About PixelVerse

Our Story

PixelVerse began in 2010 as a passion project among five friends in Sydney who shared a deep love for Australia's unique contributions to video game history. What started as casual meetups to play and discuss their favorite retro games quickly evolved when they discovered that much of Australia's gaming heritage from the 90s and early 2000s was being lost to time.

Determined to preserve this important cultural legacy, founders Emma Wilson, Jack Thompson, Liam Chen, Madison Cooper, and Ethan Patel pooled their resources to launch a small blog documenting Australian game development. They conducted interviews with pioneering developers, captured gameplay footage of rare titles, and digitized marketing materials that were in danger of being forgotten.

By 2015, PixelVerse had grown from a hobby blog into Australia's premier resource for retro gaming history. The team expanded its operations, moving into a dedicated office space in Bondi Beach where they established a physical archive of Australian gaming artifacts alongside their digital preservation efforts.

Today, PixelVerse stands as the most comprehensive archive of Australia's contributions to the golden age of pixel art games. Our collection includes over 350 documented Australian games, thousands of hours of developer interviews, high-resolution captures of original pixel art, and a growing physical collection of gaming memorabilia that we regularly showcase at exhibitions around the country.

Our Mission & Values

Mission

PixelVerse is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sharing Australia's unique gaming heritage from the pixel art era. We aim to document the technical innovations, artistic achievements, and cultural impact of Australian game developers from the 1990s and early 2000s before this important chapter in our digital history is lost.

Values

Preservation

We believe in the importance of preserving digital artifacts as cultural heritage, ensuring future generations can experience and learn from Australia's gaming history.
Accuracy

We are committed to meticulous research and documentation, working directly with original creators whenever possible to ensure the authenticity of our historical records.
Accessibility

We strive to make Australia's gaming history accessible to everyone through engaging content, exhibitions, and educational programs.
Community

We foster connections between veterans of the industry, modern developers, and gaming enthusiasts to create a vibrant community united by a love for pixel art games.

Meet Our Team

Our dedicated team combines expertise in game history, digital preservation, and pixel art restoration to ensure Australia's gaming legacy lives on.

Emma Wilson

Founder & Lead Archivist

With a background in digital preservation and a lifelong passion for retro games, Emma oversees PixelVerse's comprehensive archive of Australian gaming history. She previously worked at the Australian National Archive before founding PixelVerse in 2010.

Liam Chen

Technical Director

A former developer at Beam Software during the late 90s, Liam brings invaluable industry insight and technical expertise to our preservation efforts. He specializes in reverse engineering outdated game formats and ensuring pixel-perfect captures of classic games.

Madison Cooper

Community & Events Manager

Madison coordinates PixelVerse's popular exhibition program and community engagement initiatives. With a background in museum curation and event planning, she ensures Australia's gaming history reaches new audiences through interactive exhibitions nationwide.

Ethan Patel

Research & Content Director

As a games historian with a PhD in Digital Media, Ethan leads our research initiatives and developer interview program. His academic background and journalistic approach ensure that the stories behind Australia's games are documented with depth and accuracy.

Our Achievements

Over the past decade, PixelVerse has established itself as the definitive resource for Australian gaming history from the pixel art era.

Comprehensive Archive

We've documented over 350 Australian-made games from 1990-2005, including many titles that were at risk of being forgotten.

Developer Legacy

Our oral history project has recorded 200+ hours of interviews with pioneering Australian game developers, preserving their stories and techniques.

Public Exhibitions

Our traveling exhibition "Pixels Down Under" has visited 15 Australian cities, introducing over 50,000 people to Australia's gaming heritage.

Educational Outreach

Our school program has introduced 10,000+ students to digital preservation and Australia's place in gaming history.

Industry Recognition

Recipient of the 2018 Australian Digital Preservation Award and the 2020 International Game Historians Excellence Award.

Published Research

Our team has published 3 books and 25+ academic articles on Australian game development history and pixel art techniques.

What People Say About Us

"PixelVerse has done the impossible – they've managed to track down and document nearly every game I worked on at Beam Software in the 90s, even projects that never saw release. Their meticulous approach to preservation ensures that our work won't be forgotten. As a developer from that era, I can't express how valuable their efforts are."

Robert Walsh

Former Lead Programmer, Beam Software (1992-1999)

"As a modern pixel artist creating games today, PixelVerse has been an invaluable resource. Their technical breakdowns of how Australian developers created their visual styles with limited hardware have directly influenced my work. They're building a bridge between gaming generations that inspires today's creators while honoring the pioneers."

Sarah Chen

Independent Pixel Artist, Melbourne

"The academic rigor behind PixelVerse's archival work sets a new standard for digital game preservation globally. Their combination of technical preservation, oral histories, and cultural context documentation provides a comprehensive model that other regions would be wise to follow before their own digital heritage disappears."

Professor David Miller

Chair of Digital Heritage Studies, University of Sydney

Join Us in Preserving Australia's Gaming Legacy

Whether you're a former developer with stories to share, a collector with rare Australian games, or simply a gaming enthusiast interested in our country's digital heritage, we'd love to hear from you.