Video Game History Foundation Puts Digital Stash Of Classic Gaming Magazines Online Next Week

I have almost, almost mind you lol literally tons of old glorious mags going back to the 80's. ;o

Haven't looked for those boxes they're packed in for ages but they're around my home somewhere. lol :P

Anyone else?

Oh, and one of my all-time favs was Gamefan. ;)

The Story.

Video Game History Foundation Puts Digital Stash Of Classic Gaming Magazines Online Next Week

Get some quality reading material for free next week thanks to the VGHF'S preservation efforts.

By Darryn Bonthuyson January 24, 2025 at 6:08AM PST

A regular library typically doesn't have a section devoted to out-of-print video game magazines and promotional materials, but that's a gap that the Video Game History Foundation is looking to fill next week when it opens the doors to its virtual library. The non-profit organization has been steadily collecting video game materials for several years, and its public library will be accessible starting January 30.

"After years of collecting, cataloging, and digitizing video game history materials, the VGHF is finally opening the virtual doors to its library--wherever you are," the group said in a statement (via VGC). Some of the materials teased by the organization include high-resolution scans of Final Fantasy 7 artwork and more than 1,500 video game magazines.

The VGHF added that its library will be home to "never-before-seen game development materials," and with powerful search options teased, it could become an invaluable resource for video game historians to make use of.

If you're interested in seeing more of the VGHF's work--and supporting its efforts to preserve the past--you can check out its main website for more details. The group has faced a few obstacles in its video game preservation mission, as last year, its petition to the US Copyright Office to allow libraries to share out-of-print video games in their possession with researchers remotely was denied.

The VGHF is one of several preservation efforts that have sprung up over the years, with one of the other notable examples being GOG's program to keep classic video games compatible with current and next-gen systems. Xbox and PlayStation have also reportedly set up their own preservation programs for their game libraries.

That’s cool. Will check some of them out myself. I had several years worth of EGM, Gamefan, and Nintendo Power magazines myself but got rid of them awhile ago. Big mistake. Still kicking myself about that as I have gotten the urge to flip through them a few times now. Nice to have the ability to do this online but it’s just not quite the same of doing it with a physical magazine.

@Archangel3371:

OMG, reading your post I realized I made a huge error. Gamefan was my fav.

Game Players was cheap. Going to edit now. lol :P

I used to love EGM,waited for that magazine every month.

@brimmul777:

Yeah, EGM was great. I think they did the best reviews as well. ;)

@SecretPolice: Yeah, I really loved Gamefan as well. Quality magazine both in paper and pictures.

@Archangel3371: No doubt, best HD pics in the biz and the writing and reviews top notch as well. :D

Next Gen mag was pretty good too.

@SecretPolice: For sure. Now I’m getting sad again realizing that I don’t have them anymore. :( lol

I've got this one. Think it's worth more than $3.50 now? lol :P

@SecretPolice: It’s Sega so you’d be lucky if it’s worth $0.25. :P lol

@Archangel3371:

Lololol you're probably right. ;)

Won't take advantage of this as it doesn't really interest me; but I really, truly appreciate the effort people put into keeping things like this documented and in service.

Takes a lot of work and dedication and in a time where we are obsessed with side hustles and making every cent we can it doesn't make sense to do something that requires resources with little to no return, but that makes it all the more impressive.

I really miss gaming magazines. I want different ways of learning about new games and not just youtube trailers/influencers.

Dude, I'm gonna have such a nostalgia binge with this. I wanna go back and re-live the hype I had for the things to come.

That's cool, I will be looking at these. Great work!

Will definitely check it out. It might spark me to go back and play some older games I forgot about.

I recently played Ready 2 Rumble boxing on Dreamcast, they seriously need to remaster that game. It still holds up really well.

The 2 mags I bought the most was Hyper magazine (Aussie) & Mega magazine (British)

I still have some old Dreamcast magazines and Mega ones in a box somewhere.

Made possible because of digital.😊