Legacy Game Backup System

[Trekkan]

Would be nice to have a way to backup your files. I know you can basically do it via FTP, but let me explain.

When you do an import through say Mochi or v3arcade, the files get imported wherever they need to go. I have no idea where that is (I could probably figure it out, but...).

So if there was a backup or something that let you archive all of your stuff, you would retain the original install files for later. Considering for instance that v3arcade is now going under the vbAdvanced guys, who knows what support and access to various games is going to end up like, it could just go away. So to that end, I'd like to have original copies for reimport again later. I hope that makes sense. =) It might be really easy to do already, I have no idea.

 

[Ozzy47]

Yeah it would be nice if it archived them all in their categories, so if for some reason you had to do a complete reinstall they would be in specific folders for each category.

 

[Darkwaltz4]

Every game adds a folder to (forum)/dbtech/vbarcade/media/(gameid) and all their stuff is consolidated there. Zip the media folder and you are done!

 

[Trekkan]

Every game adds a folder to (forum)/dbtech/vbarcade/media/(gameid) and all their stuff is consolidated there. Zip the media folder and you are done!

And that'll allow use to just copy that folder back in and the games will either reimport or just work?

Would it be possible to have a "download" folder to keep a copy of the original games as well? For instance, someone was nice enough to ZIP up all of his games and send them to me, I'd like to be able to do the same if possible for others, that kind of thing.

Or, as we say at work "What if you get hit by a bus?", and then DBT goes up in flames for some reason and we have no support and vBArcade dies, how do we move on to the next greatest thing? Granted, I know that's an extreme case, but... it's the time of thing they drill into us at work.

 

[Darkwaltz4]

There are currently no proprietary vbarcade formats that would make sense for building a proprietary archive schema.

It would only make it HARDER to move to the next big thing should meteors destroy all of dbtech and somehow me.

The best way to archive is with the original archives.

 

[Trekkan]

Ok, fair enough, like I said when I started the thread, I have no idea what the best way is, just exploring possibilities. =)

 

[Darkwaltz4]

Just to extrapolate a little...

Both of the other arcades have their own proprietary game formats, so they can assemble their own proprietary archives. Neither of them generate archives for the other's type, despite being able to import it.

So, maybe in the glorious future where vbarcade somehow has the clout to command its own game format (would be nice - all so far have their unique irritations), it would then have its own archive creation type for it, but until then, should not re-bundle the games from the other types, as like i said, it would not work with any other arcade expecting the old formats, and vbarcade would then have to parse two types of archive for each game type - first its original, and then the vbarcade version. nor should it re-bundle those games as per their original archive formats, because you should just keep those in the first place!

 

[Trekkan]

nor should it re-bundle those games as per their original archive formats, because you should just keep those in the first place!

This is really the main thing I was asking since I have no idea. If the "originals" are stored anywhere. I had/have no idea if Mochi imports the files it needs, where it needs them and deletes the original archive. Or does it download a ZIP or other archive type and leave a copy of that on your website? If all of these systems leave a copy of the original file, awesome and that's what I'm looking for and no need to discuss further. From what you said earlier "(forum)/dbtech/vbarcade/media/(gameid)" should have all of the original files there and we can use those. Which is perfectly fine and all I was looking for. =)

 

[Darkwaltz4]

vBAcade does not delete the archive files of any type you uploaded for bulk importing. Using the live feed for mochi does not download the zip, but that is a very mature platform and finding the downloads for those is very consistent if you wanted to. If mochi goes down, then your games wont work anyway If you are converting from an existing install, you should have had the files used with the previous arcade.