The Smithsonian is gearing up for their "Art of Video Games" exhibit which will feature images, concept art, sketches, and footage from 80 games.
The games have been judged and voted, the art has been chosen, and all that's left is solidifying donors for the exhibit before its grand opening on March 16th next year. For the low price of $10 you can put yourself (or a silly name) in the exhibit's credits, which will appear both online and in the museum. But get this: the more you donate, the bigger your name will appear. In addition, every month a random winner will be chosen from the list of donors to receive a ThinkGeek gift until the exhibit ends in September 2012. Neat, huh?
As of yet there hasn't been a group donation. However, it looks like there are a few interesting names to be seen on the wall. I'm actually a bit surprised nobody's donated in the name of Cave Johnson yet.
"For many of you, I realized $60 is an unprecedented windfall, so don't go spending it all on, I don't know - Caroline, what do these people buy? Tattered hats? Beard dirt?"
Contest:
10:00 AM on 10.02.2011 | 
Curator:Ralph, Pls leave exhibit
Ralph: No
Anyway, I love museums and I love video games, so it's a perfect match!
Also, what Epic-Kx said.
Regardless of videogames being art or not, it is indisputable that they can contain art, or that art is often generated in the creation process. No one on either side should have a problem with this exhibit, especially since the Smithsonian is less about art and more about history.
You're right but I can't help but feel that by putting it up to a vote, they got a skewed choice of games.
Also very happy that FFT is there, but I wish FF6 had been involved. It's hard for me to think about videogame history without FF6. I wish ICO was there, as well, but SotC is included, so that's sort of OK. Really, though, with as many people in the industry who claim ICO as an inspiration, it SHOULD be there.
But Uncharted 2 beat Black Ops, so it's hard not to be somewhat cheered.
The bad thing about this kind of voting is that you end up with some categories where you have two or three entries that should be there, and other categories where none of the nominees are all that deserving. They should have had some at-large wildcard voting among the losing games, without regard to category.
And finally, I'm never comfortable with publically rewarding donors like that. I know they're trying to encourage more donations and some people love the bragging rights, but as someone who really doesn't know where next month's rent money will come from yet but really wishes I could donate it puts a lot of stress on me.
Yay for your first story! :D
No pokemon
No ico
im outta here.
Also it doesn't have Valkyria Chronicles in the PS3 section for Startegy games, What the hell?
I don't get the purpose of this list, it isn't a list of "art games", and it isn't even a list of the most respected inspiring games of last gen. I'm not kidding when I say this is probably the worst "best of" list of videogames I've ever seen
Thanks!
Chris Melissinos
canvas art