[game_preservation] iPhone Game Preservation

[Andrew Armstrong]

No doubt Apple keeps and is able to archive copies themselves (since 
they do hold the keys). No doubt they'd need contacting to get an answer 
out about preserving the applications on there, the question on if 
they'd want to do anything (even signing an agreement to archive them in 
the future), is beyond me.

I think the iPhone has plenty of things that need preserving - not just 
games mind you - along with other more open and more closed platforms. 
The mobile space has barely been scratched regarding preservation AFAIK, 
basically because it's impossible to actually get the original files for 
those platforms (tough luck trying to get backups usually), or get them 
at any reasonable non-contract price on a device which will last more 
then a few years (without any way of revocation of software from the 
original parties!), and also phones ware out so fast compared to other 
hardware, without a way to transfer material between them easily usually 
- SD cards luckily help I guess with this :)

Certainly a problem :( Much like how, for instance, the PSPGo is going 
all download-only, a similar style to the iPhone etc. (but with less 
content and more gatekeeping mind you).

Andrew

Mike Melanson wrote:

> As if preservationists didn't have enough to worry about already...

>

> I have been studying iPhone apps (and games, specifically) pretty 

> carefully recently. In doing so, I realized that certain games used to 

> be available but have apparently vanished from the App Store, probably 

> forever. Quite a daunting challenge considering the single gatekeeper 

> aspect.

>

> Sure, there's the question of whether most of these iPhone games are 

> worth preserving in the first place.

>