The days of tracking down hardware and media, downloading and installing emulators, and acquiring floppy images to run your classic software are over.
The Internet Archive has announced its Historical Software Archive. The mission of the Historical Software Archive is to make older programs and games, which were originally released for platforms such as Atari 2600, Apple II and Commodore 64, available right through your browser.
Instead of fussing with standalone emulators, the Internet Archive runs JSMESS, a JavaScript port of the Multi Emulator Super System (MESS) emulator. MESS, which has been in development for more than a decade and a half, now has the ability to run embedded in most modern browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari.
“Turning computer history into a one-click experience bridges the gap between understanding these older programs and making them available in a universal fashion,” wrote the Internet Archive on its blog. “Acquisition, for a library, is not enough; accessibility is where knowledge and lives change for the better.”
The full list of programs on the Historical Software Archive is available here. The list is expected to grow, but for now enjoy reliving your childhood through games like Pac-Man, E.T., and Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel’s Castle.
