The Fading Games Of Yesterday, And How We Preserve Them [Feature]
by
Matt Smith 
What is your favorite video game of all time?
If you're in your twenties, or older, there's a good chance that you answer to this question isn't a recent title. It may be a classic RPG like Baldur's Gate. Perhaps it's Halo, a benchmark against which all other console shooters are compared. It could be X-Com, a brilliant strategy that is now repeatedly ruined by spin-offs. Or maybe you're a fan of Elite, a founding game in the space trading genre, which today is nearly extinct.
We often assume that we'll always be able to play the games we love, but that's not true. Games die, and some have already met this fate. A few of the earliest games - such as Spacewar! - are only museum pieces or gone entirely.
A few games for ancient consoles such as the Atari and Nintendo Entertainment System have almost vanished. The Atari 2600 title Gamma Attack is believed to be down to one remaining original physical cartridge and others (particularly those which were not instant hits) are likely to have a remaining population in the hundreds.
DEATH IS NOT RESTRICTED to old games, however. Proliferation of online-only titles and digital rights management has created a poison that commercially unsuccessful games, like the MMO Auto Assault, quickly succumb to.
Death is not restricted to old games, however. Proliferation of online-only titles and digital rights management has created a poison that commercially unsuccessful games, like the MMO Auto Assault, quickly succumb to. A lack of commercial success can also make a game prematurely rare. Steel Battalion, notable because of its massive (and expensive) controller peripheral, is a good example of title on the path to obscurity.
Preservation of games may seem unimportant, but it's not. Gaming is a medium that's become known for its tendency to wallow in its own immaturity, but it's also a culture phenomenon enjoyed by millions of people across the globe. Video games - their gameplay, narratives and how they're played - tell us as much about ourselves as books and movies. As old games fade away or die we forget what made them great (or not) and lose a piece of human history.
We can do more than just reminisce about our favorite titles: We can also preserve and enjoy.
Reproducing The Video Arcade
It's easy to forget that the video arcade was once an integral part of gaming culture. Though personal computers entered the market in late 1970s with the introduction of products like the Apple II, it would take two decades for the household adoption rate to exceed 50% in the United States. For most people, particularly children growing up in the 80s and early 90s, interaction with technology took one of two forms - the arcade or the home game console.
Eventually the widespread availability of PCs and the increasing power of consoles lead to the death of video arcades worldwide. Outside of Japan, where the arcade is still a hit, most arcades have gone out of business. But you may be surprised to find that some still exist. Residents of Portland can visit Ground Kontrol. Those living in San Francisco can enjoy South Town Arcade. And gamers living near Boston can check out the American Video Arcade Museum.
Full-text article will be back tomorrow! This feature article was a bit too long for an email.
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