The National Videogame Museum in Sheffield, UK, has launched "Behind the Screens," a cultural history project aimed at establishing a national archive for video game design and documenting player experiences. Funded by the British Film Institute's Screen Heritage Fund, the initiative seeks to preserve video games as cultural assets, particularly as developers reduce reliance on physical releases and digital content becomes increasingly susceptible to loss.
Project Overview
The "Behind the Screens" project intends to create a networked national archive of game designs, described as the first effort of its kind in the UK. Its objectives include documenting video games as cultural assets and recording individuals' experiences with video games within the UK. The initiative is being led by the National Videogame Museum.
Methodology and Scope
An initial phase of the project involves conducting a comprehensive survey of game development materials currently held by various studios. This survey aims to identify and map existing resources to inform the creation of the national archive.
Additionally, "Behind the Screens" plans to collect accounts from players regarding their gaming experiences and the cultural impact of video games in the UK. This includes an oral history component focused on the cultural impact of gaming, which is slated for integration into a future exhibition.
Museum Operations and Preservation Challenges
The National Videogame Museum actively maintains a collection of physical hardware, including various arcade machines from the early period of the industry, ensuring their continued playability. The museum also curates digital materials such as developers' notes and downloadable content that may no longer be commercially available. Examples of its exhibits include designs for the game 'Worms' by Wakefield-based developers Team17.
John O'Shea, a representative from the museum, stated that the work involves both physical hardware maintenance and digital preservation. He noted the necessity of carefully checking components to ensure games operate optimally, citing older titles like 'Space Invaders' that require maintenance due to the degradation of electronics and computer code over time. O'Shea also highlighted the evolution of modern video games, such as 'Fortnite,' into interactive social environments where users actively create content, and emphasized the museum's intent to recognize these as significant cultural experiences.
Cultural Significance of Games
Nick Poole, from the UK Interactive Entertainment industry body, commented on the occasional lack of recognition for games as a cultural medium. He emphasized that games influence culture for a global player base daily and that a significant portion of this culture, particularly online interactions, is intangible. Poole underscored the importance of capturing these elements, observing that contemporary game content is not always preserved physically, unlike some prior media. The project seeks to address these preservation challenges.