After trying to find old websites, I got to wondering about www.chexquest.com. I thought that mabey whoever designed that site, whoever uploaded it, or someone else might have the original material that was uploaded to the server. I'm wondering if there's some way to fall into contact with whoever or at least someone who designed the site and see if there's a way to retrieve the web site material, games, web pages, and all. Does anyone know who created the site, or someone else responsible for its content?
Also, while Googling around, I came upon this (http://whois.domaintools.com/chexquest.com). It appears to be a WHOIS page of some sort on the domain www.chexquest.com. If we take this as Bible truth, then the domain www.chexquest.com was registered on 1998-03-07, and won't expire until 2013-03-06 (or 2012-03-06, as another place says, but the 5-year figure just makes more sense). I read in a thread on the old board that Richie could never register www.chexquest.com because General Mills kept renewing it. This may account for that.
Hmm...
Well I know it's been there since before 1998.
Yeah...I think it was 1996, 1995. But, really...is there an archive somewhere of all sites hosted? It would be mighty stupid if there wasn't. Who do you think would have it, though?
Quote from: atariangamer on March 06, 2008, 09:19:45 PM
Yeah...I think it was 1996, 1995. But, really...is there an archive somewhere of all sites hosted? It would be mighty stupid if there wasn't. Who do you think would have it, though?
One of Dacicus' posts had a link to a http://www.archive.org/. The earliest scan of http://www.chexquest.com/, in 1998, was too late.
I've already been in contact with General Mills and they know absolutely nothing about Chex Quest. This was a few years ago. I e-mailed them, and they e-mailed me back. The reason I can't grab the domain name is because they appear to have it set to autorenew. It renews automatically every time it expires.
...Cheap.... They don't even know what Chex Quest is, as they claim, but they still auto-renew set on the domain. However, I have suspicions that you were fed some who-shot-John. It just doesn't seem plausible that they don't know what Chex Quest is. And why would they auto-renew a domain that they didn't plan on using for too long, unless they planned on using it as a redirect to some other site for many years to come? Sounds fishy.
The truth is probably more innocent than you think. It's likely that, as Chex was being acquired by General Mills while Chex Quest was produced, that the website was "lost in the shuffle" so to speak, and they left it on auto renew. Likely the only people who even notice it are the techs and the accountants, neither of whom really care enough to tell the boss.
Simple case of "Lost in the vast bureaucracy"
we need to try and get back on them to release the domain! i wonder how many people are being redirected to milsberry and are searching that site for CQ!
URGH...
Quote from: atariangamer on March 10, 2008, 10:57:18 PM
we need to try and get back on them to release the domain! i wonder how many people are being redirected to milsberry and are searching that site for CQ!
URGH...
I'm a bit scared to negotiate the release of the domain name, though. Since General Mills is a massive company, I worry that they would rediscover marketing ability in Chex Quest and force us to shut down. It's possible that I need to take off my tin foil hat, but I'm a worrier by nature.
:(
That presents a problem...but if we really had a good team, we could negotiate to get the rights to create the game for them, ya know? like, releasing TUCQ! (if boingo would finish it).
This place would then fill up, and we would be better off...but if not...we're screwed...
I'm just semi-optimistic.
They couldn't shut us down Richie. Why worry so much? Onestly, ChexQuest was free, and is under the licence that dooms Modding is under. There for they can't shut us down. Besides we're a fan group, who wouldn't want fans for the game?
I think we shouldn't really worry about it one way or another right now. ChexQuest.org is a pretty good URL to have too.
You guys gotta understand - I might as well wear a tin foil hat sometimes. I know there's nothing to worry about. ;D
yeah...mebe later, if we get more power...we could try it, but right now...we're a speck in the mud.
This is really more of a topic on finding the old content or its author(s) than the domain for the website. That was my main thought and objective.
oops...sorry, Cav.
I think there maybe someone out there that has it, but then again, if they were diehard about it, they would have found this place. Plus, how many archives are there of that site? Who would keep the site, or even try to preserve it?
I really think the scans by Lucius are the only things left...
Mabey whoever uploaded the stuff or made it still has it.
Y, though? Y keep old stuff?
Most people really don't keep their old work.
Quote from: atariangamer on March 13, 2008, 11:52:33 AM
Y, though? Y keep old stuff?
Most people really don't keep their old work.
You always want to keep your old work, especially good old work. It's for resumes and interviews, so you can say "Look at what I did. Want to hire me?"
I have an entire binder full of old design drawings for just this purpose.
...I know that...I have some of my BEST work from when I was younger in a box, all organized. But, if it was just some random site that was posted for about 2 years...I don't think it would be important enough to keep.
Which would you rather have (if you knew nothing about CQ):
1. I made the original website that hosted the first big AC company (name escapes me)
2. Some site for a kids game that was in 1996.
3. Microsoft asked me to make a webpage for them.
CQ would not be your choice, you'd show them your big ones, no matter how good it was.
You never know, someone could have a soft spot for it, and have kept it.
After all, isn't that why we still play that little Advergame?
O-O You has me there, lore...
Now, how on earth would you go through 6 billion peoples on the internet to find someone with a full copy of the CQ webpage plus all downloads and files?
We would, of course, have to narrow the field down. Getting into contact with people that were involved or digging out information could help. The scans may also have some hints.
How's this sound. Would you guys like me to call General Mills tomorrow? I took off my tin foil hat.
Well...I'd like just to get some confirmation. If you could ask some information about it, maybe ask about what they think, that would be cool. I mean, to get this back out there, they'd have to:
1. Secure an engine. Most of these ports are for DooM and wouldn't work as well.
2. Get some mappers. We have the biggest mapping base for CQ style, but why choose us?
3. Get artists and other crew. Gotta make it look nice!
4. Package it. Why spend another ton of money?
5. Put it out. Really...I have passed on many free softwares in cereal boxes because some of the last good ones came from mid-90s, mid-00's.
I vote for calling and just asking. If they really wanna do something, though, try to negotiate. It'd be cool to have another CQ game on the public, but if we get shut down for it, i'd rather go on silent...
...
Just call representing us and ask about the website. Actually, we might be able to switch names.
org goes to millsberry, com to our forums. something. i say do it.
I wouldn't want to switch the domains. .org has been an established domain for this site for awhile. I would also like to see the original uploaded material. <== hint, hint.
if anything, go for the original site. If you could get any thing...I would make a mod dedicated to U (not really, but U get my point). Plus, just forget all I said, go for the site.
You know, there's been one itching question on my mind: When was the Chex Quest CD actually released? Some say 1996; others say 1997.
Quote from: Manny Cav on March 27, 2008, 10:04:37 PM
I wouldn't want to switch the domains. .org has been an established domain for this site for awhile. I would also like to see the original uploaded material. <== hint, hint.
QFT. We can't switch domains. We're already established here, and hosting for a year has already been purchased.
I'm going to contact their Tech Department (number can be found by doing a Whois on ChexQuest.com), ask if they still have the original content, and ask if they would be willing to drop the domain. If they're open to letting me buy it off of them, I'm broke. I just renewed this domain for another two years. If it comes to that, would you guys be willing to chip-in (depending on how much they want)?
I wish I could, Richie man. But I iz broke 2.
Well... I tried calling and got nothing. I guess I'll shoot them an e-mail like I did once before.
lol...I thought about that.
What did they say to your last email?
Quote from: atariangamer on March 28, 2008, 04:37:26 PM
lol...I thought about that.
What did they say to your last email?
This was a few years ago, so I can't quote word-for-word. Basically, they told me that they knew nothing about Chex Quest.
mebe everything changed places when the transfer took place...maybe none of the original members were there.