ABSTRACT
In 2014, US news media reported the shocking news that Michael Thomasson had just sold his videogame collection. This chapter focuses on the moment in which fans decide to turn over collections for research and professional preservation. Benjamin's essay of longing, 'Unpacking My Library', nods to the mysticism of collecting, the ability to look into the past and hold that past in the hands of the present. Collections emerge when archives are invoked, as is most evident with the formation of the Learning Games Initiative archive, primarily housed at the University of Arizona. Ken McAllister and Judd Ruggill reflected on their decision to create a research archive early in their games research. Industry professionals provide a wealth of materials because they have both the released materials such as games, promotional items, advertisements, and licensed merchandise but also development materials ranging from personal notes to internal memos and documentation that are important for game development and game history research.
