iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Whoever designed the little plastic case for Game Boy games clearly did not consider the manual dexterity of anyone over the age of twenty-five

An open clear plastic Nintendo Game Boy case of the left, a Play Action Football game cart on the right

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Games added to the CVGA collection this week: Dreamcast: * Chicken Run * Shadow Man * Vanishing Point PS5: * Blades of Fire * DreadOut Remastered Collection * Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap * Revenge of the Savage Planet * The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos * Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Huh—apparently Atari Jaguar games came with a shrinkwrap license

IMPORTANT!
READ THIS BEFORE YOU OPEN THIS PACKAGE!
You must carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software. By opening this package, you indicate that you agree to be bound by this license agreement between you and Atari Corporation ("tari". If you do not agree with the terms and conditions of this agreement, promptly return the unopened package with proof of purchase to Atari or the dealer where you purchased the software. The purchase price will be refunded.
License
The software includes protected intellectual property rights of Atari. including trade secrets, patents, copyrights and trademarks, pursuant to which your right to use the software is limited.
Atari grants you a limited license to:
(i) use the software with authorized hardware;
(i) transfer the software and this agreement to another
party if the other party agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this agreement. You may transfer the software only in complete form, i.e., including all software and documentation included in this package.
You may not:
(i) make backup copies of the software or parts thereof; (ii) copy, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify or make
derivative works of the software or parts thereof.
The license is effective until terminated. You may terminate this agreement at any time by completely destroying the enclosed software.
This agreement will also terminate automatically if you fail to comply with any term or condition hereof. You agree upon such termination to destroy the software completely. No other license is granted, expressed
Implied.
If any provision of this agreement is declared void or unenforceable by any judicial or administrative authority. the remaining provisions of the

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Sixty years ago today, Ralph Baer wrote his initial proposal for a game device that would plug into a standard television set. While his initial ideas are not what became the Odyssey, this moment was highly consequential for the future of video games. 🧵

The first four pages of Ralph Baer's "Disclosure Backup Data -TVGD" dated September 1, 1966. This became the basis for the technology that powered the first video game console, the Odyssey.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

U-M students: we will be at Party for Your Mind today from 2-4pm on the third floor of Shapiro with Mario Kart on the big screen. www.lib.umich.edu/visit-and-st...

lib.umich.edu

Party for Your Mind Welcome Event

All students are invited to the Shapiro Library for our annual Party For Your Mind (P4YM) welcome event!

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Welcome Back! Our hours for Fall semester are: Mon - Thu: Noon - 8pm Friday: Noon - 5pm Closed on holidays and during fall break.

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Michael @michaelklamerus.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

At the Palladium exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum. Anyone need some tables to roll for or a signed N-Gage game? (genuinely a really neat exhibit even if you aren’t into Palladium but are interested in Detroit ttrpg history)

Various panels on the history of Palladium, the Detroit gaming center, and book cover art

Panel on the history of the Detroit Gaming Center

Three big covers of palladium books like Robotech, the fantasy roleplaying game, and Rifts Underseas

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Frank Cifaldi @frankcifaldi.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

For my fellow NES weirdos: a long chain of detective work just resulted in these basically-never-seen screenshots of the unreleased Magic of Scheherazade II being unearthed. It looks like more of the same, but there ain't nothing wrong with that. From The Super Famicom issue 1, for future reference!

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Reposted by UM CVGA

University of Michigan Library @umichlibrary.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

What does the future of video games for research look like? With Sony PlayStation planning to discontinue the production of physical game discs, David Carter, video game archivist at U-M Library, weighs in: myumi.ch/AxxNw

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Games purchased yesterday at the Ann Arbor GameFest for the CVGA collection.

Lunar Silver Star Complete (PS1)
Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time (N64 - Japan ver.)
Onegai Monsters (N64 - Japan ver.)
Karateka (Atari 7800)
Impossible Mission (Atari 7800)
Front Mission: Gun Hazard (Super Famicom)
Front Mission (Super Famicom)
Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (PSP - Japan ver.)
Uta no Prince-sama -All Star- (PSP - Japan ver.)

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The CVGA will be closed from August 15 through August 30 for the intersession. We will re-open on Monday August 31 with our Fall schedule.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Testing a box of Sega Saturn game donations this afternoon

A white cardboard banker box with ~20 Sega Saturn game cases.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

CVGA Hours for Spring/Summer: Tuesday May 5 - Friday August 14 Monday: CLOSED Tuesday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Saturday: CLOSED Sunday: CLOSED Closed: Friday June 19 Friday July 3 Thursday July 16 Friday July 17

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

The CVGA will be closed Wednesday April 22 Through Monday May 4 For the intersession We will open on Tuesday May 5 on our Spring/Summer schedule

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Newly arrived Evercade Cartridges. We have console and handheld Evercade systems to play these.

Two stacks of cases for Evercade cartridges:

Stack one: Tomb Raider Collection 2; Taito Arcade 2; Atari Arcade 2; Neogeo Arcade 3; Activision Collection 1.

Stack two: The Llamasoft Collection; Rare Collection 1; Taito Arcade 1; Neogeo Arcade 2

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yesterday we welcomed a 300-level history class (History of the Superhero) to the CVGA. Here is their game list (You can probably guess the theme…): Shadow of the Tomb Raider (PS4) Tomb Raider (original) (PS1) Tomb Raider III (PS1) Tomb Raider (PS3) Rise of the Tomb Raider (Xbox One) (cont.) 1/2

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Some good news for Friday: We once again have a working PSP! Quick—come play some PSP games while the UMD drive still works...

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

This afternoon the CVGA is hosting a "Documenting Rural America" class session. Their game selections are: Far Cry 5 Firewatch Gone Home Harvest Moon (various versions) Oregon Trail Red Dead Redemption Rune Factory 5 A Short Hike Silent Hill Stardew Valley The Walking Dead (Telltale)

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Welp, out of our four PlayStation 2 consoles, only one will still play CD-based games 😕

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Yesterday we welcomed the class Architecture in Media and Popular Culture to the CVGA. Their games list was: Anno 1800 Burnout Paradise Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Cities: Skylines Cyberpunk 2077 Control Dying Light Human: Fall Flat Jet Grind Radio Monument Valley SimCity The Witness

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Today we are hosting another 200-level History class in the CVGA. Their game list is: • The Saboteur • Battlefield 1 • A Plague Tale: Innocence • Civilization Revolution • God of War • Valiant Hearts: The Great War • Assassin's Creed: Syndicate • 1979 Revolution: Black Friday

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Our first hosted class session of the semester—a 200-level History class—is this afternoon. Here's their games list: • Call of the Sea • 1943: The Battle of Midway • Pirates! • Red Dead Redemption 2 • A Plague Tale: Innocence • Red Dead Redemption • Call of Duty: Finest Hour

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Spent some time yesterday setting up and testing a recently-donated Playstation TV.

A Playstation TV with several cords plugged into the rear

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Welcome Back! Our hours for Winter semester are: Mon - Thu: Noon - 8pm Friday: Noon - 5pm Closed on holidays and during 'spring' break.

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Frank Cifaldi @frankcifaldi.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Merry Christmas! If you'd like to spend 45 minutes celebrating video game history with me, we're about to debut The Untold Story of the Nintendo Entertainment System. I worked on his ALL YEAR, and I genuinely think it will reshape how we all think about the system. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvp...

youtube.com

The Untold Story of the Nintendo Entertainment System

YouTube video by The Video Game History Foundation

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

The CVGA will be closed from December 10 through January 6 for the intersession. We re-open on Wednesday January 7 on our Winter schedule (same as our fall schedule). Enjoy your break!

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Our Panasonic 3DO stopped working (possibly bad capacitors). We will hopefully acquire a replacement…

A Panasonic 3DO with the top of the case removed

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

The CVGA is closed for the remainder of the week. We re-open on Monday December 1. Enjoy your holiday!

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

New games arrived last week in the CVGA: PS5 NBA 2K26 Cronos: The New Dawn God of War: Ragnarok Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Silent Hill f Switch Sonic Racing: Cross Worlds Switch 2 Donkey Kong Bananza Xbox Series X Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster Hell is Us FC26

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Current Leaderboard for the CVGA Game Challenge! Can you do better?

Katamari Damacy
1. Geoffrey R: 36.1 cm
2. Justin: 35.4 cm
3. (name) (score)

Bubble Bobble:
1. Geoffrey R.: 127580
2. Dinesh: 122740
3. Justin L.: 113940

CVGA Game Challenge

Play video games, win prizes!

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Join the Video Game Challenge in the CVGA featuring classic favorites Katamari Damacy and Bubble Bobble! Test your skills, compete for the highest score, and see your name rise on the leaderboard. Top scorers for each game win a prize! Everyone gets a sticker! Through Nov 14. (U-M students only.)

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Switch 2 is now available in the CVGA. Handheld, or reserve station 1 to play on the large screen. (The only Switch 2 game we currently have is Mario Kart World; more games are on order)

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Introducing the William Volk papers, a new digital collection in the VGHF Library! Explore thousands of documents, developments schedules, and memos from the early history of Activision. Read more: gamehistory.org/william-volk...

youtube.com

Discovering Activision's early history | VGHF Library Highlights

YouTube video by The Video Game History Foundation

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Good news: Our SEGA Saturn is working again (at least for now...) Thanks to @backofficeshow.bsky.social vid on YouTube for the inspiration: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcSS...

youtube.com

How to repair a non spinning Sega Saturn

YouTube video by backofficeshow

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Alas, the optical drive on our SEGA Saturn has died. As a result, Saturn games can't be played until we repair or replace the console. (Our Japanese Saturn still works though!)

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

We’re hanging out at the 3rd floor of Shapiro until 4pm for Party For Your Mind @umichlibrary.bsky.social

Four people sit in chairs playing Overcooked 2

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Welcome Back! Our hours for Fall semester are: Mon - Thu: Noon - 8pm Friday: Noon - 5pm Closed on holidays and during fall break.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

The CVGA will be closed from Wednesday August 13 through Sunday August 24 for the intersession. We will re-open with our Fall schedule on Monday August 25.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Heads-up: The CVGA will be closed Thursday and Friday this week (July 17 & 18). We resume regular summer hours on Monday.

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Bronze Age Babies @bronzeagebabies.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Here’s something you don’t see every day - an ad for asciiPad featuring the Archie gang and in the tried and true Hostess style (1993).

Betty says Reggie won’t be the Super Nintendo champ for long, now that she has a new asciiPad controller.

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Kevin Bunch (ubersaurus) @atariarchive.org · 05/07/2025

Last night I got access to a digitized film reel from 1969 that shows off a computer artillery game called Potshot. And to explain why that’s a big deal, I need to talk about Dartmouth and the BASIC computer language.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

One of the rarest items in our collection: an Interact Home Computer, from Ann Arbor-based Interact Electronics ca. 1978

A dark grey Interact Home Computer; with x chiclet keyboard and built-in cassette deck. and two detachable joystick controllers

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

The CVGA will close early (at 4pm) on July 3rd, and is closed on July 4.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Extra game cartridges (duplicates in our collection)

A bunch of Atari 2600 game cartridges in a large plastic bin

A bunch of Intellivision and ColecoVision game cartridges in a large plastic bin

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

And here's a look at some of the gaming stations in the CVGA archive room.

The image shows a workspace area with multiple cubicles arranged in an L-shape, each equipped with monitors and various gaming consoles. The cubicles have beige walls and are furnished with gray office chairs with red seats. On the desks, there are several monitors; gaming consoles include an Xbox 360 console on the left; an Xbox One, an Evercade, and a PS4 at the center; and an Xbox One and a PlayStation 3 along with some tangled cables on the right. The floor is covered with gray-patterned carpet, and the background reveals additional shelving with boxes and office equipment, indicating an office or gaming setup environment.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Here's a look at one of the shelves in the CVGA storage area, with several extra game consoles ready to be called into service!

The image shows a shelf filled with vintage video game consoles. On the left, there are several gray Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) consoles stacked together. In the middle, there are two white Sega Dreamcast consoles stacked on top of each other, with a white Nintendo Wii standing next to them and another on top of them. To the right, there are three black Nintendo 64 consoles, with cables resting on and around them. The background shows a large room with shelves and boxes, indicating a storage or collection area.

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Reposted by UM CVGA

Michael @michaelklamerus.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

I’m so excited that the @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social talked to @umcvga.bsky.social, University of Michigan’s game archives! I’ve been able to visit a couple times and it’s a wonderful place pca.st/episode/e2b1...

pca.st

Episode 134: Preservation Work Inside the University of Michigan Library Computer and Video Game Archive

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

We are giving a brief (remote) presentation about the CVGA at @narrascope.org this afternoon at 1:30 EDT.

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UM CVGA @umcvga.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

A few recent ColecoVision game arrivals in the CVGA.

ColecoVision cartridges for: Frenzy; War Room; WarGames; Pitstop; Time Pilot; Kevtris; River Raid; Centipede

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