16 replies to this topic

[JCfan]

It sounds a bit silly to me. There are already several forums that have the information like RSC, Blackhole and this one, so why somewheres else? Surely the older stuff is of no use anymores? I only use the better stuff and its the newer stuff anyways.

The soldout company no longer has the GPL so are you going to release it? I saw prices on ebay very high now.



jc

[ginetto]

Hi jc ,

About your question, I don't know if you were around when m4driving stopped its services....
lots of infos got lost with it.

Don't think that things are going to be always as they are now, you never know what will happen to other people and what they will decide to do.

Maybe the final user don't realize how much work and how many programs, from lots of people that putted their time into this, you need to produce better and better things.

As you said, the latter things can be the better, that's just because the tools and the knowledge are improving; otherwise we will always be at the initial point of: "how you access to the data of the exe?"

I think its' a great idea, especially for a healty future development of the SIM.

Anyway, I found dangermouse post pretty exaustive ( is it a word?):

WHY?
1) To acquire and catalog every car, track, utility and file available for GPL. Not the rights to these products, mind you (although we will offer that service if someone so wishes), but rather as a central repository of these files so they will never be lost. We do not intend to be the primary distributor of these files; we just intend to preserve them.

2) To act as a knowledge base for the creation of GPL mods, and to provide assistance if needed.

3) To actively promote GPL both within and outside of our community. Again, we have a unique product, and we don’t want it to be forgotten.

4) To support the online racing community, and to do what is necessary to keep the online community healthy, whether it’s league-based or casual pick-up racing.

hope it clarified a little...

Ciao!

[FourWheelDrift]

JCfan, on Jan 27 2007, 08:57 PM, said:

Why the "Preservation Society"?

I thought it was because someone said. "....'old on lads..........I think I've got an idea.......er........."

Clickity click click here for glorious technosound

[Arturo Pereira]

Ginetto, on Jan 27 2007, 09:34 PM, said:

Hi jc ,

About your question, I don't know if you were around when m4driving stopped its services....
lots of infos got lost with it.

Don't think that things are going to be always as they are now, you never know what will happen to other people and what they will decide to do.

Maybe the final user don't realize how much work and how many programs, from lots of people that putted their time into this, you need to produce better and better things.

As you said, the latter things can be the better, that's just because the tools and the knowledge are improving; otherwise we will always be at the initial point of: "how you access to the data of the exe?"

I think its' a great idea, especially for a healty future development of the SIM.

Anyway, I found dangermouse post pretty exaustive ( is it a word?):

WHY?
1) To acquire and catalog every car, track, utility and file available for GPL. Not the rights to these products, mind you (although we will offer that service if someone so wishes), but rather as a central repository of these files so they will never be lost. We do not intend to be the primary distributor of these files; we just intend to preserve them.

2) To act as a knowledge base for the creation of GPL mods, and to provide assistance if needed.

3) To actively promote GPL both within and outside of our community. Again, we have a unique product, and we don’t want it to be forgotten.

4) To support the online racing community, and to do what is necessary to keep the online community healthy, whether it’s league-based or casual pick-up racing.

hope it clarified a little...

Ciao!

Extremely well said  

[dangermouse]

JCfan, on Jan 27 2007, 08:57 PM, said:

The soldout company no longer has the GPL so are you going to release it? I saw prices on ebay very high now.

Hello and welcome to the SRMZ JC,
Hopefully Ginetto has clarified your questions. On the bit about Sold-Out you will find that they're going to re-stock it again which is great news as that means there can now be more new users again. Have a look at THIS thread.
If you have any more queries please don't hesitate to ask.

[Rudy Dingemans]

Also, it's not like nobody uses "the older stuff" any more. I've spent a lot of time looking for older add-ons and older car models for GPL, which looked less sophisticated graphically but were simpler, so they used less FPS on my older computer - i.e., it made GPL run a little faster at the time.  

So there is a use for both newer and older addons, and let's not forget, people usually put a lot of work - for free! - in every addon.

Regards, Rudy
(GPLRank: -31)

PS. I think that's the "Self-preservation society" Fourwheeldrift  

Edited by Rudy Dingemans, Jan 28 2007 - 02:22 PM.

[Bernd Nowak]

Why ?

Because it's much easier to lost data for the community then to develop it.

As for releasing GPL. I'm happy that Sold Out has made the announcement that they will restock it but be sure that we are discussing and trying to do as much as possible. If you by chance have a lot of money (a millionaire by chance ?   ) to spend things would be much easier    but still not easy.

Can you imagine that even finding a concept how to cataloge the files is an immensive work ?

But thanks for the question itself as it's the most important one

[BGIS]

JCfan, on Jan 27 2007, 09:57 PM, said:

The soldout company no longer has the GPL so are you going to release it? I saw prices on ebay very high now.



jc

   I ordered my copy 4 days ago and recieved it today.  I play rfactor alot and know the time will be split between GPL and rFactor now.

[Bernd Nowak]

Welcome BGIS, yes luckily Sold-Out has restocked GPL and it's available now If you use the GPLPS GPL Installer with the Sold-Out CD you should be up in minutes

[SimonKevNorris]

I have also just ordered another copy through Sold Out Software (I've told some people about the game and when they tried the game was sold out).  It happens every now and then - the good news is that Sold Out Software keep restocking.

Good to here that another web-site is doing it's best to 'preserve the game'.  It's frustrating when web site close down.

I bought the game originally way back when it first came out.  Still rubbish at it but I enjoy the challenge.

I have always been 'blown away' by the various mods and track projects that have been released over the years.     

[Aysedasi]

Bernd Nowak, on Feb 5 2007, 07:38 AM, said:

Why ?

Because it's much easier to lost data for the community then to develop it.

Absolutely right.  I came back here yesterday for the first time since April 2006!  I recently reinstalled GPL after 2 years or more away (I just don't have the time these days to drive for hours like I used to!), and although I'd managed to save quite a lot of stuff (cars, tracks etc) there's a lot of catching up to do and without people trying to preserve the greatest racing sim ever made, one day, I wouldn't be able to do that.......

[miclar1]

Got my copy of GPL from SoldOut about a month ago (received in record time).  I've been an N2K3 addict since it was released, but I'm a newbie to this sim and have an awful lot of learning and downloading to do.  I'm really grateful that "old" stuff is still available.

[EdwRom]

I think that the recent loss of attached files at the rsc forums is enough reason to have a repository. I was an avid ICR2 player/editor until I upgraded to XP last year and had video card incompatibity issues. I had tried the original demo, with issues, in my old PC and I was impressed. I had to finally try this sim. I can't imagine updating this sim without the files that I downloaded from rsc before the crash. Since the crash I have had to e-mail/PM the original creators of the addons or post a request either  there and here for all the files I have missed and are now lost. A repository would take care of this (as long as the uploads are triple backed up, hehe).
Ed

[fredo76]

I am building up a database for the great GPL movies to bring them back online. As you might can imagine this eats webspace like popcorn    but i might can offer enough for some kind of repository, too.

how much do we need?
which software you would prefer to access the files?
if we make it available for all, i will need all the editors permissions.

Regards
fredo76
https://www.gplmovies.com

[Bernd Nowak]

One problem is the space but the main problem is the bandwidth. Maybe a torrent would help ? But this would only work if the authors gave permission.

Database should be mysql based. I have no idea about torrents. Bill ?