[game_preservation] Preservation Whitepaper Brainstorm Progress

[Devin Monnens]

How relevant are, say, cloth maps from Ultima? Originally, I think this sort
of thing was used to 'enhance the experience,' but I haven't read anything
regarding how much that really DOES affect player experience. Nowadays, I
just consider most of that stuff to be schwag.

But yeah, the key fact that we are preserving more than just bits is
important. Manuals and packaging are in themselves important as it helps put
the game into context (and as you noted, some are unplayable without them -
just try beating Metal Gear Solid without the game case OR consulting a
guide if you haven't beaten it already). More importantly, we know that some
games contained information that could not be - or simply was not -
communicated through gameplay, which is essential to chronicling the
development of the medium.

-Devin

On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 10:08 PM, Stuart Feldhamer <
stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com> wrote:


> Andrew,

>

> I read this stuff a long time ago and at the time, I had some insightful

> comments. Unfortunately, I've since forgotten most of them. : )

>

> However, one point I wanted to make that I didn't see expressed on the wiki

> as well as I would have liked is that game preservation needs to be about

> more than preserving the bits. You do mention preserving ancillary

> documentation such as design journals and the like, but what isn't there is

> the fact that most of the older games were packaged not only with manuals

> (which themselves are exceedingly rare nowadays), but also with "feelies"

> (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feelies). Feelies provided another level

> of immersion into the game world that complemented actually booting up the

> disk and playing the game. When preserving games, all the supporting

> materials need to be preserved as well. They are critical for enjoying and

> appreciating the older games as they were intended to be experienced by

> their creators.

>

> Stuart

>

> > -----Original Message-----

> > From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_preservation-

> > bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Armstrong

> > Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 7:00 PM

> > To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG

> > Subject: [game_preservation] Preservation Whitepaper Brainstorm

> > Progress

> >

> > Hey All,

> >

> > Comments are still needed, nay, required for the Whitepaper. I'm

> > forming

> > some of my own opinions, but Devin has provided a wide range of

> > examples

> > (see here:

> > http://www.igda.org/wiki/Game_Preservation_SIG/White_paper_brainstorm/C

> > ompelling_Examples

> > ) which I finally got online (sorry for the delay!) and might even be

> > updated when Devin finishes some other bits.

> >

> > There is a need for more examples, more points to be raised in the

> > paper

> > (

> > http://www.igda.org/wiki/Game_Preservation_SIG/White_paper_brainstorm/C

> > ore_Concepts

> > ), and even name suggestions - scoffing that the examples (

> > http://www.igda.org/wiki/Game_Preservation_SIG/White_paper_brainstorm/T

> > itle_Suggestions

> > ) are not well thought out privately doesn't help, post here if they

> > are

> > rubbish! Post if they are great too!

> >

> > There is a grand total of 4 people interested in this. I'm not exactly

> > an archivist and even I've put myself down to at least help. There are

> > soem seriously talented and professional people who love videogames

> > here, surely you all have some opinion to add in?

> >

> > Post on the mailing list and I can add your comments to the wiki more

> > permanently. I'm getting other bits of the SIG work done, so this is

> > more a priority for me. I'm happy to edit up anything within a day of

> > posting, and will be pestering everyone to help. There might not even

> > be

> > a dozen people on this list (I don't really know, nor care :) ), but I

> > know there is more then Me, Henry, Zach and Devin who have posted in

> > the

> > past ;)

> >

> > Come on anyone! (everyone!) I'm waiting to be inspired to put my own

> > thoughts down, I'll do so if anyone else is willing to ;)

> >

> > Also; tell anyone else who might be interested. People who run game

> > websites. Videogame developers. Videogame players. Whoever you think

> > might have something good too add is obviously welcome since we don't

> > have a hugely active group here ourselves.

> >

> > Thanks all!

> >

> > Andrew

> > _______________________________________________

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> > game_preservation at igda.org

> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation

>

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>




-- 
The sleep of Reason produces monsters.

"Until next time..."
Captain Commando
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