Andrew Armstrong > >> > wrote: > >> > >> I'm not too good on visual ideas or I wouldn't ask, I'd suggest ;) > >> > >> Bell jar, awesome, I remember those, hehe. Atari Joysticks are > >> pretty classic too as an icon, as is a space invader. > >> > >> The featherduster/dust, perhaps not, since I really don't think > >> this is a dusty group of old people doing this ;-) > >> > >> I'll try and think of some ideas. We do kinda need an artist for > >> this, but I can try my leet GIMP skills at editing some > >> photographs or pixel art to try these ideas. Full photographs > >> wouldn't be a great idea I think, if we really want a true icon. > >> > >> Could put the icon on the right of the classic IGDA swirl or have > >> the swirl as the background or incorporated somehow if anyone has > >> any ideas on that angle. > >> > >> Andrew > >> > >> > >> ommail at cox.net wrote: > >>> Hi All. > >>> > >>> I know I'm the new guy, but I just wanted to throw out some > >>> ideas...get the creative juices flowing... > >>> > >>> Andrew is right--text with the IGDA logo is boring. A graphic would > >>> be preferrable. I think that having a theme focusing on the words > >>> 'game' and 'preservation' should be followed: > >>> a space invader inside a bell jar? > >>> a 5.25 disk with a cobweb, and a featherduster? > >>> An open vault door, with atari joysticks spilling out? > >>> > >>> Do any of these have any merit? > >>> (sorry--just musing...) > >>> > >>> Joe > >>> > >>> ---- Andrew Armstrong > >>> wrote: > >>>> Hey all, > >>>> > >>>> My last newsletter got me thinking - if we're publicising anything > >>>> (and the IGDA is being updated eventually, we hope to a better > >>>> setup) we really need something to easily display who we are. Most > >>>> of the other SIG's have a good icon, perhaps we need one too. > >>>> > >>>> Anyone here have any ideas what it should be? Anyone here able to > >>>> put a design forward? > >>>> > >>>> Here are the other SIG's that I could find, all of them are varied > >>>> in their design. > >>>> > >>>> http://igda.org/education/img/Topc.jpg > >>>> http://www.igda.org/wiki/images/9/9a/SIG_Logo1_small_text.jpg > >>>> http://www.igda.org/mobile/images/header.gif > >>>> http://www.igda.org/qa/images/QASIG.jpg > >>>> http://www.igda.org/women/images/header_new01.jpg > >>>> http://gwsig.quantumcontent.com/images/personalheader.jpg > >>>> > >>>> If we're going to be boring, doing it as the mobile guys have > (some > >>>> text next to the standard IGDA header) would probably work. I'd be > >>>> also interested if anyone has any theme ideas for colour schemes > or > >>>> site layouts - I'm beta testing the new IGDA site and will > >>>> investigate what we can change (and complain a lot if we can't, > >>>> since I want to make a site at least as good as the QA site! > >>>> ) > >>>> > >>>> If no one comes forwards, I'll put forward my own ideas, although > >>>> since I'm no graphic artist, it'll be of limited imagination and > >>>> competence :) > >>>> > >>>> Thanks all, > >>>> > >>>> Andrew > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> game_preservation mailing list > >> game_preservation at igda.org > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > >> > >> "Until next time..." > >> Captain Commando > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> game_preservation mailing list > >> game_preservation at igda.org > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation From evilcowclone at gmail.com Mon Dec 1 21:28:43 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 19:28:43 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493497da.12025a0a.40a2.61fe@mx.google.com> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <493497da.12025a0a.40a2.61fe@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Yeah, 5.25" floppies are endangered! The problem of digital decay could be described by having the pixels at the bottom of the disk deteriorate (even include a cracked bell jar). That's not our logo though, but it could be an image for the White Paper or some other diagram. On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 7:05 PM, Stuart Feldhamer wrote: > You need a better model for your disk : ) I don't think I've met the 3.5 > inch disk yet where the sliding thing didn't go all the way to the bottom > of > the disk. Not to mention that you're missing the write protect tab and the > diagonal notch on the bottom left (oh wait, I just did). > > Anyway, if you are going to use a disk, I would suggest a 5.25 inch one. > > Stuart > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > > Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 8:28 PM > > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > > Cc: Aiden Monnens > > Subject: Re: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme > > > > Okay, here we go, my pixel-art creative skill pushed to it's limits. > > I've put up some concepts for 2 of them (since I can't be bothered to > > do > > more just now) the Diskette (3.5" floppy) and Pixel Man + Belljar. > > > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/ > > > > There's all my iterations of the idea - the "better" belljar is better > > because the other one didn't scale down well (the sides of the jar > > disappear!), but I think the better one needs the "top" sorted. The > > disks were pretty simple and do stand out well. The variation of IGDA > > swirl and a possible "P" for "Preservation" is there, but can be > > altered > > - we could put our entire name there if the lettering looked good > > enough > > at smaller resolutions. > > > > I also made a mistake on the diskette I just realised, the label is one > > pixel too small on the right side, oops! Pixel art does work well > > though, it's nice and distinct and retro-y. > > > > I'm game for doing more - anyone have more specific examples? I did > > want > > to do a joystick, but I don't know exactly what Devin means by "Generic > > Joystick" (I can give it a shot of course). As for Vectrex stuff etc., > > I've no idea what any of the good stuff looks like. Source pictures > > welcome! > > > > If anyone is better at pixel art and so can do better then me, or has > > any feedback, it's welcome - I think "P" works well for "Preservation". > > I'm also only looking at the icon at the moment, I suggest that we have > > an icon then put next to it "IGDA Game Preservation SIG" in a suitable > > font (possibly using the IGDA font to keep it simple). > > > > Andrew > > > > Henry Lowood wrote: > > > It's possible that some product icons might be available for our use. > > > I'm thinking, for example, of the old Epyx "thinker". Also, I believe > > > that anything connected to Vectrex is in public domain, and there > > > might be some cool images there. But it's probably also true that > > > something generic, not tied to a product or company, would be a > > better > > > expression of the SIG's goals anyway. > > > Another thought, something that ties the idea of an archive to games, > > > like (copyrights aside), dropping Pac-Man into a storage box -- hmm, > > > that's horrible, but you get what I mean. > > > > > > Like Andrew, don't count on me for graphics ... > > > > > > Henry > > > > > > > > > > > > Devin Monnens wrote: > > >> You know, I photoshopped a bunch of videogame icons in bell jars for > > >> business cards a few years back when I did a presentation on game > > >> preservation. I can dig some of those up when I get off work. The > > >> thing to keep in mind though is that the Space Invader is > > copyrighted > > >> by Taito... So a joystick or even a generic pixel man might be > > better. > > >> > > >> I'm thinking though that our icon should be similar to others used > > by > > >> IGDA SIGs. I'll forward this to my brother as well as he's in > > graphic > > >> design; maybe he's got some ideas :) > > >> > > >> -Devin > > >> > > >> On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 11:18 AM, Andrew Armstrong > > >> > wrote: > > >> > > >> I'm not too good on visual ideas or I wouldn't ask, I'd suggest ;) > > >> > > >> Bell jar, awesome, I remember those, hehe. Atari Joysticks are > > >> pretty classic too as an icon, as is a space invader. > > >> > > >> The featherduster/dust, perhaps not, since I really don't think > > >> this is a dusty group of old people doing this ;-) > > >> > > >> I'll try and think of some ideas. We do kinda need an artist for > > >> this, but I can try my leet GIMP skills at editing some > > >> photographs or pixel art to try these ideas. Full photographs > > >> wouldn't be a great idea I think, if we really want a true icon. > > >> > > >> Could put the icon on the right of the classic IGDA swirl or have > > >> the swirl as the background or incorporated somehow if anyone has > > >> any ideas on that angle. > > >> > > >> Andrew > > >> > > >> > > >> ommail at cox.net wrote: > > >>> Hi All. > > >>> > > >>> I know I'm the new guy, but I just wanted to throw out some > > >>> ideas...get the creative juices flowing... > > >>> > > >>> Andrew is right--text with the IGDA logo is boring. A graphic would > > >>> be preferrable. I think that having a theme focusing on the words > > >>> 'game' and 'preservation' should be followed: > > >>> a space invader inside a bell jar? > > >>> a 5.25 disk with a cobweb, and a featherduster? > > >>> An open vault door, with atari joysticks spilling out? > > >>> > > >>> Do any of these have any merit? > > >>> (sorry--just musing...) > > >>> > > >>> Joe > > >>> > > >>> ---- Andrew Armstrong > > >>> wrote: > > >>>> Hey all, > > >>>> > > >>>> My last newsletter got me thinking - if we're publicising anything > > >>>> (and the IGDA is being updated eventually, we hope to a better > > >>>> setup) we really need something to easily display who we are. Most > > >>>> of the other SIG's have a good icon, perhaps we need one too. > > >>>> > > >>>> Anyone here have any ideas what it should be? Anyone here able to > > >>>> put a design forward? > > >>>> > > >>>> Here are the other SIG's that I could find, all of them are varied > > >>>> in their design. > > >>>> > > >>>> http://igda.org/education/img/Topc.jpg > > >>>> http://www.igda.org/wiki/images/9/9a/SIG_Logo1_small_text.jpg > > >>>> http://www.igda.org/mobile/images/header.gif > > >>>> http://www.igda.org/qa/images/QASIG.jpg > > >>>> http://www.igda.org/women/images/header_new01.jpg > > >>>> http://gwsig.quantumcontent.com/images/personalheader.jpg > > >>>> > > >>>> If we're going to be boring, doing it as the mobile guys have > > (some > > >>>> text next to the standard IGDA header) would probably work. I'd be > > >>>> also interested if anyone has any theme ideas for colour schemes > > or > > >>>> site layouts - I'm beta testing the new IGDA site and will > > >>>> investigate what we can change (and complain a lot if we can't, > > >>>> since I want to make a site at least as good as the QA site! > > >>>> ) > > >>>> > > >>>> If no one comes forwards, I'll put forward my own ideas, although > > >>>> since I'm no graphic artist, it'll be of limited imagination and > > >>>> competence :) > > >>>> > > >>>> Thanks all, > > >>>> > > >>>> Andrew > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> game_preservation mailing list > > >> game_preservation at igda.org > > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > > >> > > >> "Until next time..." > > >> Captain Commando > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ---- > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> game_preservation mailing list > > >> game_preservation at igda.org > > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From trixter at oldskool.org Mon Dec 1 22:05:27 2008 From: trixter at oldskool.org (Jim Leonard) Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:05:27 -0600 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Okay, here we go, my pixel-art creative skill pushed to it's limits. > I've put up some concepts for 2 of them (since I can't be bothered to do > more just now) the Diskette (3.5" floppy) and Pixel Man + Belljar. My vote goes to http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+3.png.html (although I'd like the diskette tightened up a bit -- slidecover is in the wrong place :-) -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/ From andrew at aarmstrong.org Tue Dec 2 04:20:41 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:20:41 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> Message-ID: <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> Okay, so the slide cover - I'll do a copy with the "full thing". I used this as a source btw: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Floppy_disk_300_dpi.jpg Adding in the "disk protect" and making the slide thing go down to the bottom might not look too good since I wanted to keep the pixels large so it scaled down well, we'll see how it goes. As for a 5.25 one, I guess I can do one of those. I wanted to do a monochrome image (which might not work too well for the 5.25"), but I'll see what I can come up with (just remember the label is that much smaller sadly) I'll use this as a source: http://img.tfd.com/cde/FLOPPY.GIF Any other requests? (joysticks? any source pictures?) And if the pixel-man isn't any good, any ideas for a better one? Andrew From andrew at aarmstrong.org Tue Dec 2 07:31:58 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:31:58 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> Here's some more. 3.5" (fixed label and metal cover): http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+4.png.html http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+5.png.html 5.25" (black and grey varieties): http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+5+inch+floppy+1.png.html http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+5+inch+floppy+2.png.html Anything can be changed on them, these are only mockups. I did 20x20 pixels for the disks. I'll try a joystick later, and perhaps try and think of some more ideas - I'm not sure what screams "old videogame" that is recognisable though (any ideas?). I do agree the swirl on the label looks better then a P and the object covering the swirl so I didn't bother with that for the 5.25" disks. Andrew From andrew at aarmstrong.org Tue Dec 2 08:07:16 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:07:16 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> +Some pixel text of my own doing (thus the wierd canvas, but at least my copy and paste worked) http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Text+bigger.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1 This means I don't have to go finding a free one. Preservation is a rather long word too, heh. I'll try and source what font the IGDA logo uses from Jason so I can try out that text too. Andrew Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Here's some more. > > 3.5" (fixed label and metal cover): > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+4.png.html > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+5.png.html > > > 5.25" (black and grey varieties): > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+5+inch+floppy+1.png.html > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+5+inch+floppy+2.png.html > > > Anything can be changed on them, these are only mockups. I did 20x20 > pixels for the disks. I'll try a joystick later, and perhaps try and > think of some more ideas - I'm not sure what screams "old videogame" > that is recognisable though (any ideas?). I do agree the swirl on the > label looks better then a P and the object covering the swirl so I > didn't bother with that for the 5.25" disks. > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation From evilcowclone at gmail.com Tue Dec 2 19:41:41 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 17:41:41 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: I like the vector bell jar as it's easier to tell what it is. I think we should see how it looks with a knob at the top. I think you could just vectorize the 5.25" floppy and see how that looks. The joystick would be a stylized gamepad or joystick. The joystick would probably be a classic red-knob with a button and would probably have to be 3/4 view. The advantage of the disk is it shows that these are the most volatile and most in dire need of preservation. The controller seems more in line with the concept of 'videogames', as anybody sees a red-knob joystick, they immediately know what it's for (same with a gamepad, but the joystick is retro). The disk or the controller could easily fit in a wider bell jar. There were also the sample jars that I sent Andrew with the classic game characters inside. Here are other jar designs: BRAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNSSSS (yeah, professional, I know :P) http://pro.corbis.com/images/MME082.jpg?size=572&uid={7F805585-0EAB-4FF5-B309-D814F9C92DA1} And here's the screw-top lid that seems more common today: http://static.flickr.com/36/83869604_ce0d645ec6.jpg Here's a wide bell jar: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415TY98Z2SL._SL500_AA280_.jpg On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 6:07 AM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > +Some pixel text of my own doing (thus the wierd canvas, but at least my > copy and paste worked) > > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Text+bigger.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1 > > This means I don't have to go finding a free one. Preservation is a rather > long word too, heh. I'll try and source what font the IGDA logo uses from > Jason so I can try out that text too. > > Andrew > > > Andrew Armstrong wrote: > >> Here's some more. >> >> 3.5" (fixed label and metal cover): >> >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+4.png.html >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+diskette+5.png.html >> >> 5.25" (black and grey varieties): >> >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+5+inch+floppy+1.png.html >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/pres+sig+logo+5+inch+floppy+2.png.html >> >> Anything can be changed on them, these are only mockups. I did 20x20 >> pixels for the disks. I'll try a joystick later, and perhaps try and think >> of some more ideas - I'm not sure what screams "old videogame" that is >> recognisable though (any ideas?). I do agree the swirl on the label looks >> better then a P and the object covering the swirl so I didn't bother with >> that for the 5.25" disks. >> >> Andrew >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Wed Dec 3 11:17:30 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:17:30 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> Hmm, I didn't get any source pictures from you...how odd. These will do though. I'll amend my current design a bit perhaps, maybe later today. I however can't vectorize anything, I'm having enough trouble with just pixel art! Anyone know how to do vector art with the GIMP or some other free tool? A nice vectored image would be cool (although for some piccies losing the retro pixel feel). Joystick, here's my attempt (IGDA swirl on there too, hehe): http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/atari+joypad+40x40+v2.png.html Looks a little crummy, but I keep saying I'm no artist ;) (any higher resolution and I'd also not want to do it, this took long enough) - what do people think of this kind of joystick? I might be able to clean up some of the perspective errors too (the bottom of the stick is a bit odd) if this one looks "okay". Andrew Devin Monnens wrote: > I like the vector bell jar as it's easier to tell what it is. I think > we should see how it looks with a knob at the top. > > I think you could just vectorize the 5.25" floppy and see how that looks. > > The joystick would be a stylized gamepad or joystick. The joystick > would probably be a classic red-knob with a button and would probably > have to be 3/4 view. > > The advantage of the disk is it shows that these are the most volatile > and most in dire need of preservation. The controller seems more in > line with the concept of 'videogames', as anybody sees a red-knob > joystick, they immediately know what it's for (same with a gamepad, > but the joystick is retro). > > The disk or the controller could easily fit in a wider bell jar. There > were also the sample jars that I sent Andrew with the classic game > characters inside. Here are other jar designs: > > BRAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNSSSS (yeah, professional, I know :P) > > http://pro.corbis.com/images/MME082.jpg?size=572&uid={7F805585-0EAB-4FF5-B309-D814F9C92DA1} > > > And here's the screw-top lid that seems more common today: > > http://static.flickr.com/36/83869604_ce0d645ec6.jpg > > Here's a wide bell jar: > > http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415TY98Z2SL._SL500_AA280_.jpg From andrew at aarmstrong.org Wed Dec 3 11:48:32 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:48:32 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> Just quickly did this, I think the text I made was a bit too wide possibly, here a possibility using square capital letters: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Text+with+diskette.png.html Andrew From lowood at stanford.edu Wed Dec 3 12:51:53 2008 From: lowood at stanford.edu (Henry Lowood) Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:51:53 -0800 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> Andrew, Wow, a lot of work here. I like this last one as a banner. Is the idea that the diskette by itself would serve as a logo? My only critical thought is that as a logo it might look more like a television set to some people. The joystick is more iconic as a stand-alone logo. Henry Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Just quickly did this, I think the text I made was a bit too wide > possibly, here a possibility using square capital letters: > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Text+with+diskette.png.html > > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation -- Henry Lowood, Ph.D. Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; Film & Media Collections HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall Stanford University Libraries Stanford CA 94305-6004 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Wed Dec 3 12:53:10 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:53:10 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> Nah, I just used that with the text as an example placeholder (it could be anything), it was the first one I grabbed out of all the icons and is more an example of the text format and layout. Andrew Henry Lowood wrote: > Andrew, > > Wow, a lot of work here. I like this last one as a banner. Is the > idea that the diskette by itself would serve as a logo? My only > critical thought is that as a logo it might look more like a > television set to some people. The joystick is more iconic as a > stand-alone logo. > > Henry > > Andrew Armstrong wrote: >> Just quickly did this, I think the text I made was a bit too wide >> possibly, here a possibility using square capital letters: >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Text+with+diskette.png.html >> >> >> Andrew >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > -- > Henry Lowood, Ph.D. > Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; > Film & Media Collections > HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall > Stanford University Libraries > Stanford CA 94305-6004 > 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From evilcowclone at gmail.com Sat Dec 6 11:09:06 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 09:09:06 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] Found new resources! Message-ID: The main thing I was looking for was a forum entry made a few years back about the Playstation Musuem or Playstation preservation projects. It was a discussion about preserving discs and how some beta discs had decayed already due to poor quality discs. Does anyone have a link to this? I was going to use it for the Whitepaper. However, I found some other cool things: I located a paper created by the University of Technology in Vienna. It is VERY long and detailed and an excellent resource. It was made in October 2007. However, they don't appear to be aware of many existing preservation projects, so this statement is only partially true: "Currently no official preservation projects for console video games are known.No government institutions are responsible for the preservation of console video games. Manufacturers are not responsible for making sure that their products are preserved either. As the video game business is very unstable, companies are going out of business all the time and material valuable for preservation gets lost. With the legal situation concerning emulation it is not possible to digitally preserve video games using emulators and copying media to di erent physical layers without the manufacturers agreement. Awareness has to be raised at the manufacturers of console video game systems and console video games to reach agreements about how to preserve their work. 89" There is no mention of Computerspiele Museum or the Internet Archive among other projects. http://www.ifs.tuwien.ac.at/~becker/pubs/guttenbrunner_games2007.pdf I also found this really cool site: http://www.unseen64.net/ -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Sat Dec 6 15:15:40 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:15:40 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] What Happens To Code From Failed Projects? Message-ID: <493ADD6C.1000705@aarmstrong.org> Slashdot has a vaguely preservation related topic; http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/12/06/1431227 This was an interesting response: "When EA shut down Earth & Beyond, there were the typical calls for the server software to be released. Amazingly enough, they actually did get a response: that the code for the backend of an MMO represents a huge investment by a company, and that they (EA) would not release the code for two basic reasons. One, access to the code (source, libraries, decompilable libraries, whatever) for a fully functional MMO would be a huge leg-up for competitors attempting to enter the field. Two, the code represents a base that can be used for other projects, and releasing a version of that base could be a liability to those future projects. For those two reasons, the chances of EA in any way supporting community-run servers would be nil. Not stellar news (nor surprising), but the one pseudo-official response I have ever actually seen. And it does make sense, to me at least." I don't know of the game myself, so is news to me (but what I'd expect none-the-less). Some of the other comments also have videogame related responses (the original question was prompted by Tabula Rasa shutting down). There is no one answer, which makes it all the better discussion to read through, although there are not many "great" comments - it is Slashdot after all :) One option should always be to release the code to a dark archive, certainly something to look at in the future to advocate once some institutions are setup well for it and can give them some PR for doing it :) Andrew From lowood at stanford.edu Sat Dec 6 19:43:49 2008 From: lowood at stanford.edu (Henry Lowood) Date: Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:43:49 -0800 Subject: [game_preservation] What Happens To Code From Failed Projects? In-Reply-To: <493ADD6C.1000705@aarmstrong.org> References: <493ADD6C.1000705@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <493B1C45.4010701@stanford.edu> Frank Cifaldi would be a guy to address this; he collects games that were never completed, as I understand it. Henry Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Slashdot has a vaguely preservation related topic; > http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/12/06/1431227 > > This was an interesting response: > > "When EA shut down Earth & Beyond, there were the typical calls for > the server software to be released. Amazingly enough, they actually > did get a response: that the code for the backend of an MMO represents > a huge investment by a company, and that they (EA) would not release > the code for two basic reasons. One, access to the code (source, > libraries, decompilable libraries, whatever) for a fully functional > MMO would be a huge leg-up for competitors attempting to enter the > field. Two, the code represents a base that can be used for other > projects, and releasing a version of that base could be a liability to > those future projects. For those two reasons, the chances of EA in any > way supporting community-run servers would be nil. > > Not stellar news (nor surprising), but the one pseudo-official > response I have ever actually seen. And it does make sense, to me at > least." > > I don't know of the game myself, so is news to me (but what I'd expect > none-the-less). Some of the other comments also have videogame related > responses (the original question was prompted by Tabula Rasa shutting > down). There is no one answer, which makes it all the better > discussion to read through, although there are not many "great" > comments - it is Slashdot after all :) > > One option should always be to release the code to a dark archive, > certainly something to look at in the future to advocate once some > institutions are setup well for it and can give them some PR for doing > it :) > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation -- Henry Lowood Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; Film & Media Collections HRG, Green Library 557 Escondido Mall, Stanford University Libraries Stanford CA 94305-6004 USA http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood lowood at stanford.edu; 650-723-4602 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Sat Dec 6 20:01:25 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:01:25 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] What Happens To Code From Failed Projects? In-Reply-To: <493B1C45.4010701@stanford.edu> References: <493ADD6C.1000705@aarmstrong.org> <493B1C45.4010701@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <493B2065.50202@aarmstrong.org> Well, I guess there are people who do (and this guy, neat, I should so see what he's doing), the problem is, most companies currently never under any circumstance will allow code from incomplete games to be released :( I can see some valid points for not releasing it, but much of the time entire games are just "lost", and of course, many games go live (MMO's) and die (MMO's) without any way to play them any more (which to me, I think entirely sucks!). Andrew Henry Lowood wrote: > Frank Cifaldi would be a guy to address this; he collects games that > were never completed, as I understand it. > > Henry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 8 11:12:58 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:12:58 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> Any more thoughts on this topic? I know my designs are not great, but I've yet to get feedback on any of the recent ones. Thanks! Andrew From lowood at stanford.edu Mon Dec 8 13:39:40 2008 From: lowood at stanford.edu (Henry Lowood) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:39:40 -0800 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> Andrew, I sent a comment about what I thought was the latest suite of images. Hast there been an update? Henry Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Any more thoughts on this topic? I know my designs are not great, but > I've yet to get feedback on any of the recent ones. > > Thanks! > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation -- Henry Lowood, Ph.D. Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; Film & Media Collections HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall Stanford University Libraries Stanford CA 94305-6004 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 8 13:57:15 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:57:15 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> Well, like I replied - the diskette is just a placeholder on the banner, and otherwise, well, I hoped others would put some thoughts in :) thanks for the thoughts on the general stuff being good though. I can change the diskette thing to something else on the banner (like the joystick) if you'd like to see it that way :D I don't have any more ideas until I get more feedback on the joystick I did or the pixel art text, or the diskettes I've created various iterations of, or whatever. All here btw: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/ I can do some more belljar stuff if Devin wants too :) I just need an appropriate thing (eg; the joystick) to put in it, so sorting that first is key since then I can make an appropriately sized one to match (using the examples Devin provided) Andrew Henry Lowood wrote: > Andrew, > > I sent a comment about what I thought was the latest suite of images. > Hast there been an update? > > Henry > > Andrew Armstrong wrote: >> Any more thoughts on this topic? I know my designs are not great, but >> I've yet to get feedback on any of the recent ones. >> >> Thanks! >> >> Andrew >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > -- > Henry Lowood, Ph.D. > Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; > Film & Media Collections > HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall > Stanford University Libraries > Stanford CA 94305-6004 > 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lowood at stanford.edu Mon Dec 8 14:15:06 2008 From: lowood at stanford.edu (Henry Lowood) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:15:06 -0800 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <493D723A.4060603@stanford.edu> Here is my vote then: 1st choice. Joystick 2d choice. The 3.5 floppy you have in the banner. 3d choice. The 5 floppy that is black (the second image in the list). Except: Why is the center a cross? But I only get one vote ... Henry Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Well, like I replied - the diskette is just a placeholder on the > banner, and otherwise, well, I hoped others would put some thoughts in > :) thanks for the thoughts on the general stuff being good though. > > I can change the diskette thing to something else on the banner (like > the joystick) if you'd like to see it that way :D I don't have any > more ideas until I get more feedback on the joystick I did or the > pixel art text, or the diskettes I've created various iterations of, > or whatever. > > All here btw: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/ > > I can do some more belljar stuff if Devin wants too :) I just need an > appropriate thing (eg; the joystick) to put in it, so sorting that > first is key since then I can make an appropriately sized one to match > (using the examples Devin provided) > > Andrew > > Henry Lowood wrote: >> Andrew, >> >> I sent a comment about what I thought was the latest suite of >> images. Hast there been an update? >> >> Henry >> >> Andrew Armstrong wrote: >>> Any more thoughts on this topic? I know my designs are not great, >>> but I've yet to get feedback on any of the recent ones. >>> >>> Thanks! >>> >>> Andrew >>> _______________________________________________ >>> game_preservation mailing list >>> game_preservation at igda.org >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> >> -- >> Henry Lowood, Ph.D. >> Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; >> Film & Media Collections >> HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall >> Stanford University Libraries >> Stanford CA 94305-6004 >> 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- Henry Lowood, Ph.D. Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; Film & Media Collections HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall Stanford University Libraries Stanford CA 94305-6004 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 8 15:28:33 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:28:33 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D723A.4060603@stanford.edu> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> <493D723A.4060603@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <493D8371.1070903@aarmstrong.org> I can do other pictures if anyone has any ideas. I'm glad you like the joystick :) only person to comment on it so far. The cross? It's meant to be a circle. I did 20x20 pixel images, doing circles for that is hard, I can up the pixels to do a better circle though. That's why I did a grey one, since it allowed me to do a better circle :) I can redo the black 5" floppy though. Andrew Henry Lowood wrote: > Here is my vote then: > > 1st choice. Joystick > 2d choice. The 3.5 floppy you have in the banner. > 3d choice. The 5 floppy that is black (the second image in the list). > Except: Why is the center a cross? > > But I only get one vote ... > > Henry -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lowood at stanford.edu Mon Dec 8 16:38:58 2008 From: lowood at stanford.edu (Henry Lowood) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:38:58 -0800 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D8371.1070903@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> <493D723A.4060603@stanford.edu> <493D8371.1070903@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <493D93F2.5040100@stanford.edu> We obviously need a vector graphics version ... Henry Andrew Armstrong wrote: > I can do other pictures if anyone has any ideas. I'm glad you like the > joystick :) only person to comment on it so far. > > The cross? It's meant to be a circle. I did 20x20 pixel images, doing > circles for that is hard, I can up the pixels to do a better circle > though. > > That's why I did a grey one, since it allowed me to do a better circle > :) I can redo the black 5" floppy though. > > Andrew > > Henry Lowood wrote: >> Here is my vote then: >> >> 1st choice. Joystick >> 2d choice. The 3.5 floppy you have in the banner. >> 3d choice. The 5 floppy that is black (the second image in the >> list). Except: Why is the center a cross? >> >> But I only get one vote ... >> >> Henry > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- Henry Lowood, Ph.D. Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; Film & Media Collections HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall Stanford University Libraries Stanford CA 94305-6004 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 8 17:04:53 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:04:53 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D93F2.5040100@stanford.edu> References: <20081107131304.V4Y03.23653.imail@eastrmwml49> <49148688.3060103@aarmstrong.org> <49148E62.8050906@stanford.edu> <49348F0E.1050605@aarmstrong.org> <4934A5F7.3070708@oldskool.org> <4934FDE9.5090501@aarmstrong.org> <49352ABE.1000106@aarmstrong.org> <49353304.1010703@aarmstrong.org> <4936B11A.2090305@aarmstrong.org> <4936B860.3040702@aarmstrong.org> <4936C739.7050604@stanford.edu> <4936C786.9060904@aarmstrong.org> <493D478A.6060605@aarmstrong.org> <493D69EC.9090205@stanford.edu> <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> <493D723A.4060603@stanford.edu> <493D8371.1070903@aarmstrong.org> <493D93F2.5040100@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <493D9A05.7030909@aarmstrong.org> Yeah, I've no idea how to do that with only the GIMP available to me that I have much knowledge of. If anyone has an free or cheap program to do the final icon in, it'd be much appreciated :) Andrew Henry Lowood wrote: > We obviously need a vector graphics version ... > > Henry > > Andrew Armstrong wrote: >> I can do other pictures if anyone has any ideas. I'm glad you like >> the joystick :) only person to comment on it so far. >> >> The cross? It's meant to be a circle. I did 20x20 pixel images, doing >> circles for that is hard, I can up the pixels to do a better circle >> though. >> >> That's why I did a grey one, since it allowed me to do a better >> circle :) I can redo the black 5" floppy though. >> >> Andrew >> >> Henry Lowood wrote: >>> Here is my vote then: >>> >>> 1st choice. Joystick >>> 2d choice. The 3.5 floppy you have in the banner. >>> 3d choice. The 5 floppy that is black (the second image in the >>> list). Except: Why is the center a cross? >>> >>> But I only get one vote ... >>> >>> Henry >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> > > -- > Henry Lowood, Ph.D. > Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; > Film & Media Collections > HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall > Stanford University Libraries > Stanford CA 94305-6004 > 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ommail at cox.net Mon Dec 8 18:12:47 2008 From: ommail at cox.net (ommail at cox.net) Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 18:12:47 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D9A05.7030909@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> My vote is for the joystick--a very generic, and easily recognizable graphic that represents old games very well. Will it be in a glass dome? Joe ---- Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Yeah, I've no idea how to do that with only the GIMP available to me > that I have much knowledge of. If anyone has an free or cheap program to > do the final icon in, it'd be much appreciated :) > > Andrew > > Henry Lowood wrote: > > We obviously need a vector graphics version ... > > > > Henry > > > > Andrew Armstrong wrote: > >> I can do other pictures if anyone has any ideas. I'm glad you like > >> the joystick :) only person to comment on it so far. > >> > >> The cross? It's meant to be a circle. I did 20x20 pixel images, doing > >> circles for that is hard, I can up the pixels to do a better circle > >> though. > >> > >> That's why I did a grey one, since it allowed me to do a better > >> circle :) I can redo the black 5" floppy though. > >> > >> Andrew > >> > >> Henry Lowood wrote: > >>> Here is my vote then: > >>> > >>> 1st choice. Joystick > >>> 2d choice. The 3.5 floppy you have in the banner. > >>> 3d choice. The 5 floppy that is black (the second image in the > >>> list). Except: Why is the center a cross? > >>> > >>> But I only get one vote ... > >>> > >>> Henry > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> game_preservation mailing list > >> game_preservation at igda.org > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > >> > > > > -- > > Henry Lowood, Ph.D. > > Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; > > Film & Media Collections > > HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall > > Stanford University Libraries > > Stanford CA 94305-6004 > > 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > From ommail at cox.net Mon Dec 8 18:17:29 2008 From: ommail at cox.net (ommail at cox.net) Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 18:17:29 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493D6E0B.3010807@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <20081208181729.EWNU4.461294.imail@eastrmwml40> Hi again. To be clear, I think that the joystick image should be in the belljar--I think the [pres sig logo belljar.png] is best. The bit-mapped version of the joystick is also my preference--it gives an air of 'early graphics' Just my 2 cents (pence, yen, etc.) Excellent work, Andrew! Joe ---- Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Well, like I replied - the diskette is just a placeholder on the banner, > and otherwise, well, I hoped others would put some thoughts in :) thanks > for the thoughts on the general stuff being good though. > > I can change the diskette thing to something else on the banner (like > the joystick) if you'd like to see it that way :D I don't have any more > ideas until I get more feedback on the joystick I did or the pixel art > text, or the diskettes I've created various iterations of, or whatever. > > All here btw: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/ > > I can do some more belljar stuff if Devin wants too :) I just need an > appropriate thing (eg; the joystick) to put in it, so sorting that first > is key since then I can make an appropriately sized one to match (using > the examples Devin provided) > > Andrew > > Henry Lowood wrote: > > Andrew, > > > > I sent a comment about what I thought was the latest suite of images. > > Hast there been an update? > > > > Henry > > > > Andrew Armstrong wrote: > >> Any more thoughts on this topic? I know my designs are not great, but > >> I've yet to get feedback on any of the recent ones. > >> > >> Thanks! > >> > >> Andrew > >> _______________________________________________ > >> game_preservation mailing list > >> game_preservation at igda.org > >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > > -- > > Henry Lowood, Ph.D. > > Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections; > > Film & Media Collections > > HRG, Green Library, 557 Escondido Mall > > Stanford University Libraries > > Stanford CA 94305-6004 > > 650-723-4602; lowood at stanford.edu; http://www.stanford.edu/~lowood > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 8 18:52:33 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:52:33 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> References: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> Message-ID: <493DB341.60906@aarmstrong.org> I'll get one in a glass dome bell jar thing tomorrow - it'll be a rough bell jar, since once I find some vector graphics thing I can redo the graphics much more nicely. Andrew ommail at cox.net wrote: > My vote is for the joystick--a very generic, and easily recognizable graphic that represents old games very well. > > Will it be in a glass dome? > > Joe > ---- Andrew Armstrong wrote: > >> Yeah, I've no idea how to do that with only the GIMP available to me >> that I have much knowledge of. If anyone has an free or cheap program to >> do the final icon in, it'd be much appreciated :) >> >> Andrew From evilcowclone at gmail.com Mon Dec 8 21:06:31 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 19:06:31 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <493DB341.60906@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> <493DB341.60906@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: Yeah, my picks pretty much reflect Henry's with joystick in a (vector) bell jar as no. 1. The 3.5" disk has become very iconic as well, even though the 5.25" is in greater danger. The Atari joystick is also very iconic because it represents such a wide range of games, especially classic ones (C64 and Amiga also had one and two-button joysticks), while the floppy diskette references 'saving a file' and is not specific to games. -Devin On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 4:52 PM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > I'll get one in a glass dome bell jar thing tomorrow - it'll be a rough > bell jar, since once I find some vector graphics thing I can redo the > graphics much more nicely. > > Andrew > > ommail at cox.net wrote: > >> My vote is for the joystick--a very generic, and easily recognizable >> graphic that represents old games very well. >> >> Will it be in a glass dome? >> >> Joe >> ---- Andrew Armstrong wrote: >> >>> Yeah, I've no idea how to do that with only the GIMP available to me that >>> I have much knowledge of. If anyone has an free or cheap program to do the >>> final icon in, it'd be much appreciated :) >>> >>> Andrew >>> >> _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From evilcowclone at gmail.com Fri Dec 12 22:49:18 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:49:18 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] Video Game Collector Magazine Message-ID: Posting this to the general list. Anybody have a copy of Video Game Collector #10? They've got an article here on bit rot and protecting games from it: http://www.wizardworld.com/ch-videogamerupdate.html -Devin -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com Sun Dec 14 12:28:39 2008 From: stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com (Stuart Feldhamer) Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:28:39 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] Video Game Collector Magazine In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49454248.0609c00a.6142.5c2d@mx.google.com> If anyone has contact info for someone who works on this magazine, please let me know. Way back when, I bought a "deluxe package" from then which included all of their back issues plus a 4 issue subscription. I got the back issues, but never got the new issues, or I would have issue 10. : ( Stuart From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Devin Monnens Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 10:49 PM To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG Subject: [game_preservation] Video Game Collector Magazine Posting this to the general list. Anybody have a copy of Video Game Collector #10? They've got an article here on bit rot and protecting games from it: http://www.wizardworld.com/ch-videogamerupdate.html -Devin -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 15 20:27:53 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:27:53 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: References: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> <493DB341.60906@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49470419.5030701@aarmstrong.org> I do intend to get on the SIG Icon and Theme if I didn't have computer troubles right now. Also still wanting to know about vector stuff if anyone has some info handy ;) (I'll check around myself before I do the icons though). In any case, I'll also figure out some colour schemes too. I'm thinking if I can edit some theme colours, something more unique (if not better) then the IGDA's Red / White / Yellow (which is nice, but not too unique) would be neat. Ideas for this welcome, I'll have to see what kind of colours look good together and inspire the "old stuff" feeling (although since Nintendo changed their logo, I guess "Red is old" :) ). Andrew From evilcowclone at gmail.com Mon Dec 15 20:30:49 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:30:49 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: <49470419.5030701@aarmstrong.org> References: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> <493DB341.60906@aarmstrong.org> <49470419.5030701@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: Wasn't Nintendo's logo originally blue? I think they changed it to red for the US, but with the Wii, they're switching it back. On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 6:27 PM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > I do intend to get on the SIG Icon and Theme if I didn't have computer > troubles right now. > > Also still wanting to know about vector stuff if anyone has some info handy > ;) (I'll check around myself before I do the icons though). > > In any case, I'll also figure out some colour schemes too. I'm thinking if > I can edit some theme colours, something more unique (if not better) then > the IGDA's Red / White / Yellow (which is nice, but not too unique) would be > neat. Ideas for this welcome, I'll have to see what kind of colours look > good together and inspire the "old stuff" feeling (although since Nintendo > changed their logo, I guess "Red is old" :) ). > > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 15 20:34:43 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:34:43 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme In-Reply-To: References: <20081208181247.TWML5.461203.imail@eastrmwml40> <493DB341.60906@aarmstrong.org> <49470419.5030701@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <494705B3.7040400@aarmstrong.org> :P http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nintendo.svg It officially got changed to Grey recently, hehe. It was Blue it seems before though, didn't know that: http://www.metroid2002.com/version_differences_nintendo_logo.php Better look to using Red and Blue in the theme then ;) Andrew Devin Monnens wrote: > Wasn't Nintendo's logo originally blue? I think they changed it to red > for the US, but with the Wii, they're switching it back. > > On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 6:27 PM, Andrew Armstrong > > wrote: > > I do intend to get on the SIG Icon and Theme if I didn't have > computer troubles right now. > > Also still wanting to know about vector stuff if anyone has some > info handy ;) (I'll check around myself before I do the icons though). > > In any case, I'll also figure out some colour schemes too. I'm > thinking if I can edit some theme colours, something more unique > (if not better) then the IGDA's Red / White / Yellow (which is > nice, but not too unique) would be neat. Ideas for this welcome, > I'll have to see what kind of colours look good together and > inspire the "old stuff" feeling (although since Nintendo changed > their logo, I guess "Red is old" :) ). > > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > > > -- > The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > > "Until next time..." > Captain Commando > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Sun Dec 21 14:19:19 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:19:19 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar Message-ID: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> Okay, I got some time and also found Inkscape to do a proper SVG icon. I've done it at 64x64, so it should scale okay (and also isn't entirely square really). PNG at a better size: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick.png.html Original SVG (which should have the layers and stuff even if you want to edit it, although the Joystick is not there right, or something...I'll redo it correctly if this is the final icon): http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/d/11463-1/Belljar+over+Joystick.svg I altered the joystick colours a bit (might redo them with a darker grey again) and the belljar is entirely new, so needs some feedback - colour (taken from the IGDA logo), actual appearance, etc. Also; as a bonus, the glass is actually see-through which you'll find if you check ;) Thoughts? Andrew From evilcowclone at gmail.com Sun Dec 21 16:22:41 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:22:41 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar In-Reply-To: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> References: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: Ok, colors look good. I'm beginning to think that a handle atop the bell jar does not look that great. You can make the jar glass a little bit thicker and add a light reflection (you can use the light gray from the joystick to keep with the 8-bit profile). Otherwise, the colors look good and the curve of the jar looks good. The IGDA logo on the joystick base is nice. However, people who don't know what the IGDA logo is will be confused about the logo on the base. -Devin On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 12:19 PM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Okay, I got some time and also found Inkscape to do a proper SVG icon. I've > done it at 64x64, so it should scale okay (and also isn't entirely square > really). > > PNG at a better size: > > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick.png.html > > Original SVG (which should have the layers and stuff even if you want to > edit it, although the Joystick is not there right, or something...I'll redo > it correctly if this is the final icon): > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/d/11463-1/Belljar+over+Joystick.svg > > I altered the joystick colours a bit (might redo them with a darker grey > again) and the belljar is entirely new, so needs some feedback - colour > (taken from the IGDA logo), actual appearance, etc. > > Also; as a bonus, the glass is actually see-through which you'll find if > you check ;) > > Thoughts? > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From evilcowclone at gmail.com Sun Dec 21 16:27:21 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:27:21 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar In-Reply-To: References: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: Er, I also want to add that the perspective is really weird - makes it look like a Zelda NES dungeon! On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM, Devin Monnens wrote: > Ok, colors look good. I'm beginning to think that a handle atop the bell > jar does not look that great. > > You can make the jar glass a little bit thicker and add a light reflection > (you can use the light gray from the joystick to keep with the 8-bit > profile). > > Otherwise, the colors look good and the curve of the jar looks good. The > IGDA logo on the joystick base is nice. However, people who don't know what > the IGDA logo is will be confused about the logo on the base. > > -Devin > > > On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 12:19 PM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > >> Okay, I got some time and also found Inkscape to do a proper SVG icon. >> I've done it at 64x64, so it should scale okay (and also isn't entirely >> square really). >> >> PNG at a better size: >> >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick.png.html >> >> Original SVG (which should have the layers and stuff even if you want to >> edit it, although the Joystick is not there right, or something...I'll redo >> it correctly if this is the final icon): >> >> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/d/11463-1/Belljar+over+Joystick.svg >> >> I altered the joystick colours a bit (might redo them with a darker grey >> again) and the belljar is entirely new, so needs some feedback - colour >> (taken from the IGDA logo), actual appearance, etc. >> >> Also; as a bonus, the glass is actually see-through which you'll find if >> you check ;) >> >> Thoughts? >> >> Andrew >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> > > > > -- > The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > > "Until next time..." > Captain Commando > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Sun Dec 21 18:54:58 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:54:58 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar In-Reply-To: References: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <494ED752.6040400@aarmstrong.org> Yeah, perspective isn't my strong point. Pixel art is *hard* and I'm no artist :) but the NES look is good :D I'll redo the top holding handle / add a reflect (and maybe do a different grey for the joystick) a bit sometime tonight or tomorrow, and the IGDA logo - well, if people don't know what it is, they wouldn't know what it is in any of the other logos for other SIGs :) - we'll have text next to it too in most cases. I'll do up the basic font I did previously in TrueType form for the logo text too, I just couldn't be bothered to investigate it today, heh. Andrew Devin Monnens wrote: > Er, I also want to add that the perspective is really weird - makes it > look like a Zelda NES dungeon! > > On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM, Devin Monnens > wrote: > > Ok, colors look good. I'm beginning to think that a handle atop > the bell jar does not look that great. > > You can make the jar glass a little bit thicker and add a light > reflection (you can use the light gray from the joystick to keep > with the 8-bit profile). > > Otherwise, the colors look good and the curve of the jar looks > good. The IGDA logo on the joystick base is nice. However, people > who don't know what the IGDA logo is will be confused about the > logo on the base. > > -Devin > > > On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 12:19 PM, Andrew Armstrong > > wrote: > > Okay, I got some time and also found Inkscape to do a proper > SVG icon. I've done it at 64x64, so it should scale okay (and > also isn't entirely square really). > > PNG at a better size: > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick.png.html > > Original SVG (which should have the layers and stuff even if > you want to edit it, although the Joystick is not there right, > or something...I'll redo it correctly if this is the final icon): > > http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/d/11463-1/Belljar+over+Joystick.svg > > I altered the joystick colours a bit (might redo them with a > darker grey again) and the belljar is entirely new, so needs > some feedback - colour (taken from the IGDA logo), actual > appearance, etc. > > Also; as a bonus, the glass is actually see-through which > you'll find if you check ;) > > Thoughts? > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > > > -- > The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > > "Until next time..." > Captain Commando > > > > > -- > The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > > "Until next time..." > Captain Commando > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From evilcowclone at gmail.com Sun Dec 21 20:05:56 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:05:56 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar In-Reply-To: <494ED752.6040400@aarmstrong.org> References: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> <494ED752.6040400@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: Ok. Well if you can get it done by tomorrow, then I should have more than enough time to print out my cards. But hey, I just manually edited the logo and put it on my card, so it's 'good enough' if it comes to that. I'm still finalizing printing setup. On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 4:54 PM, Andrew Armstrong wrote: > Yeah, perspective isn't my strong point. Pixel art is *hard* and I'm no > artist :) but the NES look is good :D > > I'll redo the top holding handle / add a reflect (and maybe do a different > grey for the joystick) a bit sometime tonight or tomorrow, and the IGDA logo > - well, if people don't know what it is, they wouldn't know what it is in > any of the other logos for other SIGs :) - we'll have text next to it too in > most cases. > > I'll do up the basic font I did previously in TrueType form for the logo > text too, I just couldn't be bothered to investigate it today, heh. > > Andrew > > Devin Monnens wrote: > > Er, I also want to add that the perspective is really weird - makes it look > like a Zelda NES dungeon! > > On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM, Devin Monnens wrote: > >> Ok, colors look good. I'm beginning to think that a handle atop the bell >> jar does not look that great. >> >> You can make the jar glass a little bit thicker and add a light reflection >> (you can use the light gray from the joystick to keep with the 8-bit >> profile). >> >> Otherwise, the colors look good and the curve of the jar looks good. The >> IGDA logo on the joystick base is nice. However, people who don't know what >> the IGDA logo is will be confused about the logo on the base. >> >> -Devin >> >> On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 12:19 PM, Andrew Armstrong > > wrote: >> >>> Okay, I got some time and also found Inkscape to do a proper SVG icon. >>> I've done it at 64x64, so it should scale okay (and also isn't entirely >>> square really). >>> >>> PNG at a better size: >>> >>> >>> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick.png.html >>> >>> Original SVG (which should have the layers and stuff even if you want to >>> edit it, although the Joystick is not there right, or something...I'll redo >>> it correctly if this is the final icon): >>> >>> http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/d/11463-1/Belljar+over+Joystick.svg >>> >>> I altered the joystick colours a bit (might redo them with a darker grey >>> again) and the belljar is entirely new, so needs some feedback - colour >>> (taken from the IGDA logo), actual appearance, etc. >>> >>> Also; as a bonus, the glass is actually see-through which you'll find if >>> you check ;) >>> >>> Thoughts? >>> >>> Andrew >>> _______________________________________________ >>> game_preservation mailing list >>> game_preservation at igda.org >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> The sleep of Reason produces monsters. >> >> "Until next time..." >> Captain Commando >> > > > > -- > The sleep of Reason produces monsters. > > "Until next time..." > Captain Commando > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing listgame_preservation at igda.orghttp://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Sun Dec 21 21:23:09 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:23:09 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar In-Reply-To: References: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> <494ED752.6040400@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <494EFA0D.6060206@aarmstrong.org> Belljar and joystick v2: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick+v2.png.html SVG updated: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick.svg.html Added the "shine", altered the joystick colours (darker grey), and redid the top part which is now round(er). criticism welcome, I am happy to redo it from scratch if prompted! As for fonts, I tried FontForge, and couldn't get it into "bitmap mode" on my installation. Le sigh. I found a good free alternative, with more characters too: http://www.dafont.com/visitor.font http://www.aenigmafonts.com/fonts/fontsv.html (his original site). Free to use for anything which is great. Here's a mockup banner: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Banner+with+text+test.png.html (Actual text content, spacing and whatnot can be changed of course!) Andrew From andrew at aarmstrong.org Mon Dec 22 22:26:15 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:26:15 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies Message-ID: <49505A57.9040108@aarmstrong.org> I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development studios, just shut shop: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to-face-financial-trouble I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a list of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, to see if there is a good list already available :) Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of getting information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free Radical (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - there's not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some final interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very reliable after a while. Andrew From mike at multimedia.cx Mon Dec 22 22:33:26 2008 From: mike at multimedia.cx (Mike Melanson) Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:33:26 -0800 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies In-Reply-To: <49505A57.9040108@aarmstrong.org> References: <49505A57.9040108@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49505C06.1010207@multimedia.cx> Andrew Armstrong wrote: > I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a list > of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, > to see if there is a good list already available :) SNK 4 Lyfe! http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/11/05/ -- -Mike Melanson From stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com Mon Dec 22 23:41:27 2008 From: stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com (Stuart Feldhamer) Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:41:27 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies In-Reply-To: <49505A57.9040108@aarmstrong.org> References: <49505A57.9040108@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49506bf8.c401be0a.67bd.ffffc4d3@mx.google.com> I think this would be a very long list... Stuart > -----Original Message----- > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies > > I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it > more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development > studios, just shut shop: > http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- > face-financial-trouble > > I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a > list > of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, > to see if there is a good list already available :) > > Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of > getting > information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free > Radical > (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an > archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then > whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are > everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of > course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - > there's > not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at > least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge > site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. > > Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in > contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working > there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some > final > interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be > caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very > reliable after a while. > > Andrew > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation From hughfalk at mindspring.com Tue Dec 23 12:58:31 2008 From: hughfalk at mindspring.com (hughfalk at mindspring.com) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:58:31 -0500 (EST) Subject: [game_preservation] game_preservation Digest, Vol 34, Issue 13 Message-ID: <5350157.1230055112454.JavaMail.root@mswamui-bichon.atl.sa.earthlink.net> It would at least somewhat resemble this classic reference, which everybody here should be familiar with: http://www.dadgum.com/giantlist/list.html -----Original Message----- >From: game_preservation-request at igda.org >Sent: Dec 23, 2008 12:01 PM >To: game_preservation at igda.org >Subject: game_preservation Digest, Vol 34, Issue 13 > >Send game_preservation mailing list submissions to > game_preservation at igda.org > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > game_preservation-request at igda.org > >You can reach the person managing the list at > game_preservation-owner at igda.org > >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >than "Re: Contents of game_preservation digest..." > > >Today's Topics: > > 1. Project idea; List of closed companies (Andrew Armstrong) > 2. Re: Project idea; List of closed companies (Mike Melanson) > 3. Re: Project idea; List of closed companies (Stuart Feldhamer) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:26:15 +0000 >From: Andrew Armstrong >Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies >To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG >Message-ID: <49505A57.9040108 at aarmstrong.org> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it >more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development >studios, just shut shop: >http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to-face-financial-trouble > >I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a list >of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, >to see if there is a good list already available :) > >Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of getting >information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free Radical >(and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an >archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then >whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are >everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of >course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - there's >not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at >least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge >site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. > >Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in >contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working >there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some final >interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be >caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very >reliable after a while. > >Andrew > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 2 >Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:33:26 -0800 >From: Mike Melanson >Subject: Re: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed > companies >To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG >Message-ID: <49505C06.1010207 at multimedia.cx> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >Andrew Armstrong wrote: >> I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a list >> of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, >> to see if there is a good list already available :) > >SNK 4 Lyfe! > >http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/11/05/ > >-- > -Mike Melanson > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 3 >Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:41:27 -0500 >From: "Stuart Feldhamer" >Subject: Re: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed > companies >To: "'IGDA Game Preservation SIG'" >Message-ID: <49506bf8.c401be0a.67bd.ffffc4d3 at mx.google.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >I think this would be a very long list... > >Stuart > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- >> bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong >> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM >> To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG >> Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies >> >> I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it >> more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development >> studios, just shut shop: >> http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- >> face-financial-trouble >> >> I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a >> list >> of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, >> to see if there is a good list already available :) >> >> Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of >> getting >> information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free >> Radical >> (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an >> archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then >> whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are >> everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of >> course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - >> there's >> not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at >> least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge >> site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. >> >> Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in >> contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working >> there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some >> final >> interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be >> caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very >> reliable after a while. >> >> Andrew >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > >------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >game_preservation mailing list >game_preservation at igda.org >http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > >End of game_preservation Digest, Vol 34, Issue 13 >************************************************* From ommail at cox.net Tue Dec 23 13:20:33 2008 From: ommail at cox.net (ommail at cox.net) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:20:33 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies In-Reply-To: <49506bf8.c401be0a.67bd.ffffc4d3@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <20081223132033.DTPKQ.157249.imail@eastrmwml43> I agree with Stuart--a very long list indeed... But not 'un-do-able'. The tragedy here is something that Andrew only touched upon--the loss of the development information. While the Internet Archive Wayback Machine captures the company web page (thanks, Henry), their data does not always survive...and there is currently not a lot that can be done about that--due to a number of reasons. My experience with being part of 'Project Technosaur' (the Origin Archive) Team last summer at EA is a perfect example of this. I've been a huge fan of Origin since the 80s, and started collecting/cataloging/archiving around 1999. When Origin finally closed it's doors in Austin in 2004, one of my first thoughts was, "What's gonna happen to all of the stuff?!"--While friends at Origin were very generous in donating 15 boxes of info to the Museum, no data was included. Origin (as most other companies) was folded into the fabric of a larger company. As such, the data from that company is still the property of the parent (in this case, EA). The data is incredibly valuable to the parent company, and the thought of giving it to anyone would be ludicrous in their eyes. But companies that close don't seem to realize that data is not the gold when this happens--it's the *licenses* that hold that value. Convincing a company like EA to make archival copes of any closing companies' data would be a hard thing indeed. In the case of the Origin archive, I think that we just got lucky, and there really wasn't much code included. Any that we find might not be approved for release (tho there is always hope). Private companies that close also have this stigma--actually, it may be worse. There is always the option of continuing a half-finished project with another company--and developers suddenly out of work dream of using their old data for a future venture. Therefore it is hoarded as their bread-n-butter, and rightfully so. So I don't really envision a time that the closing of a game company would be a potential for immediate data preservation (although I wish it were). there's always hope. All of the above is just my opinion, of course. The folks here that actually work in the gaming industry might want to chime in--they have a million-times-more insight than my theories. Joe ---- Stuart Feldhamer wrote: > I think this would be a very long list... > > Stuart > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM > > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > > Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies > > > > I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it > > more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development > > studios, just shut shop: > > http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- > > face-financial-trouble > > > > I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a > > list > > of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, > > to see if there is a good list already available :) > > > > Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of > > getting > > information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free > > Radical > > (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an > > archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then > > whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are > > everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of > > course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - > > there's > > not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at > > least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge > > site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. > > > > Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in > > contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working > > there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some > > final > > interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be > > caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very > > reliable after a while. > > > > Andrew > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation From ommail at cox.net Tue Dec 23 13:22:22 2008 From: ommail at cox.net (ommail at cox.net) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:22:22 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies Message-ID: <20081223132222.SZFW8.157278.imail@eastrmwml43> I agree with Stuart--a very long list indeed... But not 'un-do-able'. The tragedy here is something that Andrew only touched upon--the loss of the development information. While the Internet Archive Wayback Machine captures the company web page (thanks, Henry), their data does not always survive...and there is currently not a lot that can be done about that--due to a number of reasons. My experience with being part of 'Project Technosaur' (the Origin Archive) Team last summer at EA is a perfect example of this. I've been a huge fan of Origin since the 80s, and started collecting/cataloging/archiving around 1999. When Origin finally closed it's doors in Austin in 2004, one of my first thoughts was, "What's gonna happen to all of the stuff?!"--While friends at Origin were very generous in donating 15 boxes of info to the Museum, no data was included. Origin (as most other companies) was folded into the fabric of a larger company. As such, the data from that company is still the property of the parent (in this case, EA). The data is incredibly valuable to the parent company, and the thought of giving it to anyone would be ludicrous in their eyes. But companies that close don't seem to realize that data is not the gold when this happens--it's the *licenses* that hold that value. Convincing a company like EA to make archival copes of any closing companies' data would be a hard thing indeed. In the case of the Origin archive, I think that we just got lucky, and there really wasn't much code included. Any that we find might not be approved for release (tho there is always hope). Private companies that close also have this stigma--actually, it may be worse. There is always the option of continuing a half-finished project with another company--and developers suddenly out of work dream of using their old data for a future venture. Therefore it is hoarded as their bread-n-butter, and rightfully so. So I don't really envision a time that the closing of a game company would be a potential for immediate data preservation (although I wish it were). there's always hope. All of the above is just my opinion, of course. The folks here that actually work in the gaming industry might want to chime in--they have a million-times-more insight than my theories. Joe ---- Stuart Feldhamer wrote: > I think this would be a very long list... > > Stuart > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM > > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > > Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies > > > > I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it > > more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development > > studios, just shut shop: > > http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- > > face-financial-trouble > > > > I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a > > list > > of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, > > to see if there is a good list already available :) > > > > Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of > > getting > > information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free > > Radical > > (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an > > archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then > > whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are > > everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of > > course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - > > there's > > not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at > > least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge > > site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. > > > > Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in > > contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working > > there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some > > final > > interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be > > caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very > > reliable after a while. > > > > Andrew > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation From ommail at cox.net Tue Dec 23 13:22:21 2008 From: ommail at cox.net (ommail at cox.net) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:22:21 -0500 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies Message-ID: <20081223132221.NUZH1.157277.imail@eastrmwml43> I agree with Stuart--a very long list indeed... But not 'un-do-able'. The tragedy here is something that Andrew only touched upon--the loss of the development information. While the Internet Archive Wayback Machine captures the company web page (thanks, Henry), their data does not always survive...and there is currently not a lot that can be done about that--due to a number of reasons. My experience with being part of 'Project Technosaur' (the Origin Archive) Team last summer at EA is a perfect example of this. I've been a huge fan of Origin since the 80s, and started collecting/cataloging/archiving around 1999. When Origin finally closed it's doors in Austin in 2004, one of my first thoughts was, "What's gonna happen to all of the stuff?!"--While friends at Origin were very generous in donating 15 boxes of info to the Museum, no data was included. Origin (as most other companies) was folded into the fabric of a larger company. As such, the data from that company is still the property of the parent (in this case, EA). The data is incredibly valuable to the parent company, and the thought of giving it to anyone would be ludicrous in their eyes. But companies that close don't seem to realize that data is not the gold when this happens--it's the *licenses* that hold that value. Convincing a company like EA to make archival copes of any closing companies' data would be a hard thing indeed. In the case of the Origin archive, I think that we just got lucky, and there really wasn't much code included. Any that we find might not be approved for release (tho there is always hope). Private companies that close also have this stigma--actually, it may be worse. There is always the option of continuing a half-finished project with another company--and developers suddenly out of work dream of using their old data for a future venture. Therefore it is hoarded as their bread-n-butter, and rightfully so. So I don't really envision a time that the closing of a game company would be a potential for immediate data preservation (although I wish it were). there's always hope. All of the above is just my opinion, of course. The folks here that actually work in the gaming industry might want to chime in--they have a million-times-more insight than my theories. Joe ---- Stuart Feldhamer wrote: > I think this would be a very long list... > > Stuart > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM > > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > > Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies > > > > I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it > > more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development > > studios, just shut shop: > > http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- > > face-financial-trouble > > > > I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a > > list > > of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, > > to see if there is a good list already available :) > > > > Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of > > getting > > information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free > > Radical > > (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an > > archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then > > whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are > > everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of > > course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - > > there's > > not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at > > least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge > > site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. > > > > Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in > > contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working > > there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some > > final > > interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be > > caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very > > reliable after a while. > > > > Andrew > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation From evilcowclone at gmail.com Tue Dec 23 13:56:32 2008 From: evilcowclone at gmail.com (Devin Monnens) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:56:32 -0700 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies In-Reply-To: <20081223132221.NUZH1.157277.imail@eastrmwml43> References: <20081223132221.NUZH1.157277.imail@eastrmwml43> Message-ID: I think this is why it's important that we provide help and information to game developers. Game developers don't necessarily know that they should have long-term backups of their material. Companies are more interested in how they can make money with little effort. However, what they often don't realize is that sometimes archives can be sources of profit and sometimes they can provide useful skills and material for future profit (i.e. by helping their employees make better games). This is something I tried to touch on in my section of the white paper. -Devin On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 11:22 AM, wrote: > I agree with Stuart--a very long list indeed... > But not 'un-do-able'. > > The tragedy here is something that Andrew only touched upon--the loss of > the development information. > > While the Internet Archive Wayback Machine captures the company web page > (thanks, Henry), their data does not always survive...and there is currently > not a lot that can be done about that--due to a number of reasons. > > My experience with being part of 'Project Technosaur' (the Origin Archive) > Team last summer at EA is a perfect example of this. > I've been a huge fan of Origin since the 80s, and started > collecting/cataloging/archiving around 1999. When Origin finally closed > it's doors in Austin in 2004, one of my first thoughts was, "What's gonna > happen to all of the stuff?!"--While friends at Origin were very generous in > donating 15 boxes of info to the Museum, no data was included. Origin (as > most other companies) was folded into the fabric of a larger company. As > such, the data from that company is still the property of the parent (in > this case, EA). The data is incredibly valuable to the parent company, and > the thought of giving it to anyone would be ludicrous in their eyes. But > companies that close don't seem to realize that data is not the gold when > this happens--it's the *licenses* that hold that value. > Convincing a company like EA to make archival copes of any closing > companies' data would be a hard thing indeed. In the case of the Origin > archive, I think that we just got lucky, and there really wasn't much code > included. Any that we find might not be approved for release (tho there is > always hope). > > Private companies that close also have this stigma--actually, it may be > worse. There is always the option of continuing a half-finished project > with another company--and developers suddenly out of work dream of using > their old data for a future venture. Therefore it is hoarded as their > bread-n-butter, and rightfully so. > > So I don't really envision a time that the closing of a game company would > be a potential for immediate data preservation (although I wish it were). > there's always hope. > All of the above is just my opinion, of course. The folks here that > actually work in the gaming industry might want to chime in--they have a > million-times-more insight than my theories. > > Joe > ---- Stuart Feldhamer wrote: > > I think this would be a very long list... > > > > Stuart > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- > > > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong > > > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM > > > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG > > > Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies > > > > > > I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it > > > more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development > > > studios, just shut shop: > > > http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- > > > face-financial-trouble > > > > > > I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a > > > list > > > of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, > > > to see if there is a good list already available :) > > > > > > Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of > > > getting > > > information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free > > > Radical > > > (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an > > > archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then > > > whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are > > > everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of > > > course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - > > > there's > > > not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at > > > least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge > > > site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. > > > > > > Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in > > > contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working > > > there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some > > > final > > > interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be > > > caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very > > > reliable after a while. > > > > > > Andrew > > > _______________________________________________ > > > game_preservation mailing list > > > game_preservation at igda.org > > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > > > _______________________________________________ > > game_preservation mailing list > > game_preservation at igda.org > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -- The sleep of Reason produces monsters. "Until next time..." Captain Commando -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Fri Dec 26 13:47:36 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:47:36 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies In-Reply-To: <20081223132221.NUZH1.157277.imail@eastrmwml43> References: <20081223132221.NUZH1.157277.imail@eastrmwml43> Message-ID: <495526C8.5020400@aarmstrong.org> Yeah, Joe, that's pretty much it, the loss of information. It's also be a long list, but I did say only currently going-out-of-business companies, takeovers, mergers and closures. The aim would be a resource for the SIG, and those who have time or effort to invest (or know the people involved) to try and get things from the organisations who close, or to at least let them know of the need to preserve their history. Going out to every active development studio is an impossibility, but going to the ones who are closing isn't as big a job! It'd be a list that only starts on the day the project starts, and builds from there. I didn't intend to go back into history and do older closures/mergers/whatever. hughfalk - that list is certainly one I keep my eye on, but as I said, I'd not be going back in history doing it (what'd be the point when they already have gone, and have no one to contact about them? and, also, if I was going to do that, I might as well make proper company histories, start dates, and information for Mobygames or other places, and is a lot more difficult!) So, taking into account the list is meant to be current closures only (and which I'd update on the blog for those more interested in it) would it be worth trying at some point? Andrew ommail at cox.net wrote: > I agree with Stuart--a very long list indeed... > But not 'un-do-able'. > > The tragedy here is something that Andrew only touched upon--the loss of the development information. > > While the Internet Archive Wayback Machine captures the company web page (thanks, Henry), their data does not always survive...and there is currently not a lot that can be done about that--due to a number of reasons. > > My experience with being part of 'Project Technosaur' (the Origin Archive) Team last summer at EA is a perfect example of this. > I've been a huge fan of Origin since the 80s, and started collecting/cataloging/archiving around 1999. When Origin finally closed it's doors in Austin in 2004, one of my first thoughts was, "What's gonna happen to all of the stuff?!"--While friends at Origin were very generous in donating 15 boxes of info to the Museum, no data was included. Origin (as most other companies) was folded into the fabric of a larger company. As such, the data from that company is still the property of the parent (in this case, EA). The data is incredibly valuable to the parent company, and the thought of giving it to anyone would be ludicrous in their eyes. But companies that close don't seem to realize that data is not the gold when this happens--it's the *licenses* that hold that value. > Convincing a company like EA to make archival copes of any closing companies' data would be a hard thing indeed. In the case of the Origin archive, I think that we just got lucky, and there really wasn't much code included. Any that we find might not be approved for release (tho there is always hope). > > Private companies that close also have this stigma--actually, it may be worse. There is always the option of continuing a half-finished project with another company--and developers suddenly out of work dream of using their old data for a future venture. Therefore it is hoarded as their bread-n-butter, and rightfully so. > > So I don't really envision a time that the closing of a game company would be a potential for immediate data preservation (although I wish it were). there's always hope. > All of the above is just my opinion, of course. The folks here that actually work in the gaming industry might want to chime in--they have a million-times-more insight than my theories. > > Joe > ---- Stuart Feldhamer wrote: > >> I think this would be a very long list... >> >> Stuart >> >> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation- >>> bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong >>> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 10:26 PM >>> To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG >>> Subject: [game_preservation] Project idea; List of closed companies >>> >>> I was wondering, with Free Radical (who's UK based, thus I noticed it >>> more then other recent closures) suddenly, like many game development >>> studios, just shut shop: >>> http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/free-radical-design-latest-to- >>> face-financial-trouble >>> >>> I think it might be worth, certainly for recent companies, to get a >>> list >>> of closed companies somehow - that is, which is why I am posting here, >>> to see if there is a good list already available :) >>> >>> Certainly this would help anyone who was, really, on the edge of >>> getting >>> information - certainly I'd not mind getting the history of Free >>> Radical >>> (and if anything, any old stuff they had obviously could be moved to an >>> archive too! but that usually never happens :( ) now, rather then >>> whenever in the future when all the employee's have moved, things are >>> everywhere and anywhere, and so forth. It is rather a sad topic, of >>> course, and one historians seriously have trouble dealing with - >>> there's >>> not a great deal of information available about closed companies (at >>> least, information about their final days) out there unless a book/huge >>> site/whatever was done of them during their lifespan or just after it. >>> >>> Once the new IGDA site goes live I'll also try and invest some time in >>> contacting the studio's people (somehow, given they are not working >>> there anymore this might be harder then expected) and request some >>> final >>> interviews, and whatnot, so some of the history of the company can be >>> caught before it disappears, since we all know memory isn't always very >>> reliable after a while. >>> >>> Andrew >>> _______________________________________________ >>> game_preservation mailing list >>> game_preservation at igda.org >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> game_preservation mailing list >> game_preservation at igda.org >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation >> > > _______________________________________________ > game_preservation mailing list > game_preservation at igda.org > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andrew at aarmstrong.org Fri Dec 26 14:04:47 2008 From: andrew at aarmstrong.org (Andrew Armstrong) Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:04:47 +0000 Subject: [game_preservation] SIG Icon and theme Atari Joystick + Belljar In-Reply-To: <494EFA0D.6060206@aarmstrong.org> References: <494E96B7.8080306@aarmstrong.org> <494ED752.6040400@aarmstrong.org> <494EFA0D.6060206@aarmstrong.org> Message-ID: <49552ACF.3040601@aarmstrong.org> Some off list discussion with Devin suggested thicker glass might be better, so here we are: http://aarmstrong.org/gallery/v/projects/preslogos/Belljar+over+Joystick+thicker+glass.png.html Not sure about it entirely myself, might just need a bit of cleaning up in places to look better though. Scales better down to favicon size though. Andrew