http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/06/cancelled-duke-nukem-game-code-discovered-in-library-of-congress

A disc containing the source code and all necessary assets for a cancelled Duke Nukem game was recently found by a Moving Image technician in the Library of Congress.

Technician David Gibson explains that the Library's Moving Image section has "served as a custodial unit for games," archiving everything from printed materials and gameplay videos to copies of published games in one collection. As such, he wasn't too shocked to find a disc containing source code for a game. That is, until he discovered what rare code the disc held.

The disc was a regular-looking DVD-R containing a file directory that included every asset necessary to make a version of Duke Nukem: Critical Mass for the PSP. "I realized then that in my computer was the source disc used to author the UMD for an unreleased PlayStation Portable game," he says. "I could feel the lump in my throat. I felt as though I had solved the wizard's riddle and unlocked the secret door."

After researching and using various homebrew sites, Gibson and a friend of his were able to pull various files off of the disc, including 3D models, textures, music, and software code. He plans to use these findings to aid in the preservation of future games. "Ultimately, I feel that access to the game assets and source code will prove to be invaluable both to researchers and to any preservation efforts the library may undertake," he explains.

Gibson also voices concerns about the various challenges that coincide with providing the researchers with the code. "The legal and logistical hurdles related to providing access to licensed software will continue to present themselves as we move forward, but I hope that increased focus on the tremendous research value of such digital assets will allow for these items to be more accessible in the future." According to Gibson, the assets and code will be stored in the digital archive of the Packard Campus in Culpepper, while the disc will be stored in a vault. He ends by stating his hopes that more assets and code will be made available to the Library in the future so additional digital preservation can be undertaken.

Originally targeted to release on the PSP and Nintendo DS back in 2009, Duke Nukem: Critical Mass underwent a challenging development cycle that eventually ended with the cancellation of the PSP version, and the release of the DS version two years later than was expected. It was unfortunately not well-received by critics.

It doesn't sound like it was worth saving.

I would have super pleased too if I found it.

I could have then burnt it.