Videotopia (a classic game exhibition)

Videotopia's homepage provides a brief description of Videotopia's purpose, and a link for accessing information on the exhibit's components (entitled "Control Panel"). The Control Panel page features links to: 1) an "Introduction" to the exhibit, 2) pictures and brief descriptions of some of the "Arcade Games" in the exhibit, 3) "Booking Information," 4) information about the "Electronic Conservancy," which self-describes as "an organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of artifacts and information detailing the history of the electronic medium, as well as the use of these artifacts in informing and educating." The Conservancy says, "We feel that the significance of this media, which has often been viewed as a passing fad, has been instrumental in the mainstream acceptance of computers and has acted as a catalyst in their development. We believe the time has come for a serious examination of their almost incalculable impact on modern society, not only in the United States, but worldwide. A traveling museum exhibit is the ideal vehicle for this long deserved recognition. Having witnessed the destruction of the majority of these games and fearing the loss of their historical importance, we have spent years assembling a collection of over 400 rare machines, forming what may be the most complete collection in the world. We have also gained and will continue to seek information and artifacts from many first-hand sources in order to catalogue and preserve the history encompassing this art form. The Electronics Conservancy also maintains a collection of every home system ever released in the United States, as well as classic and important personal and industrial computers, and an extensive library of software," 5) The "Exhibit Design," which is "divided into three 'levels': Dreams and Designs, the Game Factory, [and] the Ultimate Arcade." Dreams and Designs (Level 1) "examines the creative elements in the origin and evolution of the videogame and introduces the individuals that pioneered the industry. This level includes an inside look at the industry itself and a review of the videogame art form. [It also] shows the process of videogame design from beginning to end and demonstrates how the vision of the creator is influenced by the medium of technology and the perceived desires of the end user. Level one also includes a "Career Paths and Educational Opportunities" station to familiarize everyone with some of the diverse areas of endeavor that relate to videogames." The Game Factory (Level 2) "focuses on the diverse technology that creates an interactive medium. The exhibits show how the hardware elements work, how they have evolved, how they serve to bridge the gap between the creator and the user, and how each affects the other. Interactive exhibits demonstrate the functions of basic electronic components and how they combine to form a chip. It shows the inner workings of the various input devices found in videogames such as the trak-ball, joystick, and optical encoder, as well as output devices such as vector and raster monitors.... [it] dispels the common perception that electronics is beyond comprehension, while highlighting significant technological advances. " The Ultimate Aracde (Level 3) "the 'heart' of VIDEOTOPIA, features home and arcade videogames from throughout the twenty five year history of the industry. The role of the player directing the experience and the effects of the experience on the player are emphasized. Level three features 60 to 85...of the most technologically significant and/or commercially successful arcade videogames and the most Every game has been fully restored, and visitors are encouraged to use their "power up tokens" to play these classic and modern games in "The Ultimate Arcade" experience. The collections provide a chronology of the industry and give examples of technological progression, cultural impact, and creative genius. Each game is positioned in its appropriate historical, cultural, and technological context," 6) "Home Games" features photographs and brief descriptions of classic game consuls (1975 to 1995), 7) a link to Videotopia "Merchandise", 8) a "Request Form" to bring the exhibit to parts of the U.S. and Canada, 8) "Medium" gives users access to editorials and opinion articles on videogame history, a philosophical discussion of videogames, and a Videotopia promotional download, 9) a list of people on Videotopia's "Advisory Panel... a distinguished committee of interactive-entertainment technologists, scholars, and educators to provide on-going counsel and review for this national traveling exhibit," 10) a "Scrapbook" of photos from a live exhibit, 11) and list of relevant "Links," which include the History of Home Video Games http://videogames.org/ Homepage ) -- the History of Home Video Games website is currently under construction (Jan 24/2010)