GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Preserving Game History: It's Just Us
Frank Cifaldi (Founder & Executive Director, Video Game History Foundation)
Location: Room 3011, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass, Summits Pass, Expo Pass, Audio Pass, Indie Games Summit Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Advocacy
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: Video
We're all in agreement that preserving our history is important, but what do we even mean when we say that? How do we prioritize what to save, given limited resources? How do copyright laws limit what we can accomplish? And at the end of the day, whose responsibility is it to make sure things don't get thrown away? Video Game History Foundation founder Frank Cifaldi reflects on the highs and lows of his 25-year obsession-turned-career to demonstrate that when it comes to preserving our past, we're all that we've got.
Takeaway
Attendees will gain a greater understanding of the work that goes into finding and preserving historical video game materials, and the challenges in making those materials accessible to those who need it. This lecture will start an open dialogue about what roles and responsibilities attendees might play, and how we might work together to push this collective conversation forward.
Intended Audience
This talk covers the practical sides of game preservation, and is meant for a general audience. No pre-existing expertise is needed, and the only requirement is curiosity.
