Project

WHAT IS THE ARCADEOLOGY PROJECT?

Arcadeology is a project undertaken by the Massiva Research Group (UMH) , whose aim is to document and disseminate the work carried out by the Arcade Vintage Association in the field of industrial archaeology and the recovery of gaming machines (mainly from 1970 to 2000).

First> by creating a web platform, aimed at cataloguing the most important pieces in its collection, and at spreading contents of interest to other projects or researchers working in the field of classical video games: guides on hardware and software; techniques on restoration and emulation systems; documentation on graphic arts, etc.

Second> by developing a series of audiovisual documents, including the documentary Arcadeology, whose purpose is to record of the trajectory, methodology and restoration and conservation activities led by this association.

STARTING POINT

The association Arcade Vintage, whose headquarters are in Petrer (Alicante - Spain), is dedicated to the acquisition and restoration of motherboards, controllers, monitors, furniture, arts, and other components of the electronic-digital arcade game of the end of the 20th century, to reconstruct, later, the models of the original machines to which they belong. In a more concrete way, the association divides its activities in three aspects:

  • Search and import of specific game pieces (especially in Europe, Japan and the USA).
  • Research and restoration of electronic-digital circuits.
  • Maintenance and dissemination of software and computer-related techniques (emulators, reverse engineering, etc.), necessary to carry out such recovery tasks.

Nowadays, there are more than two hundred recovered arcade machines, the most relevant models of which are on display in a museum-arcade open to members and the general public. In this space, several workshops and specific activities are also carried out, such as meetings between associations and arcade game developers, solidarity days, courses on hardware repair, etc. Following this line of action, Arcade Vintage participates in other events on a national scale such as Retrobarcelona, VGComic, RetroAlba or ExpoArcade, among others, where, in addition to continuing its work of dissemination, its restored machines are moved and exhibited.

From the Massiva Research Group (Masses: Visual Research and Artistic Action) of the University Miguel Hernández of Elche, we consider that the work of Arcade Vintage represents, at the moment and within the majority of territorial and national platforms and cultural industries, one of the most relevant exponents in matters of archaeology and industrial recovery dedicated to entertainment machinery. In this sense, we believe in the need to document its journey and results, from an academic and informative work perspective, which helps to consolidate its work, as well as to record its findings in the field of recreational-industrial restoration.

OBJECTIVES

  • Investigate and compile, from the various documentary and oral sources consulted, the information necessary to structure the contents of cataloguing and dissemination of the project.
  • To establish a research and analysis methodology applicable to the object of study (Arcade Vintage), as well as other examples (associations, sector experts, etc.) and adjacent fields (industry and recreational culture, entertainment machinery, electronic-digital restoration, etc.).
  • Analyze and catalogue the main models and technological resources (hardware and software, arcade games, graphic arts), belonging to the association's funds. As well as the main machinery and technological devices, used during such restoration processes.
  • Develop an online repository for cataloging and registering the recovered pieces; as well as a series of audiovisual documents, taking into account previous study approaches and methodology.