FileTrekker

Who is Filetrekker?

You all experienced the problem. You download an amazing total conversion, but the community site goes offline a year later and the files are lost forever. For over two decades, Filetrekker has been one of the key figures fighting against that. Originally starting out as a volunteer network administrator for Armada Files, he eventually became the owner and lead preserver of the massive GameFront (formerly FileFront) archive. Today, his entire life revolves around modding communities, including his day job at Mod.io, where he helps implement official mod support for modern games.

How did a typo start his career?

It is a funny quirk of fate! Back in 2002, Filetrekker bought the Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force twin pack, which included the base game and the expansion. Because copy protection was much simpler back then, every single physical copy had the exact same CD key printed inside the box—but the expansion pack's key had a typo!

Searching for a fix to get his game running led him to the Files Network forums. Before that day, he didn't even know modding was a thing. He started creating his own custom files, submitted a terrible first map, received honest feedback from the site's curators to improve his leaks and lighting, and completely fell in love with the community.

What kind of mods did he build?

While he eventually realized he was better at managing the websites than building complex 3D models, he still contributed some fantastic projects over the years:

Elite Force - Green Hill Zone: He built a crazy 3D multiplayer map recreating the classic Sonic the Hedgehog level. It features moving platforms, spike traps, and even replaces the standard hyposprays with spinning gold rings that give you health.
Elite Force - HD Retexture: A work-in-progress project to replace the standard textures and remodel the corridors and mess hall to look much more accurate to the original TV show.
Star Trek: Armada: He built various custom multiplayer maps using the game's straightforward map editor.
Fallout London: Moving beyond classic games, he actually voices a character in the massive Fallout London total conversion!