Friday, January 28, 2011
Starting Research
We've begun working on gathering sources and information about the current state of game preservation. The most useful finds so far are the papers presented at DiGRA's Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory conference. We've gotten a big pile of things to read through, so over the next few days we'll be highlighting and noting as we dig into the material.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Project Proposal
Project Proposal:
While digital games represent an increasingly significant cultural influence few steps have been taken to establish archives and programs to protect the legacy of games. Obsolete games and gaming systems are at risk of being lost entirely, preventing future generations of historians from studying them. As we move into an age of the online play constant improvements on games also signifies a constant loss of information about early versions of games. The aim of this project to explore the issues and initiatives associated with the preservation of digital games.
Approach:
We will conduct textual research and interview members of the Dartmouth community, including students, professors and professional archivists, about the relationship between gamers, non-games and researchers to game history.
Final Goal:
A comprehensive, multi-media report on the current state of game preservation.
Major Questions
Why preserve games?
Who has an interest, if anyone, in preserving digital games?
How can games be preserved?
What is the role of computer emulators in the preservation of vintage games? Is this a "true" form of preservation, and how does it differ from other ways of protecting game history?
How should historical games be studied?
How does the study of historical games fit into the context of current digital gaming studies?
What initiatives to preserve games are currently underway?
Are these initiatives effective?
What improvements could be made to ensure the effective preservation of digital games?
Timeline:
Jan 22nd - begin research and interviews
Feb 12th - complete research and interviews and begin compilation
March 6th - turn in final project
Budget: $0
While digital games represent an increasingly significant cultural influence few steps have been taken to establish archives and programs to protect the legacy of games. Obsolete games and gaming systems are at risk of being lost entirely, preventing future generations of historians from studying them. As we move into an age of the online play constant improvements on games also signifies a constant loss of information about early versions of games. The aim of this project to explore the issues and initiatives associated with the preservation of digital games.
Approach:
We will conduct textual research and interview members of the Dartmouth community, including students, professors and professional archivists, about the relationship between gamers, non-games and researchers to game history.
Final Goal:
A comprehensive, multi-media report on the current state of game preservation.
Major Questions
Why preserve games?
Who has an interest, if anyone, in preserving digital games?
How can games be preserved?
What is the role of computer emulators in the preservation of vintage games? Is this a "true" form of preservation, and how does it differ from other ways of protecting game history?
How should historical games be studied?
How does the study of historical games fit into the context of current digital gaming studies?
What initiatives to preserve games are currently underway?
Are these initiatives effective?
What improvements could be made to ensure the effective preservation of digital games?
Timeline:
Jan 22nd - begin research and interviews
Feb 12th - complete research and interviews and begin compilation
March 6th - turn in final project
Budget: $0
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