It’s official: If there’s one industry in the world that appears to be here to stay, it’s the world of gaming — video gaming, that is. Video games have made a substantial impact on youth culture worldwide, and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., has clearly taken note of this movement with its exhibit titled “Game On.”
“Game On,” which was developed at the Barbican Art Gallery in London, made its national debut in Chicago on March 4 and has received rave reviews since its opening. The exhibit displays more than 100 hands-on video games, posters, game consoles and other materials to help museum-goers explore the history and ever-growing popularity of video games from 1962 to the present. It creatively details the design process of games from concept drawings and character design to the development of sound effects and the processes behind making popular games into movies.
“‘Game On’ gives kids a new view of an industry that has come to the forefront of our popular culture,” says Jean Franczyk, the museum’s vice president of education and guest services. “Many children today have grown up with video games, but now they have a chance to learn about the history, science, art and technology that is behind those games.”
“Game On” consists of 16 “levels,” or areas, that portray different aspects of the developmental process of video games. Each area is introduced by a different member of the “Game Family” — a hypothetical mother, father, sister and brother — who leads museum-goers through the exhibit. As guests move through the various levels, they discover the work of key creators, including graphic designers, concept artists, 3D modelers and engineers. The illustrations of Chicago artist David Lee Csicsko bring the “Game Family” and the exciting, pulsating world of video games to life with a flurry of color, movement and characters.
From learning about “Game Genres” in level three to seeing the development of game companies like Chicago’s Midway Games on level 10’s “Chicago Style,” it’s apparent that video games have had a colossal impact in every generation since the baby boom.
“I used to play that (game) “Pong” all day!” says Rose Pearson, who brought her granddaughter Khelsey Zarraga to the exhibit for a day of fun. “I’ve always thought video games were a good thing. I brought my granddaughter here because I think it helps her creativity.”
With the world of video gaming being such a mainstream and technology-advanced industry, bringing an exhibit like “Game On” to its arena seemed to go hand-in-hand with the museum’s mission statement: “to inspire the inventive genius in everyone by presenting captivating and compelling experiences that are real and educational.”
The Museum of Science and Industry brought the exhibit to Chicago to motivate young people to learn more about technology in areas they might not often be exposed to.
“Unlike DVDs, where you get extras and special features, you don’t really get a sense of the behind the scenes (process) and how the (games) are made,” says Scott Beveridge, the museum’s exhibit manager.
“Game On,” which offers amusement for young and old alike, provides something for every interest. The original “Pac-Man” and “Super Mario Bros.” games, which are hits with the older crowd, whereas the area that displays the making of “Tomb Raider” and “The Sims” tends to draw a larger of teenager and young adult crowd. The international hit Pok