OAKLAND, Calif. — When a video game or gaming console is replaced by a newer, faster, more technically advanced version, the old versions are often put in storage, sold at a yard sale or thrown out never to be played again.
However, if those old video games are lucky, they end up in Oakland at The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment, or The MADE for short. The nonprofit is kind of like an extra life for discarded and forgotten video games.
“Over 80% of the games that have been made are lost. You can’t commercially buy them, so if you don’t already have them, they are gone,” said tour guide Mason Young.
Since 2008, the MADE has been actively looking for and archiving historical video games for people to play at the museum.
“We aim to inspire a new generation of digital entertainers and a really good way of doing that is by letting the people play the games,” said Young. “We have a floor exhibit of that is a living history of gaming consoles.”
Consoles like the APF FUN TV, which in 1976 was the first of numerous electronic consoles that played games like Pong.
"These first-generation consoles have the game built on them. There's no software to be loaded in or any cartridges,” said Young.
TAKE A TRIP ON BARTELL'S BACKROADS:
► See an interactive map of everywhere John has visited on the backroads
► Watch all of the Backroads videos
► Follow John on Facebook
As you go through the chronological progression of video games you will find some familiar and popular games like Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog, but then you come across some less popular games like Atari’s E.T.
“There is a really fun story about how since this game wasn’t successful, they made a bunch of copies, they had to destroy them,” said Young.
In the beginning, early game developers came out with lots of unpopular games. Young says it was an attempt to make a quick buck but just because they were bad doesn’t mean they aren’t important to some people.
“The Super Nintendo games that I had, there were 13 of them, I played every single one of them whether it was garbage or not, into the ground, because they were the games I had. That's why you preserve the garbage games because they aren't garbage to [everybody]. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” said Young.
Not only does the MADE have consoles and games, but they also have one-off game contraptions, like a first-generation 3D Nintendo headset from 1995.
“This can cause eye strain in certain individuals and that was a big no go,” said Young.
Another failed game contraption was the Donkey Kong Bongos.
“So you drum to move... and you clap to bring enemies to you,” said Young. “It kind of hurts your hands after a while.”
The games at the MADE are meant to bridge the gap between older and newer gamers. It’s a way to bond and to see where games came from and where they are today.
The MADE is open Wednesday to Sunday.
Another place to play on the backroads: Modesto's slot car track, Motown Raceway, isn't just for kids. Adults embrace their childhood love for tiny hot rods.
