How To Get Started with Game Preservation

Game preservation is an increasingly important field in the digital age, ensuring that the cultural, historical, and technical aspects of video games are safeguarded for future generations. As the video game industry continues to grow, the need for preserving video games in all their forms---from the software itself to the hardware on which it runs---is more urgent than ever. This article will explore what game preservation is, why it is crucial, and how individuals and institutions can get started in preserving video games.

What is Game Preservation?

Game preservation refers to the act of saving and protecting video games from becoming obsolete, lost, or inaccessible. It includes a wide range of activities, such as:

• Archiving Game Software: Ensuring that game files are stored safely and can be accessed in the future, even as operating systems and hardware evolve.
• Preserving Game Hardware: Protecting and maintaining the physical consoles, controllers, and other equipment necessary to play games.
• Documenting Development History: Capturing the stories behind games, including development processes, design choices, and the impact they had on culture.
• Emulating Games: Creating digital environments that can mimic the experience of playing older games on modern systems.
• Restoring Lost Games: Attempting to recover games that were never properly archived or that have become corrupted or unplayable over time.

The goal of game preservation is to ensure that these digital artifacts, which are often seen as fleeting or expendable, are kept intact for future research, enjoyment, and understanding of their cultural significance.

Why Is Game Preservation Important?

Game preservation is essential for several reasons:

1. Cultural Heritage

Video games are an integral part of modern culture. They have become a major form of entertainment, art, and storytelling, shaping how we interact with technology and engage with narrative. Just as literature, film, and music are preserved for future generations, video games also deserve a place in the historical record. Preserving games ensures that future generations can explore the rich diversity of interactive entertainment and appreciate the evolution of gaming over time.

2. Technological History

The development of video games is closely tied to the evolution of computing technology. Early video games, for example, were designed to run on primitive hardware, and many innovations that paved the way for modern computing were driven by the needs of the gaming industry. By preserving these games, we also preserve the story of technological progress, from the first home consoles to the complex online multiplayer systems of today.

3. Avoiding the Loss of Digital Artifacts

Unlike physical media, digital files are at constant risk of becoming corrupted, incompatible, or lost due to evolving technologies and data degradation. Many older games are already inaccessible on modern systems because the hardware and software necessary to run them are no longer available. Without intervention, many games---especially those that were never commercially successful---could be lost forever.

4. Educational Value

Video games can be an excellent resource for understanding history, psychology, design, and even sociology. Many games reflect the time periods in which they were created, providing insights into societal norms, technological trends, and cultural shifts. Preserving these games ensures that they remain accessible to researchers, educators, and students, who can use them as valuable educational tools.

The Challenges of Game Preservation

While game preservation is important, it is also fraught with challenges. Some of the most significant obstacles include:

1. Legal and Copyright Issues

Many video games are protected by copyright, which can make it difficult to archive and distribute them legally. The rights to the software, music, artwork, and other elements of a game are often held by multiple parties, including developers, publishers, and artists. These rights must be respected, and permission may be needed to legally preserve and distribute games, especially for commercial purposes.

2. Technological Obsolescence

As technology evolves, older games may no longer run on modern systems. The original hardware used to play these games may be rare or difficult to maintain. Emulation, which allows older games to be played on modern computers or consoles, can be a solution, but it also faces challenges related to hardware compatibility and the legal gray area of distributing game code.

3. Limited Resources

Game preservation is a labor-intensive task that requires expertise in various areas, including programming, hardware repair, and digital archiving. Many preservation efforts rely on volunteers or small organizations with limited resources, which makes large-scale preservation efforts difficult. The costs of acquiring rare hardware, maintaining preservation environments, and ensuring long-term access can also be prohibitive.

4. Loss of Data and Corrupted Files

In some cases, data loss is inevitable. Games that were not properly archived or that have deteriorated over time may be beyond recovery. In these cases, even sophisticated preservation techniques cannot bring the game back to life. It is not uncommon for a game to be partially preserved, with some data or assets lost forever.

How to Get Started with Game Preservation

Despite the challenges, there are many ways that individuals and institutions can get involved in game preservation. Whether you're a casual gamer, a developer, or a researcher, here are some practical steps to get started.

1. Collect and Archive Your Games

One of the simplest ways to contribute to game preservation is by collecting and archiving your own games. Start by backing up your digital game files, including copies of older games you own. If you have physical copies, consider digitizing them to prevent data loss. Make sure to store these files in multiple locations (e.g., external hard drives, cloud storage, etc.) to minimize the risk of data corruption or loss.

For physical games, it may be worth preserving the packaging, manuals, and other memorabilia that came with the game, as these can provide important context for future researchers. If you're collecting older games, consider preserving the hardware they run on as well. Certain systems may be in danger of breaking down, so having spare parts or even a complete collection of original consoles can help with preservation efforts.

2. Learn About Emulation

Emulation is a critical tool in game preservation, allowing old games to be played on modern systems. Emulators replicate the functions of old hardware, making it possible to run games that were designed for outdated or rare systems. You can start by exploring emulators for consoles like the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation, which are some of the most commonly preserved systems.

Before using emulators, it's important to understand the legal and ethical considerations involved in downloading ROMs (digital versions of game cartridges). While emulation itself is legal in many places, downloading copyrighted game files without permission can be a violation of intellectual property laws. Be sure to only use ROMs for games you legally own, and consider supporting developers who release their older titles for emulation in a legal and ethical manner.

3. Join or Support Game Preservation Groups

There are many organizations and communities dedicated to the preservation of video games. These groups engage in activities like archiving old games, repairing old consoles, and creating educational content about gaming history. Some notable organizations include:

• The Video Game History Foundation: A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving video games and sharing their history with the public.
• The Internet Archive: A digital library that has worked to preserve old software and games for posterity, including a large collection of classic arcade games and console ROMs.
• The National Videogame Museum: An institution dedicated to the preservation and presentation of video game culture, offering exhibitions and archives related to the history of video games.

By joining these organizations or supporting their work, you can help ensure that video games are preserved for future generations.

4. Preserve Game Documentation

Game preservation isn't just about saving the games themselves; it's also about preserving the context around them. Documentation such as design documents, concept art, interviews with developers, and marketing materials all contribute to a deeper understanding of a game's development and cultural impact. If you are involved in game development, consider keeping detailed records of your work, including the technical and creative processes behind the game.

If you're a fan of a specific game, try to collect any relevant materials related to that game. Interviewing developers, creating oral histories, or archiving community content can also help to preserve the social and cultural context in which the game was created.

5. Contribute to Online Archives and Databases

Many video game preservation efforts rely on the collaborative input of volunteers who contribute their knowledge, assets, and expertise to large online databases and archives. Websites like MobyGames and GameFAQs are great places to start contributing, whether by uploading game manuals, writing reviews, or submitting screenshots. By sharing information and assets, you can help fill in the gaps in game preservation.

6. Help Repair and Maintain Hardware

For games to be playable in the future, the hardware on which they run must be preserved and maintained. Many early video game consoles, especially those from the 1980s and 1990s, are no longer in production and may be prone to hardware failures. If you have knowledge of electronics or repair work, you can help by restoring and maintaining old gaming hardware.

Many communities and forums dedicated to console repair can provide valuable resources for learning how to repair and refurbish vintage systems. If you come across spare parts or broken systems, consider fixing them or donating them to preservation groups that specialize in hardware.

7. Advocate for Game Preservation

Game preservation is a relatively young field, and it often doesn't receive the same level of attention as other forms of cultural preservation. By advocating for the importance of preserving video games, you can help raise awareness and bring attention to the issue. This can include anything from writing about game preservation on blogs or social media to lobbying for policy changes in the video game industry.

8. Support Legal Efforts for Preservation

One of the most significant obstacles to game preservation is the complex web of copyright and intellectual property law. In some cases, game preservation is hampered by legal restrictions that prevent the archiving or distribution of older games. Supporting organizations that advocate for better legal frameworks around digital preservation can help ensure that games are protected while respecting the rights of creators.

Conclusion

Game preservation is an essential endeavor to ensure that the rich cultural and historical significance of video games is preserved for future generations. Whether you're an avid gamer, a developer, or simply someone interested in history and culture, there are many ways to get involved in preserving the past of video games. By collecting games, learning about emulation, supporting preservation organizations, and contributing to the conversation, we can help safeguard the legacy of one of the most important forms of entertainment and art in modern history.

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