Explored a video game conservationist's endeavor to safeguard obscure gaming history against longshots, sometimes meeting resistance even from fellow gamers.

Explored a video game conservationist's endeavor to safeguard obscure gaming history against longshots, sometimes meeting resistance even from fellow gamers.

The Strong National Museum of Play Acquires Volition's Archive

The Strong National Museum of Play has recently acquired a significant collection of materials from the pioneering game developer, Volition. This acquisition marks an important milestone in the field of video game preservation.

The Volition collection at The Strong Museum includes internal documents, design materials, and artifacts that showcase Volition’s development process and impact on the industry. Spanning 30 years of change, from 1993's Descent beta to Saints Row in 2022, the collection offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of game development.

Highlights of the collection include a lifesize replica of the Dubstep Gun from Saints Row 4, a playable version of the scrapped Batman stealth game Volition made for PS2, scraps of a particularly cursed Harry Potter game, and early Saints Row 2 builds. These items provide valuable insight into the creative and technical evolution of a studio behind influential titles.

Andrew Borman, the Director of Digital Preservation at The Strong, has been instrumental in facilitating the acquisition and preservation of Volition’s materials at the museum. Borman's interest in video game preservation began when he realized that Resident Evil 2 had significant changes from its initial demo. His work aligns with the museum’s mission to preserve interactive entertainment history.

The museum houses the World Video Game Hall of Fame and various other artifacts, including N64's Animal Crossing, Famicom titles, and a 1976 handheld game watch containing Hello Kitty Seaside Holiday. The museum's collection is growing, and the addition of the Volition archive further solidifies its position as a leading institution for video game preservation.

However, not everyone is pleased with the museum's decision. Saints Row fans have casually announced plans to "steal" the Volition archives from the museum, complaining that they'll "rot on some guy's hard drives" if not made available. Borman understands the vitriol directed towards him and The Strong, as piracy has been a common method of game preservation in the past.

Despite this, Borman argues that only a small portion of video game history will be preserved if we only go by things that could be pirated. He suggests that preservation leaves no space for competition and requires cooperation, with love from "us plus them, plus everybody else that's still to come."

The Strong Museum plans to determine how to best make the Volition materials available to the public after processing them, but copyright prevents these materials from being disseminated online. In the meantime, fans can look forward to continued efforts by The Strong and Andrew Borman in preserving and celebrating the history of video games.

[1] The Strong National Museum of Play [4] The Strong National Museum of Play Press Release

1. The acquisition of Volition's archive by The Strong National Museum of Play adds to the field's milestones in video game preservation.
2. The collection at The Strong Museum illustrates Volition's development process and industry impact spanning 30 years.
3. Highlights from the collection include a life-sized Dubstep Gun, scrapped Batman game, cursed Harry Potter game scraps, and early Saints Row 2 builds.
4. Andrew Borman, the museum's Digital Preservation Director, played a key role in acquiring and preserving Volition's materials.
5. Borman's commitment to video game preservation began when he noticed significant changes in Resident Evil 2's demo.
6. The museum, home to the World Video Game Hall of Fame, has a growing collection with additions such as N64's Animal Crossing, Famicom titles, and Hello Kitty Seaside Holiday game watch.
7. Saints Row fans voiced concerns about the archives being kept at the museum, planning to "steal" them, feeling they'd "rot" if unavailable.
8. Borman acknowledges the backlash regarding piracy being common in game preservation.
9. Borman advocates that only part of video game history will be preserved if piracy is the main method and stresses the need for cooperation and love.
10. The Strong Museum plans to make the Volition materials accessible to the public after processing but won't be able to disperse them online due to copyright.
11. Fans can anticipate continuing efforts by The Strong and Andrew Borman in preserving and celebrating video game history.
12. The Volition collection offers a unique look into the creative and technical evolution of influential game studios.
13. The museum's growing collection highlights the importance of preserving various facets of interactive entertainment history.
14. Borman's work strives to preserve not just what can be pirated but the entirety of video game history.
15. Competition leaves no place in video game preservation; it is cooperation and community that are necessary.
16. Borman's efforts in video game preservation have a mission of celebrating and preserving the history of interactive entertainment.
17. The Strong National Museum of Play continues to be a leading institution for video game preservation with the addition of the Volition archive.
18. The museum's goal aims to educate, inspire, engage, and entertain visitors through play experiences.
19. The museum offers a glimpse into the history of gaming, ensuring that future generations can learn and appreciate the impact of influential games.
20. Preservation of video game history is essential to understanding the evolution of technology, storytelling, and design.
21. The Volition acquisition is a testament to the museum's dedication to documenting, preserving, and sharing interactive entertainment history.
22. The museum's collection includes artifacts from classic games, systems, and Hollywood memorabilia, demonstrating its commitment to pop-culture.
23. In addition to video games, the museum focuses on other forms of entertainment such as movies, TV, music, and sports, broadening its scope.
24. The museum's partnerships help to enrich the visitor experience by providing unique access to entertainment history.
25. The museum's mission extends to examining the social, cultural, and psychological effects of video games.
26. The strong relationship between video games and other forms of entertainment, such as books, movies, and music, is explored in the museum's exhibitions.
27. The museum's permanent exhibit, "Welcome to Play," showcases the history of video games from their early beginnings to the modern era.
28. The Strong National Museum of Play also focuses on fashions and lifestyle, featuring products from various eras that demonstrate changes in consumer culture.
29. The museum's collection includes household items, appliances, and clothing, providing insights into the evolution of lifestyles and trends.
30. The museum addresses current trends such as the impact of social media on our lives and the changing dynamic between traditional media and the digital world.
31. The museum offers educational programming that teaches skills in video game design, programming, and animation.
32. Career development opportunities are available for students interested in the video game industry by partnering with local colleges and universities.
33. The museum's resources and exhibits also foster personal growth and responsible gambling, focusing on teaching important skills in various aspects of life and industry trends.

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