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An interesting interview article has recently appeared on the the Video Game Archives at the University of Texas at Austin.

Its an area of comtemporary culture which is beginning to get more attention from the digital preservation community and deserves to be a focus for collection development given its significance. The information school at UT is providing support for digital preservation to the Archive but the initial funding for the Archive only has a two year term which may be its greatest challenge.

Short extract on scope of collection below. For further information see: http://xbox.gamezone.com/news/11_12_07_09_35AM.htm

To ensure an archive of scholarly and cultural interest, the Center will gather and make available for research materials from all sectors of the industry, including developers, publishers, and artists. In addition to the games themselves, archival materials of interest include:

Documents relating to the conception, development, planning, management, marketing, scripting, technology, and design of computer and console games.

Art in the form of drawings, paintings, sketches, diagrams, block diagrams, play charts, environments, and other forms involved in game development projects.

Digital files, including development documents, art, programs, source code, images, e-mail correspondence, planning data, contracts, and business plans.

Physical game platforms including computers, consoles, cartridges, diskettes, controllers, sound boards, speakers, and especially early models that are no longer available for play.

Collateral materials used in marketing or developing games, such as posters, cut-out figures, play weapons, photos, costumes, and vehicles used to convey the sense of the games.

Business documents related to the operation of the game business.

Game player material such as e-mail correspondence, Web sites, and game magazines.

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