[game_preservation] Internet Archive Starts Archiving Commercial PC Games?

[Martin Goldberg]

On Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 4:26 PM, Alex Handy <alex at themade.org> wrote:

>

>

> The real problem is that companies approach the preservation groups with

> hostility. It's not making them any friends there. Henry's got the right

> idea, but he can do this because he's with an institution. We need more

> institutions to help take this on and add legitimacy to it.

>

>

And I absolutely hate to see preservation efforts treated that way by
companies. In the case of more institutions like Henry's not being
available, what's the middle of the road answer then? Should the IGDA Game
Preservation SIG itself go on a campaign to promote awareness on the
importance of preservation within the public and at these companies? Having
a single voice could go a long way in supporting everyone's legitimate
efforts in a company's mind and distinguishing legit efforts from the
pirates/copyright concerns/etc. they normally knee-jerk respond with. Look
at it from a company's perspective: Who are you to them and what assurances
do they have that their IP is solely going to be used for preservation? How
can we all come together to promote the assurances?

I think the big hurdle is this on display/distribute for people to enjoy
part. That's what the games were created for in the first place, for people
to purchase and enjoy. At some point the item in question ceases to become
a commodity, but when? How do you convince these holders that the time has
past and "freely buy to enjoy" is no longer in the interests of
preservation but "freely enjoy" is? And if you go the route of "We'll just
do it all anyways regardless" is that really helping combat the stigma and
hostility that's there or proving in their minds they're right for having
that attitude?

I really think this SIG should come up with concerted/unified campaign to
promote that awareness of the importance of what everyone is doing. Come up
with a national game preservation day (or month), do press releases, get
the gaming sites and magazines to participate, having events at everyone's
locations, reach out to these companies to participate, etc. Could go a
long way.

-- 
Marty
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