I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are an alarming number of games that are difficult to get your hands on, whether that’s through emulation or an original copy. I spent hours on end in my childhood diving intoCroc: Legends of the Gobbos. It’s not something I can readily enjoy now.
Heck, evenRed Dead Redemptionis unable to run on modern consoles which is why so many fans are hopingthe rumours surrounding the possible imminent release of a remakeare true. While remakes are great though, we need to preserve the originals. There are plenty of physical copies ofclassic gamesfloating around out there, likely in the hands of collectors. The issue is though, there’s little in the way of an expansive and official archive. Gaming companies seem to be catching on to the need to protect their heritage but a new study reveals that an alarming 87% of retro games are in the midst of being lost to time.
Take a trip down memory lane and take a look at some of our favourite PlayStation 2 titles.
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According to the study, 87% of classic games are not in release, meaning they’re considered to be critically endangered due to their unavailability. Kotaku lists the example of 2006’sYakuzawhich was first released on thePlayStation2. In 2016,Yakuza Kiwamiwas released - a remake of the original game but as I pointed out earlier, remakes do nothing to preserve the original game in its release form.
The Video Game History Foundation is arguing that remakes are not enough when it comes to preservation. VGHF co-director Kelsey Lewin said, “For accessing nearly 9 in 10 classic games, there are few options: Seek out and maintain vintage collectible games and hardware, travel across the country to visit a library, or … piracy. None of those options are desirable, which means most video games are inaccessible to all but the most diehard and dedicated fans. That’s pretty grim!” Hopefully, the industry can turn a corner soon.
Topics:Retro Gaming
