The Art of Video Games at the Smithsonian

[Retronick]

Hey!

I live out on the east coast and had the opportunity to catch The Art Of Video Games exhibit at the Smithsonian's American Art Museum. While I think there were some glaring omissions and some questionable decisions during the voting process (Tomb Raider over Nights Into Dreams, really?), I think overall the exhibit was interesting. I would've liked some more history, and a lot more concept art, but I'm not certain that was really the point of the thing.

I did a brief writeup and took some photographs if anybody's interested. I'm more interested in what this forum's general consensus on the exhibit is, whether you've had the opportunity to see it or not.

http://www.retronick.com/2012/03/the-art-of-video-games/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retronick/sets/72157629266675468/with/6855499606/

[MLew]

Haven't seen it, but heard that Turbografx was not in it. Ykno..the FIRST console to have cd gaming!

This is a laughable FAIL

[noiseredux]

Haven't seen it, but heard that Turbografx was not in it. Ykno..the FIRST console to have cd gaming!

This is a laughable FAIL

the exhibit is about the ART of video games. Not the history of them.

[YoshiEgg25]

I'm curious, did you get to see the Twin Galaxies trading card ceremony for Bushnell? I would've liked to have seen that.

[Retronick]

Haven't seen it, but heard that Turbografx was not in it. Ykno..the FIRST console to have cd gaming!

This is a laughable FAIL

Honestly, that bummed me out too. I actually offered my spare TurboGrafx-16 to the museum and exhibitors for inclusion, but I've yet to hear back (nor will I probably).

Regardless, there were lots of consoles missing from the exhibition, but the idea of including them all seems somewhat unrealistic. I understand why they omitted the TG-16. I may not like it, but I understand.

I don't think technical advances really played a significant role in their selection process. If they had, the FM Towns Marty would have gotten some love too I'd imagine. As noiseredux stated. It's called The Art of Video Games, not the history.

[Retronick]

I'm curious, did you get to see the Twin Galaxies trading card ceremony for Bushnell? I would've liked to have seen that.

Sadly, stupid me didn't register for a free pass early enough and I missed out on getting to go to it. They did however stream it live, so I'm certain there's a recording of that stream somewhere.

[YoshiEgg25]

I'm curious, did you get to see the Twin Galaxies trading card ceremony for Bushnell? I would've liked to have seen that.

Sadly, stupid me didn't register for a free pass early enough and I missed out on getting to go to it. They did however stream it live, so I'm certain there's a recording of that stream somewhere.

I'm sure there is. Just wondering if you did. I went to the ceremony they held out at Midwest Gaming Classic the week after that and it was really neat; I was able to get some pictures and video as well as a bunch of cards and signatures.

[Retronick]

I'm curious, did you get to see the Twin Galaxies trading card ceremony for Bushnell? I would've liked to have seen that.

Sadly, stupid me didn't register for a free pass early enough and I missed out on getting to go to it. They did however stream it live, so I'm certain there's a recording of that stream somewhere.

I'm sure there is. Just wondering if you did. I went to the ceremony they held out at Midwest Gaming Classic the week after that and it was really neat; I was able to get some pictures and video as well as a bunch of cards and signatures.

Awesome! I got a bunch of good pics and signatures at Pax East, but I'm not planning on hitting up anything between now and MAGFEST. THough there is another gaming event at the Smithsonian I wouldn't mind attending.

[8bit]

I bought the book and have found it to be quite nice. The choices of the games is overall good but there are certainly a few choices I would have omitted. Classic Game Room has a good interview with the man behind the book and touring exhibit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orRnC_QrooU

[Erik_Twice]

the exhibit is about the ART of video games. Not the history of them.

Didn't stop them from using LCD screens or only giving historical data on Pac Man instead of explaining the ghost AI