Phil Salvador and Kendra Albert, a partner at Albert Sellars LLP, digest, discuss, and dissect the 2024 DMCA exemption petition to make it easier for libraries and archives to preserve video games and the subsequent ruling by the US Copyright Office. Join us for an insightful look at the recent ruling, legal implications, and what it all means for the future of video game copyright and digital access.

*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.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-128-dmca-2024-copyright-ruling/

See more from Kendra Albert:

Bluesky: @kendraserra.bsky.social

Mastodon: @[email protected]

Law firm website: albertsellars.law

Software Preservation Network: https://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this episode of Video Game History Hour, Michael Mendheim joins host Frank Cifaldi and guest-host John Rairdin to reflect on his career, from early work on Fester’s Quest to cult favorites like Mutant League Football and Sarge’s Heroes. Mendheim shares stories about creative risks, industry shakeups, and the challenges of keeping games alive — with Rairdin diving deep into his personal love for Sarge’s Heroes, expanding the definitive Vikki Grimm lore, and discussing the development materials Mendheim saved along the way.

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.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-127-sarges-heroes/See more from Michael Mendheim:

Twitter/X: @mmendheim

Website: https://www.digitaldreamsentertainment.com/

Website: mutantfootballleague.com

See more from John Rairdin:

Twitter/X: @jtsknight92

YouTube: /ninwrtv

Website: nintendoworldreport.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Gail Tilden, Nintendo of America’s marketing mastermind, takes Frank Cifaldi on a trip down memory lane in a panel at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, reminiscing about everything from the early days of NES branding to the explosive rise of Pokémon. She shares behind-the-scenes stories about marketing mishaps (hello, Zelda Rap), strategic pivots like the iconic "Nintendo Seal of Quality," and how a quirky Game Boy RPG took over the world. From robotic flops to Pikachu-branded cars parachuting into Topeka, her journey is a testament to the creativity and unpredictability that helped shape the gaming world.

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.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-126-a-fireside-chat-with-gail-tilden/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Laine Nooney, an associate professor at NYU and managing editor of ROMchip: A Journal of Game Histories, joins Phil Salvador on The Video Game History Hour to chat about the journal’s mission to make game history more than just timelines. ROMchip is an open-access, independent journal that brings together academics, enthusiasts, and industry pros, supported by community fundraising instead of traditional academic publishing. They discuss ROMchip's success, its growing community, and dreams of what the future holds for the journal.

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.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-125-romchip-whats-next/

See more from Laine Nooney:

Linktree: linktr.ee/lainenooney 

See more from ROMchip:

Website: romchip.org/

Socials, Events, Blog: donate.romchip.org/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

It’s finally arrived: our digital library archive is now open in early access! Our library team: library director Phil Salvador, director of technology Travis Brown, and artist and engineer Amanda Cifaldi all join foundation director Frank Cifaldi and show producer Robin Kunimune to celebrate and discuss the years-long project sampling just a portion of our physical collection. We highlight the library’s role in facilitating video game research, the importance of fair use, the novel tools and infrastructure we created in this process, legal and ethical considerations, and future plans for and potential of this digital archive.

Digital Archive: archive.gamehistory.org

Library Catalog: library.gamehistory.org

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: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Guests Katrin Auch & Dan Amrich, formerly of GamePro magazine, discuss their time at the publication as well as the archival collection now housed by the VGHF. Kat and Dan recount their experience of transitioning from film to digital layouts, unintentional blunders, working under tight budgets and deadlines, and the creative process of creating content.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: ⁠https://gamehistory.org/episode-123-gamepro-magazine-collection/

Website: katrinauch.com

See more from Dan Amrich:

Twitter/X: @danamrich

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/danamrich.bsky.social

See more from both Kat & Dan:

Dan & Kat Talk podcast (on hiatus): danandkattalk.com

Etsy: bit.ly/katrinauch

The Kyberpunks: thekyberpunks.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Podcast Twitter/X: @gamehistoryhour

Email: [email protected]

Twitter/X: @GameHistoryOrg

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

We're joined by Director of Digital Preservation at The Strong National Museum of Play Andrew Borman to recap the events of the first ever Save the Games Symposium put on by the museum in August 2024, a conference dedicated to digital preservation and advancing the field of video game preservation.

Chris Arneil, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia report: International Video Game Preservation Survey Report

Game Availability Study (87% Study): Survey of the Video Game Reissue Market in the United States

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

See more from Andrew Borman:

Twitter/X: @borman18

YouTube: /ptoponline

Website: http://museumofplay.org

Facebook: /icheg

Video Game History Foundation:

Podcast Twitter: @gamehistoryhour

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @GameHistoryOrg

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this field report from Mead, Washington, Cyan co-founder Rand Miller takes VGHF library director Phil Salvador on an exclusive tour of the "Cyan Vault." Together, they uncover rare game artifacts, prototypes, and cool behind-the-scenes treasures while diving into Cyan's rich history. Listen in to discover how thoughtful, meticulous preservation can not only tell a story but also breathe new life into a classic like Riven.

See more from Rand Miller:

Twitter/X: @randemtweets

Website: cyan.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Podcast Twitter: @gamehistoryhour

Email: [email protected]

Twitter/X: @GameHistoryOrg

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

A transcript of this episode can be found at: https://gamehistory.org/episode-121-exploring-the-cyan-vault/

In our very first episode of season two, university professor José Zagal and video game historian Benj Edwards, co-authors of Seeing Red: Nintendo's Virtual Boy, join host Frank Cifaldi to educate us all on Nintendo’s Virtual Boy.  

Mentioned in the show:

Benj’s original article on VB:

https://www.fastcompany.com/3050016/unraveling-the-enigma-of-nintendos-virtual-boy-20-years-later

José’s original academic article on the VB (from 2009):

https://doi.org/10.1145/1690388.1690406

Jez San talking about his VR partnership with Nintendo and how it was cancelled in favor of the Virtual Boy:

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/feature_the_game-changing_nintendo_vr_headset_that_never_was

See more from José Zagal:

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=a4a3GTMAAAAJ&hl=en

Twitter/X: @josezagal

Division of Games (@University of Utah): games.utah.edu

See more from Benj Edwards:

Twitter: @benjedwards

Website: benjedwards.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Podcast Twitter: @gamehistoryhour

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @GameHistoryOrg

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

We're thrilled to announce season two of the Video Game History Hour is finally here! We've been toiling away behind the scenes putting together a fun and interesting new line-up of guests and we can't wait to share them all with you. Keep an eye on your feed for our re-launch episode coming up next.
You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Spotify or one day early on Patreon.