Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Massive video game collection at U of T a gamechanger for research, education

Massive video game collection at U of T a gamechanger for research, education

CBC
Saturday, July 23, 2022 8:24 AM GMT

Space Invaders might not immediately come to mind when considering academic materials, but educators in the video game field recognize the value of accessing vintage games for research, and University of Toronto Mississauga has won big.

The university acquired the Syd Bolton collection — which includes more than 14,000 titles and around 5,000 magazines from the last 50 years of video game history, along with dozens of consoles and systems.

"We have Atari 2600 game titles, some from the more familiar Nintendo entertainment system, Sega Genesis, all the way up to the modern PlayStation and Xbox game titles," explained Chris Young, head of Collections and Digital Scholarship at University of Toronto Mississauga.

"A feature I find most valuable is the fact that most of the games we have include all the packaging and game manuals," he said.

Syd Bolton was a programmer in Brantford, Ont., who also founded and curated The Personal Computer Museum. Bolton was an avid collector and made his materials accessible to the wider public. He died in 2018. Young says Bolton's wife reached out to the university because she wanted to ensure the collection was properly maintained and accessible to the public. As the video game industry grows, Young says the collection will provide an incredible opportunity for more course development and research for both students and the public.

"In terms of academic study, it's really important to look at the history of something that has such a pervasive impact on everyday life," Young said. He says he wouldn't be surprised if there were vintage titles in the mix worth tens of thousands of dollars.

"On our campus in particular, there's been a growing interest in … offering courses that teach students how to study game artifacts, to study the histories of games and the social cultural impact of games."

Stephanie Fisher, a research officer at the university, says she's excited about the collection being accessible to the public through the library.

"The Syd Bolton Collection provides an unprecedented level of access, and that type of access in turn supports research and collaborations focused on increasing equity and inclusion in video games," Fisher explained. She's also the co-director of Pixelles, a non profit dedicated to improving gender diversity in the games industry.

"Over the last 10 years, you've seen an improvement in getting more women and under-represented groups into the games industry. The problem now is keeping them in games, the retention problem."

Fisher hopes having this collection in Canada helps foster more talent in the industry from various backgrounds.

WATCH | New videogame collection a big win for U of T Mississauga: 

"Thousands of games will generate thousands of ideas from students and scholars and anyone who interacts with them," she said.

"There's huge potential for things to come and it's great that its here in Canada." 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
The FIFA World Cup is heading to Trump's U.S. Will the world want to come — or even be able to?

You could argue the United States isn't exactly the most welcoming country for visitors at the moment.

Hamilton steelworkers hang onto jobs for now but brace for impact as U.S. doubles industry tariffs

It's not clear what increased U.S. steel tariffs will mean for Hamilton, but workers and industry leaders agree it's nothing good.

No tax on tips? Experts warn against bringing U.S. proposal to Canada

The idea of "no tax on tips" has found a way to appeal across party lines in the U.S. The policy is winding its ways through the halls of American government — but economists warn, it's not an idea worth pursuing here in Canada.

'There's a lot I wish I would have taken': Denare Beach residents in shock after wildfire

When Rebecca McCrimmon evacuated with her family from Denare Beach last week, it was out of concern that access to the northeast Saskatchewan community, not far from the Manitoba border, would be cut off by the Club fire burning to the north.

Thunder Bay Public Library appoints Indigenous relations advisor

The Thunder Bay Public Library has appointed Stephanie MacLaurin as its new senior advisor of Indigenous relations, a key leadership role aimed at advancing the library's commitment to reconciliation and the decolonization of public spaces.

Mystery leak that forced Scarborough family from home spreads as city continues to investigate

A mystery leak that's forced a Scarborough family from their home for the past month appears to be spreading. 

Small but 'life-changing' policy helps Parkinson's patients who need emergency care at Guelph's hospital

When people go to the emergency department, they're not allowed to take their own medications while they wait, which Theresa Daly says can be a huge problem for people with Parkinson's.

UPEI food bank prepares for surge in use with tuition hike set for upcoming academic year

The University of Prince Edward Island's food bank is bracing for what a fall tuition increase could mean for the students who use the service. 

Yukon launches its 1st-ever family medicine residency program

The Yukon is launching its first-ever medical residency program.

Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax reform bill could cost Canadians billions

A small, obscure section buried in U.S. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost Canadians and Canadian companies billions of dollars, CBC News has learned.

Albertans for Carney? They're as impressed with new PM as they are with Poilievre: poll

EDITOR'S NOTE: CBC News commissioned this public opinion research to be conducted immediately following the federal election and leading into the second anniversary of the United Conservative Party's provincial election win in May 2023. 

Demand for water bombers has 'skyrocketed' as Canada grapples with more intense wildfires

As Canada is again dealing with massive wildfires, the increasing severity of the natural disasters is having the knock-on effect of spiking the demand for water bomber planes — and it will be years before Canada gets its hands on a new one.

GTA mom questions how non-verbal child was able to board bus, GO train alone

Valerie Loewen panicked when she woke in early April to find her 9-year-old son William had left their Milton, Ont., house by himself.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Nunavut gov't, teachers' union ratify new collective agreement

The government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Teachers' Association have ratified a new collective agreement with several incremental wage increases until mid-2028. 

House unanimously adopts Liberals' promised income tax cut

The House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of the Liberals' promised income tax cut on Thursday.

Measles-infected infant dies in southwestern Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of Health announced on Thursday the first recorded death of a measles patient from the current outbreak that started in October of last year. 

Former New York, London transit exec tapped to lead Toronto Transit Commission

The incoming CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission says he hopes to leverage his experience working for two of the largest transit agencies in the world to make the TTC the most reliable transit system in North America. 

Copper wire thefts surge in downtown London with salvage yards told to be on alert

London police are urging downtown residents, businesses and property owners to be on alert amid an uptick in copper wire thefts in the core over the last several months.

April's $7.1B merchandise trade deficit was the largest on record

Canada posted its largest merchandise trade deficit on record in April — at $7.1 billion — as exports fell sharply in the face of U.S. tariffs.

7-year-old dead after being struck by SUV in St. John's

A seven-year-old boy who was hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle in a St. John's neighbourhood has died.

Sudbury, Ont., seed producer helping expand national seed production through new partnership

A seed company in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production.

Former kids in care need more support to make good use of free tuition, researcher says

The majority of people who have spent time in foster care need support — and not just free tuition — to succeed in higher education.

N.B. rent cap will remain at 3% for another year, minister says

New Brunswick's rent cap, introduced after the Liberals won last fall, will remain at three per cent for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Housing Minister David Hickey announced in the legislature Wednesday.

Manitoba cabinet minister harassed college employee in past job, external investigation concluded

Recently appointed federal cabinet minister Rebecca Chartrand harassed a former employee at Winnipeg's Red River College Polytechnic over a period of several months in 2019, according to an external investigation commissioned by the college and conducted by a Winnipeg law firm.

Groups in La Ronge racing to rescue as many animals as they can after wildfires force evacuation

While residents of La Ronge and the surrounding area have escaped from northern Saskatchewan's wildfires to safer spots, many of their pets had to be left behind.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us