Unlocking the Legacy: A Comprehensive Archive of Video Game History

The closure of Game Informer in 2024 was a stark reminder that preserving video game history is a responsibility better entrusted to dedicated historians, librarians, and passionate enthusiasts. Fortunately, the Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has been diligently working since 2017 to safeguard this cultural treasure. Now, their extensive archive is freely accessible to all, offering an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of gaming.

Explore the Riches of Gaming's Past with Unparalleled Access

A Vision for Preservation

The VGHF aims to establish the nation’s first specialized library dedicated to studying video game history. By employing the same meticulous methods used by academic institutions and museums, the foundation has created a meticulously organized digital repository. This includes detailed metadata, a powerful search engine, and the capability to view diverse media formats directly within your browser.For those who lived through the dawn of home consoles or have a professional interest in gaming, this initiative is nothing short of exhilarating. It opens new avenues for video essayists, documentary filmmakers, authors, developers, and enthusiasts eager to explore how games are conceived, marketed, sold, reviewed, and received by audiences across different eras.

Preserved Through Passion

One standout feature of the inaugural collection is the archive contributed by retired game producer Mark Flitman. With experience spanning companies like Acclaim, Atari, Konami, Hasbro, and Midway, Flitman’s documents offer an unparalleled glimpse into the business side of game development and marketing. His trove of paperwork and digital backups, accumulated over two decades, provides an invaluable record of industry practices.Among the many treasures available, the collection includes the complete run of Game Informer magazine, archived through a collaboration between VGHF and the publication’s staff. The archive also features 1,500 out-of-print issues of video game magazines, fully searchable for rare insights. Additionally, there are over 100 hours of raw footage from Cyan, developers of Myst and Riven, along with three decades of promotional materials from FromSoftware, including the elaborate Bloodborne press kit.

An Endless Well of Discoveries

Beyond these highlights, the archive houses Activision newsletters from the early 1980s, original recordings of “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s voice work for WWF Rage in the Cage, and hundreds of CDs of press materials sent to GamePro magazine between 1994 and 2004. Each item offers a unique window into the rich tapestry of gaming history.Access to this vast library is entirely free, though it operates on donations. No subscription or account is required, making it an inviting resource for exploration. Currently in its early access phase, some items may not yet be fully viewable. Nonetheless, this archive promises endless discoveries for anyone fascinated by the legacy of video games.