When a game’s decompilation project is about to disappear, preserve four things separately: the complete source repository, a legally obtained copy of the original game data, the exact toolchain needed to build or run it, and enough documentation to reconstruct the process. Make two verified archival copies before attempting upgrades or cleanup.
A closed repository does not automatically make a game public domain or make its assets redistributable. Code, ROMs, disk images, artwork, music, fonts, dialogue, maps, trademarks and online services can have different owners and restrictions. Your archive should make those distinctions explicit.
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Start with a preservation freeze
Do not begin by “tidying” the project, updating dependencies or converting files. First capture the last known state while the repository and its release artifacts are still available. Work from a read-only copy whenever possible, and record the date and time of every capture.
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Capture the repository as a complete object
A normal source download can omit information needed later. Preserve a full mirror, then separately record the commit that represents the final usable state.
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git clone --mirror <repository-url> game-project.git
cd game-project.git
git show --no-patch --format=fuller <commit-id>
git bundle create ../game-project.bundle --allReplace the placeholders with the project’s real URL and commit identifier. A mirror retains branches, tags and remote references; a bundle gives you a portable Git object file that can be checked into an archive. If the project uses submodules, initialize and capture each one, including the exact revisions recorded by the superproject.
git submodule update --init --recursiveDo not assume that a tagged release is the newest working version. Record the final release tag, the last known-good commit, the default branch, open branches that contain fixes, and any commits referenced by build instructions or issue reports.
Save project knowledge, not just source files
- README files, installation notes, changelogs and release notes.
- License files and notices for the project and its dependencies.
- Build scripts, makefiles, project files, linker scripts, patches and generated-code instructions.
- Issue tracker discussions and pull requests, where the site’s terms and applicable law allow export.
- Known bugs, workarounds, controller mappings, emulator settings and launch arguments.
- Release binaries, symbols, debug builds and supplied tools, with their original filenames.
Preserve the repository’s directory structure. A screenshot of a build command is useful, but it is not a substitute for the script, configuration file or dependency version that command invokes.
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Many decompilation projects deliberately exclude copyrighted game data. Their source may describe how to extract assets from a cartridge, disc, download or other legally owned copy, but it may not include the resulting files. The Golden Balloon project’s disclaimer, for example, says that a useful build requires the user’s own legally owned and self-dumped original copy.
Make a data inventory
List every input the build or runtime expects, even when you cannot archive the file itself:
- ROMs, disk images, cartridge dumps or installer media.
- Textures, models, animations, fonts, dialogue, maps and scripts.
- Music, sound effects, voice files and movie clips.
- Configuration files, save data and localization packages.
- Third-party libraries, firmware, SDK components and compiler support files.
- Network endpoints, downloadable content and authentication services.
For each item, record its filename, size, format, source media, extraction method, owner or license information, and the date it was acquired or dumped. Keep a checksum beside the inventory. A checksum identifies the exact bytes without placing the copyrighted content in a public repository.
sha256sum original-game.bin > original-game.bin.sha256
sha256sum -c original-game.bin.sha256Store the checksum list outside the archive as well as inside it. If a dump differs from the expected hash, do not “repair” it by renaming or editing the file; return to the original media and document a fresh extraction.
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Separate provenance from permission
Knowing where a file came from does not by itself grant permission to redistribute it. Mark each inventory entry as one of the following:
- Preservable and shareable: material whose license permits your intended distribution.
- Preservable but restricted: material you may retain for yourself or an eligible institution but should not publish.
- Requires a self-dump: data that must be obtained from a lawfully owned copy rather than downloaded from the project.
- Unresolved: an item whose ownership or terms need confirmation before copying or sharing.
This separation lets another custodian rebuild the project without mistaking your private game dump for an authorized release.
Identify what kind of project you have
“Decompilation” is used for several technically different approaches. The preservation plan depends on whether the project reconstructs source, translates the original program, replaces it with new code or runs the original through an emulator.
| Approach | Code and asset provenance | Behavioral fidelity | Original data needed | Portability and maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decompilation rebuild | Readable code reconstructed from the original program; assets may be intentionally omitted. | Potentially very high when the correct data and platform assumptions are present. | Usually the original ROM, disc image or extracted assets. | Can become maintainable source, but depends on the historical compiler, SDK and platform. |
| Static recompilation | Original program translated or rebuilt for another system; rights to code and content remain separate. | Often close to the original, with differences in timing, graphics or input possible. | Original data and any generated or converted resources required by the project. | More portable than the original target, but conversion tools and platform-specific fixes must be preserved. |
| Clean-room reimplementation | Replacement code written without copying protected implementation; original assets still need separate review. | Depends on how completely behavior was documented and reproduced. | May need reference gameplay, specifications or lawfully obtained assets. | Can use modern toolchains, but long-term fidelity requires extensive documentation and testing. |
| Emulator-hosted build | Original program runs through an emulated target; the emulator and game data have their own licenses. | Usually the closest route when the original executable still runs correctly. | Original executable or media image plus a suitable emulator and firmware, if required. | Portable only while the emulator, operating system and input configuration remain available. |
Write the project type in the archive README. It determines whether a future custodian should start with a compiler, a conversion tool, a clean-room specification or an emulator image.
Preserve a reproducible toolchain
Source code is not enough if the compiler, SDK or target environment has vanished. Capture the complete build context, including versions and configuration.
Record the environment
- Compiler, assembler, linker and build-system versions.
- Target SDK, headers, libraries, firmware and console development requirements.
- Operating-system version, architecture and required system packages.
- Emulator version, BIOS or firmware requirements, graphics backend and controller settings.
- Environment variables, working-directory assumptions, locale, time zone and path settings.
- Dependency sources, exact revisions and any local patches.
- Build commands, expected output filenames and where generated files are placed.
Capture configuration files verbatim. If a dependency was fetched from a web address, record the version and checksum rather than relying on a mutable “latest” download. Where licensing permits, place installers, package caches or source archives in the private preservation package. Otherwise, record the precise version and an alternative acquisition path.
Use an image or container when practical
An operating-system image or container can make the environment easier to restore, but it is not a complete preservation by itself. Keep the human-readable setup instructions and the original project files alongside it. A container that depends on an unpinned package repository may fail years later; document package versions and preserve local copies when terms allow.
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For console projects, retain access to the original target platform or a documented virtual equivalent. A modern desktop build does not prove that the console build can be reproduced, and a console executable may require firmware or peripherals that an emulator does not supply.
Rebuild in a clean environment
After freezing the evidence, try a rebuild from a clean machine, virtual machine or container. The goal is not to modify the project until it works; it is to discover and document the conditions under which the last known-good state can be reproduced.
- Prepare the recorded environment. Install the stated operating system, compiler, SDK, emulator and dependency revisions. Set the documented environment variables and locale.
- Restore the source at the recorded commit. Verify the commit ID, submodule revisions and archive checksums before running scripts.
- Supply original data through the documented extraction path. Keep private dumps outside any public source tree unless the rights holder’s license explicitly allows redistribution.
- Run the project’s own build command. Copy the exact command into the README and record stdout, stderr, warnings, generated files and failures.
- Compare outputs. Hash the executable and generated assets when deterministic output is expected. If timestamps, random seeds, compiler paths or link ordering produce different bytes, record those non-deterministic steps rather than treating the result as a failed preservation.
- Test the last known-good build. Check startup, loading, saving, audio, input, timing, rendering and any network-dependent feature. Record the test setup and observed result; do not label a build “verified” without an actual run.
A successful compile can still produce an unusable game. Save a copy of the build log and the exact runtime configuration with the archive.
When the rebuild cannot work
Failure is valuable preservation information when it is described precisely. Classify the blocker instead of repeatedly changing unrelated files.
Missing proprietary tools or hardware
Preserve the last executable, the emulator or console setup that can run it, and the toolchain notes explaining what is unavailable. If a license-bound SDK cannot be archived, record its exact version, vendor, required host system and the project files it consumed.
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Missing online services
A game may require authentication, matchmaking, downloadable content or a server-hosted asset. Do not invent a replacement endpoint or claim that an offline patch is equivalent. Preserve configuration files, protocol notes, screenshots, video of the software in use, manuals and community documentation. The Library of Congress identifies video of software in use as a substitute when an online dependency cannot be recreated.
Missing assets or corrupted dumps
Keep the executable and source even if the build stops at an absent asset. Record the exact filename, expected format, checksum if known, extraction instructions and the point at which the build fails. A future owner may be able to supply the missing data legally.
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Non-deterministic output
Some builds embed timestamps, absolute paths, random identifiers or unordered file lists. Preserve two output samples, the commands that produced them and a note explaining which differences are expected. Reproducibility means that the documented process and inputs can be restored; byte-for-byte identity is desirable but not universal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Package the archive for long-term custody
Use a durable package format such as BagIt, TAR, ZIP or AXF, chosen according to the storage system and the skills of the future custodian. The format matters less than complete metadata, independent checksums and tested restoration.
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- Repository mirror, bundle and exported source snapshot.
- Submodules, release artifacts, build logs and generated outputs.
- Toolchain installers or images where redistribution is permitted.
- Separate game-data inventory and private or restricted-data notes.
- README with rights statement, dependencies, commands and restoration procedure.
- Checksums for every archive member and for the outer archive itself.
- Screenshots, manuals, video and community history for features that cannot be rebuilt.
Put checksums in a separate location from the primary archive, such as a second storage system or an institutional catalog record. At least two copies should be verified after creation and periodically rechecked. Two disks in the same drawer are not independent custody; use different media or locations and document who can access each copy.
Write restoration instructions for a stranger
The README should answer these questions without relying on your memory:
- Which archive is authoritative and which commit or release should be used?
- Which files must come from the reader’s own legally acquired game?
- What operating system, compiler, SDK, emulator or console is required?
- What command builds the program, and where does it write the result?
- How are saves, controllers, audio and display settings configured?
- Which features require an unavailable server?
- What checksum should each restored file have?
- What rights apply to code, assets, trademarks and documentation?
Understand the legal boundary
Abandonment is not a license. A publisher’s closure, a missing server or a deleted repository does not automatically eliminate copyright in the game, source code, music, artwork or trademarks.
Code rights and content rights are different
A project license may cover newly written source while excluding the original game data. Conversely, a lawfully purchased disc may give you possession of the copy without permission to publish its extracted textures or music. Review each category separately:
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- Reconstructed or newly written code.
- Original executable code and compiler output.
- Graphics, models, animation, fonts, text and maps.
- Music, voice recordings and other audio.
- Third-party libraries, SDKs and firmware.
- Trademarks, logos and promotional material.
- Network protocols, servers and user data.
Keep a rights register naming the apparent rights holder, license text, acquisition method, permitted audience and unresolved questions. Ask rights holders for permission when possible, especially before publishing binaries, assets or a public mirror.
What the U.S. preservation rule does—and does not—cover
U.S. Copyright Office regulation 37 C.F.R. §201.40 covers eligible libraries, archives and museums preserving lawfully acquired, complete games that are no longer reasonably available in the commercial marketplace, when the games do not require an external computer server for gameplay. The purpose is noncommercial preservation in playable form, with access restrictions.
That rule is not a general abandonware distribution license and does not automatically authorize an individual to upload a ROM, disk image or full game archive. Eligibility, acquisition, availability, server dependence and access controls all matter. If you are outside the United States, or are preserving as an individual rather than an eligible institution, obtain jurisdiction-specific advice before distributing protected material.
Keep the project usable after the repository disappears
Once the archive is complete, designate a custodian and a review schedule. At each review, verify checksums, open the README, restore a sample archive and confirm that the storage media remains readable. Migrate to new media before failure, preserving the old checksum records and chain of custody.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Do not silently replace the frozen source with a modern fork. If someone later ports the game, keep the original snapshot intact and archive the fork separately with its own commit, toolchain and license. This preserves both historical authenticity and future maintenance.
“It’s frustrating that if we had just saved the right files, it’d be so much easier.”
The practical lesson is simple: preserve context while the project still has people, files and working instructions around it. A source mirror without assets, an executable without its emulator, or a game dump without provenance leaves the next custodian to guess. A separated, checksummed archive with explicit rights and restoration steps gives the game its best chance of remaining runnable without pretending that copyright or missing online services have disappeared.
Quick Recap
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Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
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