• T.R. Merchant-Knudsen^*
  travisrmk@gmail.com

Abstract

Archive 0.333 is a speculative fiction game that uses critical making to explore themes of post-humanity and media archiving. Players assume the role of an unnamed protagonist maintaining a small peer-to-peer network and gathering digital artifacts to share. Through gameplay, the project prompts reflection on the ethics and practices of archiving. An accompanying essay expands on these ideas, focusing on the archival challenges of GameBoy games and other media. It draws from media archaeology and examines how corporations like Nintendo preserve their own digital materials while restricting public access. In contrast, online communities rely on emulation to keep legacy games playable. Together, the game and essay question the effectiveness of corporate archival efforts and advocate for the vital role of independent archivists in preserving cultural memory.

https://doi.org/10.64560/91877694

Keywords