A Game Development Exhibit to Ignite Imagination
Earlier this week, I had a great talk with Susan Meier of Firaxis Games after a presentation she gave at an IGDA Baltimore chapter meeting. She shared the vision that she and the (pending) non-profit group “Computer Game Wizards” have for a game development exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI). Nearly all aspects of the proposed exhibit are in the brainstorm phase. Targeted launch date: Fall 2011.
Want to help shape this exhibit, inspire new generations of students to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) studies, and cultivate strong community among the region’s large footprint of game developers?
“Yes!” Excellent! Susan Meier has started a “Computer Game Wizards” Facebook group to carry forward the discussion. I propose we expand our idea exchange onto twitter, too — using hash tag #BMIGameDevEx. A good gamer community page to watch: Gabriel Pendleton‘s Baltimore Gamer. I welcome your innovative ideas here, too.
Some additional notes about the proposed exhibit:
- Exhibit will run for five years. (So, we need to think about a schedule for content refresh.) Allotted Space: 24’ x 24’. (Well, at least, initially…)
- While the exhibit should be accessible and understandable to grade school children, we should not limit the content to that education level. (The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum may be able to give us some good advice here.) Perhaps run more advanced content during the times outside of peak school field trip hours?
- A key purpose of the exhibit is to capture and share the linear and nonlinear (surprise!) aspects of game development as experienced by game developers in the Baltimore and Rockville, MD vicinities. The games are exciting, but how about the boundless energy, brains and processes that create them?
- I suggest the overall feel of the exhibit be future-focused: What could the future look like? How can the exhibit audience member contribute to that future? Aspects of the history of game development in the region should be included in the exhibit narrative to the extent that they propel thinking about the future. This style of approach could help ignite the imaginations of the audience.
Content (narrative, video, interactivity, flow of exhibit, occasional live speaker sessions), fund raising, project management, critical points of contact, and so forth: All open to your brilliant ideas and suggestions. Please join in!
