Nearly 9 out of 10 video games ever released in the U.S. are unavailable via modern distribution platforms.
How did it come to this?
It was the Wild West back then, says Stephen Kick, CEO and co-founder of Nightdive Studios.
Since then, Nightdive has helped rescue many formerly lost games through remasters, re-releases, and remakes.
Its always been about treating video games as art, Kick says.
Early on, though, one of the greatest obstacles was indifference.
When we started talking with other publishers, they said, Why would anyone want these old games?
says Nightdives director of business development Larry Kuperman.
Its a seemingly eclectic collection that spawned from powerful roots.
[Our] first titles were games that I played with my dad growing up, Kick says.
It was a personal mission to restore the games I remembered playing with my dad.
Nightdives various successes have allowed the studio to pursue increasingly bigger titles.
Yet, the heart of their mission can be found in all their projects regardless of size.
These are sensations that we want to share with our children and grandchildren.
The compliments that do it for me begin with the words, I didnt know.
With any art, the goal is to inspire or influence, Kick says.
To that end, Nightdive emphasizes the accuracy of its projects.
Its about recreating that original experience.
Recreating an original experience can be an arduous process.
Many of these games werent just lost; they were buried.
What motivates the Nightdive team to press on?
Its the fans, Kick says.
They will share their memories of what it was like playing those games with their parents or siblings.
Theyre kids again with fewer responsibilities or cares.
Anyone who grew up a gamer has those memories.
They are powerful, but they are sometimes not enough.
Do you think that museums are important?
You kind of remember how the pictures look, so why would you want to go see them again?
Its the same thing with playing video games.
