New museum plugs into tech nostalgia

A Manitoba organization is hoping to build a permanent home to celebrate retro computers and video game history, and needs your help.

Retro computer and video game lovers could soon connect in real-time with relics from the past.

The Manitoba Computer & Gaming Museum wants to take Manitobans back in time to the early days of video games and computers.

“(We’re) trying to put old computers and gaming systems together into exhibitions where people can learn about these vintage computers and retro games and about their importance across history,” said co-founder Fabio Hofnik.

The museum would be the first of its kind in Manitoba.

“There’s some large computer museums in Europe, but nothing that really provided me access to older computers in the city,” said co-founder James Perih.

The museum does not have a physical location yet, however, its founders hope to open one in 2027.

Aside from exhibits, founders said the space would host classes, lectures, and workshops dedicated to teaching people about the foundational tech.

In the meantime, the museum will host pop-ups and build up its collection.

“We have an open call for donations or those computers that happen to be in your basement, happen to be kind of sitting around doing nothing, that computer has a story to tell,” said Perih.

More details can be found on the museum’s website.