The Video Game History Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2017 that is devoted to the preservation, archiving, and dissemination of historical material related to video games. For more than seven years, they have been collecting everything from magazines and press kits to promotional images, posters, and even previously unreleased development documents. A large portion of this material has been donated by former members of major studios, specialized media outlets, as well as private collectors eager to contribute to the invaluable mission of preserving video game history.
A significant part of their effort is focused on making the materials they’ve recovered and stored over the years accessible to everyone. To that end, they’ve spent a long time working on a digital repository to ensure access for those interested. Finally, after an immense effort, this idea came to fruition earlier this year. On January 30th, their digital library entered early access. Don’t be misled by the label “early access” though; much like some well-developed games, it’s a 100% functional product, with expansions planned over time.
The difficulties when digitizing the material
The first challenge they had to face in realizing this project was the vast amount of material, combined with the complexity of various formats. From press kits containing promotional images on floppy disks and CDs, to interviews, advertisements, and promotional videos on VHS, and reams of paper including magazines, financial reports, event directories, and development documents. This enormous volume of content first had to be cataloged and then digitized, which proved to be a monumental task.
When it came to videos, this meant converting the footage, mostly in VHS format, into a digital medium. Even more complex was the process of scanning bibliographic material, especially magazines. Unlike most development documents or company reports, magazines often lack proper contrast between text and background.
Those who remember how video game magazines looked, especially in the 90s, will know what I mean (and for those who don’t, you can visit the library and see for yourselves). Text in vibrant colors over multicolored backgrounds often made reading almost impossible. This extra challenge was so frequent that existing algorithms meant to translate images into text couldn’t get the job done. It even led to Travis Brown, the VGHF’s Director of Technology, having to create his own custom algorithm to make the project possible.
How to access the VGHF digital library
Whether you’re a content creator, a video game historian, or simply an avid fan with a curious mind, this tool allows you to discover true industry treasures. You can not only read old magazines and watch promotional videos and images but also access development documents and business reports from various companies.
The best part? It’s completely free and doesn’t even require registration. Simply follow the link and you’ll have access to a wealth of content that will continue to grow over time.
