A2F Archive

[Terra_Inc]

FF's long-standing community manager Jeff posted this in a thread at the FF forums yesterday.

Hey all,

While the fact that the Network Sites are now, suddenly, offline may come as a surprise to many, we all knew this day would come.

Of course, the websites were a big part of the history and overall contribution to GameFront for a lengthy period of time. They brought with them a thriving community based around popular titles of the time and files that couldn't be found anywhere else on the internet. (literally) Of course, we had our spats and occasional turbulent times, but in the end we all came together as one big family.

The problem is, the house we lived in wasn't built in a way that could allow those who didn't create it, to fix its issues properly. When you try to fix one thing, several other sections would break down. Of course, when you bring in a team that has never seen the network site code before and ask them to repair the issues, you're going to find that it's as daunting a task as asking a toddler to stop saying "no".

So, because of the difficulty and amount of work it would take to even learn how everything operated before anything could be fixed, it was pushed to the back burner to fix other portions of GameFront.

Now, I would like to say in the defense of our corporate overlords that they did return to the network sites to look into them when they could, but, as I said above about not knowing what made what work, they ended up not doing much of anything to fix the issues. It's not their fault, the way the sites were coded were never really meant to make sense to those who created it as they never expected others to ever look at it.

So here we are, a large portion of GameFront that hasn't been able to be updated in years, mixed with random issues that plague it such as screenshots randomly not loading even when they're physically there or the load balance issue that forced you to refresh the page until you were given a valid link to download a file from. It went from a symbol of gaming quality to a blotch on GameFront that made us look broken.

The sites were taken offline and will not return. Right now, we're working on getting the domains to redirect to their respective GameFront counterparts. But, the network sites as you knew them are gone.

I apologize to those who still used them and throughout the years of their use, I thank the volunteers that participated in making them work. Without your support, they wouldn't have lasted nearly as long as they have.

Thanks,
Jeff Mills
GameFront Site/Community/All-of-the-above Manager

As for the files themselves, they are apparently still on the server, and can be accessed from the gamefront page. I don't know if it has all of them, though, and it obviously lacks the polish of the old network sites. Also, I have no idea how long they will remain there. I for one am very glad to have backed up all my favorite files years ago.

----- ----- -----​

Many of us here at the MSFC used to frequent A2Files. I invite you to share your memories of our former home and your feelings about its demise.

I, for one, am sad to see A2Files gone. Sure, it was in a really bad shape the last years, but even so it was a testament to the A1/A2 modding community in its golden age. I still remember how I found the site, and shortly afterwards learnt how to mod. Those were good days, and I made many friends in that unforgettable time. Some of them have left the community, never to be seen again. Some of them are still here, on the community sites that remain. It falls to us now to keep alive the memories of the days that were, the community that was and the site that is no longer.

Good night, A2Files. Rest in peace.

 

[CABAL]

I remember that I first came to the Armada community through AFC, but it wasn't long before that led me to A2F. I started hanging around the forums just as the Jetnova fiasco was dying down. I remember when FO3 came out and people were excited about the new features, and how the comment sections exploded into a flame war over FO3 mod support. The big thing, though, is that the A2F forums were where I joined the HFC team. Early in development, DinoJR got Majestic to set up a subforum here and this is where I've been ever since. The mod didn't work out, but being here has been a lot of fun.

---

Later, I'll see what we can pull from GameFront and if anything is accessible via the Wayback Machine. Maybe we can archive the files, if not here then one somebody's hard drive.

 

[Rifraf]

Oh no. Terrible news. I'm so glad I recently grabbed Aad's latest Dominion release. I think I have around 16 GB of files from there from over the years.

I always lurked in the shadows on the forums and read all the brilliant ideas people had and all the great works that were released to the community. I was always so eager to see the next new ship or mod or model somebody made. Awesome work everyone.

 

[Jetfreak]

Speaking of Aad, can anyone please share his recent stuff? My main beef with A2files was its denial of service to non-western countries a few years back. That was a real bummer.

RIP A2files, many good memories though and it allowed me to meet some mighty fine people. It pretty much jump started my motivation to do 3d artworks.

 

[MajorPayne]

...and there was me wondering why I've not been able to access them since coming back from holiday

 

[kjc733]

I'm so glad I recently grabbed Aad's latest Dominion release.

Aad released some Dominions ships?

 

[CABAL]

Oh no. Terrible news. I'm so glad I recently grabbed Aad's latest Dominion release. I think I have around 16 GB of files from there from over the years.

If the readme has a functioning email address, could you forward it to me in a PM or email him about migrating his stuff over here?

 

[CABAL]

I'm in the process of using GameFront and the Wayback Machine to archive everything I can find to my computer, one section at a time. This will be backed up to multiple hard drives. Unfortunately, the oldest files are either not available on GameFront or are in the wrong portion of the site. I'll be using this thread to post what's missing so I don't spend too much time looking for any one file. Also, the last time A2F was archived was May 26th, so I don't have anything from after that day, nor would I know it was missing.

I have so far gone through the A1 Maps section. Attached is the list of missing files. This list will be updated each time I complete a section. If you have one of the missing files, please send it to me via PM.

If there is a file you want off of A2F, use the Wayback Machine to find it and get me a file name (and preferably a location, e.g. Armada 2 -> Maps -> 2 Player or Armada 1 -> Ships -> Federation) and I'll pull it from the archive.

 

[Rifraf]

I have tons a files from over the years. Probably 99% are for A2. Let me know if you might need anything or something.

 

[Rifraf]

If the readme has a functioning email address, could you forward it to me in a PM or email him about migrating his stuff over here?

PM'd

Aad released some Dominions ships?

Yeah. Here's an excerpt from his readme:

I like the Dominion Ultimate mod a lot and I wanted to add my versions of ships and stations.
After a long time I finally completed this project.

In this folder you find all ships and stations of the Dominion and Breen.

You need to have installed the Dominion ultimate 1.4 extension mod.

He did an excellent job as always. I'll PM to you if you'd like. I also emailed him to invite him over and/or ask permission to host his files if anyone here was interested

 

[Zelph]

I've never used the Wayback before. Would I be able to get some help grabbing my stuff off of SFC3Files? I didn't back up as much as I thought I did...

 

[Zelph]

I stumbled upon both SFC3Files and A2Files around the same time back in...oh, probably late 2003. I never produced anything for A2 - I still haven't unfortunately - as I always found it too intimidating to try and mod without a readme. I was quite active on SFC3Files, and enjoyed being part of that community through the majority of my high school years.

I'll never forget the summer of '05. I had to have some reconstructive surgery that summer and was stuck in my room for about a month. During that time I started feverishly trying to work on a full conversion, re-balanced and everything, called The Second Romulan War. I made fairly decent progress actually. The only thing that stopped me was the inability to create the mission. Good times.

RIP A2 and SFC3Files...

 

[CABAL]

I've never used the Wayback before. Would I be able to get some help grabbing my stuff off of SFC3Files? I didn't back up as much as I thought I did...

I'll see what I can do. Was your username Zelph over there, too?

Also, because I realized it wasn't particularly clear, you can't actually download the files through the Wayback Machine. I'm just grabing the files off of an unordered list at GameFront and using the Wayback Machine's image of A2F to sort them.

EDIT: Was this your stuff, Zelph?
https://web.archive.org/web/2013051...mmand3.filefront.com/developer/ss2gohan;15136
If that's it I'll pull it off of GF and send it to you.

 

[Zelph]

EDIT: Was this your stuff, Zelph?
https://web.archive.org/web/2013051...mmand3.filefront.com/developer/ss2gohan;15136
If that's it I'll pull it off of GF and send it to you.

That was indeed me! How'd ya know? Or did I mention that I once used that name before? Regardless, much obliged, if you could download and send that to me, I'd be in your debt sir.

 

[CABAL]

That was indeed me! How'd ya know? Or did I mention that I once used that name before? Regardless, much obliged, if you could download and send that to me, I'd be in your debt sir.

I found some files from here that were yours and also on SFC3 Files and just clicked the username. You should have a PM with them attached.

 

[Zelph]

Much obliged sir!

 

[kjc733]

He did an excellent job as always. I'll PM to you if you'd like. I also emailed him to invite him over and/or ask permission to host his files if anyone here was interested

I'm surprised he didn't post them here anyway, he used to post his stuff on MSFC. But if you could pm them that'd be great.

RIP A2 and SFC3Files...

And BC Files

 

[Terra_Inc]

While I can't promise that my archives will be of any use, I'll keep an eye out for any files I might be able to contribute.

I also emailed him to invite him over and/or ask permission to host his files if anyone here was interested

Yeah, good idea. At least he'd find a few people who still actively mod every now and then.

 

[Terra_Inc]

Alright, little archive update on my part.

After collecting bits and pieces spread across four different HDDs, I'm pretty sure I've found every A2-related file that I still have. While it's not much compared to the sheer masses of files at the former A2Files, it might help filling some gaps. I also went through the gamefront archives and saved some older files I still remember fondly from my very early modding days. I'll put all of it on an external HDD and probably make a lot of backups.

Also, as it turns out I have a lot of as of yet unreleased stuff from several former community members on my HDD! Not sure what to do with it. I might try and reach out to them (since the A2Files community is effectively dead and I haven't seen any of them forever) and ask them about it.

I have to say, doing this feels ... unreal. Ye olde A2F was a pretty important part of my life for many years, and trawling through its ruins is just undescribeable. I get shivers just looking at the dates of some files, or remembering how happy I felt to see them posted. The nostalgia just hits me like a freight train.
Anyway, don't mind my ramblings. Keep on preserving the work of the community for posterity.

 

[Majestic]

If anyone can get in contact with some of these members and get them over here it would be great. MSFC might not be as big as A2F but we're still active and at least the community can continue here in terms of downloads and community discussion.

 

[Rifraf]

Aad Moerman thanked me and said he hopes to join MSFC. Fingers crossed. I know he does a lot of modeling and would surely have plenty of people here to converse with about it and show of all his works.

 

[Majestic]

Yeah he is a great guy and would be a welcomed addition to the MSFC family.

 

[CABAL]

Aad Moerman thanked me and said he hopes to join MSFC. Fingers crossed. I know he does a lot of modeling and would surely have plenty of people here to converse with about it and show of all his works.

He said the same thing to me.

 

[dvatreknerd314]

I've got a large number of files on my computer. Some are from A2, some from Bridge Commander, some SFC, but with SFC, I can't remember which came from FileFront, AFC, and which came from a different site (can't remember the name, but it had SFC files there). I had a dropbox (or google drive) link somewhere with files that were uploaded to FileFront after the policy changes because some people here couldn't reach the site. I'll see what I've got and see what I can contribute.

 

[Terra_Inc]

For those who don't visit FO.net, Doca said he had a backup of around 99% of the A2Files database, including comments, etc. Apparently he's going to make it available in the next few weeks. Let's hope for the best.

 

[Zelph]

You know, it's kind of weird, but I think A2File's demise might do more for resurrecting the A2 community than it could while it was up and running. Nostalgia is a powerful thing.

 

[Terra_Inc]

You know, it's kind of weird, but I think A2File's demise might do more for resurrecting the A2 community than it could while it was up and running. Nostalgia is a powerful thing.

Oh, I definitely agree! I think people are right when they say that you only know the value of something once it's gone. In any case, the fall of A2Files causes the remains of the community to sort of rally around the remaining sites. It has a bit of an apocalyptic 'we all have to stick together as a community' feeling.

Actually, I think I've seen something like this before. Hold on...

The long night has come. Armada2Files - the greatest modding site in History - has fallen. But now, one site, one community has vowed to drive back the night and rekindle the light. On the website MSFC, hope lives again.

 

[Majestic]

For those who don't visit FO.net, Doca said he had a backup of around 99% of the A2Files database, including comments, etc. Apparently he's going to make it available in the next few weeks. Let's hope for the best.

Feel free to contact him Terra and talk about if he wants to work with us for hosting or something. I know they don't host themselves but we do. As a staff member you have the authority to approach him. I don't visit FO anymore, mainly due to time constraints due to my situation of late.

 

[Terra_Inc]

Feel free to contact him Terra and talk about if he wants to work with us for hosting or something. I know they don't host themselves but we do. As a staff member you have the authority to approach him. I don't visit FO anymore, mainly due to time constraints due to my situation of late.

Yes, I'll do that.

 

[CABAL]

A staff member at AFC asked me to remind everyone that hosting there is an option and to contact him (thunderchero) or Mr. Vulcan if they would like to upload a file there.