Gooster Posted 9 hours ago Posted 9 hours ago (edited) I’d like to propose a new platform category for the LaunchBox Games Database: Mainframe & Mini This platform would cover classic games originally developed for mainframe and minicomputer systems prior to the personal computer era, especially systems accessed through terminals and timesharing environments. Examples of included systems: DEC PDP-10 DEC PDP-11 VAX IBM System/360 and System/370 CDC Cyber Data General Nova/Eclipse Honeywell systems PLATO systems Multics environments university and research timesharing systems Why This Matters Many foundational computer game genres originated on these systems: adventure games roguelikes multiplayer online games text adventures strategy/simulation games computer chess networked multiplayer gaming These games are historically significant and represent a distinct computing/gaming ecosystem that predates the home computer era. Example Games Adventure / Interactive Fiction Colossal Cave Adventure Zork Roguelikes / Dungeon Crawlers Rogue Moria dnd Oubliette Early Multiplayer / Networked Games MUD1 Maze War Spasim Empire Avatar Airfight Strategy / Simulation Hunt the Wumpus Hamurabi Star Trek The Oregon Trail Chess / AI Mac Hack Kaissa Belle Why Existing Platforms Are Not a Good Fit Currently many of these games end up scattered under the various platforms where they were ported to, with no representation of their true originating platform. Preservation / Emulation Support These systems are already actively preserved and emulated through projects such as: MAME / MESS SIMH KLH10 PLATO emulators various PDP/VAX simulators Why This Would Improve LaunchBox Adding this platform would: better preserve early computer gaming history provide a proper home for foundational games improve metadata organization support historical retrocomputing enthusiasts recognize historically important systems that predate the home computer era I think this fills an important gap in the current platform taxonomy. Edited 9 hours ago by Gooster 1 Quote
Tsik Posted 5 hours ago Posted 5 hours ago +1 At least for the DEC PDP series, and the Plato systems. Τhe rest are unknown to me, but it seems that all this might be a great addition to the Database. #PreservingComputerHistory. 😀 Quote
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