VOA科学技术2023--Group Aims to Save ‘Critically Endangered’ Video Games

Group Aims to Save ‘Critically Endangered’ Video Games

A non-profit group that studies the history of video games estimates that about 87 percent of classic games have been lost over time.

The estimate was recently published in a study by the Video Game History Foundation. The foundation aims to "preserve, celebrate and teach" the history of video games. It also leads public events to raise awareness¹ about historical classic games.

The study suggests most classic video games are currently completely unavailable to people who want to buy them. This makes such games "critically endangered," the organization said.

Other areas of pop culture – such as films, books and music – faced similar problems. But it is still easy to find those products in stores or on the internet. For example, there are many online video services that show classic movies. And major music services like Apple Music, Google Play, Pandora and Spotify offer huge collections of old music favorites.

It is much harder, however, to find places that sell classic video games. For the study, the Video Game History Foundation examined the availability of all video games released before 2010. That is around the time game makers² began to sell their products digitally. Earlier than 2010, game makers usually sold physical copies of games.

The non-profit group says it used a list of 1,500 video games provided by the online information website MobyGames. The research showed that just 13 percent of those games are currently available to buy in the marketplace.

The foundation noted³ that the only classic games currently widely available are ones that have been re-released. This means fans of popular classic video games like Super Mario Bros., Pac-Man and Donkey Kong – which were popular in the 1980s – can still be purchased. But hundreds of others cannot.

Researchers involved in the study identified the ways fans can currently get classic games. These include searching for and buying collectible games and old hardware, called consoles. People can also travel to libraries that might lend classic games. In addition, some classic games can be downloaded online, but this method might violate copyright laws.

In a statement, the Video Game History Foundation states that "anyone should be able to easily explore, research and play classic video games" in the same way they can enjoy classic books, music and movies.

Frank Cifaldi is the co-director of the foundation. He tweeted, "Nine out of ten classic video games are no longer available...and that number is unlikely to get any better. It's practically guaranteed that something you grew up with is gone, forever."

The foundation is calling for organized efforts to preserve classic video game products. This includes a campaign to get libraries and historical organizations to expand their work to save video games, just as they have for old books, movies and music.

Phil Salvador is the Library Director for the Video Game History Foundation. He said in a statement that since 2012, libraries, museums and historical organizations have sought new exemptions⁶ from the U.S. Copyright Office. These would ease current copyright restrictions⁷ for classic games and permit new preservation⁸ efforts.

So far, the foundation said those efforts have been blocked by groups representing the video game industry. Industry officials have said companies have already established an active, growing market for classic video games. They point to the current availability of some popular classic games.

Game makers argue that libraries might try to interfere⁹ with their own efforts if current copyright rules were changed. Such preservation efforts might hurt their businesses.

The foundation admits there are currently more classic video games being released than ever before. But it says stronger preservation efforts are needed to protect more games.

Kelsey Lewin is co-director of the Video Game History Foundation. He said the main goal of the study was to call attention to "how dire⁴ the state of game availability is." He said his group hopes to effect "changes to our copyright laws that will make video game preservation stronger, and able to take on the challenges of the future."

Words in This Story

classic – adj. describes something that has been popular for a long time and is considered to be of high quality

preserve – v. to keep something the same or prevent it from being damaged or destroyed

digital – adj. relating to computer technology, especially the internet

hardware –n. equipment for a particular purpose, especially computer equipment

copyright – n. the legal right to control the use of an original piece of work such as a book, movie or song

practical – adj. relating to real situations or actions instead of thoughts or ideas

library – n. a room or building that contains a collection of books and other written material that people can read or borrow

exemption⁵ – n. special permission not to have to do something

dire – adj. very serious or bad

challenge – n. something difficult that tests one's ability or determination

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

5 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

6 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

9 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。