As of now its a dream, but who knows, sometimes dreams come true. I am a huge advocate on keeping classic video games alive. My friends call me the Video Game Librarian because of my collection. Bit i just think it would be awesome to set up a small venue somewhere and have at least one of every major video game system setup on display for anyone to play. Like an art gallery but flat screens on the walls with a different system hooked up to each one. This wouldn't be for profit. I doubt i would even break even. As of now i have every version of major system system released in the US from mastersystem forward, with the exception of a few like 3DO and TG16 . Its not an amazing feat but i am proud of it. i guess what i am getting at is, has someone done this in the world yet? Anything similar to what i am describing?
Pretty sure its been done multiple times over, yet I can't quite seem to remember any names to give you examples, But I coulda swore I saw pictures of a Museum type venue where pretty much every game system was on display and playable.... Hazey memory. ;-) But hey, being from So-Cal, I like your idea.
Sunnyvale, CA is clearly the only choice for such a museum. Maybe Mesquite, TX or Redmond, WA. Putting it in say, NYC would be like putting a museum for Benedict Arnold in Australia.
Someone with a really massive collection should just document it all thoroughly on Flickr. Lots of information in the comments, multiple shots of each item including screenshots, etc. It would take time, but still easier and more accessible than a physical museum would be.
Nintendo World Store I looked at doing it large scale in Sunnyvale back when the Atari buildings were mostly vacant. Sadly, it would have cost millions. The problem with a small-scale museum is that it becomes a full time thing and yes, you do have to do it for profit. It would be your job. The overheads would be very expensiveand a lot of us, whilst having a lot of stuff, don't really have enough for a museum. Incidentally, proper museum curating is an art form. I mean, you are supposed to get a degree in it! I've worked in a "small" art gallery before, and the amount of time and money that has to go into it is astronomical. Yes, a virtual museum is much easier - and much cheaper! I don't know about Flickr, bit boring, but a dedicated website - why not?
A few years ago in London's swanky Barbican performance venue/art space, they did a very similar thing, where they had just about every games system running, and where visitors could play a huge variety of titles. The exhibition only ran for a month or two, but the few times I went it was always busy, and it was really refreshing to see people interacting with the exhibits, and having fun. It suggested to me that there is a huge appetite for a permanent gaming musuem - but you'd need a LOT of money (and nerves of steel) to make something like this work. But it WOULD be awesome!
Was that "Game On"? I went to that in London a few years back, it was great. The arcade section was the best bit, some all-time classics in there (I'll never forget playing Asteroids on a proper vector monitor - a totally unique experience).
Yes, Game On. The arcade games were borrowed from people (mostly Rav and Andy, I think... I know they toured with it) and I believe that exhibition did indeed cost an awful lot!
Hello everyone, I think it is good idea, Bomberhead. I would go for it but setup your museum wherever you want. It could become a popular site for the town. Or you could set up a museum in California as suggested. Whatever its your game systems and games you decide what happens. :cur_sonic: :luigi:
I'm curious as to how many art museums get public funds. Clearly if you're a hack like Roger Ebert you don't think video games are art, however given the tripe I've seen pass as "art" it is extremely hard to tell me that Ico and Rez aren't art. Hell if ET had been deliberate it might've been considered an expression of the developer's feelings towards the development schedule making it interactive art!
