Jon-Paul C. Dyson International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG) at The Strong Rochester, New York Collecting Video Games: Questions, Models, and Methods
Jan 11, 2016
Jon-Paul C. DysonInternational Center for the History of Electronic Games
(ICHEG) at The StrongRochester, New York
Collecting Video Games: Questions, Models, and Methods
World’s Largest Play Collection
So How DO You Preserve a Video Game?
So How Do You Preserve a Book?
So How Do You Preserve a Movie?
So How Do You Preserve a Baseball Game?
So How Do You Preserve a Baseball Game?
So How Do You Preserve the History of Books, Movies, and
Baseball Games?
So How Do You Preserve the History of Video Games?
Historiographical Models
History of the Book Constructivist History of Science
http://www.icheg.org/sites/www.icheg.org/files/uploads/ConcentricCircles_020711.pdf
Electronic games are playthings in which a computer mediates the play
Spectrum of Electronic Games
Electronic Games
Not Electronic Games
So Who is Preserving Video Games?
International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong
International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong
• Established in 2009• Preserves and explores the history of video games
worldwide• Approximately 50,000 video games and related
artifacts, including around 200 arcade games• Extensive archival collections – provides access to
scholars• Interactive exhibits like eGameRevolution, Atari
by Design, Boardwalk Arcade
Game Exhibits at The Strong
• Original hardware and software
ICHEG’s Approach to Preserving the History of Video Games
What are acceptable preservation techniques for games?
• Original hardware and software• Archival materials
ICHEG’s Approach to Preserving the History of Video Games
• Original hardware and software• Archival materials• Media about games
ICHEG’s Approach to Preserving the History of Video Games
• Original hardware and software• Archival materials• Media about games• Video capture
ICHEG’s Approach to Preserving the History of Video Games
• Original hardware and software• Archival materials• Media about games• Video capture• Migration and emulation
ICHEG’s Approach to Preserving the History of Video Games
Preservation Develops through Conversations
Video Game Preservation
Producers
Scholars
Consumers
Collectors
Preservation Develops through Conversations
Video Game Preservation
Producers
Scholars
ConsumersCollectors
Technology
Conversations Must Always Continue
Video Game Preservation
Producers
Scholars
ConsumersCollectors
Technology
Video Game Preservation
Producers
Scholars
ConsumersCollectors
Technology
Video Game Preservation
Producers
Scholars
ConsumersCollectors
Technology
Video Game Preservation
Producers
Scholars
ConsumersCollectors
Technology