The Art of Video Games is the first exhibition to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. The Smithsonian American Art Museum will present this exhibition in Washington D.C. from March 16, 2012 through September 30, 2012.

The exhibition will feature some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early developers such as David Crane and Warren Robinett to contemporary designers like Kellee Santiago and David Jaffe. It also will explore the many influences on game designers, and the pervasive presence video games have in the broader popular culture, with new relationships to video art, film and television, educational practices, and professional skill training.

New technologies have allowed designers to create increasingly interactive and sophisticated game environments while staying grounded in traditional game types. The exhibition will feature eighty games through still images and multimedia elements. In addition, the galleries will include video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots, historic game consoles, and a selection of playable games. Visitors will be able to connect with the content of the show across generations, from those who remember the classics such as Pitfall! and Pac-Man to those playing contemporary games like Flower and Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Participation

The checklist for The Art of Video Games will be developed through a participatory process. The public will be invited to assist with the selection of materials by identifying the games that they feel best represent the different moments in the timeline. This will be done by voting on the exhibition's on-line component, which also includes forums for discussion. Use of crowd-sourcing in this way will add an innovative element to this ground-breaking exhibition, and provides a variety of audiences the opportunity to connect with the exhibition content.

Exhibition Opening: Game Week

The Smithsonian American Art Museum will host a week-long festival to coincide with the opening of the exhibition. This will include discussion panels with video game developers and artists as well as movies that explore the culture of video games and their influence on society. In addition, participants will have the rare opportunity to play selected games against the developers and artists who created them.

For more information, please e-mail Elaine Webster, Chief Development Officer, at webstere@si.edu .

"Video games are more for me than just an entertainment medium. I remember vividly pouring over the code snippets delivered each month in Compute's Gazette and learned how to wring from those machines the tools to make my own games. It was this sense of discovery and wonder, fueled by the excitement of seeing my code dance across the screen in game form, that stayed with me all of these years and, ultimately, proved to be a dominating force in both my personal life and my professional career." Chris Melissinos will be the curator for The Art of Video Games exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Melissinos was most recently Sun Microsystems' Chief Gaming Officer and Chief Evangelist. During his 15-year tenure with the company, he contributed to and led numerous technology developments, including the formation of Sun's Game Technology Group which developed Java APIs focused on media and entertainment markets, mobile technologies, and was one of the originators of the Project Darkstar initiative.

A recognized thought leader in video game technology, social trends and technology application, Melissinos has been a frequent speaker at game and technology conferences, including the Game Developer Conference, GDC Austin, E3, CES, PennyArcade Expo, JavaOne, Web 2.0, SISTI, DoD Education Summit, as well as lecturing at universities across the globe.

Melissinos' lifelong passion for video games began at the age of 10, when he began programming his own games. It has only increased ever since, as proved by his personal collection of over 40 systems and hundreds of games. Melissinos' passion for preserving the rich history of the video game industry, his insight in illuminating the art and meaning behind the games, and his love of games as a unifying, multi-generational medium, will make this exhibition unlike any before it.

Ray Barnholt Freelance Games, Entertainment, and Technology Writer, San Francisco, California

Louis Castle CEO, Instant Action Inc. Los Vegas, Nevada

Chris Charla XBLA Portfolio Director, Microsoft Game Studios. San Francisco, California

Frank Cifaldi News Editor, 1UP.com. San Francisco, California

Ed Fries Founder, FigurePrints. Redmond, Washington

Scott Hawkins Founder, G1M2. Orange County, California

Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik Co-Founders, Penny-Arcade. Seattle, Washington

Chris Kohler Editor, Wired.com's Game-Life. Richmond, California

Jennifer MacLean CEO, 38 Studios. Maynard, Massachusetts

Steve Meretzky VP of Game Design, Playdom. San Francisco, California

Mike Mika Head of Development, Other Ocean, Inc. San Francisco, California

Dr. Ray Muzyka (pronounced Mu-zeek-a) Group General Manager, BioWare Group. Senior Vice President, Electronic Arts, and Co-founder and CEO, BioWare. Alberta, Canada

Kim Pallister Director of Content Strategy, Intel. Portland, Oregon

David Perry CEO, GaiKai, Inc. Los Angeles, California

Jane Pinckard Industry Analyst, Foundation 9 Entertainment. Boston, Massachusetts

Tim Schafer CEO, Double Fine Productions. San Francisco, California

Kellee Santiago President and Co-Founder, ThatGameCompany. Santa Monica, California

Jesse Schell Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Seth Sternberger Founder, 8 Bit Weapon. San Diego, California

Dr. Greg Zeschuk (pronounced Zess-chuk) Group Creative Officer, BioWare Studio Group. Electronic Arts Vice President, and Co-founder of BioWare. Alberta, Canada

Presenting Sponsorship ($250,000)

Corporation as Presenting Sponsor with logo placement in all advertisements and announcements produced for Washington venue and placed in major East Coast cities. Total reach: 3,000,000 media impressions

Corporation as Presenting Sponsor with logo placement on exhibition wall text. Total reach: 225,000 visitors

Opportunity to promote sponsorship on the Community Outreach section of corporate website with a link to the Museum's exhibition website.

Corporation as Presenting Sponsor during Game Week, the exhibition's opening festival.

Presenting Sponsorship ($250,000)

Opportunity to co-host an event in the Museum.

Invitations for twenty corporate executives and guests to the exhibition opening on March 15, 2012. Opportunity to contribute to development of invitation list.

Credit as Presenting Sponsor with logo on printed materials publicizing the exhibition including invitations, press release, museum calendar and rack cards produced by Smithsonian American Art Museum. Total reach: 225,000 visitors and 70,000 households

Credit as Presenting Sponsor with logo on electronically disseminated materials and on the museum's website: americanart.si.edu. Total reach: 3,000,000 media hits

Presenting Sponsorship ($250,000)

Opportunity for Presenting Sponsor to have four staff-led tours for employees, clients, and guest VIPs (up to 20 people for each tour) during the exhibition.

Presenting Sponsor may distribute ten invitations to media preview and opportunity to include a corporate statement related to the sponsorship in Smithsonian American Art Museum media kit.

Verbal acknowledgement at all museum events related to the exhibition.

Preferred rates on advertising placement in Smithsonian Magazine.

Lead Sponsorship ($100,000)

Corporation name (not logo) recognition as Lead Sponsor on exhibition wall text. Opportunity to co-host an event in the Museum.

Opportunity to promote sponsorship on the Community Outreach section of corporate website with a link to the Museum's exhibition website.

Corporation as Lead Sponsor during Game Week, the exhibition's opening festival Corporation name (not logo) recognition as Lead Sponsor on printed materials publicizing the exhibition including invitations, press release, museum calendar and rack cards produced by Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Lead Sponsorship ($100,000)

Corporation name (not logo) recognition as Lead Sponsor on electronically disseminated materials and on the museum's website: americanart.si.edu.

Invitations for twelve corporate executives and guests to the exhibition opening on March 15, 2012.

Sponsor may schedule two staff-led tours for employees, clients, and guest VIPs (up to 20 people for each tour) during the exhibition.

Verbal acknowledgement at all museum events related to the exhibition.

The Kogod Courtyard is a spectacular venue for corporate events.