Another great Matt Chat, Matt. The youtube time limit allowed for only a threshold of information.
This particular discussion seems like my best place to drop some thoughts on you guys.
I found something that I want to quote. It is something I already knew, but having a quote well help get me started. "Our ongoing mission is to chronicle the complete history of videogames and computers." - Armchair Arcade
This is, along with the professional attitude, great ideas, down home discussion, and ...proper grammar, the reason I started following and eventually joining Armchair Arcade. I believe we, as society, have reached a point where the history of videogames has suddenly become relevant. It has always been important, but it takes people recognizing that this history is important to find interest to fuel its documentation. If you look on amazon.com, you'll notice that there are some historical books on videogames. Vintage Games is obviously among them. My short research shows that most of these books were published within the last few years. It appears that one is more likely to find a book on the history of videogames that was published between 2003-2009 than he would be to find one that was published prior to 2001. There are certainly a few, but the majority appear to be first published in more recent years.
So I would like to say that one problem you guys are most likely experiencing is the fact you are ahead of your time. We certainly can't force people to have an interest in the history of videogames. There are plenty that have interest already, but it takes awhile for most people to start caring about this particular history. I think the work you guys do right now will be better appreciated (and more often and likely cited) years down the road.
Despite the fact we know that videogames cover a large span of ages, our culture still finds a need to make sure all videogame material gets a hip presentation. Choose the television stations on which you are most likely to find shows about videogames: PBS, MTV, G4TV, Spike, A&E, and The History Channel. Many of the features on something like the History Channel are going to focus on the business side of it all. How big is the industry today compared to the early eighties? Most journalists that comment on a video game on TV (Say 60 minutes for instance), are going to focus on the violence. This example is more of a news side of videogames rather than a history side, but my main point is to say that the industry seems to still be cementing itself into our culture. It isn't quite the same as studying the history of architecture. Architecture has an obviously long history. What about something with a relatively short history? Movies? How many people were interested in movie history in say... the 1930s compared to now?
I have probably used too many words to make a simple point, but I just felt the need to write some of my thoughts about it. Returning to you guys, I certainly believe what you do is important. I believe you should do your best to chronicle and preserve the history of videogames no matter what the medium. It may take a breakout item in order to get more exposure. It may also take references in order to gain an audience. Even citing Vintage Games or Matt Chat on wikipedia might help.
Just to toss something into the fire, I really would like to think that Super Mario Bros is key. If you google the history of super mario bros, you'll find numerous writeups on fansites, IGN, nfggames, etc. Where is the documentary video? Where is that? You guys are working on a documentary right now. Bill is right - make it your best. See where that goes. With Mario comes an audience. This is just me shooting the breeze with my palms turned up, but I think you guys could have a hit if you did a well-produced video documentary on Super Mario Bros. Not a three webpage write-up. Not a 5 minute youtube video. A full-fledged, footage-heavy, interview-laced, nostalgia-filled, A&E worthy, well-produced documentary on the history of Super Mario Bros.
Another great Matt Chat, Matt. The youtube time limit allowed for only a threshold of information.
This particular discussion seems like my best place to drop some thoughts on you guys.
I found something that I want to quote. It is something I already knew, but having a quote well help get me started. "Our ongoing mission is to chronicle the complete history of videogames and computers." - Armchair Arcade
This is, along with the professional attitude, great ideas, down home discussion, and ...proper grammar, the reason I started following and eventually joining Armchair Arcade. I believe we, as society, have reached a point where the history of videogames has suddenly become relevant. It has always been important, but it takes people recognizing that this history is important to find interest to fuel its documentation. If you look on amazon.com, you'll notice that there are some historical books on videogames. Vintage Games is obviously among them. My short research shows that most of these books were published within the last few years. It appears that one is more likely to find a book on the history of videogames that was published between 2003-2009 than he would be to find one that was published prior to 2001. There are certainly a few, but the majority appear to be first published in more recent years.
So I would like to say that one problem you guys are most likely experiencing is the fact you are ahead of your time. We certainly can't force people to have an interest in the history of videogames. There are plenty that have interest already, but it takes awhile for most people to start caring about this particular history. I think the work you guys do right now will be better appreciated (and more often and likely cited) years down the road.
Despite the fact we know that videogames cover a large span of ages, our culture still finds a need to make sure all videogame material gets a hip presentation. Choose the television stations on which you are most likely to find shows about videogames: PBS, MTV, G4TV, Spike, A&E, and The History Channel. Many of the features on something like the History Channel are going to focus on the business side of it all. How big is the industry today compared to the early eighties? Most journalists that comment on a video game on TV (Say 60 minutes for instance), are going to focus on the violence. This example is more of a news side of videogames rather than a history side, but my main point is to say that the industry seems to still be cementing itself into our culture. It isn't quite the same as studying the history of architecture. Architecture has an obviously long history. What about something with a relatively short history? Movies? How many people were interested in movie history in say... the 1930s compared to now?
I have probably used too many words to make a simple point, but I just felt the need to write some of my thoughts about it. Returning to you guys, I certainly believe what you do is important. I believe you should do your best to chronicle and preserve the history of videogames no matter what the medium. It may take a breakout item in order to get more exposure. It may also take references in order to gain an audience. Even citing Vintage Games or Matt Chat on wikipedia might help.
Just to toss something into the fire, I really would like to think that Super Mario Bros is key. If you google the history of super mario bros, you'll find numerous writeups on fansites, IGN, nfggames, etc. Where is the documentary video? Where is that? You guys are working on a documentary right now. Bill is right - make it your best. See where that goes. With Mario comes an audience. This is just me shooting the breeze with my palms turned up, but I think you guys could have a hit if you did a well-produced video documentary on Super Mario Bros. Not a three webpage write-up. Not a 5 minute youtube video. A full-fledged, footage-heavy, interview-laced, nostalgia-filled, A&E worthy, well-produced documentary on the history of Super Mario Bros.
Chris Kennedy, Editor
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Email: chris@armchairarcade.com