What is old is new again! Experience a talk by University of Toronto’s Dr. Chris J. Young about the preservation of video games, including a round table discussion featuring HKU and University of Toronto Mississauga faculty, and discover gaming classics in an open game day!
Retro Game Day Recap🕹️
From fascinating Board Games to high-score chasing in the Video Games, the energy was electric. ⚡️
The event drew participants from across disciplines, spanning Humanities, Business, Science, and Engineering, reflecting the growing interdisciplinary relevance of game research.🖋️
We are glad to have experienced scholars to share their insights at ATL💡Many thanks to
- Dr. Chris J. Young (University of Toronto Mississauga)
- Dr. Alexandre Paquet (University of Toronto Mississauga)
- Dr. Benjamin Horn (The University of Hong Kong)
- Dr. Yuqi Chen (The University of Hong Kong)
- Dr. Edwin Michielsen (The University of Hong Kong)
On the round table, we explored📝
- Technological foundations📲 – Acted as a methodology, gaming mechanics paved the way for the smartphones we use every day.
- Business model renovation 🚀 – As a creative industry, the business model of game industries is reshaping the digital economy.
- Cultural implications📚 – Games aren’t just software; they are cultural mediums influencing daily consumption of digital culture.
- Game Research Potentiality 💡- The roundtable discussion centred on the potential and future development of game research, with particular focus on the prospect of establishing a dedicated game research library.
Itinerary
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Guest talk at XR Space
- 12 noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch after the seminar at Faculty Lounge
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Game Day at XR Space and Faculty Lounge
[Guest Talk and Roundtable Discussion] – Digital Decay and Cultural Memory: Video Game Preservation in Libraries
Abstract
Stewarding video game collections in academic libraries presents intertwined technical, legal, and curatorial challenges. Rapid hardware and software obsolescence threatens access, while proprietary platforms, network dependencies, and patching complicate preservation. Licensing and copyright constrain copying, emulation, and use. Collection development must account for games as cultural artifacts and interactive systems, supported by documentation, peripherals, and play contexts. With limited resources and expertise, libraries must balance preservation, access, and teaching needs, and pursue collaborative, sustainable strategies to ensure long-term stewardship of interactive digital heritage.
Date: March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Language: English
Venue: Arts Tech Lab (Room 4.35), 4/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus
About the Speaker
Chris J. Young is a researcher of game production cultures and history. He is a librarian and instructor at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he curates and teaches with the Syd Bolton Collection of video games and the Personal Computer Museum Collection of computer games. His writing has appeared in New Media & Society, Social Media + Society, and the edited volume Game Production Studies.
Roundtable Participants
- Chris J. Young (U of T)
- Alexandre Paquet (U of T)
- Benjamin Horn (HKU)
- Yuqi Chen (HKU)
- Edwin Michielsen (HKU)
[Game Day] – Open Game Day
Rediscover classics and enjoy new releases in an open game day! Play on authentic retro game consoles or modern systems with an extensive library of games. No matter the genre, there is bound to be something for you to enjoy!
Date: March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Arts Tech Lab (Room 4.35), 4/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus