idgames archive

A checked version of this page, approved on 17 August 2015, was based on this revision.

The idgames archive (or /idgames archive) is the largest online archive of levels, modifications, tools and other material for Doom engine games. It was originally maintained by Frans P. de Vries, who passed the role on to Ty Halderman in 1997. He held the role without interruption until an extended medical leave in April 2015^[1] and his death in July 2015^[2]. Current interim maintainers are Bill Koch (Bloodshedder) and Eric Baker (The Green Herring).

The archive started on the FTP services of Indiana University and was later for many years hosted at the FTP site on 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.

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.

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

idgames archive (in Florida, USA) (also as HTTP)
idgames mirror in Germany (primary download server)
idgames mirror in Greece (also as FTP)
idgames mirror in Idaho, USA (primary download server)
idgames mirror in New York, USA (does not mirror /themes/x-rated/)
idgames mirror in Texas, USA (also as FTP)
Uploading rules on the archive
Older "about" page on the Internet Archive
Archive database on Doomworld

References

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

[1] 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.

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