Episode 158: What’s Your Deal, Willem Hilhorst?

<p>In this episode of the Video Game History Hour, host Phil Salvador interviews Willem Hilhorst, Media Manager for Games and Online at the Netherlands Institute for Sound &amp; Vision regarding their video game preservation efforts within the context of an audiovisual media archive. Established in 1997, the institute manages a growing collection of over 500 digital and physical Dutch-connected games. Hilhorst outlines key initiatives like the Dutch Games Canon and the Treasure Room portal for out-of-commerce media. The discussion addresses the legal and structural challenges of long-term preservation alongside the role of national identity in software design. Using Ubisoft&#39;s early French influence on Rayman as a case study, Hilhorst highlights how local cultural elements translate to international audiences. Also in this episode: the non-game material held in the archive, the potential canon inclusion of Moon Child, and Hilhorst&#39;s external work for Nintendo World Report and EFGAMP. </p><p>You can listen to the <em>Video Game History Hour</em> every other Wednesday on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/gamehistoryorg"><u>Patreon</u></a> (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2CEzMOWHChEvtxzgOOTJQG?si=mOS92GLXTHirp1JPRjoiiQ"><u>Spotify</u></a>, or on our <a href="https://gamehistory.org/the-video-game-history-hour/"><u>website</u></a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Mentioned in the Show: </p><p>The Dutch Games Canon (please use translation for an English version): <a href="https://gamescanon.beeldengeluid.nl/"><u>https://gamescanon.beeldengeluid.nl</u></a></p><p>&quot;The Treasure Room&quot; (Schatkamer) (requires a Dutch IP address or VPN): <a href="https://schatkamer.beeldengeluid.nl/"><u>https://schatkamer.beeldengeluid.nl</u></a></p><p>The European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects: <a href="https://efgamp.eu/"><u>https://efgamp.eu</u></a> </p><p>Nintendo World Report: <a href="https://nintendoworldreport.com/"><u>https://nintendoworldreport.com</u></a> / <a href="https://youtube.com/@NinWRTV"><u>https://youtube.com/@NinWRTV</u></a></p><p>Out of Commerce Works Portal: <a href="https://euipo.europa.eu/out-of-commerce/"><u>https://euipo.europa.eu/out-of-commerce/</u></a></p><p>Home Computer Museum: <a href="https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/en/#intro"><u>https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/en/#intro</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>See more from Willem Hilhorst:</strong></p><p>Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/whilhorst.bsky.social"><u>https://bsky.app/profile/whilhorst.bsky.social</u></a></p><p>Sound &amp; Vision Website: <a href="https://beeldengeluid.nl/en/"><u>https://beeldengeluid.nl/en/</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Video Game History Foundation:</strong></p><p>Email: <a href="mailto:podcast@gamehistory.org"><u>podcast@gamehistory.org</u></a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://gamehistory.org/"><u>gamehistory.org</u></a></p><p>Support us on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/gamehistoryorg"><u>/gamehistoryorg</u></a><br></p>