National Videogame Arcade to open this month
Inaugural exhibition on development of video game movement
The National Videogame Arcade (NVA) will mark its opening at the end of the month with Jump! its inaugural special exhibition.
The NVA opens its doors in Nottingham on 28 March following a £2.5m investment to create what it describes as “the world’s first cultural centre for gaming”.
The centre will have some of the 12,000-plus video game items held by the Science Museum and Nottingham Trent University on display.
The NVA is housed in a five-storey building in the city centre and is designed to appeal to all ages. Exhibits range from vintage arcade machines and home computers to experimental new works and unique installations. Jump! will explore the video game movement, from 1981’s Donkey Kong to last year’s Destiny, through interactive exhibits and playable games.
A core collection will feature A History of Games in 100 Objects, which tells the story of video games in Britain from 1951 to the present day. This begins with the world’s first game-playing computer at the Festival of Britain to the latest virtual reality experiences on Oculus Rift.
The venture is supported by Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies. Nottingham has staged the annual GameCity festival and the GameCity prize for a decade.
“Video games are pioneering new forms of creative expression and engagement with technology,” said NVA co-director Jonathan Smith. “A new generation is growing up with games that shape their fundamental conceptions of social interaction, creativity and learning.
“At this incredibly exciting time, The National Videogame Arcade invites everyone to share in the discovery of new ways for people to play together.”
Update
22.04.2014
National Videogame Archive changed to to National Videogame Arcade.
The NVA opens its doors in Nottingham on 28 March following a £2.5m investment to create what it describes as “the world’s first cultural centre for gaming”.
The centre will have some of the 12,000-plus video game items held by the Science Museum and Nottingham Trent University on display.
The NVA is housed in a five-storey building in the city centre and is designed to appeal to all ages. Exhibits range from vintage arcade machines and home computers to experimental new works and unique installations. Jump! will explore the video game movement, from 1981’s Donkey Kong to last year’s Destiny, through interactive exhibits and playable games.
A core collection will feature A History of Games in 100 Objects, which tells the story of video games in Britain from 1951 to the present day. This begins with the world’s first game-playing computer at the Festival of Britain to the latest virtual reality experiences on Oculus Rift.
The venture is supported by Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies. Nottingham has staged the annual GameCity festival and the GameCity prize for a decade.
“Video games are pioneering new forms of creative expression and engagement with technology,” said NVA co-director Jonathan Smith. “A new generation is growing up with games that shape their fundamental conceptions of social interaction, creativity and learning.
“At this incredibly exciting time, The National Videogame Arcade invites everyone to share in the discovery of new ways for people to play together.”
Update
22.04.2014
National Videogame Archive changed to to National Videogame Arcade.