Game Preservation in the Age of Digital Distribution
The gaming industry is rapidly moving towards an all-digital future. With the rise of digital storefronts like Steam, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network, more and more gamers are choosing to purchase their games digitally. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, as the technology required to deliver games digitally becomes more sophisticated and affordable.
However, there are both pros and cons to an all-digital future for gaming. On the one hand, digital games are more convenient and accessible than physical copies. Gamers can purchase and download digital games instantly, and they can play them on multiple devices without having to worry about carrying around discs or carts. Additionally, digital games can be updated and patched more easily than physical copies, ensuring that gamers always have the latest version of their games.
On the other hand, there are some concerns about game preservation in an all-digital future. If games are only available digitally, what happens if a digital storefront goes out of business or if a game is delisted? How can we ensure that future generations will be able to play classic games? In recent reports, Microsoft are planning an all-digital version of their Xbox Series X, which could present new challenges for game preservation for this current generation of consoles.
There are a few different ways to approach game preservation. One option is to create digital archives of games. This could be done by governments, gaming companies, or non-profit organizations. Another option is to develop emulation technology that allows people to play old games on new hardware. However, both of these approaches have their challenges. Creating digital archives of games can be expensive and time-consuming. And emulation technology is not always perfect, and some games may not be able to be emulated accurately. Antstream is a great option for gamers who want to play classic games without having to worry about tracking down old hardware or software. This is a cloud gaming service that offers a library of over 1,300 classic retro games from the 1980s and 1990s. It is available on a variety of devices, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
Another challenge to game preservation is the delisting of games from digital storefronts. When a game is delisted, it is no longer available for purchase or download. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as licensing issues or the bankruptcy of a publisher. When a game is delisted, it can be very difficult for gamers to obtain a copy of the game. In some cases, games may be available for purchase second-hand, but these copies can be very expensive. And in other cases, games may be completely unavailable, even on the used market.
One example of a game that has been delisted multiple times is Marvel vs. Capcom 2. This classic fighting game was first released in 2000, and it has been delisted from digital storefronts on multiple occasions due to licensing issues. In order to play Marvel vs. Capcom 2 legally today, gamers must either purchase a used copy of the game for a premium price or download an emulated version of the game. The cost of out-of-print titles is another challenge to game preservation. When a game is no longer in production, physical copies of the game can become very expensive. This is especially true for rare or popular games. In addition to the high cost, out-of-print titles can also be difficult to play due to technology or hardware issues. For example, cartridge-based games can be susceptible to cartridge failure, and disc-based games can suffer from disc rot.
Emulation is a technology that allows people to play old games on new hardware. Emulators work by creating a software replica of the original hardware that the game was designed for. This allows gamers to play classic games on their computers, smartphones, and other devices. Emulation is a valuable tool for game preservation. It allows gamers to play games that are no longer available for purchase or download. It also allows gamers to play games that are difficult to play on original hardware due to technology or hardware issues.
The movie and book industries are also facing challenges related to digital preservation. However, these industries have some advantages over the gaming industry. For example, movies and books can be more easily preserved in digital formats than video games. This is because movies and books are typically composed of text and images, which are relatively easy to digitize. Video games, on the other hand, are typically composed of code, which can be more difficult to digitise, preserve and port to different hardware.
The all-digital future of gaming presents a number of challenges to game preservation. However, there are a number of things that can be done to address these challenges. One important step is to raise awareness of the issue of game preservation. We need to educate gamers about the importance of preserving classic games and encourage them to support initiatives that are working to preserve gaming history. Another important step is to develop new technologies and strategies for game preservation. For example, we need to develop more effective ways to digitize and preserve video game code. We also need to develop new ways to distribute and share preserved games with gamers.
The all-digital future of gaming is inevitable. However, if we take steps to address the challenges of game preservation, we can ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy classic games for many years to come.
Games are not just products; they are works of art. We need to preserve them so that future generations can experience them." - Tim Schafer, in an interview with Polygon in 2021
If we don't preserve our games, we're losing a piece of our culture and history. We need to find ways to make sure that our games are accessible to future generations." - Reggie Fils-Aime, in a speech at the Library of Congress in 2017
