Graal: Nostalgia

[Tigairius]

This idea originated with the idea of bringing back an old version of Classic from 2000 or so, but has transformed into something larger than that.

I was thinking about a server with a collection of backups of old (notable) servers.

I have been collecting backups of servers for a long time, and recently got my hands on a few good ones (Classic from 2000 and Valikorlia from about 2002, thanks Rufus and Kixt). So, I was thinking that if I can get enough completed backups of these sort of servers, why not show them to people? Old players would love to "go back in time" to view the servers they once loved and hold dear to their hearts, and new players would enjoy viewing what Graal used to be.

Here is where the problems come in: content ownership and respecting the current servers. A few servers I would love to put on this all-in-one inclusive nostalgia server include the early version of these servers (1999-2003):

• Classic [have bits and pieces]
• Valikorlia [have bits and pieces] - Have manager's permission
• Babylon
• Unholy Nation - Have manager's permission
• N-Pulse
• Delteria - Have manager's permission
• Maloria
• Doomsday
• Graal 2001
• Graal 3000
• Providence
• Rudora
• Enigma
• Elven Lands [have bits and pieces]
• And more greats...

However, out of respect for what these servers have become today, we would have to make sure they don't steal playercount from the current servers and I will need the permission from each current playerworld owner that would be interested. So, that means, I need an OK from the managers of: Classic, Val, Babylon, UN, N-Pulse, and Delteria.

I don't remember who the last manager of Elven Lands was, or other servers that would be fun to add, but would like their permission as well.

I will also need help collecting the backups of these fine servers. I do not want any GScript2 in any of the levels, because it ruins the nostalgic sense. The levels must be from <= 2003.

I will need your help, if you have backups of any of those servers from the time of 1999-2003, or even bits and pieces, email them to me.

I will also need someone to help by hosting a server to do this on.

Here is how I want it to work:
You will log into the server and get a choice of which server you want to "go back in time" to. There may be multiple versions of one server eventually.

Now, this is nothing set in stone, but I want to hear your guys' opinions/comments/suggestions.

[Galdor]

could be fun I guess

[salesman]

I think your focus should be more on the future.

[Tigairius]

Originally Posted by salesman

I think your focus should be more on the future.

Well this is not something that will be time consuming, my focus is still in the future, but it would still be fun to visit the past.

[salesman]

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Well this is not something that will be time consuming, my focus is still in the future, but it would still be fun to visit the past.

I guess, but I don't see it helping anything...and it could potentially hurt current playerworlds. Maybe if it wasn't permanent

[Tigairius]

Originally Posted by salesman

I guess, but I don't see it helping anything...and it could potentially hurt current playerworlds. Maybe if it wasn't permanent

Well, that's why I want to be very careful to not steal the playercount of the current servers, and I am willing to remove the server from the nostalgic server at the manager's request.

[alarid0]

Originally Posted by salesman

I guess, but I don't see it helping anything...and it could potentially hurt current playerworlds. Maybe if it wasn't permanent

A few weeks of every year to open this and have players reminisce? Or a one shot deal?

[salesman]

Originally Posted by alarid0

A few weeks of every year to open this and have players reminisce? Or a one shot deal?

Either. I could see it losing its flare after a few weeks...but if it was only a temporary "event" (for lack of a better word) then I could see it being pretty cool.

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Well this is not something that will be time consuming, my focus is still in the future, but it would still be fun to visit the past.

So you will try to run that next to pwa and gk administration?
Sounds like you are starting to overdo it..
And the list of quarter 2 updates on gk was already extremely tiny.

On topic:

People have repeatedly shown interest in old servers or old styles, but hey, do you plan to recode all servers?
Thor has already stated reason that they are not just uploading the old content, as if they want or not, nearly anything would have to be rewritten.

I'd seriously say no. Let the dead rest and concentrate on preventing graal from finally dieing. Can't say that the playercount has reached high-scores in the last few.. years? month?

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Well this is not something that will be time consuming, my focus is still in the future, but it would still be fun to visit the past.

You sound like the typical evil villian o.o...

On another note, I don't think this would do much for bringing players to the server, but it would be fun to mess around with in spare time, what's not to lose?

Some people didn't seem to read when they talk about you rescripting everything.

[Tigairius]

Originally Posted by Darklux

So you will try to run that next to pwa and gk administration?
Sounds like you are starting to overdo it..
And the list of quarter 2 updates on gk was already extremely tiny.

It's not something that I will have to try hard to run, it's as simple as uploading a backup, period. Please stay on topic, this is not about PWA or GK.

Originally Posted by Clockwork

You sound like the typical evil villian o.o...

On another note, I don't think this would do much for bringing players to the server, but it would be fun to mess around with in spare time, what's not to lose?

Some people didn't seem to read when they talk about you rescripting everything.

I don't plan on rescripting a single thing. In response to both of you, this is not a server that I would expect to hold a playercount. It's not something I even care to see players on, this is more for people who want to visit their old homes, regardless of the playercount.

I also think it might be better to do this as sort of a fun event. It could last for a few weeks and then we can take it down.

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

Unless the Maloria version you're talking about is from Orange Mal, no, you may not use our old content.

I'm not talking about the Maloria on which we met each other, I'm talking about the one from 2003ish, with the ugly brightish green grass.

[Spark910]

I've often thought about this and think it would be amazing. I have a pretty busy summer but plan to potentially return to development of Graal so would be open to a project like this! However I think such a project would be best as an actual server rather than a museum - I'm still not sure of your exact aspirations with the old versions of content you'll obtain.

I would however object to the idea of 'going back in time' at some sort of opening screen because there aren't enough players to make such an idea work well. I'd must prefer parts of the servers to be used as islands or perhaps towns/areas on an island - so that all the players are together in one world as Graal at its peak for me was all about running around and seeing other people.

Making it too fragmented or big (including overall level design, which to take my favourite of the list (Rudora) made it work despite a low playercounter as the levels were generally small in the main town and overworld to make sure you walked past other players) in my opinion will hurt the overall gameplay.

[Elk]

Frolic! LOL

[Luda]

Cynical Online and Bravo

[-Albus]

No. This has been done before with Graal Classic and it was a huge failure.