Session Information
| Title | Game History and Preservation: The Roles of Industry, Institutions, and Fans |
| Presenter(s) | Nathan Kelber and David Carter |
| Time | Thursday, October 16, 11:00a-12:00p |
| Location | Lake Michigan |
| Format | Roundtable |
| Description | As academic scholarship has come to recognize the cultural importance of games, the issue of game history and preservation has become a central issue. This roundtable will discuss and debate current trends and best practices for the future preservation of games. Major institutions are now focusing their energies on game preservation. Notable examples include the "Preserving Virtual Worlds" project led by the University of Illinois and "The Console Living Room" created by the Internet Archive. The vast majority of preservation efforts, however, are still funded, organized, and sustained by the efforts of game fans. The most important extant items from game history have been preserved because they are in the hands of dedicated private collectors. This is especially true of historical games from the eras of the arcade and boardwalk, which most institutions have little space, expertise, or interest in preserving. The state of digital intellectual property law has also created additional challenges for institutions. Copyright has protected industry interests, yet also hinders the efforts of institutions to preserve important game artifacts. One of the most effective forms of digital preservation, emulation, has only come about because fans have been willing to cross legal boundaries which many institutions are not. Video game history and preservation is a complex issue and the future of its preservation will require the voices, ideas, and help of many individuals. We invite everyone to join the conversation. Topics may include but are certainly not limited to:
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