Center Creates New Videogame Archive

the center for american history A news and events
collections and acquisitions A centerpoints A summer 2007
Center Creates New
Videogame Archive
The Center for American History,
in collaboration with leaders in the
video and computer game industry, has
formed the UT Videogame Archive,
the newest addition to the Center’s
extensive Media Collection, which
documents and preserves contemporary
and historical media for research and
educational purposes.
“Several key individuals in
videogame development and related
enterprises who recognize the
importance of preserving the history of
L to R: Bill Bottorff, Don Carleton, Richard Garriott, Warren Spector, George Sanger, and Steve Jackson. Above: Graph
paper sketch Garriott used to design an early game. Right: “Ultima Underworld,” from Garriott’s private collection.
game development – and particularly
Photo courtesy of Tony Salvaggio.
the role that Texas has played in
it – approached us last fall about
“The UT Videogame Archive joins
At the event, Garriott, Spector, and
establishing an archive dedicated to the
a number of U.S. and European
Sanger announced their plans to
evolution of the videogame industry,”
initiatives already in the works to
contribute their personal materials to
said Dr. Don Carleton, director of the
preserve material related to the
the new archive.
Center for American History.
industry’s history,” Gunn noted. “The
“The fact is that the history of the
“After a series of conversations with
Center’s archive will enhance the global videogame business is being written
Richard Garriott (NCsoft), Warren
study of the videogame industry by
every day and, sadly, being lost just
Spector (Junction Point Studios),
highlighting the influence of Texas-
about as quickly,” said Spector.
George Sanger (The Fat Man and
based developers and entrepreneurs.”
“Luckily, we’re a young enough
Team Fat), and Bill Bottorff (Austin
In its efforts to build an archive
medium that nearly all of our serious
Business Computers), we all agreed
of scholarly and cultural interest, the
practitioners are still alive and available
that the Center is the ideal home for
Center plans to gather materials from
to be interviewed and invited to
this archive,” Carleton continued.
all sectors of the industry. In addition
contribute to the archive.”
“We have an international reputation
to games and equipment, archival
Next steps include a September
for high caliber and accessible media
materials of interest include paper and
4th event to raise awareness of
collections, and we are situated at the
digital documentation relating to the
and financial support for the UT
heart of the Texas videogame industry.”
conception, development, planning,
Videogame Archive.
“The new archive will enhance the
management, marketing, scripting,
“Dozens of developers right here
potential for collaboration among
technology, design, and other aspects of in Austin are eager to place their
University departments with emerging
the videogame arena.
material with us as soon as we have the
videogame curricula,” added Brenda
More than 50 game developers,
infrastructure in place,” said Carleton.
Gunn, assistant director for Research
programmers, and University and City
Information about the archive
and Collections. “This is a natural
of Austin representatives, as well as
will be updated as available at www.
opportunity for the study of popular
individuals from organizations serving
utvideogamearchive.org
culture, art, technology, business, and
the videogame industry, launched the
For an invitation to the September
the preservation of digital information
UT Videogame Archive at a reception
4th event benefitting the new archive,
to intersect on the UT campus.
hosted earlier this year by the Center.
email ramonakelly@austin.utexas.edu
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