SPhotonix Teams up with GOG Preservation Program to Preserve Iconic Computer Game for Future Generations

Summary:

• Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Complete preserved for eternity
• GOG keeping one of the most popular games alive
• First time a computer game has been stored using 5D Memory Crystal technology

SPhotonix, a pioneer of 5D Memory Crystal technology, has teamed up with the GOG Preservation Program to preserve the iconic 1990s video game, Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Complete, for future gens to enjoy for years to come.In an industry first, the video game data has been preserved for eternity in an SPhotonix 5D Memory Crystal using FemtoEtch technology, one of the most durable physical data-storage products available. This effectively preserves one of the most popular games forever, initiated by GOG to celebrate the Heroes of Might and Magic legacy.

The GOG Preservation Program ensures that classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their developers stop supporting them. By maintaining these iconic titles, GOG helps protect the games and ensure they are available for people to continue to enjoy, DRM-free and with dedicated tech support.

“Heroes of Might and Magic 3, more than 25 years after its first release, is a classic game that is still played today by a highly engaged community. That is why the GOG Preservation Program exists: to allow classics to live forever. Partnering with SPhotonix allows us to preserve iconic games using the most durable data-storage solution on Earth. While the crystal can last virtually forever, the game itself would not remain playable without GOG’s ongoing work to update and maintain its compatibility. Nothing is preserved, everything is being preserved, through constant effort and care,” said Rudy de Marco, project lead, GOG.com.

“SPhotonix’s immediate enthusiasm for what we wanted to do and their extensive experience made it clear that they were the right partner for us from the very first conversation. Choosing to preserve the game on the 5D memory crystal, the most durable medium in terms of storage on earth, was an easy decision to make and we look forward to working with the SPhotonix team on future projects.”

“Our technology offers the most secure, durable and scalable storage with 5D Memory Crystals. Partnering with GOG is the perfect example of the sheer capabilities the crystal can offer when it comes to storage. Being able to store the full game means that iconic moments like this can be preserved for future gens to enjoy for hundreds of years to come,” said Ilya Kazansky, CEO, SPhotonix.

“Not only does it store immutable data, the crystal itself depicts the iconic Heroes of Might and Magic 3 cover art, making it not only functional but a beautiful artefact in itself.”

SPhotonix was founded upon over three decades of Prof. Kazansky’s research. The 5D Memory Crystal utilises FemtoEtch, nano-structuring technology to store up to 360TB of data on a 5-inch glass platter, revolutionising the shape of future storage solutions. SPhotonix has already hit the headlines twice this year: the first time when it announced that it had stored the human genome on a 5D memory crystal that can last billions of years and the second when it was used as part of the futuristic plot in the latest Mission Impossible film.