Reviving Classic Unix Games: A 20-Year Software Archaeology Journey
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On October 26, 1987, Edward Barlow introduced a groundbreaking multiplayer strategy game called Conquer to the USENET newsgroup comp.sources.games. This game, set in a fantasy world reminiscent of Middle Earth, allowed players to manage nations, resources, and armies in a text-based environment.
However, by 2006, the game faced the risk of disappearing entirely as its source code was trapped in legal ambiguity. The original author, Barlow, had delegated rights to Adam Bryant, but contacting him proved to be a digital detective challenge.
After years of searching, I finally reached out to Barlow, who was surprisingly lenient about licensing issues, but still required Bryant's consent. The lengthy quest for permission saw progress when, in February 2011, Bryant unexpectedly granted permission to release the code under the GPL.
Fast forward to 2025, when Stephen Smoogen expressed interest in reviving Conquer with a complete rewrite called Conquer Version 5, which included modern features but faced its own legal hurdles from previous commercial arrangements.
Fortunately, Bryant again agreed to license this updated version under GPL. During this journey, I also discovered the contributions of MaF, who created essential PostScript utilities for the game, and I successfully obtained his permission as well.
However, the search for Richard Caley, another contributor, ended in tragedy as I learned he had passed away in 2005. His contributions remained unlicensable due to privacy laws, but his legacy was preserved through his online presence, showcasing his technical expertise and unique personality.
The revival of these classic Unix games serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving digital history. The project utilized modern packaging tools and CI/CD methodologies to ensure that the legacy of Conquer not only survives but thrives in contemporary software environments.
This endeavor highlights how community efforts and modern technology can breathe new life into historical software, preserving it for future generations to enjoy. According to the report, this journey underscores the significant intersection of technology and archaeology, emphasizing the value of preserving digital culture.