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I'm pleased to inform you guys about (url="http://"http://backup.evula.net/")backup.evula.net,(/url) the newest free service that I've opened over on (url="http://"http://www.evula.net/")evula.net(/url) and is tailored specifically for the Escape Velocity and Coldstone communities.
I'm sure you all care about your Coldstone-created games. Obviously you do, or you wouldn't be here on this board, trying to get better and help foster the Coldstone community so that more good games are relased. However, what happens if your computer crashes? Or, for those of you with laptops, if your computer is stolen? All that data lost...
...but not if you register for a free (url="http://"http://backup.evula.net/")backup.evula.net(/url) account. All you have to do is sign up (did I mention that it is free?), upload your important data, and then you won't have to worry about your Coldstone-developed game suffering from a staggering setback if the worst happens to your computer.
All feedback on this service is welcome. Feel free to use this thread to post any Coldstone-related questions you might have in regards to (url="http://"http://backup.evula.net")backup.evula.net.(/url) If for some reason this topic is locked, feel free to head over to (url="http://"http://forums.evula.com/")my Forums(/url) to share feedback.
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Just feel like reinforcing this: this is a free service being offered to the entire Coldstone community. I hope the Coldstone community is helped even a little bit by this service.
I posted about this yesterday, it's a good idea. You should mention the MB limitations (again). Thanks for looking out for the CGE guys.
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Originally posted by dampeoples: I posted about this yesterday, it's a good idea. You should mention the MB limitations (again).
Good idea.
If people could keep the amount of their uploads under 500 megs per session, that'd be best. That way the server isn't overloaded for everyone else.
Originally posted by dampeoples: Thanks for looking out for the CGE guys.
Not a problem. I'd like to start getting more involved in the Coldstone community. Some might see that as a good thing, some might see that as a bad thing... I just see it as an inevitability.
Okay, I understand the uploading part and the fact that the files do not stay on the server. During the time between uploading and archiveing, or in the event I need my files back and request a reload to the server, are they in some way password protected? Or can anyone else download them off your server?
An open note to those who know him not: EVula just talks in devilish terms. I have seen no signs of horns or forked tail in the long while that he has hosted the PoG sectional map for me and provided a home for the Damsels in Distress beta versions. I think this is a wonderful idea.
Thank you, EVula. ~RD
------------------ My Doctor said I was having too much wine, women, and song - so I gave up singing because 2 out of 3 is not so bad. The (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/")Kingdom of Garendall(/url) sectional map is easily printed from gif format pages. (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/damsels.sit?path=pog/addons&file;=damselsV1.1.sit")Damsels in Distress(/url) - A plugin for PoG. (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/rduck/RD-DEL.jpg")RD-DEL(/url)
While I appreciate your offer, backing up on someone else's computer seems a little awkward to me. I simply back up by (1) periodically burning my game on a CD, and (2) placing my game on an external hard drive. I do both. That way, I have total control of my game, and there's no worries about someone hacking in. I have my game on a laptop that I do not connect to the internet.
It seems to me that what's really needed by the Coldstone community is a way to actually place completed games on a server and in a web page so that clients can download a game to play. This would be for people who do not have access to space on a server, but want their games up.
As it is, there are good, cheap servers out there that will give you space and you have total control to backup and/or put up your own webpage so you can get your game downloaded. I pay $10 a month, but that server company requires sites to be business sites. I know of another that doesn't require you to have a business for $13 a month. That is, if you want no pop-up ads, which I don't.
------------------ -- Debra Danillitphil Productions (url="http://"http://www.danillitphil.com/graphics/index.html")www.danillitphil.com(/url)
I agree with debra. Especially if your game is nearing 100 mbs and you have dialup. Its a great idea, but I think that burning a cd once and a while is good enough for me.
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Well, don't forget that anything you send to EVula is never lost, since he draws drive space out of thin air.
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Hmm. Well Ambrosia let us host freeware CS games in the CS Add-ons section. I think that this is a good way for them to advertise Coldstone and show what it can do. I'm just wondering if that, when there are enough games wanting to be uploaded, Ambrosia will create a seperate section for CS called Sample Games or something like that.
Originally posted by Rubber Ducky: During the time between uploading and archiveing, or in the event I need my files back and request a reload to the server, are they in some way password protected? Or can anyone else download them off your server?
Individual file protection is left up to the user, but virtual directory listings will be turned off. No one can go to backup.evula.net/rubberducky/, for instance, and see everything you've uploaded. They'd have to know the exact file name for every file to access anything. You can also create an infinite number of subdirectories to store information in, which will further complicate a ne'er-do-well's life when it comes to accessing your data. I could password-protect the entire directory to block it from being accessed via a browser, I suppose, but that'd complicate the process slightly. Maybe I'll make it an option on the form...
However, that is a valid concern. I'm going to be updating the FAQ tonight to include the various things that people have asked me about.
Originally posted by Debra: While I appreciate your offer, backing up on someone else's computer seems a little awkward to me. <snip>
To each their own. I'm just offering a service here; people doing their own backup is naturally going to be better than anything I can offer.
Originally posted by Debra: It seems to me that what's really needed by the Coldstone community is a way to actually place completed games on a server and in a web page so that clients can download a game to play.
(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/games/coldstone/addons.html")This seems like it could work for that purpose.(/url)
Ambrosia actually hosting games, any games, that a Coldstone game-maker would create doesn't quite make good business sense to me. We're supposing that Ambrosia will take any game and distribute it, while the games that they actually DO distribute are games that Ambrosia has accepted to distribute. It's business. And I'm not sure that uploading to the addon file page is really adequate. I suppose that it would be adequate for the Coldstone community to know where to download, but I wonder if anyone outside of the Coldstone community would know to look there to download a game. My point is that I question that using the addon page is adequate:
(1) Does Ambrosia, then, actually sponsor these games for distribution?
(2) Wasn't it originally a temporary solution to help people download in order to play and vote? And wasn't it just as a way for us to support a competition?
(3) Should we assume that we can then use the addon page for any game?
(4) What would be the audience? Who would know to go to an addon page to download a game?
I think that what IS needed is a site where a webpage will advertise games and make games available for download. Ambrosia does this (like Uplink); and they choose which games to accept for distribution. Using the addon page is, indeed, inadequate.
(edit) Sorry this isn't as well-written as I'd like for it to be. After teaching all day, I'm now brain-dead -- or at least going to sleep!
(This message has been edited by Debra (edited 02-11-2004).)
Another thing, RD, that you could do to protect your files is encrypt them with a password.
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Debra sez: **
(2) Wasn't it originally a temporary solution to help people download in order to play and vote? And wasn't it just as a way for us to support a competition? ** the information regarding uploading to the addons page was dug up from months ago, it in it of itself had nothing to do with a competition, (url="http://"http://showcase.ellrx.com/vote.html"){CGE SHOWCASE, VOTE NOW OR DIE }(/url).
It was explored as a viable solution( in the coldstone chat ) for those; (a) who didn't have a website (two) wouldn't have a website (toi) don't have adequate bandwidth or storage (IV.) wished to enter regardless of the above.
this was in no means orchestrated or discussed, it was accessible information to the public employed by a few shiny pennies.
1. The games in all actuality sponsor Ambrosia and CGE, they are the hey look what you can do with CGE, they become propaganda. Considering that there have been less than 25 games published with CGE i don't see the mistake in hosting them as files, i don't think its going to cost Ambrosia in the long run. This is not uncommon of most game making tools/ development tools to have a "made with" segment, which inspires new users...etc etc.
2. unless something changes we were all informed that we can submit games, made with CGE, to the addons section.
4. how does one normally find out about a game, it must be advertised/publicized. Realistically information about the showcase and the 5 games would be absolutely unknown to you had their existance not been shared.
The addons page allows for games/files hosted by instable or temporary means to still exist. Say for instance that one of us created a beautiful game, but no longer had the means to pay for hosting, then the game would be lost and would have to be distributed by a 3rd party or be lost forever to the world, the addons page is acting as a library.
If this is your argument then one could submit that they should screen out files deemed substandard, irrelevant or of no consequence.
let's speak out against or question a community resource, with no percievable outcome other than to jeopardize/question/review its continued availability.
------------------
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Originally posted by ellrx:
If this is your argument ....
What you wrote is not my argument.
Originally posted by Debra: Ambrosia actually hosting games, any games, that a Coldstone game-maker would create doesn't quite make good business sense to me.
Showcasing what your product can do makes perfectly good business sense to me.
Originally posted by Debra: We're supposing that Ambrosia will take any game and distribute it, while the games that they actually DO distribute are games that Ambrosia has accepted to distribute. It's business.
There is a difference between distributing something and merely hosting something. Take the Chronicles, for instance. Does Ambrosia distribute those?
Originally posted by Debra: I wonder if anyone outside of the Coldstone community would know to look there to download a game.
How would anyone outside the Coldstone community know to go to a 3rd party website to download a game?
Originally posted by Debra: (1) Does Ambrosia, then, actually sponsor these games for distribution?
No.
Originally posted by Debra: (2) Wasn't it originally a temporary solution to help people download in order to play and vote? And wasn't it just as a way for us to support a competition?
No, The Addons are a standard feature for every single game that Ambrosia releases. Its been that way ever since Ambrosia started hosting their game information on AmbrosiaSW.com. It most certainly isn't a temporary solution.
(that is assuming that "it" means "the coldstone addons")
Originally posted by Debra: (3) Should we assume that we can then use the addon page for any game?
As long as it is a non-commercial game, I don't see how it competes with Ambrosia's revenue stream. However, as a mere moderator who doesn't represent Ambrosia in these matters, that's mere speculation, but I would be willing to bet that moki would agree with me.
Originally posted by Debra: (4) What would be the audience? Who would know to go to an addon page to download a game?
...anyone who visited the Coldstone home page, I would guess.
Besides, it isn't Ambrosia's responsibility to advertise the game's location, its the individual developer's.
Originally posted by Debra: I think that what IS needed is a site where a webpage will advertise games and make games available for download. Ambrosia does this (like Uplink); and they choose which games to accept for distribution. Using the addon page is, indeed, inadequate.
<cryptic grin>
I wonder if people really believe that Ambrosia takes any game to sponsor (or host), especially just because it was made by Coldstone.
Nevertheless, I was hoping that you, EVula, (or anyone else) would offer dedicated space on your server for someone to place (on a permanent web page) and maintain any or all of the games.
If people think that I'm having ulterior motives to try to help distribute my own game when it's finished, please don't. I'll be taking care of that myself and have no intention of using either the addon page or a third-party's site, unless it's picked up by a distributor. But being picked up by a professional distributor is something I'm not prepared to think about yet. My only concern is for those people who really don't have a permanent outlet.
But, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. And if people really ARE happy just with using the addon page, then that's okay too.
(This message has been edited by Debra (edited 02-12-2004).)
Originally posted by Debra: Nevertheless, I was hoping that you, EVula, (or anyone else) would offer dedicated space on your server for someone to place (on a permanent web page) and maintain any or all of the games.
Couldn't you just host your completed games at EvUlA.org? I think it's limited to something like 20MB, but surely he'd make a few exceptions to increase the space alloted, he's always been reasonable when webboard members requested stuff from him.
It seems EVula.org currently isn't accepting any new registrations, so backup.evula.net would be better. And, no, (sorry EVula), I don't think anyone will make all that much use of it.
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Originally posted by LifeKnight: It seems EVula.org currently isn't accepting any new registrations, so backup.evula.net would be better.
No it wouldn't. Files uploaded to backup.evula.net are around for a whopping 4 days at the most before they are removed. Read up on the service, since you seem to be a bit confused about what exactly it does.
And evula.org won't be closed forever.
And the cryptic grin... nah, I won't bother explaining it.