Video Game History Foundation
Video Game History Foundation business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Video Game History Foundation releases major new E3 archive collections
The Video Game History Foundation has released new collections documenting the history of the E3 trade show, which ran from 1995 to 2021. These archives include extensive materials from Carolyn Rauch, who oversaw E3 for nearly its entire run, and nearly 12 hours of video footage from the first four E3 events filmed by Anthony Parisi. The additions also feature digitized E3 directory books, E3 Show Daily scans, and previously unreleased footage of the cancelled Rare game Conker's Quest.
28 years later, Final Fantasy 8's wonderfully awkward E3 reveal has hit the internet – please enjoy Square and EA execs desperately trying to stall for Squall for 7 minutes straight
A recently unearthed video from E3 1998 reveals the awkward US debut of Final Fantasy VIII, featuring Square and Electronic Arts executives struggling for seven minutes to get the game's trailer to play. The footage, preserved by the Video Game History Foundation, also highlights the formation of the Square Electronic Arts joint venture intended to boost game releases in North America. The article contrasts the venture's initial promise of job creation with later industry trends of layoffs and studio closures.
New footage emerges of Conker 64/Twelve Tales before it became Conker’s Bad Fur Day, plus an early look at Banjo-Kazooie
New development footage has surfaced for Rare's Nintendo 64 titles, including early versions of Conker's Bad Fur Day (originally Conker 64/Twelve Tales) and Banjo-Kazooie. The Video Game History Foundation released the materials, showcasing significant differences in design, music, and gameplay compared to the final releases.
The Video Game History Foundation's latest collection is a deep dive into E3 "like you've never seen it before"
The Video Game History Foundation has launched a new collection dedicated to the history of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). This extensive archive includes industry reports, marketing materials, press kits, photography, and nearly 12 hours of footage from the event's early years, including Nintendo's 1997 press conference. The foundation aims to preserve this significant part of gaming history and make it freely accessible for study.
Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
The Video Game History Foundation has released a video revisiting E3, offering a new perspective on the iconic industry event. The content aims to explore the history and significance of E3 through a retrospective lens.
Relive E3’s wildest years thanks to the Video Game History Foundation
The Video Game History Foundation has released a vast archive of E3 materials, offering public access to rare footage, documents, and photographs from the event's history. This collection aims to preserve the legacy of the industry's past, including contributions from former E3 director Mary Dolaher.
Sony tells publishers they can still reorder physical game discs for games pubbed before 2028
Sony has informed publishers that they can still reorder physical PlayStation game discs released before January 2028, even after the stated end of disc printing. This comes after significant backlash from publishers and preservation groups regarding the initial announcement. Meanwhile, Sony's disc manufacturing plant in Austria is being repurposed for optical microlens production.
The Video Game History Foundation sees piracy as the future after PlayStation’s abandonment of physical media
Following Sony's announcement of closing digital storefronts for PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, and ceasing physical disc production by 2028, the Video Game History Foundation has criticized the move. Director Frank Cifaldi stated that piracy is currently the primary method of game preservation, as the industry trade organization refuses to offer legal alternatives for preserving digital-only content.
"We are profoundly disappointed by Sony's decision" – Game companies express dismay at the end of PlayStation disc production
Sony plans to cease production of new PlayStation game discs by January 2028, shifting to an all-digital model and closing older digital storefronts. This decision has drawn criticism from various game companies and preservationists who view physical media as crucial for ownership, preservation, and consumer choice.
Behind the GDC scenes with Beth Elderkin and Sam Warnke
Game Developer Conference content marketing manager Beth Elderkin and conference producer Sam Warnke discuss the extensive year-round planning required to organize the annual event. They highlight the challenges of curating hundreds of panel submissions and coordinating discrete events into a coherent program, emphasizing the importance of game preservation efforts like the Game History Gallery.
The Video Game History Foundation calls on the ESA to offer "meaningful solutions" for preserving digital-only games
The Video Game History Foundation, through its director Frank Cifaldi, is urging the Entertainment Software Association to develop meaningful solutions for preserving digital-only games. Cifaldi highlights that physical media is becoming obsolete and even digital patches render physical copies unrepresentative of the final product, calling for legal frameworks to aid archives and museums in preservation efforts.
Game History and Preservation
The Video Game History Foundation has urged the Entertainment Software Association to develop a legal framework for preserving digital-only games for research purposes. The ESA has indicated that game preservation is not part of its current responsibilities.
Game preservation expert says stop killing games if you don't want piracy, because companies like PlayStation and Rockstar "refuse to offer a meaningful alternative"
Game preservation expert Frank Cifaldi argues that companies like Sony and Rockstar Games are contributing to piracy by refusing to offer alternatives to digital-only or soon-to-be-discontinued physical game formats. Cifaldi, director of the Video Game History Foundation, stated that piracy is currently the only effective form of game preservation due to industry practices.
‘Piracy isn’t theft' but 'moral imperative' say fans after PS5 goes digital-only
Following Sony's announcement to transition the PlayStation 5 to digital-only releases, many gamers and industry figures are advocating for piracy as a means of game preservation and ownership. Critics argue that without physical copies, players lose true ownership, making pirated games a 'moral imperative' for ensuring long-term access to titles.
Next Xbox, Project Helix, Will Reportedly Not Have a Disc Drive
Reports indicate the next Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, will be a discless model, eliminating support for physical media. This follows PlayStation's announcement of ending physical disc production in 2028 and Rockstar Games' confirmation of no disc version for Grand Theft Auto VI. The move raises significant concerns for game preservation and the physical game market, with figures like Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation highlighting the challenges for archiving digital-only content.
'They refuse to offer a meaningful alternative': Game preservation leader agrees that piracy is the only…
Frank Cifaldi, director of the Video Game History Foundation, agrees that piracy is currently the only effective method for game preservation, especially with Sony's planned discontinuation of PlayStation 5 discs in 2028 and the closure of older digital storefronts. He criticizes the industry for not providing legal alternatives for preservation institutions, despite acknowledging the problem.
Downloading GTA 6 with the "hope it'll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution," Video Game History Foundation says as PlayStation kills discs
The Video Game History Foundation criticizes Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation disc production and close older digital stores, stating it poses challenges for game preservation. Director Frank Cifaldi argues that relying on piracy or physical media is insufficient for long-term preservation, especially for digital-only titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. He calls for the industry to provide legal solutions for archives to preserve digital content, as current copyright laws and industry opposition hinder these efforts.
Game Preservation Matters: Why Classic Games Are Disappearing | TAG
A significant portion of classic video games, estimated at 87% released before 2010, are no longer commercially available due to delisting and lack of preservation efforts. The US Copyright Office's denial of a petition for remote access for researchers highlights a systemic issue, with the industry lobbying group ESA actively opposing preservation. Organizations like the Video Game History Foundation and GOG are working to combat this cultural catastrophe, advocating for legal reform and offering DRM-free options.
Early Punch-Out prototype surfaces, ROM shared online
A prototype ROM for the original Punch-Out!! has been shared online after surfacing from a former Nintendo of America employee. The prototype features differences from the final game, including no sound, fewer boxers, and early character names like Vodka Drunkenski. The Video Game History Foundation also showcased the prototype in a new video.
After spending $60,000 on an "unheard of" first-party Nintendo prototype, anonymous collector pulls the ultimate good guy move and releases the ROM for preservationists to study for free
An anonymous collector purchased a rare prototype of Nintendo's Punch-Out!! for over $60,000 and has released the ROM for free, allowing for the preservation and study of early game development. This move is praised by preservationists like Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation, who notes the rarity of such an early build of a major first-party title.
