| Game On exhibition at the Science Museum
The Science Museum is to host a new run of Game On, an exhibition dedicated to the history of videogames. Game On made its debut at the Barbican in 2002, and is now getting an updated run at the Science Museum. The exhibition brings together over three decades of videogames, as well as offering insights into videogame culture and development. From vintage arcade cabinets, all the way through to the latest hardware developments, there's something for everyone. There'll also be a number of special events such as debates and speaker sessions taking place, either in the exhibition space itself or in the museum's Dana Centre. "Game On traces the science behind the dramatic developments in computer game production over the last thirty years and tackles some of the serious issues behind this huge multi billion pound industry," said Gaetan Lee, programmes developer at the Science Museum.
Gaming tournament storms Las Vegas
During the early '90s, the fighting game genre was on the rise, thanks largely to the overwhelming success of "Street Fighter II." Arcades were crowded with customers day in and day out, be they players lining up to place their quarters on the cabinet in hopes of testing their skills, or spectators simply hoping for a good show.
As time went on however, the arcade industry became less profitable, which led to a great deal of these venues being closed down. Yet, that wasn't end for the fierce competitive spirit of those proud players.
Enter Evolution 2K. First established by devoted fighting game Web site shoryuken.com, the Evolution 2K tournament series is the largest annual, international fighting game tournament, featuring players who are among the best in the world.
Interview: Kyle Ward - The Roxor Jack Of All Trades
One of those series, originating from Roxor Games in the United States, is In the Groove (ITG), preparing for a third arcade release with a potential release for a home version of In the Groove 2. The series, which has been a current mainstay in U.S. arcades, has been a frequent visitor at the top of coin-operated charts. ITG launched in arcades but has since branched off into home versions. To catch up on the work Roxor has done on In the Groove, here is the legacy of the titles released so far in the franchise: In the Groove (Arcade) - August 2004 In the Groove entered the market as an upgrade to existing dance cabinets, kicking the series off with around 70 songs, licensed and original. The game was notable for being more difficult than other four-panel dancing games with intense "expert" step charts, mines that haunted players with a decrease in score and performance if stepped on, choreography that required players to use their hands to hit three or four panels simultaneously, longer songs and marathon courses that inserted periodical modifications to the appearance of game play.
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