Can we save old videogames?: The loss of online heritage observed through the case of abandonware videogames

This paper focuses on the development of heritage conservation practices in the digital era and the legal status quo. The focus point is on the phenomena of abandonware videogames. Their existence is an indicator of a trend of heritage loss taking place in the digital sphere. For long, videogames were considered as important entertainment products, but their inclusion into the category of digital heritage was still debated. As the industry developed, communities of players started to form around their shared videogame experience, whereas companies and creators have enforced strict control over the use of their work. With the rise of the videogame as a cultural phenomenon, conservation institutions have started to gather videogame related artefacts and include them in exhibitions and collections. However, due to the media’s youth, questions about their legal identity and best conservation practices remain open. Nonetheless, the field of videogame studies is developing and a variety...Show moreThis paper focuses on the development of heritage conservation practices in the digital era and the legal status quo. The focus point is on the phenomena of abandonware videogames. Their existence is an indicator of a trend of heritage loss taking place in the digital sphere. For long, videogames were considered as important entertainment products, but their inclusion into the category of digital heritage was still debated. As the industry developed, communities of players started to form around their shared videogame experience, whereas companies and creators have enforced strict control over the use of their work. With the rise of the videogame as a cultural phenomenon, conservation institutions have started to gather videogame related artefacts and include them in exhibitions and collections. However, due to the media’s youth, questions about their legal identity and best conservation practices remain open. Nonetheless, the field of videogame studies is developing and a variety of actors are getting involved in the preservation of our digital heritages.Show less

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Can we save old videogames? The loss of online heritage observed through the case of abandonware videogames