Video game preservation - Revision history

SinexTitan: /* Publishing source code */ ツ

2026-05-24T13:49:26Z

Publishing source code: ツ

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:49, 24 May 2026
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	Just like other media, some games shaped global culture such as Super Mario Bros, [[World of Warcraft]], [[Minecraft]], [[Fortnite]], Pokémon and many more, influencing generations of players and their growth, along with developers, artists and communities.		Just like other media, some games shaped global culture such as Super Mario Bros, [[World of Warcraft]], [[Minecraft]], [[Fortnite]], Pokémon and many more, influencing generations of players and their growth, along with developers, artists and communities.

	== Preservation methods ==		==Preservation methods==

	=== Publishing source code ===		===Publishing source code===
	On 18 February 2025, Valve released an update to the {{Wplink\|Source_(game_engine)\|Source}} SDK, which added all the {{Wplink\|Team Fortress 2}} client and server game code. With the source code content creators are allowed to build new games based off TF2.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=18 Feb 2025 \|title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! \|url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 \|archive-date=18 Feb 2025 \|access-date=10 Mar 2025 \|website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=21 Feb 2025 \|title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders \|url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ \|archive-date=10 Mar 2025 \|access-date=10 Mar 2025 \|website=BitSkins}}</ref>		On 18 February 2025, [[Valve]] released an update to the {{Wplink\|Source_(game_engine)\|Source}} SDK, which added all the {{Wplink\|Team Fortress 2}} client and server game code. With the source code content creators are allowed to build new games based off TF2.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=18 Feb 2025 \|title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! \|url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 \|archive-date=18 Feb 2025 \|access-date=10 Mar 2025 \|website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=21 Feb 2025 \|title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders \|url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ \|archive-date=10 Mar 2025 \|access-date=10 Mar 2025 \|website=BitSkins}}</ref>

	In February 2025, [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) made an announcement that the source code of older titles from the {{Wplink\|Command & Conquer}} video game franchise were recovered, and made public under the GPLv3 license.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|last=Vessella \|first=Jim \|date=27 Feb 2025 \|title=C&C Steam Workshop Support & Source Code \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250626052744/https://old.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ \|archive-date=26 Jun 2025 \|access-date=9 Mar 2025 \|via=Reddit}}</ref> To help the community further, the Steam Workshop has also been integrated into these titles to add additional community content.<ref name=":0" />		In February 2025, [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) made an announcement that the source code of older titles from the {{Wplink\|Command & Conquer}} video game franchise were recovered, and made public under the GPLv3 license.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|last=Vessella \|first=Jim \|date=27 Feb 2025 \|title=C&C Steam Workshop Support & Source Code \|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250626052744/https://old.reddit.com/r/commandandconquer/comments/1izmpmb/cc_steam_workshop_support_source_code/ \|archive-date=26 Jun 2025 \|access-date=9 Mar 2025 \|via=Reddit}}</ref> To help the community further, the Steam Workshop has also been integrated into these titles to add additional community content.<ref name=":0" />
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	[[Id Software]] has published<ref>{{Cite web \|title=id Software GitHub \|url=https://github.com/id-Software \|url-status=live \|website=GitHub}}</ref> the source code of various games and tools on [[GitHub]]. The repositories are for DOOM, DOOM Classic for iOS (two versions), Doom 3 BFG Edition, Quake, Quake 2, Quake 2 Tools, Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Single Player and Multiplayer), Wolfenstein 3D for iOS, WOLF3D Browser Version and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.		[[Id Software]] has published<ref>{{Cite web \|title=id Software GitHub \|url=https://github.com/id-Software \|url-status=live \|website=GitHub}}</ref> the source code of various games and tools on [[GitHub]]. The repositories are for DOOM, DOOM Classic for iOS (two versions), Doom 3 BFG Edition, Quake, Quake 2, Quake 2 Tools, Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Single Player and Multiplayer), Wolfenstein 3D for iOS, WOLF3D Browser Version and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

	=== Museums and archives ===		===Museums and archives===
	Museums such as [https://www.museumofplay.org/collections/icheg/ The Strong National Museum of Play] and [https://gamehistory.org/ Video Game History Foundation] collect consoles, cartridges, design documents and promotional materials to document the evolution of the gaming industry. On the other hand, archive website and digital libraries like [https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames Internet Archive] and [https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program GOG Preservation Program] work to preserve games, magazines and software that might otherwise disappear due to hardware failure, discontinued support or physical media being lost.		Museums such as [https://www.museumofplay.org/collections/icheg/ The Strong National Museum of Play] and [https://gamehistory.org/ Video Game History Foundation] collect consoles, cartridges, design documents and promotional materials to document the evolution of the gaming industry. On the other hand, archive website and digital libraries like [https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames Internet Archive] and [https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program GOG Preservation Program] work to preserve games, magazines and software that might otherwise disappear due to hardware failure, discontinued support or physical media being lost.

Sojourna: /* Death of a technology */

2026-05-23T01:17:58Z

Death of a technology

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:17, 23 May 2026
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	===Death of a technology===		===Death of a technology===
	~~When~~ [[Adobe]] announced the end of life date of [[Adobe Flash Player]] ~~for the 31st~~ December 2020, many people have put effort in preserving flash video games by porting them to HTML5 or with the creation of Flash emulators like [https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle], which allows to run flash games and content on web browsers. Additionally, [https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] is a community project dedicated to preserve content that runs on Flash and it comes with downloadable applications that allow to download and run Flash content on the device.		Since [[Adobe]] announced the end of life date of [[Adobe Flash Player]] on 31 December 2020, many people have put effort in preserving flash video games by porting them to HTML5 or with the creation of Flash emulators like [https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle], which allows to run flash games and content on web browsers. Additionally, [https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] is a community project dedicated to preserve content that runs on Flash and it comes with downloadable applications that allow to download and run Flash content on the device.

	===Few numbers of physical copies===		===Few numbers of physical copies===

Sojourna: /* Cultural Heritage */ Style.

2026-05-23T01:16:33Z

Cultural Heritage: Style.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:16, 23 May 2026
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	Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. The amount of physical playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that the media can deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available for the public and the generations to come. Preservation of these physical copies are often handled by museums and non-profit organizations that try to ensure the longevity of the media in its original form.		Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. The amount of physical playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that the media can deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available for the public and the generations to come. Preservation of these physical copies are often handled by museums and non-profit organizations that try to ensure the longevity of the media in its original form.

	===Cultural ~~Heritage~~===		===Cultural heritage===
	Like cinema, literature, music, and television, video games are an important part of contemporary cultural heritage, they reflect the artistic, technological, political, and social conditions of the periods in which they were created. Preserving them is not only about maintaining entertainment software, but also about protecting historical records of digital culture.		Like cinema, literature, music, and television, video games are an important part of contemporary cultural heritage, they reflect the artistic, technological, political, and social conditions of the periods in which they were created. Preserving them is not only about maintaining entertainment software, but also about protecting historical records of digital culture.

Keith: removed stub notice + some edits to section headings

2026-05-22T01:24:39Z

removed stub notice + some edits to section headings

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:24, 22 May 2026
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	~~{{Stub}}~~

	'''Video game preservation''', which falls in the broader category of media preservation, is the act of ensuring the accessibility and playability of older video games for the future. There are many reasons why this practice is necessary.		'''Video game preservation''', which falls in the broader category of media preservation, is the act of ensuring the accessibility and playability of older video games for the future. There are many reasons why this practice is necessary.

	==~~Reasoning~~==		==The need for active game preservation==

	===Live-service killing===		===Live-service killing===
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	Just like other media, some games shaped global culture such as Super Mario Bros, [[World of Warcraft]], [[Minecraft]], [[Fortnite]], Pokémon and many more, influencing generations of players and their growth, along with developers, artists and communities.		Just like other media, some games shaped global culture such as Super Mario Bros, [[World of Warcraft]], [[Minecraft]], [[Fortnite]], Pokémon and many more, influencing generations of players and their growth, along with developers, artists and communities.

	== ~~Efforts~~ ==		== Preservation methods ==

	=== Publishing source code ===		=== Publishing source code ===

Linka: /* Efforts */ added museums and archives

2026-05-21T17:23:11Z

Efforts: added museums and archives

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:23, 21 May 2026
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	[[Id Software]] has published<ref>{{Cite web \|title=id Software GitHub \|url=https://github.com/id-Software \|url-status=live \|website=GitHub}}</ref> the source code of various games and tools on [[GitHub]]. The repositories are for DOOM, DOOM Classic for iOS (two versions), Doom 3 BFG Edition, Quake, Quake 2, Quake 2 Tools, Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Single Player and Multiplayer), Wolfenstein 3D for iOS, WOLF3D Browser Version and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.		[[Id Software]] has published<ref>{{Cite web \|title=id Software GitHub \|url=https://github.com/id-Software \|url-status=live \|website=GitHub}}</ref> the source code of various games and tools on [[GitHub]]. The repositories are for DOOM, DOOM Classic for iOS (two versions), Doom 3 BFG Edition, Quake, Quake 2, Quake 2 Tools, Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Single Player and Multiplayer), Wolfenstein 3D for iOS, WOLF3D Browser Version and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.

			=== Museums and archives ===
			Museums such as [https://www.museumofplay.org/collections/icheg/ The Strong National Museum of Play] and [https://gamehistory.org/ Video Game History Foundation] collect consoles, cartridges, design documents and promotional materials to document the evolution of the gaming industry. On the other hand, archive website and digital libraries like [https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames Internet Archive] and [https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program GOG Preservation Program] work to preserve games, magazines and software that might otherwise disappear due to hardware failure, discontinued support or physical media being lost.

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

Linka: /* Live-service killing */ updated section with references

2026-05-21T16:52:48Z

Live-service killing: updated section with references

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 21 May 2026
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	===Live-service killing===		===Live-service killing===
	[[Games as a service\|Live-service games]] are very difficult to preserve due to their reliance on the parent company's will to keep the service online. ~~However~~, ~~in some cases~~ communities ~~create private servers in order~~ to ~~make~~ the ~~game completely playable~~.		[[Games as a service\|Live-service games]] are very difficult to preserve due to their reliance on the parent company's will to keep the service online. Rarely companies adapt the games to be completely playable offline with all the available features that used to exist when the game was a live-service. Despite that, dedicated communities have tried to keep these games alive with their own time, money, resources and dedication out of their own will, for the love of preserving the experiences that they love.

	~~Rarely some companies adapt~~ the ~~game to be completely~~ playable ~~offline with all the available features that used to exist when the game was a live-service~~.		[https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Main_Page City of Heroes - Homecoming], [https://www.cplegacy.com/ Club Penguin Legacy], [https://www.returnofreckoning.com/ Warhammer Online - Return of Reckoning], [https://github.com/NexusForever/NexusForever WildStar Nexus Forever], [https://legends.ml/ MapleStory MapleLegends] and many more are examples of community-created private servers in order to keep the games playable.

	===Death of a technology===		===Death of a technology===

Linka: /* Death of a technology */ updated wording and information

2026-05-21T16:38:40Z

Death of a technology: updated wording and information

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 21 May 2026
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	===Death of a technology===		===Death of a technology===
	~~For example, when~~ Flash ~~stopped being supported in browsers~~, many people ~~made~~ effort in preserving flash video games by porting them to ~~html5.~~ Flash emulators like [https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle] ~~allow~~ to run flash games and content on web browsers. [https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] is a community project dedicated to preserve content that runs on Flash~~. It counts~~ with downloadable applications that allow to download and run Flash content ~~from~~ the device.		When [[Adobe]] announced the end of life date of [[Adobe Flash Player]] for the 31st December 2020, many people have put effort in preserving flash video games by porting them to HTML5 or with the creation of Flash emulators like [https://ruffle.rs/ Ruffle], which allows to run flash games and content on web browsers. Additionally, [https://flashpointarchive.org/ Flashpoint Archive] is a community project dedicated to preserve content that runs on Flash and it comes with downloadable applications that allow to download and run Flash content on the device.

	===Few numbers of physical copies===		===Few numbers of physical copies===

Linka: /* Few numbers of physical copies */ updated wording and expanded section

2026-05-21T10:47:03Z

Few numbers of physical copies: updated wording and expanded section

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:47, 21 May 2026
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	===Few numbers of physical copies===		===Few numbers of physical copies===
	Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. ~~Also the~~ amount of playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that ~~copies could~~ deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available to ~~public as well~~.		Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. The amount of physical playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that the media can deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available for the public and the generations to come. Preservation of these physical copies are often handled by museums and non-profit organizations that try to ensure the longevity of the media in its original form.

	===Cultural Heritage===		===Cultural Heritage===

Linka: /* Reasonings */ added section regarding cultural heritage

2026-05-21T10:40:42Z

Reasonings: added section regarding cultural heritage

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:40, 21 May 2026
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	'''Video game preservation''', which falls in the broader category of media preservation, is the act of ensuring the accessibility and playability of older video games for the future. There are many reasons why this practice is necessary.		'''Video game preservation''', which falls in the broader category of media preservation, is the act of ensuring the accessibility and playability of older video games for the future. There are many reasons why this practice is necessary.

	== ~~Reasonings~~ ==		==Reasoning==

	===Live-service killing===		===Live-service killing===
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	===Few numbers of physical copies===		===Few numbers of physical copies===
	Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. Also the amount of playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that copies could deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available to public as well.		Some video games only exist in physical copies and these copies are in a limited quantity. Also the amount of playable copies could be reduced because of the possibility that copies could deteriorate over time. Digitalization makes easier to copy, adapt and create backups of the original video game, making it more available to public as well.

			===Cultural Heritage===
			Like cinema, literature, music, and television, video games are an important part of contemporary cultural heritage, they reflect the artistic, technological, political, and social conditions of the periods in which they were created. Preserving them is not only about maintaining entertainment software, but also about protecting historical records of digital culture.

			Video games document the evolution of the media through storytelling and art, computer graphics and software engineering, online communities and social interactions, music and sound design, game design philosophies and player behavior and the economic and labor of the technologies and the industry.

			Just like other media, some games shaped global culture such as Super Mario Bros, [[World of Warcraft]], [[Minecraft]], [[Fortnite]], Pokémon and many more, influencing generations of players and their growth, along with developers, artists and communities.

	== Efforts ==		== Efforts ==

Sojourna: Style.

2026-05-21T06:22:03Z

Style.

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[Id Software]] has published<ref>{{Cite web |title=id Software GitHub |url=https://github.com/id-Software |url-status=live |website=GitHub}}</ref> the source code of various games and tools on [[GitHub]]. The repositories are for DOOM, DOOM Classic for iOS (two versions), Doom 3 BFG Edition, Quake, Quake 2, Quake 2 Tools, Quake III Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Single Player and Multiplayer), Wolfenstein 3D for iOS, WOLF3D Browser Version and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.
-==Preservation groups and organizations==
 *[https://gamehistory.org/ Video Game History Foundation] non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of video games.
 *[https://www.gamepres.org/en/ Game Preservation Society] non-profit archive organization that collect, preserve, research, digitize and share materials of Japan’s video game culture.
@@ Line 38: / Line 47: @@
 *[https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program GOG Preservation Program] ensures classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their developers stopped supporting them.
 [[Category:Common terms]]