Video Game History Foundation Digitizes Computer Entertainer: Landmark Nintendo Magazine Now Free Online

The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has announced a significant milestone in video game preservation: the complete acquisition and digitization of Computer Entertainer, a trailblazing US gaming magazine known for its influential coverage of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) during the industry's formative years.

This entire publication is now freely available online, ensuring that everyone can access this vital piece of gaming history. Originally published from 1982 to 1990, Computer Entertainer holds a unique position in the gaming media landscape.

Not only was it the first game magazine in the United States to be owned and operated by women, but it also distinguished itself as the only North American console-focused publication to survive the notorious video game industry crash of the 1980s.

Its reporting provided rare contemporaneous insights into classic Nintendo titles like Super Mario Bros., Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda at a time when Nintendo was navigating its initial entry into the US market. The Video Game History Foundation's recent announcement details the painstaking process behind this project.

According to the non-profit, the VGHF team dedicated countless hours searching for and carefully digitizing every issue of Computer Entertainer, ensuring the preservation of its eight-year print run.

Every issue is now part of the organization's digital archive, which exceeds 3,000 out-of-print video game magazines and offers full-text search capabilities for researchers and enthusiasts alike. Additionally, VGHF is releasing Computer Entertainer under an open Creative Commons license.

This move means that not only can anyone view or download the magazine, but its contents can also be reproduced or used—even commercially—as long as proper credit is given to the VGHF. Frank Cifaldi, founder and executive director of the Video Game History Foundation, emphasized the importance of this preservation effort in a press statement.

He explained that the period between 1985 and 1988 is often called the "dark ages" of the home console industry in the US due to a lack of media coverage and enthusiast press.

"Computer Entertainer provides a rare window into the revival that would go on to shape the gaming industry as we know it, and we are thrilled to make the entire collection accessible to the public," Cifaldi stated. Phil Salvador, VGHF's library director, echoed this sentiment by highlighting the organization's dedication to preserving rare and significant industry materials.

"Making Computer Entertainer openly accessible is central to our mission to safeguard video game history.

By expanding our digital library, we're providing a unique resource that will transform the way people research and understand video games," Salvador remarked. For those interested in a deeper exploration of Computer Entertainer's background, the latest episode of the Video Game History Hour podcast features an interview with co-founder Marylou Badeaux, who discusses the magazine's pioneering mail-order beginnings and the challenges of sourcing information well before the advent of the internet. This initiative by the Video Game History Foundation further cements its role as a leader in video game preservation, offering researchers, fans, and industry professionals invaluable access to historical insights from one of the medium's most critical eras—and opening the door for a fuller understanding of Nintendo’s pivotal early years in the US market.

Nintendo US Xbox Series X|S Video Game History Foundation Nintendo Magazine Computer Entertainer Nintendo Entertainment System Frank Cifaldi Marylou Badeaux