Pixels of the Past
Pixels of the Past is an open-source, non-commercial initiative that combines historical preservation with ongoing, crowd-sourced game development. The aim of the project is to create an interactive archive in which players navigate reimagined levels based on Australian-made video games, collecting contextual facts embedded within the environment to gain insight into the evolution of Australia’s game development landscape. Each level is designed to function as both a tribute and a playable micro-museum, using interactive design to make the nation’s game history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for a broad public audience.
The Hungry Horace Edition serves as the exemplar project underpinning the initial deployment of Pixels of the Past. Hungry Horace (1982) was selected as the example because it is widely regarded as one of the first Australian-made video games, providing an ideal foundation for introducing players to the origins of the nation’s game development history. This edition also functions as the foundational model for a broader pedagogical framework that supported a structured, research-informed assignment at the University of Canberra as part of the Bachelor of Design (Game Development). The assignment was underpinned by dedicated tutorial videos and an integrated curriculum scaffold that guided students through the conceptual, historical, and technical phases of game development.
The assignment challenges students produce their own historically informed tribute levels that can be integrated into the expanding public project. An ongoing community game development jam invites broader participation and highlights new creative interpretations of Australia’s game development history. The growing collection of playable levels aims to celebrate Australian games while providing the wider public with an engaging, interactive way to learn about the nation’s game development heritage through play.
