Game Worlds is the latest playable experience to come through the ACMII doors, offering a magical journey through the history of video games. It highlights the art form and the diverse types of games that players have experienced from the 1970s to the present day. At the door, you’re greeted with the message that “game worlds are built with code, creativity and imagination.” A one-sentence highlight of the cross between technology and creativity that is video games as an art form.
When you first enter the experience, there’s a massive touch-screen table where players can play some Dungeons & Dragons. Across from that are highlights of DOS games and text adventures that still provide fascinating journeys, thanks to their writing. The Commodore 64 makes its necessary appearance as the original home computer/video game console.
@explosionnetwork We checked out the new Game World experience at @ACMI today and it was fantastic! Well worth making the time for either during your weekend here for #PAXAUS ♬ original sound – Explosion Network
Much of the material in that first area was before my time, but it didn’t take too long before I started to feel more like experiencing things from my younger years. Four computers are set up to enable LAN play of the original Team Fortress from VALVE, and if you’ve never played a PC game without the modern reliance and luxuries of gaming mice and keyboards, you’ll be in for a shock. The many pictures on the wall above this area were also a highlight, with a late 80s/90s vibe of cool kids having their LAN parties.
Neopets gets its own section, reminding me of all the time my friends and I spent not doing computer work in the library and playing it instead. And moving forward, you’ll encounter other highlights of days gone by, including the early days of The Sims and Sim City builders, the original DOOM, a centrepiece of first-person shooters, which is also somehow being played on a LEGO brick through technology that only confounds me.
There’s a section in the middle of the experience with a few bean bags laid out in combination with soothing visuals and music, highlighting the beautiful creation that goes into games. Weather and horizons might make you want to take a quick and relaxing snooze, but if you move on, you’ll soon be awoken with a room highlighting the main attraction to Game Worlds.
The game may be out now, but Hollow Knight: Silksong has been one of the most anticipated games over the past few years, and the Metroidvania, a sequel to Hollow Knight from Team Cherry, only grew in size as development continued. Something you’ll notice as you explore the exhibits at this experience. The world grows as a section describes how Team Cherry built a living world that focused on realism, initially as a video game, and then expanded it from there. You’ll also be able to spin around 3D designs of levels and areas to see the amount of finite detail that has gone into creating this latest, classic Australian video game.
At the back-end of the experience is a section dedicated to speedrunning and Celeste. I tried to play it, but found it had some massive lag. Otherwise, it is a great idea to have players try to beat the best time in the experience each day.
There’s a lot more to be seen in the Game Worlds experience, with a section even dedicated to Machina. I recommend checking it out to anyone; you don’t even need a love for video games, as the story on show here will draw in anyone. It’s not the complete story of video games by any means, but it’s a linear one that draws a trajectory and path, highlighting Australian and New Zealand games along the way, and focusing on the people and creativity at the heart of the industry.
You can buy tickets to check out Game Worlds yourself here.
[Explosion Network attended Game Worlds thank to ACMI.]
