Japanese Gaming Preservation

[vol.2]

This is an interesting documentary about the J Game Preservation Society by NHK. Thought some may find it interesting. Not sure about regional availability. I can watch it in the US.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/vod/lens/20161128/

[qmish]

Will it function like online library in future? With subscription or smth.

[vol.2]

From what I can tell, their main mission is to preserve all Japanese video games, starting with the most vulnerable. That means they are mostly focused on saving old arcade games that exist primarily on tape drives. The tape degrades, so they use special archival equipment to get sustainable copies made and saved on modern digital media. At the moment, their primary method of sharing their collection with the world is through local game societies that exist in areas throughout Japan. They loan out their collection to these clubs who then have arcade cabinets in local supermarkets and libraries, etc. Kids and grown-ups can come to these locations and play the games for free. This is a good way to share their important cultural materials. There is no way to know how their collection will develop, but one could imagine that they will have some new ways to share their collection as time moves on.

[qmish]

So you need voyage to Japan.

I was thinking about smth like "Museum of Soviet Union arcades" where they write emulators and put up on site.

[rancor]

I don't go to many event here, but that bald French dude is at everything I go to. I never knew who he was, or what he was up to.

[Despatche]

One day, Darius will end up in there, and then they can put together a project to recreate the now-rare proper cabinet.

[rjosal]

You mean the Japanese sit down Darius? That would be awesome. If you're looking for the upright, I have the plans for you.

[Obiwanshinobi]

From what I can tell, their main mission is to preserve all Japanese video games, starting with the most vulnerable. That means they are mostly focused on saving old arcade games that exist primarily on tape drives. The tape degrades, so they use special archival equipment to get sustainable copies made and saved on modern digital media. At the moment, their primary method of sharing their collection with the world is through local game societies that exist in areas throughout Japan. They loan out their collection to these clubs who then have arcade cabinets in local supermarkets and libraries, etc. Kids and grown-ups can come to these locations and play the games for free. This is a good way to share their important cultural materials. There is no way to know how their collection will develop, but one could imagine that they will have some new ways to share their collection as time moves on.

Sounds like a museum indeed, rather than the usual life support stories.

[d0s]

are these dudes dumping and releasing or just putting these games on shelves/lending them out? to me preservation means dumping, they seem like they have good intentions but it looks like "collecting" to me.

[Elixir]

are these dudes dumping and releasing or just putting these games on shelves/lending them out? to me preservation means dumping, they seem like they have good intentions but it looks like "collecting" to me.

you could always try watching the video

[Xer Xian]

Personally I don't see the point of archiving every single game ever created, including completely forgettable wares. You don't that for paintings or movies, why games should be an exception?

Still, I have deep respect for their endeavours - I also like how they are trying to promote gaming culture and track down skilled players beside just storing stuff.

Thanks for sharing the link.

[gray117]

Personally I don't see the point of archiving every single game ever created, including completely forgettable wares. You don't that for paintings or movies, why games should be an exception?

Sarcasm? Of course this is done for paintings and movies... Any additional context becomes more pertinent as time passes and simple familiarity - particularly of well known/loved works - only leads to increased speculation and interest. That it wasn't done so more thoroughly for film particularly in the early 20th century has scarred academic and professional practices in all manner of fields. Now whole attractions are often based around not just vaunted pieces of work but reproductions of painting studios, diary readings and archived edited footage. Why can't we watch metropolis in full? It's because no one imagined we couldn't and now we can't. Nowadays there's nationally funded programmes and councils dedicated to doing a better job of it - and companies who are appreciating the potential worth of it 5/10/15/20/50 years down the line.

The question should be why are games an exception? Why are our libraries, galleries, papers and TV shows not host to more works and personalities from this field?

[pcb_revival]

This is an interesting documentary about the J Game Preservation Society by NHK. Thought some may find it interesting. Not sure about regional availability. I can watch it in the US.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/vod/lens/20161128/

Its also available on YouTube if you dont want to sit in front of a monitor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXnkAoiek2E

[d0s]

are these dudes dumping and releasing or just putting these games on shelves/lending them out? to me preservation means dumping, they seem like they have good intentions but it looks like "collecting" to me.

you could always try watching the video

I did, I don't recall anyone talking about dumping and releasing but I'm wondering if they were just keeping that on the down low for the video.