FilePlanet
Encyclopedia
FilePlanet is a video game download service that provides demos, patches, mods and other gaming media and other gaming media downloads to its users. FilePlanet was launched, and is run by, GameSpy
, which is now a subsidiary of IGN
, and is one of the most used video game download sites on the internet. Users can either pay a fee to access High-speed servers with no wait times, or wait a certain amount of time in a line before downloading (only for particularly popular files). FilePlanet used to require registration for download services but no longer requires registration, and is now completely optional to register with the website. FilePlanet contains a variety of files such as game demos, trailers, and patches. The site has its own download service known as Download Manager which automatically download files requested; if the service is not installed or the user is not using IE, the file is downloaded through normal FTP connection.
, FilePlanet was one of the first massive file distributing sites of its time.
FilePlanet went through several transitions over the years, improving and adding more to their service. Though there were earlier versions of FilePlanet's layout, most users recall the gold color layout of FilePlanet as this was when FilePlanet's popularity began to increase. In August 2001, they began to add personal servers where users could download files at an increased speed and no wait times for a fee of $6.95 a month. To this day, they provide their improved services for the price of $6.95 a month. Other benefits for being a FilePlanet subscriber were special forums, no advertisements, and exclusive access to betas and events. Early beta programs on FilePlanet consisted of Desert Combat
, Final Fantasy XI
, PlanetSide
, The Sims Online
, Steam, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
, and Final Fantasy XIV
being one of their latest.
In 2004, FilePlanet along with GameSpy
went under the ownership of IGN Entertainment. Along with the new ownership, the site launched with a new redesigned look. Adding more information and ease of use for visitors along with additional perks for subscribers. This website design was in use till their latest website design. Their latest, and current website design was launched in early 2010.
, Firearms: Source
, Galactic Conquest, IHateMountains, Zelda World Alpha, Red Orchestra: Combined Arms, and various other modifications. FilePlanet has been known to help promote popular modifications with the use of their website along with network promotion and twitter.
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
, which is now a subsidiary of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, and is one of the most used video game download sites on the internet. Users can either pay a fee to access High-speed servers with no wait times, or wait a certain amount of time in a line before downloading (only for particularly popular files). FilePlanet used to require registration for download services but no longer requires registration, and is now completely optional to register with the website. FilePlanet contains a variety of files such as game demos, trailers, and patches. The site has its own download service known as Download Manager which automatically download files requested; if the service is not installed or the user is not using IE, the file is downloaded through normal FTP connection.
History
FilePlanet origins trace back to late 1997 during the time of Quake 2. Online First Person Shooters were beginning to rise in popularity along with custom maps and modifications. Kevin 'Fragmaster' Bowen had the idea to develop a website that would provide files for players to install and use for their video games. With this FilePlanet was born in 1999, consisting of close to 10,000 files; the majority of which were Quake 2. Powered by GameSpyGameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
, FilePlanet was one of the first massive file distributing sites of its time.
FilePlanet went through several transitions over the years, improving and adding more to their service. Though there were earlier versions of FilePlanet's layout, most users recall the gold color layout of FilePlanet as this was when FilePlanet's popularity began to increase. In August 2001, they began to add personal servers where users could download files at an increased speed and no wait times for a fee of $6.95 a month. To this day, they provide their improved services for the price of $6.95 a month. Other benefits for being a FilePlanet subscriber were special forums, no advertisements, and exclusive access to betas and events. Early beta programs on FilePlanet consisted of Desert Combat
Desert Combat
Desert Combat is a mod for the first-person shooter computer game Battlefield 1942, created by Frank Delise, Brian Holinka, Tim Brophy, and Stephen Wells. DC features many new weapons and new Conquest and Capture the flag Maps. DC is set in Iraq during the first Gulf War...
, Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy XI
, also known as Final Fantasy XI Online, is a MMORPG developed and published by Square as part of the Final Fantasy series. It was released in Japan on Sony's PlayStation 2 on May 16, 2002, and was released for Microsoft's Windows-based personal computers in November 2002...
, PlanetSide
PlanetSide
PlanetSide is a massively-multiplayer online first-person-shooter computer game published by Sony Online Entertainment and released on May 20, 2003....
, The Sims Online
The Sims Online
The Sims Online was a massively multiplayer online variation on Maxis's highly popular computer game The Sims. It was published by Electronic Arts and released on December 17, 2002 for Microsoft Windows. In March 2007, EA announced that the product would be re-branded as EA-Land and major...
, Steam, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy setting. It was developed by Mythic Entertainment and simultaneously released in North and South Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand on September 18, 2008...
, and Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV
, also known as Final Fantasy XIV Online, is the fourteenth installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in September 2010 for Microsoft Windows, with a PlayStation 3 port in development. The game is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game and is developed and published by...
being one of their latest.
In 2004, FilePlanet along with GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
went under the ownership of IGN Entertainment. Along with the new ownership, the site launched with a new redesigned look. Adding more information and ease of use for visitors along with additional perks for subscribers. This website design was in use till their latest website design. Their latest, and current website design was launched in early 2010.
Collaboration with gaming community
FilePlanet has been reaching out to the gaming community, helping advertise and support modifications for various games. Big-named modifications they helped promote are: Desert CombatDesert Combat
Desert Combat is a mod for the first-person shooter computer game Battlefield 1942, created by Frank Delise, Brian Holinka, Tim Brophy, and Stephen Wells. DC features many new weapons and new Conquest and Capture the flag Maps. DC is set in Iraq during the first Gulf War...
, Firearms: Source
Firearms: Source
Firearms: Source is a first-person shooter video game built on Valve's Source engine, and is the successor to the original Firearms Half-Life mod.-History:The first Firearms was released on the 29th of April 2000...
, Galactic Conquest, IHateMountains, Zelda World Alpha, Red Orchestra: Combined Arms, and various other modifications. FilePlanet has been known to help promote popular modifications with the use of their website along with network promotion and twitter.