Le jeu vidéo : élément oublié du patrimoine numérique au Québec
Long viewed with suspicion, video games are increasingly considered to be a form of art all their own. Unfortunately, archivists have shown little interest in these heritage objects, the history of which is already disappearing. In Quebec, a world leader in video game production, there is as yet no interest in video games from an archival perspective. This paper assesses the cultural and economic importance of video games in Quebec and their current place in its heritage institutions. Video games are complex digital objects around which many other documents are created, whether by game studios or by players, raising difficult questions around acquisition and preservation. Different perspectives on what should be preserved and how are explored though a survey of archiving projects in the United States, France and Great Britain. Gamer-initiated efforts are also considered. Finally, this paper articulates the reasons that archives in Quebec should start archiving video games and their associated documentation and suggests several strategies and priorities for acquisition.
Archival appraisal Digital heritage Digital preservation Quebec Video game archives