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-   -   Smithsonian Features "The Art of Video Games" (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mid-atlantic/1325646-smithsonian-features-art-video-games.html)

rwoman Mar 16, 2012 2:17 pm

Smithsonian Features "The Art of Video Games"
 
MSNBC: Smithsonian Features "The Art of Video Games"

Interesting exhbit...especially for those of us who have grown up on/around video games!

:)



“The Art of Video Games,” one of the first major exhibits to explore the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, will open March 16 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.

On display until Sept. 30, the exhibit features 80 video games, selected with the help of the public, which was asked by the Smithsonian early last year to choose their favorites from a pool of 240; games were selected for their graphic excellence, artistic intent and innovative design. Presented in the exhibit through still images and video footage, the 80 selected games demonstrate the evolution of the video game medium.

ck2003 Mar 17, 2012 10:00 am

^ This is great. thanks for posting. we'll be in dc this summer and my boys are playing video games as I type. they'll love the exhibit I'm sure.

ambyr Mar 19, 2012 9:05 am

I was largely unimpressed with the exhibit. I wanted analysis of the art of video games--interviews with the artists about how they adapt their designs to suit the limitations and possibilities of the medium, lots of original concept art to compare to the final product, discussion of which games' visual styles influenced other games, maybe even a look at how people adapt video game designs to the real world in the form of cosplay costumes.

Instead, I got some video games to play, some very facile interviews about "hey, people, designing games is complicated and requires creativity!," and brief summaries of how game play works in a bunch of different games. Less art of video games, more introduction to video games 101. Which is fine, I guess, but I already know that stuff. I was hoping for something more.

Still makes a good carrot for dragging kids into the art museum, though, I'm sure.

AlanInDC Mar 26, 2012 5:13 am


Originally Posted by ambyr (Post 18229383)
I was largely unimpressed with the exhibit. I wanted analysis of the art of video games--interviews with the artists about how they adapt their designs to suit the limitations and possibilities of the medium, lots of original concept art to compare to the final product, discussion of which games' visual styles influenced other games, maybe even a look at how people adapt video game designs to the real world in the form of cosplay costumes.

Instead, I got some video games to play, some very facile interviews about "hey, people, designing games is complicated and requires creativity!," and brief summaries of how game play works in a bunch of different games. Less art of video games, more introduction to video games 101. Which is fine, I guess, but I already know that stuff. I was hoping for something more.

Still makes a good carrot for dragging kids into the art museum, though, I'm sure.

I went yesterday and had the same reaction. Great place to entertain kids for an hour. Disappointing intellectual depth for a Smithsonian museum.


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