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'''Oddworld Library''' is an Oddworld [[List of Oddworld fansites|fansite]] created and maintained by [[Wil Bunce-Edwards]] and [[Xavier De Coster]]. It provides an up-to-date archive of media—including images, videos, websites, developer diaries and press interviews—and a number of articles on [[Oddworld]] lore, [[List of Oddworld products|products]] and [[Oddworld fandom|fandom]]. It also covered Oddworld news between 2004 and 2014, including a number of exclusive interviews and media premiers.
<b><dfn>Oddworld Library</dfn></b> is an Oddworld [[List of Oddworld fansites|fansite]] created and maintained primarily by [[Wil Bunce-Edwards]] and [[Xavier De Coster]], with help by other Oddworld fans. It aims to provide a comprehensive reference and archive of [[Oddworld]] [[List of Oddworld products|products]], media, development, lore and [[Oddworld fandom|fandom]].


Despite its name, Oddworld Library also covers other topics, mostly [[Non-Oddworld projects covered by Oddworld Library|non-Oddworld projects]] by [[Oddworld Inhabitants]] and [[Lorne Lanning]], such as [[Citizen Siege]], and [[Xmobb]].
Between <time>2004</time> and <time>2014</time>, it also reported on Oddworld news, including a number of exclusive interviews and media premiers.


== History ==
Oddworld Library also covers related topics, such as [[Citizen Siege]] and [[Xmobb]].
=== Structure ===
 
== Structure ==
<div class="plainlinks">
Oddworld Library has traditionally been divided into three sections
Oddworld Library has traditionally been divided into three sections
;OddBlog
; OddBlog
:OddBlog covered Oddworld news from 2003 to 2014. It is divided between two systems: the [/oddlog/ archived OddBlog] holds all stories made before November 2010, and the [/blog/ newer OddBlog] holds all stories made since.
: <p>OddBlog reported on Oddworld news from <time>2003</time> to <time>2014</time>. Its last story was posted on <time datetime="2014-04-07">7 April 2014</time>.</p><p>Stories from before December 2010 can be viewed at their [/oddblog/ original web address] but stories from then on are no longer supported by our host and can now only be viewed on the [https://web.archive.org/web/20220113030217/https://oddworldlibrary.net/blog/ Internet Archive].</p>


;The Oddworld Encyclopedia
; The Oddworld Encyclopaedia (<dfn><abbr title="The Oddworld Encyclopaedia">TOE</abbr></dfn>)
:Or ‘'''TOE'''’, hosted articles on Oddworld lore written by Wil. All content has been migrated to the wiki.
: A collection of articles on Oddworld lore. All its content has been moved to the Oddworld Library wiki.


;The Oddworld Archives
; The Oddworld Archives (<dfn><abbr title="The Oddworld Archives">TOA</abbr></dfn>)
:Or ‘'''TOA'''’, archived many different types of media relating to Oddworld. It was divided into many different subsections, each catering to its own type of media.
: Archives of many different types of media relating to Oddworld, divided into several subsections, each catering to its own form of media.


;The Oddworld Graphics Gallery
=== Archives ===
:Or ‘'''TOGG'''’, originally archived images only, maintained by Xavier. Since 2010 it has also started hosting videos.
; The Oddworld Graphics Gallery (<dfn><abbr title="The Oddworld Graphics Gallery">TOGG</abbr></dfn>)
: A [https://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/togg/ collection of images and videos] maintained by Xavier. This is the only part of the Archives that continues to be updated.


;The Oddworld Cinema
; The Oddworld Cinema (<dfn><abbr title="The Oddworld Cinema">TOC</abbr></dfn>)
:Or ‘'''TOC'''’, archived videos only, maintained by Xavier. Since 2010 its content was migrated to TOGG.
: [https://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/cinema/ Archived videos] only. Since <time>2010</time> its content was migrated to <abbr title="The Oddworld Graphics Gallery">TOGG</abbr>.


;The Oddworld Scriptures
; The Oddworld Scriptures (<dfn><abbr title="The Oddworld Scriptures">TOS</abbr></dfn>)
:Or ‘'''TOS'''’, archived texts only, maintained by Wil. These included press interviews, developer diaries, and texts taken from the [[INsOMNIOUS]] version of [[Oddworld.com]]. This content is in the process of being migrated to the wiki.
: [https://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/scriptures/ Archived texts], including press interviews, developer diaries, and texts taken from the [[INsOMNIOUS]] version of [[Oddworld.com]]. Much of its content has been migrated to the wiki, but the responsibility of maintaining an archive of articles has been relinquished to [https://magogonthemarch.com/ Magog On The March].


;Odd Wide Web
; Odd Wide Web
:Archives a number of different official company and product websites, maintained by Xavier.
: A collection of [https://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/web/ archived websites], including official company and product websites, maintained by Xavier.


;OddTunes
; OddTunes
:Archives a number of different official soundtrack releases and music rips from Oddworld games. Does not have its own web pages.
: A [https://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/oddtunes/ collection of music] and other audio, including official albums from Oddworld Inhabitants and soundtrack rips by Killy.
</div>


== History ==
== History ==
=== Conception ===
=== Conception ===
Oddworld Library originated as four separate projects: OddBlog, The Oddworld Encyclopedia, OddBlog, The Oddworld Graphics Gallery and The Oddworld Archives. The first two were created by [[Wil Bunce-Edwards]], and the second two by [[Xavier De Coster]].
[[File:OddBlog-2004-09-05.jpg|thumb|alt=A screenshot of OddBlog taken in 2004 showing news articles and the design of the site from that time|OddBlog, <time date="2004-09">September 2004</time>]]
Oddworld Library originated as four separate projects: OddBlog, The Oddworld Encyclopedia, The Oddworld Graphics Gallery and The Oddworld Archives. The first two were created by [[Wil Bunce-Edwards]], and the second two by [[Xavier De Coster]].


Wil first began working on an Oddworld fansite in 2000. His first attempt was a webpage on the early webhosting service Xoom, which he called ‘'''The Kennels'''’. This early incarnation presented visitors with a guided tour of the eponymous Kennels (essentially a zoo of [[List of Oddworld species|Oddworld creatures]] known at the time) led by a conjoined-twin Glukkon named Glasp.<ref name="namedKennels"/> By 2001, the project changed to one more encyclopedic in tone called ‘'''The Scrabacombs'''’,<ref name="namedScrabacombs"/> but by 2002 this was again renamed to ‘The Oddworld Encyclopedia’ to reflect Wil’s nickname on the Oddworld Forums.<ref name="renamedEncyclopedia"/>
Wil first began working on an Oddworld fansite in <time>2000</time>. His first attempt was a webpage on the early webhosting service Xoom, which he called ‘<b>The Kennels</b>’. This early incarnation presented visitors with a guided tour of the eponymous Kennels (essentially a zoo of [[List of Oddworld species|Oddworld creatures]] known at the time) led by a conjoined-twin [[Glukkon]] named Glasp.<ref name="namedKennels"/> By <time>2001</time>, the project changed to one more encyclopedic in tone called ‘<b>The Scrabacombs</b>’,<ref name="namedScrabacombs"/> but by <time>2002</time> this was again renamed to ‘The Oddworld Encyclopedia’ to reflect Wil's nickname on the [[Oddworld Forums]].<ref name="renamedEncyclopedia"/>


Wil created OddBlog on uJournal on 7th August 2003, originally as a personal blog where he would post personal thoughts and updates to the Oddworld Encyclopedia project, leaving actual Oddworld news for an un-yet-unreleased part of the Encyclopedia named the ‘'''News Station'''’.<ref name="oddblogFirstPost"/> However, under the advice of Xavier, he began posting Oddworld development and community news on OddBlog. On 6th December, Xavier began posting on OddBlog, originally on a temporary basis while Wil was absent,<ref name="oddblogXavTemporary"/> but on 16th Dec, Wil announced that Xavier was now a permanent reporter.<ref name="oddblogXavPermanent"/> Xavier had previously been a reporter of Oddworld news on [[Oddworld Maniac]], [[Oddworld News]] and [[Oddworld-Web]]. OddBlog migrated from uJournal to Blogger in January 2004.<ref name="oddblogBlogger"/>
Wil created OddBlog on uJournal on <time datetime="2003-08-07">7th August 2003</time>, originally as a personal blog where he would post personal thoughts and updates to the Oddworld Encyclopedia project, leaving actual Oddworld news for an un-yet-unreleased part of the Encyclopedia named the ‘<b>News Station</b>’.<ref name="oddblogFirstPost"/> However, under the advice of Xavier, he began posting Oddworld development and community news on OddBlog. On <time datetime="2003-12-06">6th December</time>, Xavier began posting on OddBlog, originally on a temporary basis while Wil was absent,<ref name="oddblogXavTemporary"/> but on <time datetime="2003-12-16">16th December</time>, Wil announced that Xavier was now a permanent reporter.<ref name="oddblogXavPermanent"/> Xavier had previously been a reporter of Oddworld news on [[Oddworld Maniac]], [[Oddworld News]] and [[Oddworld-Web]]. OddBlog migrated from uJournal to Blogger in <time datetime="2004-01">January 2004</time>.<ref name="oddblogBlogger"/>


Wil, Xav, and a third member of the Oddworld Forums, Oddsville, who had previously owned the fansite [[Oddville]], began making plans to unite their fansites into one, calling themselves the ‘'''Shaman Network'''’: All three would share OddBlog, Wil would be in charge of The Oddworld Encyclopedia, and Xavier would create an Oddworld image gallery to take over his management of the [[Picture Request Thread]] on the [[Oddworld Forums]]; Oddsville would take responsibility for the fourth part of the Network, a collection of Oddworld press interviews that at the time was named ‘The Oddworld Archives’. However, Oddsville’s involvement in the group diminished and Xavier took over the Archives. Nevertheless, Wil and Xavier persisted in their plan to combine sites, and they eventually settled on the name ‘The Oddworld Library’.
Wil, Xav, and a third member of the Oddworld Forums, Oddsville, who had previously owned the fansite [[Oddville]], began making plans to unite their fansites into one, calling themselves the ‘<b>Shaman Network</b>’: All three would share OddBlog, Wil would be in charge of The Oddworld Encyclopedia, and Xavier would create an Oddworld image gallery to take over his management of the [[Picture Request Thread]] on the Oddworld Forums; Oddsville would take responsibility for the fourth part of the Network, a collection of Oddworld press interviews that at the time was named ‘The Oddworld Archives’. However, Oddsville's involvement in the group diminished and Xavier took over the Archives. Nevertheless, Wil and Xavier persisted in their plan to combine sites, and they eventually settled on the name ‘The Oddworld Library’.


=== Launch ===
=== Launch ===
Although OddBlog had always been publicly accessible, it was formally launched in February 2004 with the slogan <q>bringing you true bijoux of Oddworld news</q> when it was first announced on the Oddworld Forums and the link was publicly shared.<ref name="oddblogLaunch"/>. Xavier created his image gallery, called ‘'''The Oddworld Graphics Gallery'''’ (or '''TOGG'''), and launched it in February 2005,<ref name="toggLaunch"/> which was followed in September by The Oddworld Archives.<ref name="toaLaunch"/> Despite officially being part of The Oddworld Library, both of Xavier's sites were originally hosted on [[Alcar]]’s fansite, [[Oddworld Universe]], but after that went down in February 2006,<ref name="universeDown"/> TOGG and the Archives moved to the Library’s server within the month.<ref name="toggReturn"/><ref name="toaReturn"/>
[[File:OddBlog-2005-02-09.jpg|thumb|alt=A screenshot of OddBlog taken in 2005 showing news articles and the design of the site from that time|OddBlog, <time date="2005-02">February 2005</time>]]
Although OddBlog had always been publicly accessible, it hadn't been promoted until it was formally launched in <time datetime="2004-02">February 2004</time> with the slogan ‘<q>bringing you true bijoux of Oddworld news</q>’ when it was first announced on the Oddworld Forums and the link was publicly shared.<ref name="oddblogLaunch"/>.


The Oddworld Library was officially launched on 1st April 2006 with the opening of The Oddworld Encyclopedia.<ref name="libraryLaunch"/> The first articles on the Encyclopedia were actually a number of [[April Fool's Day|joke articles]] written for April Fool’s Day. These were replaced the following day with 18 genuine articles, collectively branded as ‘[[Wave One]]’, with a ‘[[Wave Two]]’ of 15 additional articles being uploaded on 13th April.
Xavier created his image gallery, called ‘<b>The Oddworld Graphics Gallery</b>’, and launched it in <time datetime="2005-02">February 2005</time>.<ref name="toggLaunch"/> After beginning it in July,<ref name="toaPlanned"/> he then released The Oddworld Archives—then the name specifically for his collection of interviews with [[Oddworld Inhabitants]]—in <time datetime="2005-09">September</time>.<ref name="toaLaunch"/> Despite officially being part of The Oddworld Library, both of Xavier's sites were originally hosted on [[Alcar]]'s fansite, [[Oddworld Universe]], but after that went down in <time datetime="2006-02">February 2006</time>,<ref name="universeDown"/> <abbr title="The Oddworld Graphics Gallery">TOGG</abbr> and the Archives moved to the Library's server within the month.<ref name="toggReturn"/><ref name="toaReturn"/>
 
The Oddworld Library was officially launched on <time datetime="2006-04-01">1 April 2006</time> with the opening of The Oddworld Encyclopedia.<ref name="libraryLaunch"/> The first articles on the Encyclopedia were actually a number of [[April Fool's Day|joke articles]] written for April Fool's Day. These were replaced the following day with 18 genuine articles, collectively branded as ‘[[Wave One]]’, with a ‘[[Wave Two]]’ of 15 additional articles being uploaded on <time datetime="2006-04-13">13 April</time>.


=== First Two Years ===
=== First Two Years ===
In October 2006, The Oddworld Archives were taken down and the name reused as an umbrella for TOGG and the Library's newest section, an archive of Oddworld videos called ‘'''The Oddworld Cinema'''’. At the same time, the site was also added to with ‘OddBlog Specials’ where exclusive stories and interviews could be highlighted, the Bulletin Board where site updates would be posted, and syndication feeds for both OddBlog and the Bulletin Board. These simultaneous updates were branded as The Oddworld Library’s first relaunch.<ref name="libraryRelaunch"/>
[[File:OddBlog-2007-01-03.jpg|thumb|alt=A screenshot of OddBlog taken in 2007 showing news articles and the design of the site from that time|OddBlog, <time date="2007-01">January 2007</time>]]
After a brief period of downtime,<ref name="libraryRelaunchDowntime" /> a number of changes to The Oddworld Library were published on <time datetime="2006-10-26">26 October 2006</time>, branded as the site's first relaunch.


The Oddworld Forums became a sponsor of the Oddworld Library in January 2008 by adding a link to the fansite at the top of every page, alongside links to the fansites of its owners, [[Abe Babe]]’s [[Oddworld-Web]] and [[Alcar]]’s [[Oddworld Universe]].<ref name="librarySponsor"/>
The Oddworld Archives were taken down and the name reused as an umbrella for <abbr title="The Oddworld Graphics Gallery">TOGG</abbr> and the Library's newest section, an archive of Oddworld videos called ‘<b>The Oddworld Cinema</b>’. At the same time, OddBlog begins its ‘OddBlog Specials’, where exclusive stories and interviews could be highlighted; the Bulletin Board was added to the front page, where site updates would be posted; and OddBlog and the Bulletin Board were given syndication feeds.<ref name="libraryRelaunch"/><ref name="libraryRelaunchOWF"/> The front pages, known as the ‘<b>Atrium</b>’, were given a new appearance at this time.
 
The Oddworld Forums became a sponsor of the Oddworld Library in <time datetime="2008-01">January 2008</time> by adding a link to the fansite at the top of every page, alongside links to the fansites of its owners, [[Abe Babe]]'s [[Oddworld-Web]] and [[Alcar]]'s [[Oddworld Universe]].<ref name="librarySponsor"/>


=== Second Anniversary ===
=== Second Anniversary ===
The Oddworld Library celebrated its second anniversary since its official launch on 1st April 2008. To mark the occasion, its archive of press interviews returned in a new section of The Oddworld Archives, called ‘'''The Oddworld Scriptures'''’, developed by Wil. In addition, although only 1 new article had been published on The Oddworld Encyclopedia since its first month, TOE was updated with 8 new article, 3 navigational pages and 1 updated article. This updated article on [[Fleeches]] was the first to use a reference list of cited sources, and came with a button to hide the inline citations if visitors found them annoying. Wil referred to these updates as <q>the start of a period of increased attention</q> on TOE.<ref name="library2ndAnniversary"/>
The Oddworld Library celebrated its second anniversary since its official launch on <time datetime="2008-04-01">1st April 2008</time>. To mark the occasion, its archive of press interviews returned in a new section of The Oddworld Archives, called ‘<b>The Oddworld Scriptures</b>’, developed by Wil. In addition, although only 1 new article had been published on The Oddworld Encyclopedia since its first month, TOE was updated with 8 new articles, 3 navigational pages and 1 updated article. This updated article on [[Fleech]]es was the first to use a reference list of cited sources, and came with a button to hide the inline citations if visitors found them annoying. Wil referred to these updates as ‘<q>the start of a period of increased attention</q>’ on the Encyclopedia.<ref name="library2ndAnniversary"/><ref name="library2ndAnniversaryOWF"/>


=== Third Year ===
=== Third Year ===
In July 2008, two social network accounts were opened for The Oddworld Library: an [https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOddworldCinema Oddworld Cinema YouTube channel] and an [https://twitter.com/OddworldLibrary Oddworld Library Twitter account].<ref name="cinemaYouTubeOWF"/><ref name="cinemaYouTubeOB"/><ref name="libraryTwitter"/>
In December 2007, the design of the Atrium was updated.<ref name="libraryAtriumRedesign"/> In <time datetime="2008-07">July 2008</time>, two social network accounts were opened for The Oddworld Library: an [https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOddworldCinema Oddworld Cinema YouTube channel]<ref name="cinemaYouTubeOWF"/><ref name="cinemaYouTubeOB"/> and an [https://twitter.com/OddworldLibrary Oddworld Library Twitter account].<ref name="libraryTwitter"/>
 
=== Later ===
[[File:OddBlog 2014-04-07.png|thumb|alt=A screenshot of OddBlog showing news articles and the design of the site from 2014|OddBlog, <time date="2014-04-07T20:10">April 2014</time>]]
In <time datetime="2010-11">November 2010</time>, OddBlog switched from its [https://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/ old platform] to [https://oddworldlibrary.net/blog/ WordPress]. The last post on it was published on <time date="2014-04-07T20:10">7 April 2014</time>,<ref name="OddBlogFinale"/> one week after the Library's official eighth birthday.
 
In 2016, the Library's front page changed from its traditional green design to a new dark purple one.<ref name="Atrium2016"/> Early the next year, the same redesign was applied to the Oddworld Encyclopedia.<ref name="TOE2017"/>
 
Although MediaWiki had been installed on the Oddworld Library server at the start of 2008,<ref name="MediaWiki Installation 2008"/> and despite both a number of articles being ported from the original Encyclopedia as well as a number of original articles being written between <time datetime="2010-05">May 2010</time> and <time datetime="2012-04">April 2012</time>, a large-scale effort to replace parts of the Library with MediaWiki content wasn't started until <time>2015</time>. In <time datetime="2015-05">May</time> that year, [[Xavier]] moved all remaining Encyclopedia articles to the wiki.<ref name="MediaWikiEncyclopedia"/> From <time datetime="2017-04-08T08:13:26Z">8</time> to <time datetime="2017-05-28T07:47:34Z">15 April 2017</time>, Xavier moved all [[interviews]] and [[diaries]] from The Oddworld Scriptures to the wiki,<ref name="MediaWikiScripture"/> as well as adding newer press articles for posterity; over the course of a few days from <time datetime="2017-05-25T14:49:10Z">25 May</time>, he also added texts from the [[INsOMNIOUS]] version of [[Oddworld.com]]. By <time datetime="2017-09-05T03:35:06Z">5 September</time>, the front page of the Library redirected to the wiki.<ref name="MediaWikiAtrium"/>


== References ==
== References ==
<references>
<references>
<ref name="namedKennels">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil''' <nowiki>[billy_squeek]</nowiki> '''(2 July 2000)'''. ‘[http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/exoddusclub/message/2451 My Webpage]’. Exoddus Club. Yahoo! Groups.</ref>
<ref name="namedKennels"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[billy_squeek]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2000-07-02">2 July 2000</time>)</b>. ‘[http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/exoddusclub/message/2451 My Webpage]’. Exoddus Club. Yahoo! Groups.</ref>
<ref name="namedScrabacombs">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (22 April 2001)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=2722 Coming Soon - The Scrabacombs]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="namedScrabacombs"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2001-04-22T22:33:00Z">22 April 2001</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=2722 Coming Soon - The Scrabacombs]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="renamedEncyclopedia">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (7 April 2002)'''. [http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?p=58789#post58789 Post 10] in ‘There's more than one Shrink!?’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="renamedEncyclopedia"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2002-04-07T00:33:52Z">7 April 2002</time>)</b>. [http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?p=58789#post58789 Post 10] in ‘There's more than one Shrink!?’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogFirstPost">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (17 August 2003)'''. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2003/08/OddBlog_created OddBlog created]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogFirstPost"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2003-08-17">17 August 2003</time>)</b>. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2003/08/OddBlog_created OddBlog created]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogXavTemporary"/>'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (6 December 2003)'''. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2003/12/Xav_joins_OddBlog Xav joins OddBlog]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogXavTemporary"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2003-12-06">6 December 2003</time>)</b>. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2003/12/Xav_joins_OddBlog Xav joins OddBlog]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogXavPermanent"/>'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (16 December 2003)'''. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2003/12/Avatars_added Avatars added]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogXavPermanent"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2003-12-16">16 December 2003</time>)</b>. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2003/12/Avatars_added Avatars added]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogBlogger">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (22 January 2004)'''. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2004/01/OddBlog_2 OddBlog 2·0]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogBlogger"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2004-01-22">22 January 2004</time>)</b>. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2004/01/OddBlog_2 OddBlog 2·0]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
 
<ref name="oddblogLaunch"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2004-02-01T19:34:01Z">1 February 2004</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=9598 OddBlog]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="oddblogLaunch">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (1 February 2004)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=9598 OddBlog]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toggLaunch"><b>De Coster, Xavier <nowiki>[Xavier]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2005-02-28T20:48:27Z">28 February 2005</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=11577 TOGG - Grand opening!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toggLaunch">'''De Coster, Xavier (28 February 2005)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=11577 TOGG - Grand opening!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toaPlanned"><b>De Coster, Xavier <nowiki>[Xavier]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2005-07-07T12:00:30Z">7 July 2005</time>)</b>. ‘[http://owforums.net/showthread.php?t=12428 Oddworld: The Archives]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toaLaunch">'''atusiya@ (2 September 2005)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=12699 Xavier 's The Oddworld Archives !!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toaLaunch"><b>atusiya@ (<time datetime="2005-09-02T06:56:03Z">2 September 2005</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=12699 Xavier 's The Oddworld Archives !!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="universeDown">'''Oddworld Forums members (20–22 February 2006)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=13436 What happened????]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="universeDown"><b>Oddworld Forums members (<time datetime="2006-02-20">20</time>–<time datetime="2006-02-22">22 February 2006</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=13436 What happened????]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toggReturn">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (12 March 2006)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=13533 The Oddworld Graphics Galliry Returns!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toggReturn"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2006-03-12">12 March 2006</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=13533 The Oddworld Graphics Galliry Returns!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toaReturn">'''De Coster, Xavier (5 March 2006)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=13500 The Oddworld Archives are back]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="toaReturn"><b>De Coster, Xavier <nowiki>[Xavier]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2006-03-05">5 March 2006</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=13500 The Oddworld Archives are back]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryLaunch">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (1 April 2006)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=13663 The Oddworld Library - grand opening]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryLaunch"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2006-04-01">1 April 2006</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=13663 The Oddworld Library - grand opening]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryRelaunch">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (26 October 2006)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=14578 The Oddworld Library Relaunched]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryRelaunchDowntime"><b>Oddworld Library (archived <time datetime="2006-09-08T03:09:38Z">8 September 2006</time>)</b>. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060908030938/http://www.oddworldlibrary.net:80/ Archived] by the Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.</ref>
<ref name="librarySponsor">'''Alcar (15 January 2008)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=16485 TOL Sponsorship & Staff Changes]’. Forums Suggestions & Help. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="Atrium2016"><b>Oddworld Library (archived <time datetime="2016-05-19T00:20:11Z">19 May 2016</time>)</b>. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160519002011/http://oddworldlibrary.net:80/ Archived] by the Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.</ref>
<ref name="library2ndAnniversary">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (1 April 2008)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=16809 The TOL Thread]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="TOE2017"><b>Oddworld Library (archived <time datetime="2017-02-21T07:36:55Z">21 February 2017</time>)</b>. ‘[https://web.archive.org/web/20170221073655/http://oddworldlibrary.net:80/toe/Contents Contents]’. The Oddworld Encyclopædia. Archived by the Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.</ref>
 
<ref name="libraryRelaunch"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2006-10-26">26 October 2006</time>)</b>. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061109232106/http://www.oddworldlibrary.net:80/ Bulletin Board]. Atrium. Oddworld Library. Archived by the Wayback Machine on <time datetime="2006-11-09T23:21:06Z">9 November 2006</time>. Internet Archive.</ref>
<ref name="cinemaYouTubeOWF">'''De Coster, Xavier (1 July 2008)'''. [http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?p=354850#post354850 Post 16] in ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryRelaunchOWF"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2006-10-26">26 October 2006</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=14578 The Oddworld Library Relaunched]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="cinemaYouTubeOB">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (2 July 2008)'''. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2008/07/The_Oddworld_Cinema_on_YouTube The Oddworld Cinema on YouTube]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="librarySponsor"><b>Alcar (<time datetime="2008-01-15">15 January 2008</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=16485 TOL Sponsorship & Staff Changes]’. Forums Suggestions & Help. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryTwitter">'''Bunce-Edwards, Wil (16 July 2008)'''. [http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?p=354850#post354850 Post 22] in ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="library2ndAnniversary"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2008-04-01T12:22">1 April 2008</time>)</b>. ‘[https://web.archive.org/web/20080402111901/http://oddworldlibrary.net:80/ The Oddworld Scriptures launches]’. Bulletin Board. Atrium. The Oddworld Library. Archived by The Wayback Machine on <time datetime="2008-04-02T11:19:01Z">2 April 2008</time>. Internet Archive.</ref>
<ref name="library2ndAnniversaryOWF"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2008-04-01">1 April 2008</time>)</b>. ‘[http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?t=16809 The TOL Thread]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="libraryAtriumRedesign"><b>Oddworld Library (archived <time datetime="2007-12-30T13:35:36Z">30 December 2007</time>)</b>. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071230133536/http://oddworldlibrary.net:80/ Archived] by The Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.</ref>
<ref name="cinemaYouTubeOWF"><b>De Coster, Xavier <nowiki>[Xavier]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2008-07-01">1 July 2008</time>)</b>. [http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?p=354850#post354850 Post 16] in ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="cinemaYouTubeOB"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2008-07-02">2 July 2008</time>)</b>. ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2008/07/The_Oddworld_Cinema_on_YouTube The Oddworld Cinema on YouTube]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="libraryTwitter"><b>Bunce-Edwards, Wil <nowiki>[Wil]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2008-07-16">16 July 2008</time>)</b>. [http://www.owforums.net/showthread.php?p=354850#post354850 Post 22] in ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>
<ref name="OddBlogFinale"><b>Manco (<time date="2014-04-07T20:10">7 April 2014</time>)</b>. ‘[https://web.archive.org/web/20160518070916/http://oddworldlibrary.net/blog/2014/04/worlds-factory-interviews-stewart-gilray-oddworld-unlikely-to-be-on-kickstarter/ Worlds Factory interviews Stewart Gilray; Oddworld unlikely to be on Kickstarter]’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="MediaWiki Installation 2008"><b>MediaWiki default (<time datetime="2008-01-17T02:04:47Z">17 January 2008</time>)</b>. [http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddenc/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=1 Revision 1] of ‘Main Page’. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="MediaWikiEncyclopedia"><b>De Coster, Xavier <nowiki>[Xavier]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2015-05-26T11:20:52Z">26 May 2015</time>)</b>. [http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddenc/index.php?title=Template:In_the_news&oldid=685 Revision 685] of ‘Template:In the news’. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="MediaWikiScripture"><b>De Coster, Xavier <nowiki>[Xavier]</nowiki> (<time datetime="2017-04-10T11:00:20Z">10 April 2017</time>)</b>. [http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddenc/index.php?title=Template:In_the_news&oldid=717 Revision 717] of ‘Template:In the news’. Oddworld Library.</ref>
<ref name="MediaWikiAtrium"><b>Oddworld Library (archived <time datetime="2017-09-05T03:35:06Z">5 September 2017</time>)</b>. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170905033506/http://oddworldlibrary.net/ Archived] by The Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.</ref>
</references>
</references>
[[Category:Oddworld Library]]
[[Category:Oddworld Library]]
[[Category:Oddworld fansites]]
[[Category:Oddworld fansites]]

Latest revision as of 10:28, 13 December 2023

Oddworld Library is an Oddworld fansite created and maintained primarily by Wil Bunce-Edwards and Xavier De Coster, with help by other Oddworld fans. It aims to provide a comprehensive reference and archive of Oddworld products, media, development, lore and fandom.

Between and , it also reported on Oddworld news, including a number of exclusive interviews and media premiers.

Oddworld Library also covers related topics, such as Citizen Siege and Xmobb.

Structure

Oddworld Library has traditionally been divided into three sections

OddBlog

OddBlog reported on Oddworld news from to . Its last story was posted on .

Stories from before December 2010 can be viewed at their [/oddblog/ original web address] but stories from then on are no longer supported by our host and can now only be viewed on the Internet Archive.

The Oddworld Encyclopaedia (TOE)
A collection of articles on Oddworld lore. All its content has been moved to the Oddworld Library wiki.
The Oddworld Archives (TOA)
Archives of many different types of media relating to Oddworld, divided into several subsections, each catering to its own form of media.

Archives

The Oddworld Graphics Gallery (TOGG)
A collection of images and videos maintained by Xavier. This is the only part of the Archives that continues to be updated.
The Oddworld Cinema (TOC)
Archived videos only. Since its content was migrated to TOGG.
The Oddworld Scriptures (TOS)
Archived texts, including press interviews, developer diaries, and texts taken from the INsOMNIOUS version of Oddworld.com. Much of its content has been migrated to the wiki, but the responsibility of maintaining an archive of articles has been relinquished to Magog On The March.
Odd Wide Web
A collection of archived websites, including official company and product websites, maintained by Xavier.
OddTunes
A collection of music and other audio, including official albums from Oddworld Inhabitants and soundtrack rips by Killy.

History

Conception

A screenshot of OddBlog taken in 2004 showing news articles and the design of the site from that time
OddBlog,

Oddworld Library originated as four separate projects: OddBlog, The Oddworld Encyclopedia, The Oddworld Graphics Gallery and The Oddworld Archives. The first two were created by Wil Bunce-Edwards, and the second two by Xavier De Coster.

Wil first began working on an Oddworld fansite in . His first attempt was a webpage on the early webhosting service Xoom, which he called ‘The Kennels’. This early incarnation presented visitors with a guided tour of the eponymous Kennels (essentially a zoo of Oddworld creatures known at the time) led by a conjoined-twin Glukkon named Glasp.[1] By , the project changed to one more encyclopedic in tone called ‘The Scrabacombs’,[2] but by this was again renamed to ‘The Oddworld Encyclopedia’ to reflect Wil's nickname on the Oddworld Forums.[3]

Wil created OddBlog on uJournal on , originally as a personal blog where he would post personal thoughts and updates to the Oddworld Encyclopedia project, leaving actual Oddworld news for an un-yet-unreleased part of the Encyclopedia named the ‘News Station’.[4] However, under the advice of Xavier, he began posting Oddworld development and community news on OddBlog. On , Xavier began posting on OddBlog, originally on a temporary basis while Wil was absent,[5] but on , Wil announced that Xavier was now a permanent reporter.[6] Xavier had previously been a reporter of Oddworld news on Oddworld Maniac, Oddworld News and Oddworld-Web. OddBlog migrated from uJournal to Blogger in .[7]

Wil, Xav, and a third member of the Oddworld Forums, Oddsville, who had previously owned the fansite Oddville, began making plans to unite their fansites into one, calling themselves the ‘Shaman Network’: All three would share OddBlog, Wil would be in charge of The Oddworld Encyclopedia, and Xavier would create an Oddworld image gallery to take over his management of the Picture Request Thread on the Oddworld Forums; Oddsville would take responsibility for the fourth part of the Network, a collection of Oddworld press interviews that at the time was named ‘The Oddworld Archives’. However, Oddsville's involvement in the group diminished and Xavier took over the Archives. Nevertheless, Wil and Xavier persisted in their plan to combine sites, and they eventually settled on the name ‘The Oddworld Library’.

Launch

A screenshot of OddBlog taken in 2005 showing news articles and the design of the site from that time
OddBlog,

Although OddBlog had always been publicly accessible, it hadn't been promoted until it was formally launched in with the slogan ‘bringing you true bijoux of Oddworld news’ when it was first announced on the Oddworld Forums and the link was publicly shared.[8].

Xavier created his image gallery, called ‘The Oddworld Graphics Gallery’, and launched it in .[9] After beginning it in July,[10] he then released The Oddworld Archives—then the name specifically for his collection of interviews with Oddworld Inhabitants—in .[11] Despite officially being part of The Oddworld Library, both of Xavier's sites were originally hosted on Alcar's fansite, Oddworld Universe, but after that went down in ,[12] TOGG and the Archives moved to the Library's server within the month.[13][14]

The Oddworld Library was officially launched on with the opening of The Oddworld Encyclopedia.[15] The first articles on the Encyclopedia were actually a number of joke articles written for April Fool's Day. These were replaced the following day with 18 genuine articles, collectively branded as ‘Wave One’, with a ‘Wave Two’ of 15 additional articles being uploaded on .

First Two Years

A screenshot of OddBlog taken in 2007 showing news articles and the design of the site from that time
OddBlog,

After a brief period of downtime,[16] a number of changes to The Oddworld Library were published on , branded as the site's first relaunch.

The Oddworld Archives were taken down and the name reused as an umbrella for TOGG and the Library's newest section, an archive of Oddworld videos called ‘The Oddworld Cinema’. At the same time, OddBlog begins its ‘OddBlog Specials’, where exclusive stories and interviews could be highlighted; the Bulletin Board was added to the front page, where site updates would be posted; and OddBlog and the Bulletin Board were given syndication feeds.[17][18] The front pages, known as the ‘Atrium’, were given a new appearance at this time.

The Oddworld Forums became a sponsor of the Oddworld Library in by adding a link to the fansite at the top of every page, alongside links to the fansites of its owners, Abe Babe's Oddworld-Web and Alcar's Oddworld Universe.[19]

Second Anniversary

The Oddworld Library celebrated its second anniversary since its official launch on . To mark the occasion, its archive of press interviews returned in a new section of The Oddworld Archives, called ‘The Oddworld Scriptures’, developed by Wil. In addition, although only 1 new article had been published on The Oddworld Encyclopedia since its first month, TOE was updated with 8 new articles, 3 navigational pages and 1 updated article. This updated article on Fleeches was the first to use a reference list of cited sources, and came with a button to hide the inline citations if visitors found them annoying. Wil referred to these updates as ‘the start of a period of increased attention’ on the Encyclopedia.[20][21]

Third Year

In December 2007, the design of the Atrium was updated.[22] In , two social network accounts were opened for The Oddworld Library: an Oddworld Cinema YouTube channel[23][24] and an Oddworld Library Twitter account.[25]

Later

A screenshot of OddBlog showing news articles and the design of the site from 2014
OddBlog,

In , OddBlog switched from its old platform to WordPress. The last post on it was published on ,[26] one week after the Library's official eighth birthday.

In 2016, the Library's front page changed from its traditional green design to a new dark purple one.[27] Early the next year, the same redesign was applied to the Oddworld Encyclopedia.[28]

Although MediaWiki had been installed on the Oddworld Library server at the start of 2008,[29] and despite both a number of articles being ported from the original Encyclopedia as well as a number of original articles being written between and , a large-scale effort to replace parts of the Library with MediaWiki content wasn't started until . In that year, Xavier moved all remaining Encyclopedia articles to the wiki.[30] From to , Xavier moved all interviews and diaries from The Oddworld Scriptures to the wiki,[31] as well as adding newer press articles for posterity; over the course of a few days from , he also added texts from the INsOMNIOUS version of Oddworld.com. By , the front page of the Library redirected to the wiki.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [billy_squeek] (). ‘My Webpage’. Exoddus Club. Yahoo! Groups.
  2. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘Coming Soon - The Scrabacombs’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  3. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). Post 10 in ‘There's more than one Shrink!?’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  4. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘OddBlog created’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.
  5. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘Xav joins OddBlog’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.
  6. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘Avatars added’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.
  7. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘OddBlog 2·0’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.
  8. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘OddBlog’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  9. ↑ De Coster, Xavier [Xavier] (). ‘TOGG - Grand opening!’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  10. ↑ De Coster, Xavier [Xavier] (). ‘Oddworld: The Archives’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  11. ↑ atusiya@ (). ‘Xavier 's The Oddworld Archives !!’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  12. ↑ Oddworld Forums members (–). ‘What happened????’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  13. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘The Oddworld Graphics Galliry Returns!’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  14. ↑ De Coster, Xavier [Xavier] (). ‘The Oddworld Archives are back’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  15. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘The Oddworld Library - grand opening’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  16. ↑ Oddworld Library (archived ). Archived by the Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.
  17. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). Bulletin Board. Atrium. Oddworld Library. Archived by the Wayback Machine on . Internet Archive.
  18. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘The Oddworld Library Relaunched’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  19. ↑ Alcar (). ‘TOL Sponsorship & Staff Changes’. Forums Suggestions & Help. Oddworld Forums.
  20. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘The Oddworld Scriptures launches’. Bulletin Board. Atrium. The Oddworld Library. Archived by The Wayback Machine on . Internet Archive.
  21. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  22. ↑ Oddworld Library (archived ). Archived by The Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.
  23. ↑ De Coster, Xavier [Xavier] (). Post 16 in ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  24. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). ‘The Oddworld Cinema on YouTube’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.
  25. ↑ Bunce-Edwards, Wil [Wil] (). Post 22 in ‘The TOL Thread’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.
  26. ↑ Manco (). ‘Worlds Factory interviews Stewart Gilray; Oddworld unlikely to be on Kickstarter’. OddBlog. Oddworld Library.
  27. ↑ Oddworld Library (archived ). Archived by the Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.
  28. ↑ Oddworld Library (archived ). ‘Contents’. The Oddworld Encyclopædia. Archived by the Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.
  29. ↑ MediaWiki default (). Revision 1 of ‘Main Page’. Oddworld Library.
  30. ↑ De Coster, Xavier [Xavier] (). Revision 685 of ‘Template:In the news’. Oddworld Library.
  31. ↑ De Coster, Xavier [Xavier] (). Revision 717 of ‘Template:In the news’. Oddworld Library.
  32. ↑ Oddworld Library (archived ). Archived by The Wayback Machine. Internet Archive.
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