State of Play Games: Lumino City (Courtesy of State of Play Games)
October 14 2022
Curated by Dr. Michael Pennington
National Videogame Museum
Castle House
Angel Street
Sheffield
S3 8LN England
The Art of Play, the latest exhibition at the marvelous National Video Game Museum in Sheffield, UK, celebrates the impact of British game mechanics and aesthetics on visual culture by showcasing five indie games that changed game design forever. Among the artifacts on display are indie classics Monument Valley, Lumino City and No Longer Home alongside Worms 2 and Dizzy. The exhibition opens on October 14th in Sheffield but it's unclear when it will end.
press release
The Art of Play is a new exhibition at the National Videogame Museum. It takes you “behind the screens” to reveal the art, creativity and people behind five UK-made videogames. Emphasizing the handmade and traditional techniques used within games, The Art of Play focuses on the non-digital aspects which create the unique textures and moods seen on screen.
Art and Craft of Videogames
Developed through conversations with UK based games studios, the exhibit showcases drawings, notebooks and physical models. Video interviews with designers and artists also detail the concept development and inspiration behind the games.
Furthermore, featured case studies include award-winning contemporary games Monument Valley, Lumino City and No Longer Home. Classics like the Dizzy series and Yorkshire’s very own Worms are also part of the exhibition.
The Art of Play exhibits videogames as contemporary art, illustrating the handcrafted techniques and creativity. Monument Valley is a prime example of this.
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in a newly released Panoramic Edition of Monument Valley. It is a meditative and calming puzzle game influenced by the works of artist M.C. Escher. Seemingly impossible geometric architecture is brought to life as 21st century interactive labyrinths.
Dr. Michael Pennington, Curator at The National Videogame Museum says: “We are delighted to be showcasing the expertise, craft and art of videogames. Through this exhibition (and the support of Art Fund) we are able to celebrate videogame art as art, and explore how game developers use traditional techniques to produce stunning and contemporary interactive artworks.”
Star Objects
Comparatively, contrasting the contemporary with the historic, on display in Sheffield for the first time is a hand-drawn map, created by the Oliver Twins in 1989. This star object, the “Fantasy World Dizzy” map, features hundreds of intricate level details. Visitors will be able to see clouds, trapdoors and beanstalks, all sketched out in pencil. It even includes alternative titles for the game which had not yet been coded.
Additionally, a series of rarely-seen objects on display include an Amiga 4000 computer (on loan from the US). This was used to design and develop the videogame Worms 2. Art Director for Worms 2, Cris Blyth significantly paints a picture of how blockbuster games were created in Yorkshire, in the late 1990’s. This is presented through his design memos, rough notes and storyboard designs.
Living Collections
This exhibit is part of “Living Collections” a new interview series supported by Arts Council England. Thereupon, visitors can take a deep-dive into the tools and techniques behind the production of much loved videogames in the Museum’s collection.
Emily Theodore Marlow, Curator at The National Videogame Museum says: “Thanks to Arts Council support we have been able to dig deeper into objects within our collection, and through speaking to Worms designer Cris Blyth, paint a picture of what it was like to make videogames in the 1990s in Yorkshire.”
Ustwo Games: Monument Valley (Courtesy of Ustwo Games)
Humble Grove Studios: No Longer Home, logo designed by Cecile Richard (Courtesy of Humble Grove Studios)
Humble Grove Studios: No Longer Home, logo designed by Cecile Richard (Courtesy of Humble Grove Studios)
Ustwo Games: Monument Valley (Courtesy of Ustwo Games)
Ustwo Games: Monument Valley (Courtesy of Ustwo Games)
Humble Grove Studios: No Longer Home, logo designed by Cecile Richard (Courtesy of Humble Grove Studios)
The Oliver Twins: Fantasy Land Dizzy Map, photography by Gordie Cavill, technician and engineer at The National Videogame Museum (Courtesy of The Oliver Twins)
LINK: The Art of Play
