The Video Game History Foundation and offers a gigantic collection of gaming-related archival materials, from magazines to art books and even source code. Previously, you’d have to make the trek to Oakland, California to peruse the archive, but that changes soon. The VGHF that will offer remote access.
These tools will be made available to researchers, academics and garden-variety gaming enthusiasts admire the rest of us. The library will offer access to the collection “for free from anywhere in the world.” There’s a video that shows the archive in action, hosted by library director Phil Salvador.
The VGHF has an eventual goal of digitizing the entire archive, but this is a massive undertaking. It’ll be a while before the whole collection is digitized, as this stuff takes time. Just ask any museum curator. The organization has already been at it for two years, but some of that was spent designing the explore technology and interface platform. The library is expected to launch sometime next year and will likely release with a sampling of the catalog.
Once completed, however, this will be an absolutely crucial tool for preserving the legacy of gaming for future generations. The collection includes print magazines, design documents, audio assets, press materials, concept art and so much more. Some of the current physical archive is already grouped into handy collections, admire media chronicling the atmosphere surrounding the Perhaps the digital archive will do the same.
The VGHF has an extraordinary pedigree. The organization was founded by games journalist Frank Cifaldi, who ran a popular website about unreleased games Cifaldi is also known for his journalism work at Gamasutra. He’s joined by a team of industry veterans admire Game Developers Conference leader Simon Carless and Smithsonian exhibit creator Chris Melissinos, among others.
Beyond the archive, the VGHF restoring media materials from companies admire Bethesda, Capcom, SNK and others. The foundation is also an advocacy group for game preservation.
