[game_preservation] Older versions of Programs

[Andrew Armstrong]

Captain Commando wrote:

> I wouldn't be able to give you a lot of reasons for why older patches 

> would be incredibly important

I would, there are a few reasons I've come across for necessity:

- The ability to load save games and replay files from specific game 
versions! (I'm surprised you forgot this - this is as old as Doom! :) ). 
This, I think, is outright the most important reason, and applies to a 
great many genres and games (almost anything with a savegame system to 
be honest, many game devs break it that way).

- Things removed or overwrote in later patches - perhaps a specific map 
file, or unit portrait, or graphic. A specific example here: A unpatched 
Neverwinter Nights (or low patched version) has some original portraits 
which were, essentially, photoshops of celebrities. In addition, the med 
kit has a red cross on it. Both were patched out with alternatives 
(although the patch process does, admittedly, load the "patch files 
first" and doesn't remove the originals I think, which is awesome 
actually). If you couldn't get the early patches, you'd have little way 
to get information on these two things (ie; when they were patched out). 
There are other games which patched out things too, for an amazing 
amount of reasons.

- Patches which had flaws - like adding SecureRom, or breaking things - 
like you said mainly - but more that a patch might remove functionality 
or cause problems, an earlier patch might be better.

- Patches that require the previous patch installed first. I'm sure this 
patch site does that, but obviously, without knowing specifics on the 
game (ie; owning it) you can't be sure that a patch doesn't require a 
specific previous version to install.

- Finally, knowing how things changed over time. It's a bit drastic 
looking at the difference between a games original release and, say, 
patch number 10. What changed, when, and at what release date might be 
important for the games history - especially MMO histories, or community 
histories (competitive play and so forth).

An archive of all patches would be the best possible way of doing it of 
course :)

Andrew