[game_preservation] IGN is closing the Gamespy and Classicgaming networks

[Devin Monnens]

By the way, the guys at Kontek are offering free hosting for all
Classicgaming refugees, so it's likely many will find their way to
domain.kontek.com
So there might not be a need for a total panic just yet, but I figured I'd
at least get the info out there...

-Devin

On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 5:38 PM, Devin Monnens <dmonnens at gmail.com> wrote:


> The deadline they gave is midnight, August 31. They claim it would be too

> expensive to upgrade their servers:

> "We're moving our datacenter and the hosting platform is not compatible.

> The cost and resources to upgrade it are not realistically possible in the

> timeframe we have available for the move, so unfortunately this has forced

> us to make this very tough decision."

>

> Personally, I think it's a horrible decision on IGN's part and I'll be

> certain to let everyone I talk to know that.

>

> You're welcome to have a complete backup of the Metroid Database. I don't

> know how much is on the site (not including the Fileplanet files) but I've

> initiated a backup of the site proper that I'll be burning to DVD later

> (using my new burner, too :) However, it's a living site, so we'll certainly

> have a few additions between now and August 31 (especially with the Metroid

> Prime Trilogy coming out).

>

> If I don't hear back from Classicgaming within the next few days, I'll post

> a message on the forums about this and also contact all the admins I know.

>

> -Devin

>

>

> On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 5:29 PM, Andrew Armstrong <andrew at aarmstrong.org>wrote:

>

>>  I'll really have to get into the web archiving stuff, get some crawlers

>> running off my PC for things like this and get some hard drives to store it

>> all on - for the Web Archive Team efforts I'd hope.

>>

>> Start backing up those DB's now - ask that everyone gets their material

>> into an offline location and, if they'd like, posted on the net or sent to

>> us - I am hoping to get a collection for zipped up website content on the

>> Internet Archive which is good for things like that which would bypass

>> filters. There are several games basically only covered on

>> Gamespy/Classicgaming - one good example, for instance, is Team Fortress

>> Classic, which after getting nostalgic, really took me forever to find any

>> information on, videos of, screenshots etc. except there.

>>

>> Also, on a personal note - this is pretty bad from IGN (although at least

>> it's with a warning), I doubt it'd save them too much money in the long run,

>> rather then reusing the sites or attempting to improve them first. I am

>> however surprised, in a way, it "took so long" since the mergers and other

>> problems they have had with Gamespy. I'll also be looking to at some point

>> in the future do a massive file download of important files on Fileplanet

>> (I'll ask permission first, but as they don't own any of the files on there

>> anyway, apart from possibly getting a premium account to help with it

>> there's little need to) since they won't likely get any of that archived if

>> they did decide to shut that part down, which I'd see happening at some

>> point in the future if they move such stuff to IGN's main site.

>>

>> Thanks for bringing it up, I'll try and get a news post up about it.

>>

>> Andrew

>>

>> Devin Monnens wrote:

>>

>> IGN has announced they will no longer be hosting the Gamespy and

>> Classicgaming networks (but that they will still keep Fileplanet alive). I

>> think they did this to cut costs in a season of bad economy - but it's not

>> like I enjoyed IGN anyway.

>>

>> However, this raises a problem. As some of you may know, I run a

>> Classicgaming domain, The Metroid Database, and so we've been talking

>> amongst ourselves about where the site will be going - and so is everyone

>> else who is running a site. Right now, I'm waiting to hear back from

>> Classicgaming to see where they are deciding to go, but I just wanted to

>> give you guys a heads-up that it's very possible some of these sites will be

>> going down for good, and that means the SIG has an opportunity to make sure

>> these pages get saved and archived.

>>

>> Again, this was literally announced last night, and so I don't know if the

>> Classicgaming guys even know what they'll be doing. If Classicgaming will

>> retain its own domain and pay for the hosted sites, then that will be good.

>> Otherwise, places will be moving elsewhere and may be lost entirely.

>>

>> -Devin Monnens

>>

>> --

>> Devin Monnens

>> www.deserthat.com

>>

>> The sleep of Reason produces monsters.

>>

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>

>

> --

> Devin Monnens

> www.deserthat.com

>

> The sleep of Reason produces monsters.

>




-- 
Devin Monnens
www.deserthat.com

The sleep of Reason produces monsters.
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