Video Game History Foundation

What Video Game History Foundation does

The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and registered in the United States (Tax ID 81-1737317) that preserves, digitizes, and provides public access to video game history. It operates the first dedicated video game history research library in the United States, comprising a digital archive platform (powered by Preservica) and a library catalog (built on ArchivesSpace), alongside the Video Game Source Project for source-code preservation. Its collections span scanned magazines, press materials, development documentation, ephemera, and recovered source code, with notable recoveries including the SimCity NES prototype, the Disney Aladdin Genesis source, over 140 Sega Channel ROMs, and the unreleased Indiana Jones and the Quest for Paradise VGA demo.

VGHF serves academic researchers, game historians, journalists, gaming enthusiasts, and other libraries and archives, providing free in-browser access to materials and conducting advocacy for legal frameworks that would enable broader preservation. Its primary revenue sources are charitable donations (credit card, PayPal, Patreon sustaining memberships), merchandise sales through a Shopify storefront, and charity fundraising events such as the Secret of Monkey Island 30th anniversary stream and the Xcavator 2025 NES prototype sale. The organization is small (1-10 employees) and operates virtually, with key personnel including founder Frank Cifaldi, Library Director Phil Salvador, and Development Director Meera Swanson.

The foundation pairs its archival work with research and policy advocacy, most notably the 87% Missing study co-produced with the Software Preservation Network in 2023 documenting that 87% of classic US-released video games are critically endangered, and ongoing DMCA exemption advocacy following the 2024 triennial review ruling. It publishes a blog, a podcast (The Video Game History Hour), and a YouTube channel, and distributes materials globally at no cost to end users.

Name

Video Game History Foundation

Legal name

The Video Game History Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://gamehistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Video Game History Foundation is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves video game history through a digital archive, research library, source-code recovery projects, and policy advocacy, serving academic researchers, journalists, and gaming enthusiasts with free public access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Archive and Cultural Preservation

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Archiving & Asset Management (MAM/DAM, Cataloging, QC) (MPADAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rights, Access Control & Clearance for Archives (Permissions, Audit, Policy) (MPAHAGAL), Access & Distribution for Archives (Restored Masters, DCP Creation, Screening Deliverables) (MPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Video game preservation
• Digital archive library
• Source code preservation
• Media history research
• Nonprofit cultural heritage

Headquarters

HQ city

Akland

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation is funded primarily through donations from gaming enthusiasts. They accept credit card, PayPal, and Patreon recurring donations. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 81-1737317), all donations are tax-deductible.
2. Merchandise Sales: Operating an online shop selling merchandise to generate revenue supporting their preservation work.
3. Charity Fundraising Events: Selling special items like the Xcavator 2025 NES prototype at $100 per unit, with profits going toward the foundation's operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Video Game History Foundation operates a digital preservation ecosystem comprising a public Digital Archive (powered by Preservica) and a searchable Library Catalog (built on ArchivesSpace) that provide free in-browser access to digitized video game history materials including magazines, press assets, source code, development documentation, and ephemera. The foundation also runs the Video Game Source Project to recover and preserve lost game source code, produces the Video Game History Hour podcast, and conducts advocacy for DMCA copyright exemptions to enable library-based preservation.

Product overview

The Video Game History Foundation operates a digital preservation ecosystem comprising a Digital Archive platform (powered by Preservica) for viewing digitized materials in-browser, a Library Catalog (built on ArchivesSpace) for inventorying physical and digital holdings, and the Video Game Source Project initiative for source code preservation and analysis. Collections span Magazine Library, Press Materials, Development and Production Materials, Event Guides and Ephemera, Gaming Cultural Ephemera, and Research and Reports—including the landmark 87% Missing study documenting classic game availability. The foundation operates entirely as a non-profit and is funded by charitable donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Archive An online digital archive platform (powered by Preservica) providing free public in-browser access to digitized video game history materials including magazines, press materials, development documentation, and ephemera, viewable without requiring legacy media software.
• Library Catalog A searchable catalog (built on ArchivesSpace) for VGHF's physical and digital collections of video game development materials, magazines, artwork, and ephemera, providing a comprehensive inventory of holdings including both cataloged and digitized items.
• Video Game Source Project An initiative dedicated to preserving video game source code and development materials and normalizing their educational use, including source code analysis, recovery of lost games, and making source materials accessible for historical research.
• Xcavator 2025 NES Prototype A previously unreleased NES prototype game developed in collaboration with VGHF and sold as a charity fundraiser at $100 per unit, with profits supporting the foundation's preservation work.
• The Video Game History Hour Podcast A podcast covering video game history topics and preservation efforts, freely available to the public as part of the foundation's content and educational mission.
• Online Merchandise Shop An online Shopify store selling merchandise and specialty items (such as the Xcavator 2025 NES prototype) to generate revenue supporting the foundation's preservation work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of classic video games released in the United States are critically endangered and unavailable
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Day of the DevsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 December 2025Collaboration to unveil Xcavator 2025, a previously unreleased NES prototype developed in partnership with the foundation. The game was featured during the Day of the Devs 2025 showcase as a charity fundraiser to support video game preservation.
• Software Preservation Network (SPN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2023Partnership with the Software Preservation Network to conduct research on video game preservation and advocate for copyright exemptions. Together they produced the landmark study showing 87% of classic games are critically endangered. The foundation has been supporting SPN on petitions to allow libraries and archives to remotely share digital access to out-of-print video games.
• Study VolunteersminorOthersOver 20 volunteers contributed to the Survey of the Video Game Reissue Market study, including Lance Baxley, David Bielicka, Kelsey Lewin, and others who helped conduct the research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Software Preservation Network: Nonprofit advocacy and research organization that co-published the 87% Missing study with VGHF. Directly comparable mission (software/game preservation, DMCA advocacy), donor-funded, and already an active strategic partner.
• The Strong National Museum of Play: Rochester, NY museum dedicated to the history and study of play, including the world's most comprehensive video game collection (International Center for the History of Electronic Games). Directly comparable as a video-game-focused archival and museum institution, though larger and more established.
• Internet Archive: 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a massive digital library including the Console Living Room video game collection. Most directly comparable peer — same nonprofit digital-preservation mission, donor-funded, free public access model, and overlapping video game holdings.
• Rhizome (New Museum): Nonprofit affiliate of the New Museum dedicated to born-digital and net-art preservation. Closely comparable as a nonprofit digital cultural-heritage archive, donor/grant-funded, using enterprise preservation infrastructure (Conifer/ArtBase).
• National Film Preservation Foundation: 501(c)(3) nonprofit congressionally mandated to preserve and make accessible films. Closest functional analog in the film world — same nonprofit preservation mandate, donor/grant-funded, free public access to cultural heritage materials.
• Museum of the Moving Image: New York museum dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media. Comparable as a moving-image/interactive-media cultural heritage institution with collection, exhibition, and education programs.

Others

• Digital Preservation Coalition: UK-headquartered international nonprofit advocating for digital preservation across formats including software and games. Comparable as an ecosystem advocate and standards body, though it operates as an umbrella organization rather than a collecting archive.

Broad incumbents

• Library of Congress — National Audio-Visual Conservation Center: The US federal institution for audiovisual preservation including video games via the National Digital Stewardship Residency and game-preservation initiatives. Overlaps materially with VGHF's mission but operates at vastly larger scale under federal mandate.
• Stanford Libraries Digital Preservation: Major academic library system operating LockedVault/ARCH and digital preservation services for software and media. Comparable as a large-scale digital preservation operation that includes software among its scope, though academic-mandated rather than enthusiast-driven.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum: Smithsonian museum that has exhibited video game art and cultural artifacts (e.g., 'The Art of Video Games'). Comparable as a major cultural-heritage institution that has extended into video game preservation and exhibition, though far broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/gamehistoryorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/gamehistoryorg
• Xx.com/gamehistoryorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gamehistoryorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Video Game History Foundation