The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) is unlocking its treasure trove of knowledge and announced the release of a digital library. This isn’t simply a collection of scanned magazines and digitized artifacts; it’s a meticulously curated and meticulously accessible portal into the very soul of video game history. Yes, I am very happy about this.
Normally, you’d have to go to California to see the library, which would be in physical form. The VGHF‘s digital library serves as a way to remove that necessity. The foundation has documented and cataloged magazines, videos, developer diaries, and many other resources that will soon be available to anyone. There was no specific release date but they gave a look at it.
The library will be powered by the ArchiveSpace platform, whose interface lets you browse by the magazine, subject, name, or even record group. For example, if you want to look at Nintendo Power, it has a dedicated page with issue listings and detailed information about each publication. Unfortunately, not every entry can be that easy; for a series like Game Player, known for its tangled web of editions and name changes, the team has created a nuanced structure that simplifies navigating it.
But the real magic of the library lies beyond its cataloging. An example given was the Mark Flitman papers, a treasure trove of materials from a veteran game producer. The record for this collection isn’t just a listing; it’s a detailed narrative outlining the collection’s origins, content types, and even usage restrictions. Need to know which companies Fitman worked for? A convenient drop-down menu takes you straight to the relevant materials.
And then there’s the digital archive, the other half of this dynamic duo. Powered by Preservica, a platform designed for long-term digital preservation, it houses the very essence of the VGHF’s collections. Documents, images, audio, and even video are tagged and accessible. Do you want to see the color guides used in Tiny Toon Adventures or hear the demo music for King’s Quest 5? The library has it covered.
What surprised me was that the VGHF doesn’t stop at basic formats. You can delve into press CDs from GamePro magazine, examining the highest quality versions of game art in their original directory structure. And for truly complex objects, like website prototypes, the VGHF unveils its innovative solution: presenting the website directly within the Internet Archive.
The full video is below, I highly recommend it.
I am a huge nerd regarding the history of the video game industry. I love it so much and love to hear first-hand accounts and biographies of those who shaped our industry. This is something that will help press like me and those who want to learn more.
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