Category Archives: RETRO GAMES

Smithsonian – The Art of Video Games

The Smithsonian Museum of American Art is holding an exhibit on the art of video games, from the early 1970s all the way up until today. Five eras of video game graphics, from the dawn of the video game, to 8-bit, through the 16-bit “Bit Wars” era, transition to 3D graphics and up until today. The exhibit runs from March 16th, 2012 to September 30th, 2012.

From americanart.si.edu:
The Art of Video Games is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. It features some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early pioneers to contemporary designers. The exhibition focuses on the interplay of graphics, technology and storytelling through some of the best games for twenty gaming systems ranging from the Atari VCS to the PlayStation 3. Eighty games, selected with the help of the public, demonstrate the evolution of the medium.
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Unreleased Classic Consoles

I ran across this site recently, and despite some spelling errors, it has an awesome collection of videogame console concept art and unreleased consoles. It’s worth it just to see what the SegaCD almost looked like.

https://sites.google.com/site/virgingamernews/unrealsred-consoles

Handheld SNES

Video Game Accessory maker and wholesaler HyperKin is creating a hand held system that plays SNES cartridges. On top of that, it features two ports for the use of real Super Nintendo controllers, a huge plus for the old school gaming fanatic. The device is known as the SupaBoy and is due for a release soon. The console features:

+ Plays all American SNES cartridges, not PAL or Japanese

+ Weighs 318g

+ 3.5 inch LCD screen

+ A/V sterio output to hook up to a television

+ Two Super Nintendo controller ports on the device to play with friends

Hyperkin is the same company that made my personally favorite possession, the Retron3, a hybrid system that plays regular NES, SNES and Sega Genesis games. I bought mine through Amazon.