Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Game Preservation.
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Game History and Preservation
Bandai Namco Entertainment is reportedly developing an arcade game based on the Resident Evil 2 Remake. This news sparks discussion about the broader topic of game preservation and the creation of new experiences from existing titles.
The Xbox isn’t ending, but it needs these 3 changes to return to glory
Despite recent reports and speculation, Xbox is not ending but is entering a critical rebuilding phase. To regain its former glory, the platform needs to focus on three key areas: successfully launching its next-generation 'Project Helix' hardware, consistently delivering high-quality games from its studios, and rebuilding its community culture by reintroducing personality and prioritizing game preservation.
Game History and Preservation
Saber Interactive has confirmed that the remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is still in development. Additionally, lost post-ending dialogue for Fallout: New Vegas has been discovered and restored for PC players, highlighting ongoing efforts in game preservation.
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition Review | NoobFeed
The Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is a commendable, albeit minimal, homage to the iconic platformer. While its visuals have aged well and the addition of a rewind feature improves gameplay, the collection lacks substantial extras like interviews or art galleries, offering only the 1992 SNES prototype as bonus content. Despite these shortcomings, it remains the definitive way to experience the classic Rayman title.
A team of volunteers is fighting to preserve "mini-MMO" Eldegarde after its sudden removal from Steam
The multiplayer fantasy adventure game Eldegarde is facing shutdown just two months after its 1.0 launch on Steam. A team of volunteers is working to preserve the game, and the developer hopes to "resurrect it" in the future.
Flash is Dead, Long Live the Web Arcade: Preserving Casual Gaming History
The article discusses the historical significance of Flash games as a gateway to gaming culture and the challenges posed by Flash's discontinuation. It highlights preservation efforts like the Flashpoint Archive and the evolution of web arcades using HTML5 and WebGL, emphasizing how casual game design philosophies continue to influence the modern gaming industry.
Let It Die Inferno adds a PvE co-op mode as OG Let it Die goes offline for good (literally)
The online service for the original Let It Die will be shut down after nine years, but an offline version will be released to preserve the game. Concurrently, Let It Die Inferno is adding a PvE-only mode alongside its second season, which includes a reset of major game ranks and plot points.
Pocket Camp is Shutting Down—Here’s What You Need to Know About the Transition and the Future of the Franchise – Geeky Sweetie
Nintendo announced that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will cease online services on October 31, 2024, transitioning to an offline version that preserves player progress. The decision is attributed to declining player engagement, server costs, and a potential shift in focus to new projects, including future Animal Crossing titles. Despite the closure of the mobile game, the Animal Crossing franchise remains popular, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons being a significant success on the Nintendo Switch.
CS:GO is back, and there’s over 50k playing it already
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been made available again through a dedicated, unlisted Steam link, despite Valve's launch of Counter-Strike 2. Over 50,000 players are reportedly playing the older version, offering an alternative for those who dislike changes in CS2. However, official support is absent, meaning ranked matchmaking and Steam inventory are unavailable.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is now back on Steam as a separate entity to Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been given its own dedicated Steam listing again, separate from Counter-Strike 2. While this does not mean the return of online servers, the standalone version offers a significant storage space saving compared to Counter-Strike 2. This move allows players to access the bot-only version of CS:GO and provides a dedicated space for community reviews and reminiscence.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Quietly Returns to Steam
Valve has reintroduced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive as a standalone download on Steam, accessible via a direct link rather than the public store. This version serves as a preserved experience of the classic game following the transition to Counter-Strike 2, though it no longer features official matchmaking servers. Players can still engage with bots or community-hosted servers to revisit the original gameplay.
Game History and Preservation
The Video Game History Foundation has successfully intervened to save a game from copyright trolls, highlighting ongoing challenges in game preservation. This action underscores the foundation's commitment to protecting video game history.
"They F**ked With Us": Video Game History Foundation Saves A Game From Copyright Trolls
The Video Game History Foundation has successfully resolved a copyright dispute with Graceware Inc. over the 1990s PC game Cookie's Bustle. Graceware had aggressively filed DMCA takedown notices, but the VGHF proved the company did not own the rights, allowing for better preservation of the obscure title. The foundation has stated it may pursue legal action if Graceware attempts further spurious takedowns.
Trap - A lost prototype originally a C64 release appears on the Atari XL/XE!
A lost prototype of the 1986 game 'Trap', originally developed for the Commodore 64, has been recovered for the Atari XL/XE platform. The game, featuring music by Ben Daglish and developed by Russell Knight, was found to be complete and playable, though it remains unknown why it was never officially released by Alligata Software. The file was located and archived by John Hardie of the National Videogame Museum.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gets Offline Mode
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will receive an offline mode on December 10th, allowing players to experience all released and upcoming content. While multiplayer and some online progression features like battlepasses will be unavailable in offline mode, this move is seen as a positive step for game preservation. The offline mode will include all content up to the end of Season 4.
Ghost of Yotei (PS5)
Ghost of Yotei offers a relaxing open-world experience on PlayStation 5, featuring locked 60 FPS performance and graphics comparable to Ghost of Tsushima. While the gameplay systems are slightly more complex and exploration is enjoyable, the story and final boss difficulty were found to be less compelling than its predecessor. The game supports offline play, though a day one patch was downloaded to fix bugs and improve the UI.
How To Get Through Your Video Game Backlog
This guide offers strategies for managing and reducing a video game backlog, particularly for large Steam libraries. It suggests taking inventory, deleting unplayed games, tracking finished titles, and writing Steam reviews as methods to make progress and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Ongoing RAM price crisis cited as one of the reasons "game preservation service" Myrient is shutting down this month
The game preservation service Myrient will shut down on March 31, 2026, due to a combination of factors including a lack of funding and increased operational costs. The operator cited rising RAM prices, driven by AI datacenters, as a significant contributor to the increased hosting and hardware expenses, making the site unsustainable.
Only 50 floppy disks of this prototype Japanese visual novel were ever produced, and one just got destroyed in transit: 'Today, an important piece of history has been lost forever'
A rare prototype trial version of the visual novel Tsukihime by Type-Moon, one of only 50 produced, was reportedly destroyed in transit by US Customs. The owner expressed distress over the loss of this historical artifact, highlighting the vulnerabilities of physical game preservation.
One of the biggest ROM sites around calls it quits as RAM prices surge and donations plateau: 'I have been paying…
Myrient, a large ROM site operating as a game preservation service, is shutting down on March 31 due to unsustainable operating costs. The site's sole operator cited a lack of donations to cover increasing expenses, forcing him to pay over $6,000 out of pocket monthly. Donations received after the closure will be forwarded to hShop, a Nintendo 3DS piracy site.
