Preserving Gaming's Past: The Vital Mission of MARLA

In a nondescript room at Indiana University Indianapolis, a treasure trove of gaming history lies waiting to be discovered. The Media Arts and Science Research Learning Arcade (MARLA) houses a growing collection of over 550 vintage video games and 20 gaming consoles, from the iconic Atari 2600 to the lesser-known Commodore VIC-20. This unassuming collection represents a crucial effort to safeguard the rich legacy of video games, a cultural phenomenon that has captivated generations of players.

Rescuing Gaming's Endangered Relics

Preserving a Vanishing Legacy

The world of video games is facing a crisis of preservation. According to a 2023 study by the Video Game History Foundation, a staggering 87% of classic games released in the United States are no longer available in any format. This alarming statistic highlights the fragility of the medium, as digital games often exist only in the ephemeral realm of the internet, vulnerable to disappearance at the whim of game companies.For veteran gamers, the inability to share their beloved titles with younger generations can be a heartbreaking experience. "I know adults who've said, 'I want to show my kids Wing Commander, but I can't find it anywhere. Where is it?'" laments Mathew Powers, a media arts and science lecturer who helped found MARLA. "I have to tell them that it's gone. I find that heartbreaking."

Preserving History, Preserving Culture

The loss of these gaming relics extends beyond personal nostalgia. Video games have become an integral part of our cultural landscape, shaping the way we interact with technology and storytelling. As Andrew Borman, the director of digital preservation at The Strong National Museum of Play, explains, "Collections such as the one at Indiana University are important for students and faculty to study the history of games, to learn from the past by providing an opportunity to learn from historical games, and to give them an opportunity to learn by playing the games as they were when they were created."Without dedicated efforts to preserve these games, a valuable resource for future historians and scholars would be lost. The MARLA collection, with its diverse array of titles ranging from the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog to obscure Japanese releases, offers a unique window into the evolution of the gaming industry and the creative minds that have shaped it.

A Deluge of Donations

The recognition of MARLA's collection as an IU Museum Collection has sparked a surge of donations, as individuals and institutions alike seek to contribute to the preservation effort. From outdated virtual reality systems to long-forgotten McDonald's Happy Meal tie-in games, the collection continues to grow, reflecting the public's growing interest in safeguarding gaming's past."When I first started getting involved, donors wanted to contribute to the project because this was their specific interest—a space they share with their fellow nerds," says Haven Hamelin, the MARLA lab tech responsible for sorting and cataloging the donations. "But now we're getting donations from people who just love what we're doing. They might not even be playing the games. They just want us to have the possibility to give that experience to our current children."

Overcoming Legal Hurdles

However, the task of preserving video games is fraught with legal complexities. Intellectual property rights and the concept of "abandonware" – games whose original creators have long since disappeared – present significant challenges for preservation efforts like MARLA. Attempts to "port" or "emulate" older games for modern platforms can be viewed as piracy by the still-active game companies, forcing MARLA to navigate a minefield of legal concerns."We have to deal with all these legal questions," Powers explains. "How do we prove to [the gaming companies] that we're not trying to compete with them, and that we're really trying to preserve what they've done?"

The Overwhelming Tide of New Releases

Adding to the preservation challenge is the exponential growth in the number of new games being released. As Powers notes, "There are so many games that are made every single day. It's almost overwhelming to try to preserve this because they're just throwing them out constantly. It's like a deluge."This flood of new content, coupled with the fragility of digital-only games, creates an ever-expanding preservation problem that organizations like MARLA must confront. The task of cataloging, preserving, and providing access to this vast and rapidly evolving library of games is a daunting one, but one that is essential to safeguarding gaming's rich history.

A Vision for the Future

Despite the challenges, the MARLA team remains steadfast in their mission to become a national leader in video game preservation. Powers envisions a future where MARLA's collection could be housed in a dedicated museum, allowing the public to study, play, and experience the games that have captivated generations."I'm 45 years old, and I want to show my own kids the games I grew up on," Powers says, underscoring the personal and cultural significance of preserving these gaming relics.As the public's demand for access to vintage games continues to grow, initiatives like MARLA are poised to play a crucial role in ensuring that the history of video games is not lost to the sands of time. By safeguarding these cultural artifacts and providing opportunities for exploration and discovery, MARLA and its counterparts are working to ensure that the rich legacy of gaming will be available for generations to come.