Why Not Everything Needs to Be Digitized

There's an assumption that preservation means digitization—that games need to be converted to digital formats to be properly preserved. While digital preservation certainly has value for archival purposes, physical preservation matters too, and not every game needs digital backup.

Many collectors preserve games physically because the physical objects have meaning beyond their function as storage media. The boxes, cartridges, and manuals represent particular design languages, cultural moments, and ways of experiencing games. These physical dimensions matter, and they can't be fully captured through digitization.

The Value of Physical Objects

Physical game objects have value beyond their function as storage media. Boxes, cartridges, manuals, and other physical elements represent particular design languages, cultural moments, and ways of experiencing games. Many collectors preserve these objects because they represent dimensions of gaming culture that can't be fully captured through digitization.

People often connect physical objects with particular feelings and associations. The weight of a cartridge, the artwork on a box, the feel of a manual—these physical qualities become part of how people experience and remember games. These dimensions matter, and they're preserved through physical objects, not digital files.

Different Kinds of Preservation

Physical and digital preservation serve different purposes. Digital preservation ensures functional access to games, while physical preservation maintains access to particular experiences, design languages, and cultural contexts. Both have value, but they preserve different dimensions of gaming culture.

Many collectors preserve games physically because they value the physical dimensions—the design, the tactile qualities, the way physical objects function as memory triggers. These dimensions don't require digitization to be preserved; they're preserved through careful maintenance of physical objects.

Common Misconceptions

There's a misconception that preservation requires digitization or that physical preservation is incomplete without digital backup. While digital preservation has value for archival purposes, physical preservation serves different purposes—maintaining access to physical dimensions, design languages, and cultural contexts that can't be fully captured digitally.