Difference between revisions of "Idgames archive"

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[checked revision][checked revision]
(Break off maintainer info into its own section and reword further for better flow.)
(The full history of the idgames archive. Full citations to Usenet postings and Frans' history document (One DOOMed Space Marine and the Terror He Spawned) are forthcoming.)
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:idgames archive}}
 
{{DISPLAYTITLE:idgames archive}}
The '''idgames archive''' (or ''/idgames archive'') is the largest online archive of levels, modifications, tools and other material for [[Doom engine]] games. The archive started on the [[Wikipedia:File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] services of [[Wikipedia:Indiana University|Indiana University]] and was later for many years hosted at the FTP site on {{wp|Walnut Creek CDROM}}, also known by its domain name of cdrom.com. In 2001 it was forced to move, as cdrom.com would no longer host such archives.  The archive can now be found on the FTP site of [[gamers.org]]. To alleviate bandwidth usage, the archive is mirrored on various alternative FTP sites around the world that are recommended for downloads.
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The '''idgames archive''' (or ''/idgames archive'') is the largest online archive of levels, modifications, tools and other material for [[Doom engine]] games. The archive was founded in {{timeline|1994}} by Barry Bloom, and is currently hosted on the FTP site of [[gamers.org]], where it has been housed since {{timeline|2001}}. To alleviate bandwidth usage and ensure that data will not be lost, the archive is mirrored on various alternative FTP sites around the world which are recommended for downloads.
  
 
The /idgames archive is one of three sister FTP archives for game add-ons, also including a [[Quake]] engine archive (''/idgames2'') and an [[Wikipedia:Unreal|Unreal]] archive (''/unreal''). Of the three, only the idgames archive accepts new uploads, while the other two are closed.
 
The /idgames archive is one of three sister FTP archives for game add-ons, also including a [[Quake]] engine archive (''/idgames2'') and an [[Wikipedia:Unreal|Unreal]] archive (''/unreal''). Of the three, only the idgames archive accepts new uploads, while the other two are closed.
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For easy browsing of the archive, the [[Doomworld]] website provides a database of the archive with searching, user commenting and ratings, and download links to official mirrors.
 
For easy browsing of the archive, the [[Doomworld]] website provides a database of the archive with searching, user commenting and ratings, and download links to official mirrors.
  
== Maintainers ==
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== History ==
After emerging from less formally organized roots on [[Usenet groups|Usenet]], the archive was originally maintained by Joost Schuur and [[Frans P. de Vries]], with the latter active until 1997, when he passed the role on to [[Ty Halderman]]. Ty held the role without interruption until an extended medical leave in April 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.doomworld.com/vb/post/1375733|title=Looking for a new idgames maintainer|author=[[Frans P. de Vries|de Vries, Frans P.]]|publication=[[Doomworld Forums]]|publishdate=28 May 2015|retrievedate=31 May 2015}} during which [[Bill Koch (Bloodshedder)]] and [[Eric Baker (The Green Herring)]] were named interim maintainers. After Ty's death in July 2015,{{cite web|author=Saffy|url=http://www.doomworld.com/vb/post/1409629|title=Nothing new on idgames lately|publishdate=16 August 2015|accessdate=16 August 2015|publication=[[Doomworld Forums]]}} Koch and Baker were retained as the current administrators.
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The archive was preceded by an informal set of disjoint archives on various university [[Wikipedia:File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] servers, including wuarchive.wustl.edu and ftp.uwp.edu, beginning in December 1993 with the release of Doom. The need to have a centralized and moderated location where all files could be uploaded and then mirrored from led Barry Bloom to create an authoritative archive at ocf.unt.edu in March 1994. However, administrators eventually disapproved of the use of resources, forcing a move of the primary archive to a new server at infant2.sphs.indiana.edu, at [[Wikipedia:Indiana University|Indiana University]], administered primarily by Jim Pitts beginning in May 1994.
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The server at infant2 gathered a strong set of mirrors, and persisted until November 1994 when Jim Pitts lost administrative access to the server. ftp.orst.edu was promoted as a temporary primary site, but users were not able to successfully upload files to that server. It was picked up a month later by {{wp|Walnut Creek CDROM}}, also known by its domain name of cdrom.com, which was already a mirror. It was now administered by a team consisting of Joost Schuur, Jeff Makaiwi, and [[Frans P. de Vries]]. In 2001, cdrom.com was purchased by a new parent company and announced that it would no longer host such archives.
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===Modern maintainers===
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Frans P. de Vries became the primary maintainer soon after the transfer from infant2, and remained in that role until 1997, when he passed it on to [[Ty Halderman]]. Ty held the role without interruption until an extended medical leave in April 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.doomworld.com/vb/post/1375733|title=Looking for a new idgames maintainer|author=[[Frans P. de Vries|de Vries, Frans P.]]|publication=[[Doomworld Forums]]|publishdate=28 May 2015|retrievedate=31 May 2015}} during which [[Bill Koch (Bloodshedder)]] and [[Eric Baker (The Green Herring)]] were named interim maintainers. After Ty's death in July 2015,{{cite web|author=Saffy|url=http://www.doomworld.com/vb/post/1409629|title=Nothing new on idgames lately|publishdate=16 August 2015|accessdate=16 August 2015|publication=[[Doomworld Forums]]}} Koch and Baker were retained as the current administrators.
  
 
== Reviews ==
 
== Reviews ==

Revision as of 03:12, 18 August 2015

The idgames archive (or /idgames archive) is the largest online archive of levels, modifications, tools and other material for Doom engine games. The archive was founded in 1994 by Barry Bloom, and is currently hosted on the FTP site of gamers.org, where it has been housed since 2001. To alleviate bandwidth usage and ensure that data will not be lost, the archive is mirrored on various alternative FTP sites around the world which are recommended for downloads.

The /idgames archive is one of three sister FTP archives for game add-ons, also including a Quake engine archive (/idgames2) and an Unreal archive (/unreal). Of the three, only the idgames archive accepts new uploads, while the other two are closed.

Content management

The archive accepts submissions freely but includes several restrictions and requirements on what may be uploaded, either due to copyright reasons or to keep a certain standard in the quality of the files collected, which are described in a document in the main directory of the FTP entitled README.INCOMING. Uploaded files that are rejected for any reason are listed on another file named REJECTS that notes the reasons the file was not accepted. Uploads are packaged in the ZIP format and require an accompanying text file based on the standard Doom file template, UPLTEMPL.TXT, which must be uploaded separately, as well as in the ZIP file.

The archive has a demos section (/lmps), but it has been closed for years, which has given rise to alternative demo recording archives, notably the competn FTP, which hosts the files for the DSDA and Compet-n.

For easy browsing of the archive, the Doomworld website provides a database of the archive with searching, user commenting and ratings, and download links to official mirrors.

History

The archive was preceded by an informal set of disjoint archives on various university FTP servers, including wuarchive.wustl.edu and ftp.uwp.edu, beginning in December 1993 with the release of Doom. The need to have a centralized and moderated location where all files could be uploaded and then mirrored from led Barry Bloom to create an authoritative archive at ocf.unt.edu in March 1994. However, administrators eventually disapproved of the use of resources, forcing a move of the primary archive to a new server at infant2.sphs.indiana.edu, at Indiana University, administered primarily by Jim Pitts beginning in May 1994.

The server at infant2 gathered a strong set of mirrors, and persisted until November 1994 when Jim Pitts lost administrative access to the server. ftp.orst.edu was promoted as a temporary primary site, but users were not able to successfully upload files to that server. It was picked up a month later by Walnut Creek CDROM, also known by its domain name of cdrom.com, which was already a mirror. It was now administered by a team consisting of Joost Schuur, Jeff Makaiwi, and Frans P. de Vries. In 2001, cdrom.com was purchased by a new parent company and announced that it would no longer host such archives.

Modern maintainers

Frans P. de Vries became the primary maintainer soon after the transfer from infant2, and remained in that role until 1997, when he passed it on to Ty Halderman. Ty held the role without interruption until an extended medical leave in April 2015,[1] during which Bill Koch (Bloodshedder) and Eric Baker (The Green Herring) were named interim maintainers. After Ty's death in July 2015,[2] Koch and Baker were retained as the current administrators.

Reviews

Despite the age of the Doom games, numerous WAD files are still submitted to the archive each week. These are reviewed in The /newstuff Chronicles regularly on Doomworld. This is named after the /newstuff directory, where the latest submissions to the archive can be found. Several community reviewers post reviews of the latest levels, typically including screen shots.

External links

References

  1. de Vries, Frans P. (28 May 2015). "Looking for a new idgames maintainer." Doomworld Forums. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  2. Saffy (16 August 2015). "Nothing new on idgames lately." Doomworld Forums. Retrieved 16 August 2015.