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Next 50 Video Arcade: Hands-on Gaming

The public is invited to take a digital (and analog) journey through the history of video gaming at Next 50 Video Arcade:  A Hands-On Gaming Exhibit, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., daily through June 30, free, on the main floor of Seattle Center Armory/Center House. The exhibit is part of The Next Fifty Science and Technology month, June 1 – 30, 2012.

Next 50 Video Arcade, presented by Seattle Interactive Media Museum (SIMM), offers a highly entertaining and interactive means to learn about the video gaming industry. This dynamic exhibit features iconic examples of video games from the early years to more recent times including:

Rhythm Games:  Parappa The Rapper (1997, Sony PlayStation).

Action/Adventure Games:  Pitfall (1982, Atari 2600), Super Mario Bros (1985, NES), Sonic the Hedgehog (1991, Sega Genesis), Super Mario 64 (1996, Nintendo) and Shadow of the Colossus (2005 PlayStation 2).

Versus Fighting Games:  Street Fighting II (1992, Super Nintendo), Soul Caliber (1999, Dreamcast) and Super Smash Bros and Melee (2001, GameCube).

Racing Games:  Hyperchase (1982, Vectrex), Red Racer (1987, NES), Road Rash (1991, Sega Genesis), Daytona USA (1995, Sega Saturn) and Project Gotham Racing (2001, Xbox).  

The Seattle Interactive Media Museum is our region’s only institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of video games and the ever-evolving culture that surrounds them. Its mission is to showcase the Pacific Northwest as a world leader in the video games industry. SIMM is also leading the effort to create a worldwide video game preservation consortium, teaming with museums globally to preserve this art form and share collections.

Next 50 Science and Technology month, the second of six month-long focuses celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, echoes the emphasis of the 1962 Science Exhibit, honoring the relationship between science and the humanities and allowing participants to explore this region’s global leadership in these fields. The focus launched on June 2 with a highly successful Science Expo Day at Seattle Center and continues with a variety of science festivals, speaking and film series, interactive explorations and more at Seattle Center, South Lake Union and downtown Seattle.  

The Next Fifty continues through Oct. 21, 2012 with events, attractions and family activities focusing on Arts, Culture and Design, History, Global Health, Learning, Commerce and the Innovation Economy, and Civic Action. Seattle Center Foundation heads up the 50th anniversary celebration.  For more information, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.