[game_preservation] Older versions of Programs

[Stuart Feldhamer]

Well the guy from the Patches Scrolls has been asking for contributions for
a while now. I think it's a one man operation. Imagine what he or someone
else could accomplish with some funding.

Stuart


> -----Original Message-----

> From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation-

> bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong

> Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 7:06 PM

> To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG

> Subject: Re: [game_preservation] Older versions of Programs

> 

> 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

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