Video Game Collection at the University of Calgary

[jhd]

The University of Calgary Library has recently begun collecting video games (including classic games):

 

This collection provides students and researchers with the resources to study a wide range of video games and related interactive media objects. It covers games from the late 1970's to the present. It includes mainstream titles, educational games, and unique and independent games in handheld, console, and PC format.

 

The collection also supports students and scholars who want to create their arguments by building a game from scratch or modifying a commercial off the shelf game by providing both the tools and some technical support.

 

Games and Related Media Collection

 

Pac-Man gets new respect as U of C research tool

 

Is this unique, or do any other libraries maintain a similar collection?

 

I know that the local public library collects (some) strategy guides and books on video games in general, but not the games themselves.

[MagitekAngel]

Carleton University also has a growing collection of Video Games.

[CGQuarterly]

Since I don't have kids, maybe I can will my collection to a university, if they're still maintaining collections at that point.

 

Chris

[carmel_andrews]

do they have a boxed 'air raid' or stadium events (or even a boxed 5200 version of bounty bob)

[Metal Ghost]

Our local library actually has a small, albeit decent, selection of new video games available to be taken on loan. Stuff for Xbox 360 and Wii. Last time I was there (in September?) I don't remember seeing any PS3 stuff.

 

However as far as academics go, I remember reading how the University of Texas - Austin started a video games library, and that it was quite large and growing in large part due to donations of money and items from developers. Here's a link: http://www.cah.utexas.edu/projects/videogamearchive/index.php

 

Also, in my neck of the woods there is the National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY http://www.museumofplay.org/. They currently have the exhibit 'eGameRevolution', which looks awesome. But additionally, as part of the National Museum of Play they have the International Center for the History of Electronic Games. The ICHEG includes an EXTREMELY LARGE library and archive. Seriously everyone, you all have to check this out http://www.icheg.org/. Absolutely amazing.

[the-topdog]

Our local library actually has a small, albeit decent, selection of new video games available to be taken on loan. Stuff for Xbox 360 and Wii. Last time I was there (in September?) I don't remember seeing any PS3 stuff.

 

However as far as academics go, I remember reading how the University of Texas - Austin started a video games library, and that it was quite large and growing in large part due to donations of money and items from developers. Here's a link: http://www.cah.utexas.edu/projects/videogamearchive/index.php

 

Also, in my neck of the woods there is the National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY http://www.museumofplay.org/. They currently have the exhibit 'eGameRevolution', which looks awesome. But additionally, as part of the National Museum of Play they have the International Center for the History of Electronic Games. The ICHEG includes an EXTREMELY LARGE library and archive. Seriously everyone, you all have to check this out http://www.icheg.org/. Absolutely amazing.

 

Too cool! We never have cool gaming museums or displays in our neck of the woods. I looked around to see if there were any and the only one I could find was "Topdog's House"... wonder if that place is any good

[Metal Ghost]

 

Too cool! We never have cool gaming museums or displays in our neck of the woods. I looked around to see if there were any and the only one I could find was "Topdog's House"... wonder if that place is any good

 

 

Yea, I'll admit that this place is absolutely something else. The Museum itself is simply priceless, and this new Center is just a dream come true for all gamers. The West Coast seems to have it made though as far as conventions are concerned (CGE, Pax, the reborn E3 just to name a few). I wish something like that would make it out here, though I realize that Pax East is a step in the right direction and there are a number of smaller conventions.

 

It seems like there are still a lot of smaller arcades out West too. Ground Kontrol is the only one that springs to mind, but that place is cool and seems to be indicative of a larger presence of arcades out west (though I may be wrong ). Here we 'only' have Funland.

[+Charlie Cat]

Hi guys,

 

Looks interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

Anthony...

[Elerach]

Just there a few days ago ; My father is a professor at the U of C, Unlimited access to that collection is awesome.

[jhd]

Just there a few days ago ; My father is a professor at the U of C, Unlimited access to that collection is awesome.

 

So, is there anything especially obscure/rare/imported/homebrew/etc., or does it just include mainstream titles?

[Atarifever]

The College I work for teaches a videogame design course, so they have a couple bookshelves of games and some systems for those students. I was in there one day when they were practicing making 2D stuff and I told one kid his game was a bit like Kid Chameleon and he didn't know what that was, so perhaps I'll have to donate a Genesis.

[nebrazca78]

The College I work for teaches a videogame design course, so they have a couple bookshelves of games and some systems for those students. I was in there one day when they were practicing making 2D stuff and I told one kid his game was a bit like Kid Chameleon and he didn't know what that was, so perhaps I'll have to donate a Genesis.

 

I've been playing Kid Chameleon all week, it gets my vote for the best 16-bit platformer of all time. These museum collections are pretty sweet, seems like they still have a long way to go though. There are individuals on the various forums with more complete collections than they have. Dream TR is basically a museum in himself.

[jhd]

These museum collections are pretty sweet, seems like they still have a long way to go though. There are individuals on the various forums with more complete collections than they have. Dream TR is basically a museum in himself.

 

In some ways that is a cause for concern. These people will, eventually, die and then what happens to the collection? Does it get sold (as a lot or dispersed), trashed, or just forgotten in storage somewhere? How many of us have loved ones who appreciate the value (monetary and otherwise) of what we collect?

 

Not game related, but, for example I have amassed a large and significant collection of books on Canadian history and politics. I have already made plans for it to go to a University or College library when I am no longer around to enjoy it myself as I wish to see it kept together as a single collection.

[jhd]

I'm nerco-bumping my own thread because another article has recently appeared in the Herald about the video game collection at the University of Calgary:

 

Gaming reaches into far corners of academic world as U of C builds huge collection

 

 

Staff are still sorting through the university’s huge collection to catalogue all the games and consoles, built up through donations and judicious trips to second-hand stores.

“I think we have somewhere around 2,000 game titles and systems that span the entire history of games from Pong to the current generation,” he said.

Among the many old gems are the classic Colecovision and Intellivision systems.

Edited March 24, 2015 by jhd

[Rick Dangerous]

They just want free games!!

 

Very cool concept though, I wish my local UNI had a game collection I could sign out and play.

 

Why don't libraries in general have videogames for that matter?

Edited March 25, 2015 by travistouchdown

[BassGuitari]

Cool, but I'm really not seeing the academic value. Supporting teaching, learning, and research? I could buy that if they were talking about game design or software development or maybe other areas of IT studies. You don't need a Colecovision for the kinds of social studies they're talking about.

I agree that video games have become as relevant and legitimate a cultural and artistic medium as film, literature, music, and art. In fact, games combine all of those. On that basis I support universities having collections like this. But unless there are classes on game design or the history of the video game or electronics industry, I think the teaching/learning aid pretext is pretty thin.