game news 9 out of 10 video games released before 2010 are no longer for sale. Here’s why, and it’s very serious
87% of games will be lost forever, this is the alarming conclusion of the first study on the legacy of games across generations.
Today, video games are rightly considered to be art in general. The preservation of art has always been an important issue in order to pass on the culture to future generations and to preserve the heritage. The question of conservation is therefore logically included in the video game. Especially since in this case, getting a game also means making it usable on modern, easy-to-find devices. Several associations, such as MO5 in France, are responsible for preserving video game heritage. In particular, it should be brought closer to as many people as possible through the preservation and maintenance of old machines.
Those in charge of this type of association are often retrogaming enthusiasts and would like to share their knowledge, but the public remains relatively limited compared to the overall mass of players. Therefore: 87% of the games of older generations are no longer “easily” available. Currently, 87% of video game history and legacy cannot be used because it is simply not compatible with modern hardware. These games have not been re-released or ported, nor do they have user-friendly technology (e.g. a mini retro console).
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Almost 9 out of 10 games
This is therefore the sad conclusion of the very first study on the subject, conducted by the Video Game History Foundation. The study is not limited to these dates and many others are of interest. For example, no console generation has a “title reuse rate” greater than 20%. Reaching 100% obviously seems complex, and for a number of reasons. First, many games are coming out and porting them all to the next generations seems impossible. Other games had little to offer when they released and didn’t necessarily make an impression, and they wouldn’t have much to offer today either.
Everyone should be able to search, find, and play old video games easily, just like reading old novels, listening to old music albums, and watching old movies. Video Game History Foundation in “87% MISSED: THE DISAPPEARING OF CLASSIC VIDEO GAMES”
The main problem is actually on the copyright side (equivalent to copyright) that prevents organizations like the Foundation for the History of Video Games from making these copies freely available. The video game then becomes a commercial object again, which absolutely must generate a minimum income in order to be profitable, and therefore financing a free relaunch is inconceivable.. This study is therefore intended to serve as an argument in the ongoing struggle with the copyright institutions that ensure that video games are well preserved as art.
