Do you reflect on the existence of computer games and its development in our society? Video games or not, the Computerspielemuseum Berlin in Germany is a place to be for everyone involved or interested in video game industry. Here in this blog, we will be virtually visiting the Computerspielemuseum Berlin, learning more about the museum and the exhibits we could expect to see and useful insights on how to navigate about the place.
1. A Journey through Computer Game History
Opened in November 2000, Computerspielemuseum Berlin is now one of the biggest repositories of computer games anywhere in the world. As soon as you enter the museum, you will be transported through time at least half a century, from the period of early computer games up till present days of virtual reality.
From different sections and displays you get to find some of the following the concepts regarding the evolution of gaming technology. Starting from such early elements as arcade games and first home consoles all the way to contemporary game platforms, every exhibit is a message about progress made in the gaming industry. You will even get to witness giants such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders to familiarize yourself with their role in pop culture.
2. Interactive Exhibitions
In contrast to your typical museums where you are limited to staring at the objects in display, the Computerspielemuseum Berlin goes the whole nine yards on interactivity. It has realistic games and installations, whereby youngsters as well as children can play and be freely engaged in game related activities.
For instance, you can go through an augmented reality Pong, the first commercially successful video game or get to play an actual pinball machine. There is also an option to fight bosses together with friends on console from the past years or to break into VR simulations. All these autotutorial activities provide enlightenment via the museum, which is not only knowledge-making but also a fun process.
3. Special Exhibitions and Events
Through the Computerspielemuseum Berlin’s Web site it was established that the museum holds a number of special exhibitions and events that focus on certain aspects of gaming. These exhibitions include an opportunity to look at an artifact or two, learn some behind-the-scenes information, and discover something new about game development.
Stay alert for such activities inclusive of guest lecture series from game designers, workshops that enable creation of a game or game levels, exhibition events based on the avatars such as genre and era based exhibitions. Such events help to get more insight about this industry and give visitor an opportunity to meet with the like-minded people.
4. Game Culture Hub
On the one hand, Computerspielemuseum Berlin is a museum, on the other hand, it is a platform that focuses on computer games and culture. Another way the visitors of the museum interact with each other is due to the fact that the museum holds gaming tournaments, friend’s LAN parties, and gaming nights.
Moreover, the museum has its storage of games where there important documents about games, magazines, and other artifacts of related importance are stored. As a result, this archive becomes useful for research professionals and developers of video games, as well as for the investigation of gaming history.
5. Tips for Your Visit
Location and Opening Hours
The Computerspielemuseum Berlin is housed at Karl-Marx-Allee 93A, 10243 Berlin, Germany. The museum working hours are from Tuesday to Sunday during the period from 10 in the morning to 8 in the evening.
Admission Fees
The adult tickets costs €9 euro and the children as well as the student meals are cheaper. More to the point, according to the museum policy, individuals below the age of six do not pay for the ticket.
Plan Your Visit
Due to the high level of interactivity throughout the museum, visitors should plan on spending at least 2-3 hours in order to enjoy all of what the Computerspielemuseum Berlin has to offer. You may also need to search the museum’s website for information on changes to its special exhibitions or events during your visit.
Lastly, do not forget your camera as you move through the hall of computer games as a art history lesson to document some of the moments here.
In Summary
It turned out that the computerspielemuseum Berlin is one of the most innovative and informative centres for anyone in the world of computer games. The museum is very large and has many permanent exhibitions, and occasional temporary ones that range from touching, seeing, and handling artefacts, to immersive themes and even games for children. Whether you are a longtime gamer, or are just beginning to develop an interest in this extremely interesting industry, the Computerspielemuseum Berlin is sure to leave you with a new understanding of just how culturally significant computer games are.
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