Pelikokoelmat

Pelikokoelmat, Finnish for game collections, refer to organized assemblies of games. They can include video games, board games, card games, and other playable formats. Collections may be maintained by individuals, families, libraries, museums, or archives, and they often emphasize both breadth of genres and preservation of physical and cultural artifacts.

Typical contents vary by type. Physical collections may hold cartridges, discs, boards, cards, boxes, manuals, and related peripherals. Digital collections include game binaries, installers, digital storefront metadata, and catalog records. Some institutions preserve related ephemera such as posters, merchandise, and development materials.

Historically, pelikokoelmat began with board games and card games, expanding with the emergence of video games in the late 20th century. The digital era has driven moves toward formal preservation, emulation, and cataloging to extend access beyond original hardware. National and university libraries, as well as museums, increasingly curate game-related holdings.

Curation involves provenance, documentation, metadata standards, conservation of physical media, and access policies. Challenges include media degradation, format obsolescence, licensing and copyright, and balancing public access with rights holders. Many collections adopt digital repositories and community contributions to enhance discoverability.

The study of pelikokoelmat intersects with game studies, media archaeology, and cultural heritage. They support research into design history, player communities, and technological change, while also serving education and public engagement. Notable collections exist in Finland and abroad, reflecting the global significance of games as cultural artifacts.