By Chris Kohler
“The Art of Video Games,” an upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum of which I am an advisory board member, is seeking donations.
Those who chip in $10 or more to the exhibit, to be featured at the venerable American institution starting in March 2012, will get their names in a list of credits that will be displayed online and in the museum.
The catch is that as you kick in more cash, your name will appear larger in the display.
3rd floor North, Smithsonian American Art Museum
March 16, 2012 - September 30, 2012
Watch the webcast of the winning games announcement
About the Exhibition
The Art of Video Games is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. The exhibition will feature some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early pioneers to contemporary designers . It also will explore the many influences on game designers, and the pervasive presence video games have in the broader popular culture, with new relationships to video art, film and television, educational practices, and professional skill training. Chris Melissinos, founder of Past Pixels and collector of video games and gaming systems, is the curator of the exhibition.
Video games use images, actions, and player participation to tell stories and engage their audiences. In the same way as film, animation, and performance, they can be considered a compelling and influential form of narrative art. New technologies have allowed designers to create increasingly interactive and sophisticated game environments while staying grounded in traditional game types. The exhibition will feature eighty games through still images and video footage. Five games will be available for visitors to play for a few minutes, to gain some feel for the interactivity: Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and Flower. In addition, the galleries will include video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots, and historic game consoles.
The museum invited the public to help select the video games to be included in the exhibition. The 240 games on the ballot were selected by Chris Melissinos, who worked with the museum and an advisory group consisting of game developers, designers, industry pioneers, and journalists. The games were selected based on a variety of criteria, including visual effects, creative use of new technologies, how the game fit into the narrative of the exhibition, and how world events and popular culture influenced the message of the game. Voting took place between February 14 and April 17, 2011. More than 3.7 million votes were cast by 119,000 people in 175 countries!
Comments?
Tell us what you think about the exhibition through the voting site, or join the conversation on Twitter by using #taovg and following @americanart.
Stay Connected
If you are interested in receiving monthly updates and special behind-the-scenes offers leading up to the exhibition opening in Washington, D.C. and throughout the run of the exhibition, please sign-up.
Extra Credit!
The Museum's blog Eye Level
The Art of Video Games: Five Questions for Chris Melissinos, August 18, 2011
The People Behind the Video Games: thatgamecompany, July 12, 2011
The Art of Video Games: The Votes are In!, May 5, 2011
5 Questions with Chris Melissinos, March 29, 2011
The Art of Video Games: Vote Now!, February 19, 2011
In the News
Boing Boing, May 6, "Interview: The Art of Video Games at the Smithsonian" by Rob Beschizza
IFC News, April 18-20, 2011, "How I Voted For "The Art of Video Games" by Evan Narcisse, Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3
All Things Digital, April 3, 2011, "Video Games As Art? With an Upcoming Smithsonian Exhibit, Pong Equals Picasso" by Erik Silk
Smithsonian magazine, Around the Mall, March 16, 2011, "Get Your Favorite Video Games Into the American Art Museum" by Jesse Rhodes
The Washington Post, Faster Forward, February 21, 2011, "A conversation with video game exhibition curator Chris Melissinos" by Hayley Tsukayama
TIME, Techland, February 16, 2011, "Level Up!: Pick Which Video Games Get Shown at the Smithsonian" by Evan Narcisse
DCist, February 15, 2011, "Help Curate The American Art Museum's Video Game Exhibit" by Aaron Morrissey
Game Spot, February 14, 2011, " Smithsonian gaming exhibit seeking voters" by Tom Magrino
Gamasutra, February 14, 2011, "Smithsonian American Art Museum Opens Public Vote On Game-Centered Exhibit" by Kyle Orland
Credit
The Art of Video Games is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum with generous support from Sheila Duignan and Mike Wilkins. The C.F. Foundation in Atlanta supports the museum’s traveling exhibition program, Treasures to Go.
National Tour
The Art of Video Games is available for tour after closing at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. If you are interested in hosting the exhibition at your museum, please visit our traveling exhibitions page for contact information.
Confirmed venues include:
Boca Raton Museum of Art (October 24, 2012 - January 20, 2013)
Winning Games
The following games topped the public vote and will be featured in The Art of Video Games in 2012. A PDF with more information is available here. In addition to the 80 games below, five playable games will be included in the exhibition: Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and Flower.
1943: The Battle of Midway
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
After Burner
Attack of the Mutant Camels
Bioshock
Boom Blox
Brütal Legend
ChuChu Rocket!
Combat®
Desert Commander
Diablo II
Donkey Kong™
DOOM II
Dune II: Battle for Arrakis
Earthworm Jim
Einhander
Fable
Fallout
Fallout 3
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy VII
flOw
Flower
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Goldeneye 007
Gradius V
Gunstar Heroes
Halo 2
Heavy Rain
Jumpman
Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II
Marble Madness
MassEffect 2
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metroid Prime 2: Echos
Minecraft
Okami
Pac-Man
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star IV
Pikmin 2
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
Pitfall!
Portal
Rez
Shadow of Colossus
Shenmue
Sid Meier's Pirates!
SimCity
SimCity 2000
Sonic Adventure
Space Invaders
Spy vs Spy
Star Fox™
Star Fox™: Assault
Star Strike
Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator
StarCraft
Super Mario 64
Super Mario Brothers 3
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario World
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Tomb Raider
TRON: Maze-Atron
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Utopia
Worms Armageddon
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
Zaxxon
“The Art of Video Games,” an upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum of which I am an advisory board member, is seeking donations.
Those who chip in $10 or more to the exhibit, to be featured at the venerable American institution starting in March 2012, will get their names in a list of credits that will be displayed online and in the museum.
The catch is that as you kick in more cash, your name will appear larger in the display.
3rd floor North, Smithsonian American Art Museum
March 16, 2012 - September 30, 2012
Watch the webcast of the winning games announcement
About the Exhibition
The Art of Video Games is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. The exhibition will feature some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early pioneers to contemporary designers . It also will explore the many influences on game designers, and the pervasive presence video games have in the broader popular culture, with new relationships to video art, film and television, educational practices, and professional skill training. Chris Melissinos, founder of Past Pixels and collector of video games and gaming systems, is the curator of the exhibition.
Video games use images, actions, and player participation to tell stories and engage their audiences. In the same way as film, animation, and performance, they can be considered a compelling and influential form of narrative art. New technologies have allowed designers to create increasingly interactive and sophisticated game environments while staying grounded in traditional game types. The exhibition will feature eighty games through still images and video footage. Five games will be available for visitors to play for a few minutes, to gain some feel for the interactivity: Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and Flower. In addition, the galleries will include video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots, and historic game consoles.
The museum invited the public to help select the video games to be included in the exhibition. The 240 games on the ballot were selected by Chris Melissinos, who worked with the museum and an advisory group consisting of game developers, designers, industry pioneers, and journalists. The games were selected based on a variety of criteria, including visual effects, creative use of new technologies, how the game fit into the narrative of the exhibition, and how world events and popular culture influenced the message of the game. Voting took place between February 14 and April 17, 2011. More than 3.7 million votes were cast by 119,000 people in 175 countries!
Comments?
Tell us what you think about the exhibition through the voting site, or join the conversation on Twitter by using #taovg and following @americanart.
Stay Connected
If you are interested in receiving monthly updates and special behind-the-scenes offers leading up to the exhibition opening in Washington, D.C. and throughout the run of the exhibition, please sign-up.
Extra Credit!
The Museum's blog Eye Level
The Art of Video Games: Five Questions for Chris Melissinos, August 18, 2011
The People Behind the Video Games: thatgamecompany, July 12, 2011
The Art of Video Games: The Votes are In!, May 5, 2011
5 Questions with Chris Melissinos, March 29, 2011
The Art of Video Games: Vote Now!, February 19, 2011
In the News
Boing Boing, May 6, "Interview: The Art of Video Games at the Smithsonian" by Rob Beschizza
IFC News, April 18-20, 2011, "How I Voted For "The Art of Video Games" by Evan Narcisse, Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3
All Things Digital, April 3, 2011, "Video Games As Art? With an Upcoming Smithsonian Exhibit, Pong Equals Picasso" by Erik Silk
Smithsonian magazine, Around the Mall, March 16, 2011, "Get Your Favorite Video Games Into the American Art Museum" by Jesse Rhodes
The Washington Post, Faster Forward, February 21, 2011, "A conversation with video game exhibition curator Chris Melissinos" by Hayley Tsukayama
TIME, Techland, February 16, 2011, "Level Up!: Pick Which Video Games Get Shown at the Smithsonian" by Evan Narcisse
DCist, February 15, 2011, "Help Curate The American Art Museum's Video Game Exhibit" by Aaron Morrissey
Game Spot, February 14, 2011, " Smithsonian gaming exhibit seeking voters" by Tom Magrino
Gamasutra, February 14, 2011, "Smithsonian American Art Museum Opens Public Vote On Game-Centered Exhibit" by Kyle Orland
Credit
The Art of Video Games is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum with generous support from Sheila Duignan and Mike Wilkins. The C.F. Foundation in Atlanta supports the museum’s traveling exhibition program, Treasures to Go.
National Tour
The Art of Video Games is available for tour after closing at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. If you are interested in hosting the exhibition at your museum, please visit our traveling exhibitions page for contact information.
Confirmed venues include:
Boca Raton Museum of Art (October 24, 2012 - January 20, 2013)
Winning Games
The following games topped the public vote and will be featured in The Art of Video Games in 2012. A PDF with more information is available here. In addition to the 80 games below, five playable games will be included in the exhibition: Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and Flower.
1943: The Battle of Midway
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
After Burner
Attack of the Mutant Camels
Bioshock
Boom Blox
Brütal Legend
ChuChu Rocket!
Combat®
Desert Commander
Diablo II
Donkey Kong™
DOOM II
Dune II: Battle for Arrakis
Earthworm Jim
Einhander
Fable
Fallout
Fallout 3
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy VII
flOw
Flower
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Goldeneye 007
Gradius V
Gunstar Heroes
Halo 2
Heavy Rain
Jumpman
Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II
Marble Madness
MassEffect 2
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metroid Prime 2: Echos
Minecraft
Okami
Pac-Man
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star IV
Pikmin 2
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
Pitfall!
Portal
Rez
Shadow of Colossus
Shenmue
Sid Meier's Pirates!
SimCity
SimCity 2000
Sonic Adventure
Space Invaders
Spy vs Spy
Star Fox™
Star Fox™: Assault
Star Strike
Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator
StarCraft
Super Mario 64
Super Mario Brothers 3
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario World
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Tomb Raider
TRON: Maze-Atron
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Utopia
Worms Armageddon
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
Zaxxon
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