Four Blizzard Entertainment video games have been chosen to join the round of votes to select the games that will be part of The Art of Video Games exhibition which is planned to take place on September 2012 at the third floor of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Votes will be open until April 7, 2011. Participants will require to register their email address to vote.
We need your votes to make sure all four games become part of the exhibition. Some of the games will be playable on-site, and attendees will see video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots at the exhibition.
Fans may vote for World of Warcraft in the Era 5: Next Generation category. Choose the Modern Windows tab and use the navigation buttons to reach: Adventure Genre (2 of 4).
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is found in the Era 5: Next Generation category. Choose the Modern Windows tab and use the navigation buttons to reach: Combat/Strategy Genre (4 of 4). Vote here.
Diablo II (2000) may be found in the Era 4: Transition category. Choose the DOS/Windows tab and use the navigation buttons to reach: Target Genre (3 of 4). Vote here.
StarCraft (1998) can be found in the Era 4: Transition category. Choose the DOS/Windows tab and use the navigation buttons to reach: Combat/Strategy Genre (4 of 4). Vote here.
- The Art of Video Games exhibition, opening on March 16, 2012, will explore the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects, the creative use of new technologies, and the most influential artists and designers. We want you to help us select the eighty video games that will be represented in the exhibition. Remember, this is an art exhibition, so be sure to vote for games that you think are visually spectacular or boast innovative design!
THE ART OF VIDEO GAMES VOTING SITE
We have organized the games into five eras, twenty gaming systems, and four genres. Simply select an era to begin and then navigate through the different systems and genres. You do not have to vote for every game on every system, and you can return to the website multiple times in order to complete your vote. You cannot change an individual vote once you have selected it so choose carefully. Have fun!
The Art of Video Games
3rd floor North, American Art Museum
March 16, 2012 – September 30, 2012
Video games use images, actions, and player participation to tell stories and engage their audiences. In the same way as film, animation, and performance, they can be considered a compelling and influential form of narrative art.
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. The exhibition will feature some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early developers such as David Crane and Warren Robinett to contemporary designers like Kellee Santiago and David Jaffe. It also will explore the many influences on game designers, and the pervasive presence video games have in the broader popular culture, with new relationships to video art, film and television, educational practices, and professional skill training. Chris Melissinos, founder of Past Pixels and collector of video games and gaming systems, is the curator of the exhibition.
New technologies have allowed designers to create increasingly interactive and sophisticated game environments while staying grounded in traditional game types. The exhibition will feature eighty games through still images and video footage. Five games will be available for visitors to play for a few minutes, to gain some feel for the interactivity—Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and World of Warcraft. In addition, the galleries will include video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots, and historic game consoles. Visitors will be able to connect with the content of the show across generations, from those who remember the classics such as Pitfall! to those playing contemporary games like Flower.
Vote!
From February 14 through April 7, 2011, the public is invited to help select games to be included in the exhibition. You can vote online for eighty games from a pool of 240 proposed choices in various categories, divided by era, game type, and platform. The games on the ballot were selected by exhibition curator Chris Melissinos, who worked with the museum and an advisory group consisting of game developers, designers, industry pioneers, and journalists.
A valid e-mail address is the only requirement to vote. Once registered, you can vote for one game in each genre on each system, for a total of eighty votes. You can only vote for one game in each category, even if you do not vote at all in some categories. The winning game from each genre on each system will be included in the exhibition.
Comments?
Tell us what you think about the exhibition through the voting site, or join the conversation on Twitter by using #taovg and following @americanart. And check out our answers to some of these Frequently Asked Questions.
