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Spelar spelare någon roll? Svenska spelares tankar kring och erfarenheter av spelbevarande ur ett arkivperspektiv

Martin, André LU (2022) ABMM34 20221
Division of ALM and Digital Cultures
Abstract
This master thesis examines positions to long-term preservation of digital games in
Sweden. Digital games are a new artform and type of cultural heritage but few
actions have been taken to preserve them in an institutional context. If nothing is
done now digital games risk disappearing very soon. The majority of long-term
preservation of digital games has been performed by individual or groups of game
enthusiasts, namely gamers. By examining the opinions and experience of digital
game preservation in this group the aim is to develop and widen the knowledge
about digital game preservation. The study was conducted by interviewing five
Swedish gamers. The research questions asked were: What are gamer’s opinions
about digital... (More)
This master thesis examines positions to long-term preservation of digital games in
Sweden. Digital games are a new artform and type of cultural heritage but few
actions have been taken to preserve them in an institutional context. If nothing is
done now digital games risk disappearing very soon. The majority of long-term
preservation of digital games has been performed by individual or groups of game
enthusiasts, namely gamers. By examining the opinions and experience of digital
game preservation in this group the aim is to develop and widen the knowledge
about digital game preservation. The study was conducted by interviewing five
Swedish gamers. The research questions asked were: What are gamer’s opinions
about digital game preservation; What experience do gamers have with digital game
preservation; and How do gamers value their own role for digital game preservation
compared to the roles of archival institutions and the game industry? In order to
analyze the informants’ responses from an archival perspective I applied the
archival scientist Terry Cook’s theory of the four archival paradigms which is about
how archives and archivists have changed in the last 150 years.
The results show that all informants had a positive attitude towards digital game
preservation. All informants believe that digital games are very important to
preserve because of their historic, cultural and educational value. Most informants
had some knowledge and experience with game preservation. The informants
considered gamers to have the biggest positive effect on game preservation due to
their technical knowledge although they are often hindered by the game industry.
The informants were uncertain of the role that archives play in game preservation.
According to the informants the game industry has a negative impact on game
preservation because they do not prioritize preservation and try to shut down
preservation attempts by the other groups. All informants believe that this can be
solved by a collaboration between the three sectors. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Martin, André LU
supervisor
organization
course
ABMM34 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
ALM, archives, cultural heritage institutions, archival paradigms, digital games, gamers, the game industry ABM, arkiv, kulturarvsinstitutioner, arkivparadigm, digitala spel, spelare, spelindustrin
language
Swedish
id
9094470
date added to LUP
2022-07-25 09:03:58
date last changed
2022-07-25 09:03:58
@misc{9094470,
  abstract     = {{This master thesis examines positions to long-term preservation of digital games in 
Sweden. Digital games are a new artform and type of cultural heritage but few 
actions have been taken to preserve them in an institutional context. If nothing is 
done now digital games risk disappearing very soon. The majority of long-term 
preservation of digital games has been performed by individual or groups of game 
enthusiasts, namely gamers. By examining the opinions and experience of digital 
game preservation in this group the aim is to develop and widen the knowledge 
about digital game preservation. The study was conducted by interviewing five 
Swedish gamers. The research questions asked were: What are gamer’s opinions 
about digital game preservation; What experience do gamers have with digital game 
preservation; and How do gamers value their own role for digital game preservation 
compared to the roles of archival institutions and the game industry? In order to 
analyze the informants’ responses from an archival perspective I applied the 
archival scientist Terry Cook’s theory of the four archival paradigms which is about 
how archives and archivists have changed in the last 150 years.
The results show that all informants had a positive attitude towards digital game 
preservation. All informants believe that digital games are very important to 
preserve because of their historic, cultural and educational value. Most informants 
had some knowledge and experience with game preservation. The informants 
considered gamers to have the biggest positive effect on game preservation due to 
their technical knowledge although they are often hindered by the game industry. 
The informants were uncertain of the role that archives play in game preservation. 
According to the informants the game industry has a negative impact on game 
preservation because they do not prioritize preservation and try to shut down 
preservation attempts by the other groups. All informants believe that this can be 
solved by a collaboration between the three sectors.}},
  author       = {{Martin, André}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Spelar spelare någon roll? Svenska spelares tankar kring och erfarenheter av spelbevarande ur ett arkivperspektiv}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}