Video Game Preservation Museum Mobilizes to Save Rare GBA, DS, DSi, and 3DS Prototypes from Private Collectors

In a decisive move to safeguard the history of handheld gaming, the nonprofit Video Game Preservation Museum (VGPM) has launched a major effort—'Project AGES'—to rescue a significant collection of undumped prototype cartridges for the Game Boy Advance (GBA), Nintendo DS, DSi, and Nintendo 3DS from slipping into obscurity.

This collaborative preservation mission, undertaken with the support of the community Obscure Gamers, targets a remarkable lot of roughly 300 cartridges once threatened by potential acquisition from private collectors, with titles spanning franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Background on the Collection and Its Risks The VGPM learned in May 2025 of a cache housing hundreds of beta and prototype handheld Nintendo cartridges at risk of being lost to the public and archival efforts.

After initial negotiations with the seller fell through due to competing bids from private parties, VGPM and Obscure Gamers swiftly regrouped to secure a £5500 down payment, thanks to a surge in community donations.

This payment gave the group a limited timeframe to complete the purchase of the entire batch—costed at £61,000, or about £200 per cart—by early August. Crowdfunding and Community Support To reach this ambitious goal, the VGPM, with support from Obscure Gamers, organized crowdfunding campaigns under the banner 'Project AGES' via Ko-Fi, Goodhub, and GoFundMe.

According to statements provided by VGPM on social media, if the full amount is raised, the plan is to digitally preserve the contents of the prototypes and then distribute the physical cartridges as a token of gratitude to donors.

Those contributing over £200 are set to receive a randomly selected cartridge, while larger benefactors giving £1000 or more have the option to pick a cart of their choice.

In the case of an incomplete campaign, VGPM assures donors that refunds will be processed upon request, with any unclaimed funds redirected to further preservation projects. Quote from Sonic Stadium (Rewritten) Speaking to Sonic Stadium, representatives emphasized that this is a crucial battle against time and market forces, noting, "Significant progress has been made, but much work remains.

Securing these prototypes is vital for ensuring gaming history doesn’t disappear into private hands." Notable Prototypes in the Collection The treasure trove includes rare pre-release builds and development versions spanning major series.

Highlights reported by Sonic Stadium include: - Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (6 carts) - Sonic Colors DS (8 carts) - Sonic Generations 3DS (48 carts) - Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (9 carts) - Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games (21 carts) - Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (32 carts) - Mario & Sonic at the Ryo 2016 Olympic Games (5 carts) - Crush 3D (30 carts) - Rhythm Thief & The Emperor's Treasure (11 carts) - Many other notable and obscure titles across various genres Industry Impact and Developer Heritage As the Nintendo DS, DSi, and Nintendo 3DS platforms have played pivotal roles in handheld gaming's evolution, the loss of these prototypes would represent a considerable blow to video game history, research, and public access.

VGPM and its partners cite previous successes in preservation thanks to community funding and hope Project AGES will set another precedent in safeguarding the medium’s heritage. For further updates, interested parties are encouraged to follow Project AGES through VGPM’s social media and their official platforms on Ko-Fi, Goodhub, and GoFundMe. This ongoing initiative highlights both the challenges and necessity of collaborative efforts to preserve gaming’s legacy, particularly on historic Nintendo platforms such as the GBA, DS, DSi, and 3DS.

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