About The video game history foundation
The Video Game History Foundation: Preserving the Legacy of Gaming
Video games have become an integral part of modern culture. They are not just a form of entertainment but also a medium for storytelling, art, and innovation. The history of video games is rich and diverse, spanning several decades and encompassing various genres and platforms. However, this history is in danger of being lost or forgotten due to the rapid pace of technological advancement.
The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve, celebrate, and teach the history of video games. Founded in 2017 by Frank Cifaldi, an industry veteran with over a decade of experience in game development and journalism, VGHF has quickly established itself as a leading authority on gaming history.
The mission of VGHF is to ensure that the legacy of gaming is not lost or forgotten. The foundation collects and preserves artifacts related to video game history such as hardware prototypes, design documents, source code, marketing materials, magazines, books etc., which are then made available for research purposes.
In addition to preservation efforts,VGHF also celebrates the cultural significanceof video games through various initiatives such as exhibitions,museum displays,and public events.The foundation has partnered with several museums across North America including The Strong National Museum Of Play,Rochester,NY;Museum Of Pop Culture(Seattle);and many more,to showcase their collectionsof rare artifacts from gaming's past.
Moreover,VGHF also offers educational resources for students,researchers,and enthusiasts alike.Their website features articles,videos,podcasts,interviews,and other content that explores different aspects of gaming history.These resources are designedto help people understandthe evolutionof video gamesas well astheir impacton societyand culture.
One notable project undertaken by VGHF was its collaboration with Digital Eclipse,a studio specializingin retro game emulation,to create "The Disney Afternoon Collection".This collection features six classic Disney games from the 90s,all of which were remastered and re-released for modern platforms.The project was a huge success and received critical acclaim for its faithful recreation of these beloved games.
Another initiative by VGHF is the "Video Game Source Project",which aims to preserve the source code of classic video games.This project is crucial because source code is often lost or destroyed over time, making it difficult to understand how these games were made. By preserving this code,VGHF hopes to provide valuable insights into game development practices from the past.
VGHF has also been involved in advocacy efforts related to gaming history. In 2019,the foundation submitted a proposalto The Library Of Congressfor an exemptionto The Digital Millennium Copyright Act(DMCA)that would allow museums,libraries,and archives to legally preserve and display old video games that are no longer commercially available.The proposal was accepted,and this exemption will help ensure that gaming history can be preserved without fear of legal repercussions.
In conclusion,The Video Game History Foundation is an essential organization for anyone who cares about gaming history.Its efforts in preservation,celebration,and education have helped raise awareness about the cultural significanceof video gamesand ensured that their legacy will not be forgotten. Whether you are a student,researcher,enjoyer or just someone who loves video games,VGHF has something valuable to offer.