The Media Arts Research and Learning Arcade, MARLA, at Indiana University in Indianapolis is on a mission to preserve video game history. As classic games and older consoles face extinction due to technological advancements and shifting distribution models, MARLA’s mission has become especially urgent.

MARLA is accepting donations of consoles, games, and magazines, even if they are damaged. They are especially interested in a Nintendo Virtual Boy and a Philips CD-i. To reach out, email [email protected].

  A recent study from the Video Game History Foundation reported that 87% of classic video games released in the United States are now inaccessible. Many early games, once easily available, can no longer be played because the necessary hardware is obsolete or because the digital platforms that once hosted them no longer exist.

Physically interacting with games provides an irreplaceable, hands-on experience. Such immersion goes beyond simply watching old game footage; it allows visitors to feel the original mechanics and limitations that defined early gaming, as MARLA founder Mathew Powers and cataloger Haven Hamelin told reporters.

Housing over a thousand gaming artifacts, MARLA’s collection includes vintage consoles, rare Japanese titles, and unconventional items like promotional Happy Meal game cartridges from previous decades. Each piece in the collection represents a different chapter in gaming history, showing how the industry evolved from simple arcade games to complex digital worlds. MARLA allows both students and the general public to immerse themselves in a diverse collection of classic games and consoles, showcasing the cultural and technological journey of gaming.

MARLA’s educational efforts support IU Indianapolis’s video game program, offering students a practical context to study game design, programming, and storytelling through classic examples. The collection spans more than two dozen console types, including systems from iconic brands like Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft. This allows students and visitors to play titles that shaped the gaming industry, influencing trends and mechanics in contemporary games. By playing these games on original hardware, students gain insight into the technical constraints that early developers faced and the creative problem-solving required to produce these groundbreaking experiences.

Preservation is no small feat, especially as many aging consoles and cartridges are prone to damage over time. MARLA’s team employs specialized preservation methods to maintain these devices, including the use of advanced equipment designed to minimize wear on original hardware. This includes a practice of digitizing playable titles, which allows visitors to experience the games without handling the delicate, original cartridges. By combining physical preservation with digital archiving, it extends the life of its collection and keeps video game history alive and accessible for generations to come.

Beyond preservation, the museum is developing an evolving database called the Replayable Object Menagerie, which is designed to provide students and researchers with a searchable archive of games. This resource serves as an invaluable tool for academic study, allowing users to trace the evolution of design trends, analyze the cultural impact of certain games, and gain a deeper understanding of the technological progression within the gaming industry.

For anyone interested in exploring the nostalgia and educational value of classic gaming, MARLA is located within the Informatics and Communications Technology Complex and is open to the public on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.