Zophar's Domain
Encyclopedia
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...
website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
founded on November 9, 1996 by Brad Levicoff. The site's name comes from Lunar Eternal Blue on Sega CD, Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
and PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. On September 20, 2000, the site was passed on to Sam Michaels, previously the site's CGI
Common Gateway Interface
The Common Gateway Interface is a standard method for web servers software to delegate the generation of web pages to executable files...
programmer.
Zophar's Domain was intended as an "emulation hub," a congregation of wares and enthusiasts. The site was maintained by a number of people with unique "handles" who focused on a particular area of emulation. The frequency of news updates gradually decreased after the founder was no longer associated with the site. It features news and downloads for emulator
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...
s, translation patch
Patch (computing)
A patch is a piece of software designed to fix problems with, or update a computer program or its supporting data. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, and improving the usability or performance...
es, utilities, hacks
ROM hacking
ROM hacking is the process of modifying a video game ROM image to alter the game's graphics, dialogue, levels, gameplay, or other elements. This is usually done by technically inclined video game fans to breathe new life into a cherished old game, as a creative outlet, or to make essentially new...
, and video game music. Within the online video game emulation community it was often referred to as "ZD."
Present state
From November 2006 to June 17, 2008, Zophar's Domain was inactive. Michaels has stated that it should be considered an "archive." In its prime, it was generally regarded as an excellent news resource, reporting on every area of emulation development. It had high coverage and popularity according to AlexaAlexa Internet
Alexa Internet, Inc. is a California-based subsidiary company of Amazon.com that is known for its toolbar and Web site. Once installed, the toolbar collects data on browsing behavior which is transmitted to the Web site where it is stored and analyzed and is the basis for the company's Web traffic...
.
On November 9, 2006, Zophar's Domain's 10-year anniversary, the site was voluntarily closed. Michaels promptly received an outpouring of support, proving that the site has a loyal fanbase, and restored the site for the foreseeable future after approximately 12 hours.
The logo was modified in late September 2006 and a cat was added sitting on the logo, on the insistence of several forumers.
On June 17, 2008, a message on the site replaced the one stating archival, claiming that Zophar's Domain would be re-opening, and anyone interested in helping update the site should contact the webmaster, as well as the addition of a new forum system replacing the outdated WWWThreads.
Legal troubles
On February 19, 2002, Nintendo of America invoked the Digital Millennium Copyright ActDigital Millennium Copyright Act
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization . It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures that control access to...
and sent a letter to Zophar's Domain demanding that they stop selling Game Boy Advance Flash Linkers
Game Boy Advance flash cartridge
A Game Boy Advance flash cartridge is one of several cartridges containing flash memory that have been developed for use in the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. These cartridges enable homebrew applications and games to be used on a GBA. The capacity of the cartridges ranges from 64 Mbit up to 8 Gbit...
and turn over remaining stock to Nintendo. They stopped selling the devices, but the stock was never confiscated.
Zophar's Domain does provide commercial ROMs
ROM image
A ROM image, or ROM file, is a computer file which contains a copy of the data from a read-only memory chip, often from a video game cartridge, a computer's firmware, or from an arcade game's main board...
and ISO
ISO image
An ISO image is an archive file of an optical disc, composed of the data contents of every written sector of an optical disc, including the optical disc file system...
s, up to and including the Fifth Generation
History of video game consoles (fifth generation)
The fifth-generation era refers to the computer and video games, video game consoles, and video game handhelds available at stores...
of video game consoles.