A storage unit auction has resulted in a significant amount of video game history, including prototypes and design documents, being sold off to collectors. The contents of the unit, believed to have belonged to developer Tom Tanaka, were documented in a video by the Pixel Game Squad YouTube channel. The sale has prompted discussions online regarding the preservation of video game history, privacy, and the ethics of private collection versus public access.
Among the items discovered were what appear to be design documents, concept art, and computer chips potentially containing game prototypes. Specific finds mentioned include materials for Contra III: The Alien Wars, design documents for Double Dragon, a Virgin Interactive folio related to a Terminator game, and level design layouts for the Super Nintendo title B.O.B.
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The dispersal of these production materials has raised concerns. While the YouTube channel's owners acquired a large collection to resell or keep, many historical documents are now in private hands. This has led to calls for such materials to be made available for research and preservation, with suggestions that institutions like the Video Game History Foundation should be involved.
Adding a personal dimension to the story, a commenter on the YouTube video claimed to be a former colleague of Tom Tanaka, expressing distress and anger at the idea of Tanaka's belongings being picked over. The commenter suggested that Tanaka may have fallen on hard times and expressed concern for his well-being. Frank Cifaldi, director of the Video Game History Foundation, echoed the sentiment on social media, describing the situation as deeply unsettling.
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Beyond the historical artifacts, the storage unit also contained a variety of vintage games, hardware, artwork, anime box sets, strategy guides, movies, and toys, suggesting a broad personal collection that has now been fragmented.