Assemble an Aura

Practical steps, based on Assembling Auras.

Step 1: Identify the Video Game as an Assemblage

• Description: Understand the video game as a complex system consisting of software, hardware, user experiences, and cultural contexts.
• Action: Begin by documenting all components of the video game, including:
  • The physical medium (cartridge, disk, hardware).
  • Associated paratexts (manuals, box art, advertisements).
  • Cultural influences and intertexts (influences from other games, media, or art forms).
  • The broader socio-cultural context in which the game was played (arcades, living rooms, online communities).

Step 2: Secure and Document the Physical Artefacts

• Description: Physical degradation is one of the main threats to video game preservation, and securing the original hardware and media is crucial.
• Action:
  • Collect and preserve physical items, including consoles, cartridges, controllers, and related paraphernalia.
  • Create detailed documentation (e.g., high-quality photographs, condition reports) of these physical artefacts.
  • Where possible, store the artefacts in appropriate archival conditions to slow down degradation.

Step 3: Preserve the Digital Components

• Description: Digital media (disks, tapes, cartridges) degrade over time and are at risk of becoming unreadable.
• Action:
  • Create disk images or clones of game media and store multiple copies on different digital storage systems (following the “three copies in three different locations” rule).
  • Regularly update these digital copies by migrating them to newer storage technologies as needed.
  • Store source code if available, or document software behavior through gameplay recording and reverse engineering techniques.

Step 4: Record Gameplay Sessions

• Description: Gameplay experiences are a core part of a game’s aura. These experiences vary across players, time, and context.
• Action:
  • Use original hardware (if functional) to record playthroughs.
  • If the original hardware is unavailable, use emulation as a fallback, but document the differences in gameplay experience.
  • Record different players’ experiences, including various demographic groups, to capture the diversity of gameplay experiences.

Step 5: Conduct Interviews and Oral Histories

• Description: The experience of playing a game is shaped by the context and the memories of the players and creators.
• Action:
  • Conduct interviews with game developers, designers, and other key individuals involved in the game’s production.
  • Interview players about their experiences with the game, focusing on the cultural context in which they played.
  • Collect oral histories from different periods to document how interpretations and interactions with the game have evolved over time.

Step 6: Document Paratextual and Intertextual Materials

• Description: A video game is not just the software and hardware but includes marketing, reviews, mods, fan creations, and much more.
• Action:
  • Collect paratexts such as strategy guides, reviews, advertisements, and game-related merchandise.
  • Document fan-made modifications, cheat codes, and community content that has emerged over time.
  • Archive fan forums, YouTube playthroughs, or “Let’s Play” videos that show how the game is discussed and experienced in community spaces.

Step 7: Embrace Legal and Technical Preservation Tools

• Description: The preservation of video games through emulation and other digital techniques is often complicated by legal issues and technical challenges.
• Action:
  • Use emulation tools to preserve gameplay experiences when original hardware is unavailable, ensuring that the process is well-documented.
  • Where legal obstacles arise, work with legal frameworks in place (such as exemptions for research institutions) to negotiate copyright issues.
  • Stay updated on emerging technologies in preservation and data management (e.g., Trusted Digital Repositories).

Step 8: Integrate Players and Communities in Preservation

• Description: Players are central to the experience of video games, shaping their social meaning and cultural relevance.
• Action:
  • Work with fan communities and players to gather their experiences and incorporate them into the preservation process.
  • Encourage public participation in preservation efforts, such as crowd-sourced oral histories or digital archiving initiatives.
  • Recognize the importance of the fan labor that goes into maintaining game communities, modding, or archiving.

Step 9: Acknowledge Fluidity in Preservation Choices

• Description: Preservation should not aim to create a static representation of the game but to embrace its dynamic and evolving nature.
• Action:
  • Prioritize the preservation of both “official” and “unofficial” versions of the game (e.g., ports, remakes, fan-made versions).
  • Preserve not just the original hardware and software, but also derivative works, cultural artifacts, and experiences that contribute to the game’s cultural significance.
  • Embrace the idea that no one preservation technique is final, and be flexible in revisiting the methods as technology and culture evolve.

This methodology prioritizes a holistic approach to video game preservation, ensuring both the physical and experiential aspects of games are retained for future study and cultural significance.