How the new generation of consoles have accelerated the need to preserve digital content – part 2

Abstract

Purpose – This two-part paper aims to expose the challenges and establish the necessity of preserving digital content, with a focus on console video games. Part two identifies the preservation challenges, methods of preserving digital content and the current efforts by preservation groups and organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Through a method of identifying a video game content which has been lost, or at risk of being lost, describing the challenges presented by the format, and addressing the current preservation efforts, this paper serves as a brief retrospective of the issues and a guide to extending the conversation. Findings – While preserving video game content faces many challenges due to copyright issues and risks associated with digital format, some institutions have made progress that other libraries can follow. Originality/value – With special attention to the non-gamer, the conversation on video game preservation continues by focusing on the challenges and current efforts.