Video Game History Hour

We’re joined by Colin Williamson as we introduce his newly launched photography collection in our digital archive. Colin’s former work in games journalism while living in Japan afforded him a front row seat to the launch of the Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, rise of Pokémania, and more. This treasure trove of photographs documents the Japanese gaming scene from 1999 to 2005 at events like Tokyo Game Show, the JAMMA Show, and Nintendo Space World. We peek behind the industry curtain as Colin shares what it was like interviewing legends like Hideo Kojima, dealing with corporate PR handlers, and forming real friendships with developers. Finally, we cap off the episode with a pseudo digital-archaeology quest tracking down missing footage of a 2005 Electroplankton exhibition.

*This episode has a follow-up bonus episode available to our paid tier Patreon members.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Colin Williamson:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colinwilliamson.bsky.social

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

It’s time for another quarterly update seeing as how we’re now well into October. In this episode, we share some of our latest accomplishments: hitting a milestone of over 5,000 magazines digitized, completing our donor-data cleanup, new project-specific giving initiatives, major technical upgrades to our Japanese-language OCR and large image galleries (which helped power the successful launch of our E3 historical collection), active community research for the first EULA, and so much more!

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Phil Salvador is joined by Dr. Colin Post and Marisa Marzilli from University of North Carolina at Greensboro to discuss their upcoming Digital Games in Libraries (DGIL) National Virtual Forum, a conversation for the cultural preservation of digital-only indie video games to be held October 29-30. In this episode they introduce the DGIL initiative and its origin, discuss collection models, and ideate on future phases and resources for these efforts.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Digital Games in Libraries:

Website: https://soe.uncg.edu/rdi/dgil/

Substack: https://digitalgamesinlibraries.substack.com/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Phil Salvador interviews Amy Thomas, legal expert and author of Copyright, Contract, and Video Games: Terms of Play, about the evolving landscape of digital rights and ownership in gaming. In this episode, Amy discusses her journey from studying Microsoft's Xbox One EULA in 2013; the complexities of EULAs, user rights, and the impact of digital ownership on game preservation; her research on possibly the earliest EULA, found in 1985 for Pitfall II; and the challenges of digital preservation, including implications of Sony's recent decision to discontinue physical PlayStation discs.

Mentioned in the show:

Tandy Software License: https://colorcomputerarchive.com/repo/Documents/Manuals/Games/Pitfall%20II%20(Tandy).pdf

Moria License: https://free-moria.sourceforge.net/moria-non-free-license.txt

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Amy Thomas:

LinkedIn: /amy-thomas

The Centre for Regulation of the Creative Economy, University of Glasgow: https://www.create.ac.uk/

Upcoming speaking engagement: Playable Heritage: Creating a Collaborative Framework for Collecting Video Game Culture

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Library Director Phil Salvador is joined by guests Heather Fryling and Daniel Greenberg to discuss Roberta Vaughn’s Retro Adventures, a nonprofit organization that creates traveling, living exhibits focused on the history of adventure games and entertainment. The RVRA, founded to honor the legacy of adventure games collector and enthusiast Roberta Vaughn, travels to conventions like Portland Retro Game Expo and PAX West to share their curated exhibits, original interviews, and special guest appearances.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the Show:

Al Lowe’s wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Lowe

Classic Gamers Guild: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicGamersGuild/

See more from Heather Fryling:

Website: http://rvretro.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Roberta-Vaughans-Retro-Adventures/61580535638673/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-fryling-4336a0168

Email: heather@rvretro.org

See more from Daniel Greenberg:

Bluesky: @winterion.com

Email: info (at) http://winterion.com/

Help Daniel plant trees: http://patreon.com/winterion

IONGAMING Live: http://twitch.tv/winterion

IONGAMING Back Episodes: http://youtube.com/winteriongamestudios

GMU Game Design: http://game.gmu.edu/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Our library director Phil Salvador sits down for another What’s Your Deal? episode with Blizzard’s senior digital archivist, Leah Williams, to discuss her critical work of preserving their modern video game history. In this episode:

•

Leah’s unconventional path to digital games preservation

•

Managing art, UI, and visual FX

•

Collaborating with engineers and metadata experts

•

Why discoverability matters for legacy assets

•

Building vital relationships across game studios

•

Navigating AI tagging and digital preservation challenges

Mentioned in the show:

YouTube 35th year anniversary 35’ table Blizzard: The Next Chapter

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Leah Williams:

LinkedIn: /leah-williams

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Phil Salvador hosts a special episode of the Video Game History Hour featuring Carolyn Rauch and Doug Lowenstein to discuss the origins and evolution of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

As the former senior vice president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Carolyn managed E3 for roughly two decades. Doug, the ESA's founder and former president, joins her to recount the organization’s 1994 founding. Together, they explain how the industry responded to the video game violence panic along with its legislative threats and how poor placement at the annual CES tradeshow led to the creation of E3.

We discuss the massive challenges of organizing the inaugural 1995 expo, including the critical task of securing industry giants like Nintendo and Sega; E3's eventual shift toward a consumer-focused format; its massive economic impact on Los Angeles; and the unexpected legal challenges surrounding the iconic E3 logo.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

This year’s first update starts off with the huge announcement of our newest team member, Meera Swanson, as Development Director. Meera shares some of her background as well as her vision for the rest of this year as she establishes this new department. Phil overviews all the new collections we launched this year including additions to the GamePro CD collection, speaker audio cassettes from the 2nd ever Computer Game Developers’ Conference, and Neopets The Official Magazine. Robin reviews the podcast so far this year and what’s resonated both with her and others.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this episode of the Video Game History Hour, host Phil Salvador interviews Willem Hilhorst, Media Manager for Games and Online at the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision regarding their video game preservation efforts within the context of an audiovisual media archive. Established in 1997, the institute manages a growing collection of over 500 digital and physical Dutch-connected games. Hilhorst outlines key initiatives like the Dutch Games Canon and the Treasure Room portal for out-of-commerce media. The discussion addresses the legal and structural challenges of long-term preservation alongside the role of national identity in software design. Using Ubisoft's early French influence on Rayman as a case study, Hilhorst highlights how local cultural elements translate to international audiences. Also in this episode: the non-game material held in the archive, the potential canon inclusion of Moon Child, and Hilhorst's external work for Nintendo World Report and EFGAMP.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the Show:

The Dutch Games Canon (please use translation for an English version): https://gamescanon.beeldengeluid.nl/

"The Treasure Room" (Schatkamer) (requires a Dutch IP address or VPN): https://schatkamer.beeldengeluid.nl/

The European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects: https://efgamp.eu/

Nintendo World Report: https://nintendoworldreport.com/ / https://youtube.com/@NinWRTV

Out of Commerce Works Portal: https://euipo.europa.eu/out-of-commerce/

Home Computer Museum: https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/en/#intro

See more from Willem Hilhorst:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whilhorst.bsky.social

Sound & Vision Website: https://beeldengeluid.nl/en/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Library director Phil Salvador and producer Robin Kunimune take you through the process of preserving a collection of over 10,000 digital files from our GamePro CD collection. Phil discusses how he tackles physical and philosophical dilemmas such as balancing users’ needs to access original files of hi-res game art while also viewing quick, easy thumbnails researchers can actually open; dealing with broken or obsolete 90’s files types like old PSD/EPS files; automating bulk processing for as much data as we’re able; and balancing thorough, but concise, metadata for topics ranging from undersea wreckage salvage to hyper-specific local gaming slang. Phil and Robin also provide a sneak peak into the VGHF’s upcoming monster of a project, the Game Informer collection, and how this meager 10k file collection is really just a warm-up.

Mentioned in the Show: GamePro Press CD Collection

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Host Frank Cifaldi is joined this week by Wes Fenlon, author of the bi-weekly newsletter Read Only Memo, which focuses on emulation, ROM hacks, translations, and decompilations. The two discuss the niche nature of Wes’ content while he emphasizes the importance of emulation and fan translations, highlighting their role in making old games accessible. Wes and Frank get way into the weeds as they chat about the challenges and innovations in emulation, such as static recompilation and decompilation, the impact of companies like Nintendo on the emulation community, and the potential for fan-driven innovations to influence commercial retro game releases.

Mentioned in the show:

GitHub ShaderBeam and Blur Busters article - an overlay you can run over a window: https://github.com/mausimus/ShaderBeam

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Wes Fenlon:

Bluesky: @wes.readonlymemo.com

Newsletter: Read Only Memo

PC Gamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/author/wes-fenlon/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this episode, Phil Salvador sits down with Lindsey Kurano, the Curator of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum of Play, to explore the intricate world of video game preservation. Lindsay shares her unconventional journey from a high school exchange student in Japan to a specialist in film preservation, and ultimately, a lead steward of gaming history.

We delve into the behind-the-scenes of museum life from building massive collections through donor outreach to the meticulous process of curating an engaging exhibit. In this episode, we also discuss her recent exhibit on Japanese indie games, the prioritization of preserving both hardware and software, how independent collectors and enthusiasts play a vital role in the preservation ecosystem, and a sneak peak at upcoming exhibits.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Lindsey Kurano:

Bluesky: @lindseykurano.bsky.social

Email: lindseykurano (@) gmail.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Historian Alex Smith (author and host of They Create Worlds) joins us to challenge the prevailing "Genesis does what Nintendon't" narrative. While Sega’s bravado captured the American imagination, the reality behind the ledger was far more precarious. We dissect how aggressive price wars and a strengthening Japanese yen turned market-share victories into hollow financial gains, creating a "leaky bucket" that even Sonic couldn't outrun.

Our conversation traverses the internal friction between Sega of America and Sega of Japan, the fragmented rollout of the 32X and Saturn, and the precise moment when ambition collided with fiscal reality. It’s a deep dive into the corporate motivations and economic pressures that dictated the rise and decline of a hardware titan.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Alex Smith:

Website: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/

Blog: https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/

Podcast: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/

Book:https://www.routledge.com/They-Create-Worlds-The-Story-of-the-People-and-Companies-That-Shaped-the/Smith/p/book/9781138389908

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Well before Xbox Game Pass or Steam, we had Sega Channel: a visionary service that delivered video games directly into homes via cable TV lines. This week, host Phil Salvador is joined by some of the team that made the "impossible" happen: Michael Shorrock, Ray McFadden, and Willard Stanback.

In this mini Sega Channel reunion, the team discusses the technical hurdles of digital data distribution over 1990’s cable infrastructure, reminisces about the high-stakes world of game licensing, and shares how partnerships and the bold leadership of Stan Thomas shaped the service. We explore how transparency and community engagement turned a risky experiment into a beloved cult classic, and what the Sega Channel legacy tells us about the future of cloud gaming and subscription services today.

*This episode has a follow-up bonus episode available to our paid tier Patreon members.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this episode, host Phil Salvador is joined by two digital preservationists, Ellen Cooper and Max Solensky, to explore the world of Japanese mobile game preservation. Before app stores existed, Japan was living in the future thanks to i-mode: a 1999 revolution that put the internet (and Capcom and Sega) right in your pocket.

Today, these games are disappearing, and quickly. From brutal encryption to servers that no longer exist, saving this history is a high-tech race against time. We discuss the i-mode explosion and how Japan’s feature phones beat the world to the web; why saving a mobile game is way harder than dumping a cartridge; the small community groups saving early iOS and Android gems from the digital void; and how you can help keep gaming history from being "delisted" forever.

Mentioned in the show:

Video of max swinging keyboard in the monkey game https://youtu.be/I1VJw_yYI1U?si=s_9nXIAZS2hwuNLC&t=355

Transforming phone: https://hitsave.org/wild-land/

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Ellen Cooper “Unabandonware”:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unabandonware/featured

Bluesky: @unabandonware.bsky.social

TikTok: @unabandonware

See more from Max Solensky “RockmanCosmo”:

Bluesky: @rockmancosmo.bsky.social

X/Twitter: @RockmanCosmo

Website: http://rockmancosmo.weebly.com

Website: https://keitaiarchive.org/

Website: https://keitaiwiki.com/wiki/KeitaiWiki

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

From vacuum tubes to virtual worlds, Dr. Flori Pierri, Associate Curator of Science and Technology at the MIT Museum, joins us to explore their unexpected journey into the world of video game preservation. Dr. Pierri oversees diverse collections from science photography to physics homework, and, of course, video games. MIT Museum has had a recent focus on computer games and a focus on play, starting with the Michael Dornbrook Collection and plans for a 2028 computer game exhibition. Dr. Pierri shares the importance of using original equipment for exhibits and the new challenges of preserving born-digital objects. They also discuss the museum's efforts to engage with both the public and with researchers, including a collection of unreleased Infocom game materials.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the show:

Whirlwind I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlwind_I

Royal Game of the Dolphin: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Game_of_the_Dolphin,_1821.jpg

Milliways: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

Claude Elwood Shannon, Bell Labs, “father of information theory”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Shannon

See more from Dr. Flori Pierri:

Bluesky: @flori-p.bsky.social

Website: https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/collections/collections-searchhttps://bsky.app/profile/flori-p.bsky.social

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

It’s our 9th birthday and our 150th episode all at once; let’s party! Host and VGHF Director Frank Cifaldi is joined by two founding board members Simon Carless and Steve Lin. This casual retrospective meanders through the foundation's origins, its mission to preserve and interpret video game history, and its growth over the years. Our three hosts highlight the foundation's journey from a small, resource-constrained organization to a robust digital library with over 100,000 unique users. The conversation covers their initial challenges, the importance of community support, and future goals, including expanding the team, increasing interpretive content, and addressing recent digital preservation issues. Thank you to everyone who supports the work we do through Patreon, individual donations and support, our annual fundraisers, and so much more. Happy Birthday!

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Simon Carless:

Website: http://www.gamediscover.co/

See more from Steve Lin:

Bluesky: @stevelin.bsky.social

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Frank is joined by Guest Host Kate Willaert, author, historian, and YouTuber, to interview Jeremy Parish, media curator at Limited Run Games, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. Jeremy has a series of “Works” books and videos as part of a massive project to chronologize the 8-bit era. Jeremy’s work covers various consoles, including Game Boy, NES, SG-1000, and Famicom, highlighting the significance of third-party developers and the impact of the NES on game design. We share a universal complaint of the challenges of maintaining a comprehensive and accurate release list for systems like the SG-1000 and the importance of community feedback in refining our work. The conversation touches on the potential for both future projects and genre-specific series, such as Metroidvania and Shmup games.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the show: Jaws Retro Edition (pre-orders closed): https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all-in-production/products/jaws-retro-edition-bigger-boat-edition-switch-ps5?_pos=3&_sid=a0a6bd1b1&_ss=r

See more from Jeremy Parish:

Bluesky: @jparish.bsky.social

Youtube: @JeremyParish

Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Website: https://limitedrungames.com/

See more from Kate Willaert:

Bluesky: @katewillaert.bsky.social

YouTube: /a critical hit

Website: http://acriticalhit.com/

Patreon: /acriticalhit

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Our podcast Producer Robin Kunimune sits down with Director Frank Cifaldi and Library Director Phil Salvador to wrap up the final quarter of 2025. Listen to some of our behind-the-scenes thoughts on the NES panel we put together for the Portland Retro Gaming Expo; the many facets of this year’s Winter Fundraiser, including a new old game release, updated VHS recovery technology, and our $30k goal with some surprise donations; and finally our look ahead to 2026. Enjoy the show!

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Atari game developer John Van Ryzin and Digital Eclipse Technical Director Kevin Wilson both join host Frank Cifaldi to reminisce about the Atari 2600 title, and Frank’s favorite game, H.E.R.O.. We also explore John’s early career, his entry into game development, programming limitations of the 2600 (RAM, timing issues, etc.), the spiritual sequel to H.E.R.O. and John’s most recent title Alien Abduction!, the differences in modern development, and so much more.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from John Van Ryzin:

Alien Abduction!: https://adgm.us/

See more from Kevin Wilson:

Website: https://www.digitaleclipse.com/

Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection: https://www.digitaleclipse.com/games/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: https://gamehistory.org/

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg