Video Game Generation Exhibition...

THE University of Manchester was the true birthplace of the modern computer. The Small-Scale Experimental Machine, known as SSEM, or the "Baby", was designed and built at the University of Manchester, and made its first successful run of a program on 21 June 1948. So it is appropriate that Manchester's Urbis, on Cathedral Gardens is now hosting an exhibition celebrating computer gaming called:- 'Videogame Nation'. David Crookes, consultant curator of Videogame Nation said:- "It is amazing how things have changed in that short space of time. Computers are now all over the place. That is in many ways a result of the computer gaming industry. Our exhibition highlights some of the overwhelming contributions British developers have made to the development of video games. It also highlights the cultural significant influence it has had over the years. But we have not stopped developing, as the UK is still is having a major role in the development of computer systems and video gaming technology today. We also aim to show that as well." So if you are in Manchester, we would recommended you visit this exhibition. Not only will it bring back memories for many of us, but also will keep children happy as well. As one magazine, Negative Gamer says:- "It's interesting to see such a thing created surrounding video games, its rather heart-warming." The exhibition spans the history of the industry since 1948, with examples of the British-made ZX Spectrum to the Nintendo DSi. Not forgetting gems like Star Wars, Tomb Raider, Space Invaders, Jet Set Willie, Manic Miner, Lady Bug, Grand Theft Auto and for the football mad region, Sensible World of Soccer. This exhibition also has an example of 3d gaming and more.... The exhibition has a very strong historical narrative with lots of interactivity. It is suitable for all ages and even those less interested in technology and gaming will be taken in. Jonathan Thompson said that:- "We have to remember it is not just children who use this technology, Airline Pilots, Doctors and countless other professions use video games to help train and keep skills up to date. Even the film industry uses it. For example, Systems Simulation Ltd. of London created a computer monitor sequence that produced unique special effects for The Abyss (1989) and Terminator 2 (1991). This was in many ways thanks to computer gaming technology! If it was not for computer games, many of us would probably still be using computers with Black and Green monitors. It is important to not underestimate the role video and computer games have had in developing what we now expect from Computers. We hope that if this goes well, we will be able to have the exhibition tour the UK. But in the end, a permanent museum is the way we would like to go!" So if you are in Manchester we recommend you pay a visit. The exhibition is open until to 20 September 2009. For more information visit:- videogamenation.co.uk.

We are adding soon a video about this exhibition to:- Southport.TV.

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Have we missed out again to Manchester???

MANY of our readers will remember reporting on the possibility about a video game museum being sited on Merseyside, but after lots of effort it looks like it will now be heading to Manchester or London. Back in 2007, Retro Arcade Machines Ltd. launched a competition called the 'Voyager Crusade' in Liverpool's FAB Cafe. At the time it created lots of attention from press outside the Merseyside area, but very little coverage and/or support came from the Merseyside area. Sadly this lack of local media interest was to follow throughout the course of the competition. The idea was not only to help game programmers, but also to test the waters in the area to see what the reactions were to the video game industry. The intention was, if it went well, to the expand it and hold an exhibition on the topic on Merseyside. That then would have been a marketing test for a permanent museum. But the group could not find a suitable location in Liverpool for an exhibition, despite lots of effort, and Sefton would not even react to any feelers. So the result is it looks like it will now more than likely go to Manchester. What do our readers think?  Email us to news24@southportreporter.com with your views. Let us know if you think we should get a state of the art museum about video gaming build on Merseyside?