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Artwork for Video Game History Hour

Video Game History Hour

Video Game History Foundation
Video Game History Foundation
Video Game Preservation
Save the Games Symposium
Nintendo
Video Game History
Myst
Cyan
Video Games
Riven
Digital Preservation
The Strong Museum Of Play
Spyro the Dragon
Game Studies
Nintendo Entertainment System
Copyright Issues
Digital Library Archive
Sarge's Heroes
Insomniac Games
Todd Howard
Sega Channel

Industry expert Frank Cifaldi, Executive Director of the Video Game History Foundation, brings on fellow content creators, game developers, video game historians, and storytellers to teach us a little bit about video game history. Our casual, “chatting over coffee” style interviews let us see the true life of a researcher: bang-your-head-against-a-wall dead-ends, “I can’t believe no one’s told thi... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes163Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Video Game History Hour

Latest Episodes

It’s time for another quarterly update seeing as how we’re now well into October. In this episode, we share some of our latest accomplishments: hitting a milestone of over 5,000 magazines digitized, completing our donor-data cleanup, new project-spec... more

Phil Salvador is joined by Dr. Colin Post and Marisa Marzilli from University of North Carolina at Greensboro to discuss their upcoming Digital Games in Libraries (DGIL) National Virtual Forum, a conversation for the cultural preservation of digital-... more

Phil Salvador interviews Amy Thomas, legal expert and author of Copyright, Contract, and Video Games: Terms of Play, about the evolving landscape of digital rights and ownership in gaming. In this episode, Amy discusses her journey from studying Micr... more

Library Director Phil Salvador is joined by guests Heather Fryling and Daniel Greenberg to discuss Roberta Vaughn’s Retro Adventures, a nonprofit organization that creates traveling, living exhibits focused on the history of adventure games and enter... more

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Recent Guests

Colin Post
From the Digital Games and Libraries Initiative at UNC Greensboro
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Episode: Episode 164: National Virtual Forum for Digital Games in Libraries (DGIL)
Marisa Marzilli
Graduate assistant on the DGIL project at UNC Greensboro
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Episode: Episode 164: National Virtual Forum for Digital Games in Libraries (DGIL)
Amy Thomas
Lecturer in intellectual property information law at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow / Video Game History Foundation
Episode: Episode 163: The Complexities of EULAs
Heather Fryling
Executive Director of Roberta Vaughn's Retro Adventures
Roberta Vaughn's Retro Adventures (RVRA)
Episode: Episode 162: Roberta Vaughn’s Retro Adventures
Daniel Greenberg
Program Director at RVRA, game studies professor
Roberta Vaughn's Retro Adventures
Episode: Episode 162: Roberta Vaughn’s Retro Adventures
Leah Williams
Senior Digital Archivist at Blizzard
Blizzard Archives
Episode: Episode 161: Blizzard Digital Vault
Carolyn Rauch
Former Senior Vice President of the Entertainment Software Association
Entertainment Software Association (ESA)
Episode: Episode 160: Founding E3
Doug Lowenstein
Founder of the Interactive Digital Software Association and essentially the founder of E3
Interactive Digital Software Association / ESA
Episode: Episode 160: Founding E3
Meera Swanson
New development director hired to grow fundraising and donor relations
Video Game History Foundation
Episode: Episode 159: Q1 & Q2 Update

Hosts

Phil Salvador
Co-host and Library Director of the Video Game History Foundation, focused on preserving and sharing game history.
Frank Cifaldi
Founder and Director of the Video Game History Foundation; frequent host guiding in-depth historical discussions.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 369 ratings
  • Love this show! I look forward to it!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Luther Bob
    a year ago
  • Incredibly interesting and entertaining. If you love old video games and the whole shebang behind their production and preservation, you'll love this.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JonPQ
    3 years ago
  • Great content

    Really enjoyable. Frank is a fascinating individual who is knowledgeable and interesting. He gives of the vibes of someone with a pack of cigarettes rolled up into his sleeves that plays old punk and rock vinyl while waxing the woes of the system.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Baradale
    United States3 years ago
  • Kelsey and Frank know their history

    And it shows! Delightful and informative, with cool guests and awesome topics like the N-Gage!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Weewaw
    United States3 years ago
  • Lovely Show!

    Frank and his Team share details on their work and what the VGH Foundation is all about. Lovely people and very entertaining and of course informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    O_Vitali
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, deeply knowledgeable hosts and guests deliver nuanced historical context.
Guests are consistently experts with practical archival and research insights.
Chances are you'll hear fresh perspectives rather than surface-level history.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 165: VGHF Q3 Update
Q: How have industry reactions been to the E3 collection?
Industry reaction has been very positive, with veterans recalling their experiences and expressing excitement about the show daily materials; discussions at Summer Game Fest and in the Patreon bonus episode indicated strong engagement and validation from those who lived through E3, suggesting the collection successfully resonates with people who were there.
Episode 164: National Virtual Forum for Digital Games in Libraries (DGIL)
Q: What is the core product or outcome DGIL is producing beyond the conference?
DGIL seeks to develop working groups, licensing frameworks, and preservation technology specifications, continuing after the forum to provide practical resources for libraries and developers to collaborate.
Episode 164: National Virtual Forum for Digital Games in Libraries (DGIL)
Q: Who is the audience for this conference and who is being targeted?
The event aims to assemble librarians, game developers, students in game studies, and industry stakeholders to discuss preservation, access, and licensing, with a strong emphasis on including university programs and regional developers.
Episode 163: The Complexities of EULAs
Q: Will there ever be a return to an intellectual space and time where we own the things we purchase?
Amy suggests that while ownership in the physical sense remains a useful concept in some jurisdictions, the digital world increasingly operates under licensing, which means owning a copy may give way to owning a licensed right to use that copy, with the right to resell or repurpose often restricted by terms and contract law.
Episode 160: Founding E3
Q: Was there a year or moment when the public perception of E3 as a corporate event began to shift due to new media, online sharing, or broader access?
The guests agreed that the convergence of online media, early online presence, and the rise of direct-to-consumer approaches started to change how the industry engaged with audiences, reducing the need for a massive central trade show as the sole channel for visibility.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Video Game History Hour

What is Video Game History Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers long-form conversations with game historians, archivists, developers, and curators who share deep dives into the history and preservation of video games. Across episodes, topics span licensing, digital ownership, archiving practices, emulation, museum curation, and the evolution of industry events. A standout trait is the blend of rigorous research with practical, behind-the-scenes storytelling from founders, researchers, and practitioners who shaped how games are preserved and understood today. Listeners who enjoy scholarly context, archival workflows, and insider perspectives on industry governance will likely find the episodes both informative and engaging, with plenty of concrete anecdotes and historical milestones to a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Video Game History Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Video Game History Hour:

1. Retronauts
2. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
3. 8-4 Play
4. Triple Click
5. The MinnMax Show

How many episodes of Video Game History Hour are there?

Video Game History Hour launched 6 years ago and published 163 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Video Game History Hour?

Recent guests on Video Game History Hour include:

1. Colin Post
2. Marisa Marzilli
3. Amy Thomas
4. Heather Fryling
5. Daniel Greenberg
6. Leah Williams
7. Carolyn Rauch
8. Doug Lowenstein

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