[Discussion] Was the Essentials Wiki taken down?

[Nesty]

I've got a few different versions backed up thankfully. I don't think it's legal for me to give a d/l link on here though :/

 

[walking-in-a-dream]

I do have all of the files saved, however, this is really disappointing. Honestly, Pokemon trying to kill fangames that AREN'T ALLOWED TO MAKE MONEY per the rules that had been stated ON THE WEBSITE is more likely to repel fans than keep their own butts safe.
But, hey, what can you do.
I did find a copy of the explanations and commands for essentials- however, it is in German, so that's fun I suppose.
Hopefully this all ends well...

 

[komaoto]

It says that "Content dump will be available within 24 hours". This means that we can still have the content from the wiki even though it cannot be anymore updated?

 

[walking-in-a-dream]

It says that "Content dump will be available within 24 hours". This means that we can still have the content from the wiki even though it cannot be anymore updated?

Possible- however, I would not get your hopes too high.

 

[Hawkeye17]

If they attacked the wiki can't they not attack pokecommunity? We are one of the main hub for fan games.

 

[Nesty]

Yeah if Pokecommunity is offering download links to any fan games or to the Pokémon Essentials engine.

 

[LanceTheRiolu]

This is the first time I've personally seen a Pokemon fangame site get shut down. And Pokemon Essentials, of all things. It's quite sad. Hope things improve. Maybe it will come back up somehow, or someone will make something similar/better.

 

[Orondhor]

We will not let his happen! Besides, I dont think that they have asked Maruno specifically to take this down. He has it licenced under creative commons. They are simply displacing it. But we can find it another home. Here is what I am thinking.

1. Create a custom site
2. We create a Discord server
3. Make a simple website that isn't really a website where the file is and it will be instantly installed (Like the one on Pokecentral where you type in the address for the adventure pack and it downloads it instantly without even having to go to a website.

*the previous quote was editted for brevity*

Another site wouldn't really work in the long term, since Nintendo could easily DMCA it if they wanted, whether they actually have a legal basis or not. But the code (cleaned of resources that directly came from Nintendo, either sprites/images) could be hosted somewhere publicly. I believe that the project should at least use a non-trademarked name. Pocket Monsters, for example, isn't a trademark in the US (at least from what I saw in the US Trademark Office). Better creative options could serve too, ie Pokecommunity Essentials. Future releases should include a snapshot of the wiki.

Discord could serve as a fallback in a worst-case scenario, keep in mind that if Nintendo bothers them, they will close down servers and ban accounts without a hitch. Relying on proprietary software isn't a good long term option. It might be better to consider open-source options like Riot.im/Matrix (if you want a Discord-like solution) or something similar security/privacy-wise like Tox, Ring, Retroshare, Rocket.Chat, etc. Torrents could be an option too.

I do have all of the files saved, however, this is really disappointing. Honestly, Pokemon trying to kill fangames that AREN'T ALLOWED TO MAKE MONEY per the rules that had been stated ON THE WEBSITE is more likely to repel fans than keep their own butts safe.
But, hey, what can you do.
I did find a copy of the explanations and commands for essentials- however, it is in German, so that's fun I suppose.
Hopefully this all ends well...

It says that "Content dump will be available within 24 hours". This means that we can still have the content from the wiki even though it cannot be anymore updated?

If they attacked the wiki can't they not attack pokecommunity? We are one of the main hub for fan games.

Possible- however, I would not get your hopes too high.

To all of you, there are snapshots of the wiki at archive.org
Just insert the web address for the wiki (or any other site you want) and look up the snapshots by the date they were taken.

 

[tustin2121]

Someone get a torrent going. I'll seed. This is not going to defeat us. **** Nintendo.

 

[Ulithium_Dragon]

This isn't the end of the universe and was bound to happen eventually imo and I'm surprised it took so long. But I don't know why people are acting like this is the end of PE.

Nintendo is extremely silly to think they could ever purge *anything* from the internet. You can still find downloads for Uranium with extreme ease (for example).

Life will go on, blah blah blah. Don't let this deter you from making or finishing your fan game.

 

[Ulithium_Dragon]

This is the first time I've personally seen a Pokemon fangame site get shut down...

I think part of the reason why is because the wiki was hosted on wikia, a very large meta platform for thousands of wikis. It would be MUCH harder for them to take down a standalone site like this one than it would to petition a large entity like wikia to purge one of their many, many *free* sub websites.

And given that wikia so often deals with content that is under copyright (i.e. video games), it seems reasonable to me that they'd not fight against any takedown requests given to them.

 

[IlligalBeagle]

They probably will soon when they find out we are hiding here. Besides, they probably suppose that ow that they have killed the location of the source, the fan games will die.

 

[00.Archer]

This is disgusting. It's unfortunate that copyright trolls can take down years of volunteer work so easily.
As I'm making my own engine that uses some Essentials components, I'm directly dependent on the documentation the wiki had. I should've saved the relevant pages locally.

This also hurts anyone currently developing an Essentials fangame too.

**EDIT**
PSA: the Internet Archive has a backup from this year. If you need any information from the wiki, I recommend saving them locally. Here's the link:
https://web.archive.org/web/2018042...ntials.wikia.com/wiki/Pokémon_Essentials_Wiki

 

[IlligalBeagle]

And i had a question that was never answered over there...
But i have posted it here so hopefully it will be answered!

Edit: And thx 00.Archer for the wayback machine link. It works like it (mostly) does!

 

[hirokimura]

It IS the end of an era.
Just why people are using essentials which is something you have by paying RPG maker over romhacks? Just because most of us are willing to stay in the legal aspect of anything made online.
Now Essentials basically is a rom in term of legality, which means you can't discuss about how to obtain it, nor download it safely without having a doubt in mind you might be tracked. And more of that, while rom hacks are viable because they're sharing only PATCHES and not the game itself, if you make a game with essentials, you basically have to share the whole game, including every file from the essentials engine, in other words, you're hosting an illegal content that you're distributing illegaly to people who will download illegally your content.
In other words again : You're basically the same as any rom hosting site and you'll endanger yourself by doing that.

So yes, it's the end of an era because I doubt anyone with common sense will risk to enfrain the law just to share a pokemon fangame online that will be no benefit.

 

[Soccersam]

This disgusts me to no end. Nintendo may have taken down the wiki, but I believe PE will rise again. It shouldn't end like this. It can't. What is Nintendo's problem anyway? It's not like we're making money out of it! It is a non-profit program, purely for entertainment purpose! I agree with @Hirokimura. It is the end of an era.
I do hope PE returns, Maruno must have spent hours working on it...

 

[Scopulus]

A lot of juvenile drama here - Most of which is entirely unfounded.
I agree with everything Ulithium_Dragon has said & that's about it.

For newcomers - I started 12 days ago and this doesn't hinder or deter me at all.
Most of the "wiki" is vague (intentionally), included in the tutorials & only scratches the surface.
If you intended to make anything with Essentials - the "wiki" was never going to get you very far.
(For those that need it - check the archive - simple as that.) Likely the info will be up soon elsewhere anyway.
^I'm not downplaying the work done on the wiki - it was a quality resource for inexperienced newcomers.

If you don't have Essentials already - there are still legitimate sources out there (closer than you think lol).
As for "Nintendo will find us" - LMAO... seriously? As if they don't know already everything said here. Who cares..?
Fact is - they don't have legal ground to do anything about anything...you guys act like your doing something illegal..which is hilarious.
It is not illegal in any way shape or form to make your own game - in the privacy of your own home - using whatever sources you want to...
Which is all 90% of the people using Essentials and/or the wiki - are doing.
Shutting down a wiki that contains your stolen content is as simple as an email - (for anyone) - nothing divine here.

Also - as far as fangames - what many of you clearly do not understand is that this entire issue is about BUSINESS & REVENUE..
Most Fangames indirectly generate Nintendo revenue - they only shut them down when they start doing the opposite.
/Endrant All done here. I'm out. You're welcome =) Seriously tho - don't believe everything you read...especially not from the panic-inducers.

 

[Nesty]

Nintendo is extremely silly to think they could ever purge *anything* from the internet. You can still find downloads for Uranium with extreme ease (for example).

Life will go on, blah blah blah. Don't let this deter you from making or finishing your fan game.

Ulithium is right. We've all been dealing with this kind of garbage for decades. Personally, I wasn't upset because I thought PE was gone forever, but because humanity shouldn't have to fight against corporations for the sake of art. Every one of us could finish and release a Pokémon fan game and it wouldn't hurt Nintendo's bottom line any. However, the very nature of copyright law pits corporations against people. It's just a shame. I wish things would change.

 

[IlligalBeagle]

Ulithium is right. We've all been dealing with this kind of garbage for decades. Personally, I wasn't upset because I thought PE was gone forever, but because humanity shouldn't have to fight against corporations for the sake of art. Every one of us could finish and release a Pokémon fan game and it wouldn't hurt Nintendo's bottom line any. However, the very nature of copyright law pits corporations against people. It's just a shame. I wish things would change.

And I agree with you. And besides, you can never destroy anything (Like Ulithium_Dragon said) from the internet. Sure its illegal, but that is part of the excitement. We are all criminals harboring illegal copyrighted material in our computers and minds. There are even copies of the DS games online, and they haven't been taken down (Though the controls are infuriating). You guys probably have some pictures on your computer somewhere from DeviantArt or something. Maybe it is even your wallpaper. The web is a place where all of the illegitimate things come and where they are found by people like us, who are simply browsing the web. Soooooo, again, we're all criminals in this great big world called the internet.

This might be the end of at least half of the lifespan of Pokemon Essentials, but Pokemon Essentials is not going to die if we remember it... and keep some extra copies on our computers. And like Pixelmon Reforged, we will rise again, but better and even greater than ever. And with the power of this (privately owned) forum, we will speak and figure out a way to survive!

I hope that these speeches I keep having to write motivate all of you! Because I am really getting tired of writing them all and I am probably just going to shorten them.

Edit: Also, Maruno hasn't said anything yet. So we are fine for now!

 

[IlligalBeagle]

Ok, nvm, they said it. :(