Collection Scope

Scope of our Collection

The DGM collects digital games and related materials which are representative of or significant in the development of the digital gaming culture and industry. Our objective is to preserve gameplay, game code, game graphics, game audio, and the artifacts of gaming culture for study, appreciation and entertainment. The museum collects digital games in any form, including but not limited to: disks (any size or format), CDs, DVDs, cassettes and cartridges (of any type, including proprietary formats), hardware game storage (examples: arcade machine boards, ROMs), punched cards, and any other storage medium which contains a game. The collection focuses on games of value and importance. For example:

first of its kind
contains unique and/or original features
prize winner at competitions for game design
exceptional commercial success/popularity
representational of a genre
historical and/or social significance

The museum collects arcade games, original equipment for playing any of the above media, including but not limited to computers, consoles, controllers, and any related peripheral objects related to game play. The museum will maintain appropriate operating systems to allow games to be played. Emulators will also be employed. The museum collects documentation relating to the games, including but not limited to manuals, maps, inserts and packaging (boxes), source code (printed), original art, and other original development materials. The museum collects ephemera, including advertising materials, promotional objects, and other items important or of interest to the gaming community and representing gaming culture. Collecting related media, like comic strips and fan art, related to games will be decided on a case-by case basis until a policy is developed. The museum does not collect general purpose computers except where they are needed for specific gaming activities. Such objects will not be accessioned unless they have a significance related to games.