Tag Archives: Game Masters

For the love games and … wiggling

12 February 2013 – 3.59pm

By Te Arikirangi Mamaku, Game Masters event producer

As the countdown to 2013 quickly approached, our Summer exhibition season of Game Masters opened with a mini-invasion of aliens, super-soldiers, fantasy elves, Norse gods, and stormtroopers. Unsuspecting visitors encountered face-epainting fairies and a magician who immortalised giant heads on teeny tiny bodies. It was too much fun to handle – and drew hundreds of visitors on a rare sunny day in New Zealand’s capital city.

The local Asari occupy Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer at Game Masters opening day events, with event producer Te Arikirangi Mamaku. Photograph by Norm Heke, Te Papa

The local Asari occupy Te Papa’s Wellington Foyer at Game Masters opening day events, with event producer Te Arikirangi Mamaku. Photograph by Norm Heke, Te Papa

Adult only experiences

As the silly season came to an end, a select group of adults from around the country got a private glimpse into Game Masters, with the addition of food, drink, and special entertainment. There was a Dance Off a la Dance Central 3. (Think karaoke, but with more wiggling. A lot more wiggling.)

Michelle Wylie and Chris Parnell wiggle their way to victory at December’s Premium Experience.

Michelle Wylie and Chris Parnell wiggle their way to victory at December’s Premium Experience. Image by Big Mark Photography.

Module goes live

The first event of the New Year exploded with the force of a sonic boom and dazzling laser lights. Captain Module (aka Jeramiah Ross), and the troops from the Interrupt Collective, led his troops into battle with two spectacular live shows as he performed the music of Shatter. The second of the two shows had both full-grown adults and littlies bouncing to the rhythm of the synths. In a very public statement (Facebook status update) Captain Modge is quoted as saying that ‘he kind of felt like a Wiggle’. I’m assuming he meant an Australian Wiggle, which is sadly not as groovy as a Dance Central type of wiggle.

Module and the boys of the Interrupt Collective prepare for battle at Module Live: The Music of Shatter. Image by Big Mark Photography

Module and the boys of the Interrupt Collective prepare for battle at Module Live: The Music of Shatter. Image by Big Mark Photography

NZ gamers go wild

February came screaming in with all the rollicking hi-jinx of Wellington’s annual Rugby 7s costume party. It goes without saying that there were enough moustachioed Italian plumbers around to make a princess blush. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with Game Masters being on, but the timing was fortuitous … for Museum folk and princesses alike.

DaFrontlineTrooper showcasing Forerunner technology at Te Papa. Image by Norm Heke, Te Papa

DaFrontlineTrooper showcasing Forerunner technology at Te Papa. Image by Norm Heke, Te Papa

As the city cleaned all the 7s fun from the streets of the Capital, Museum folk setup a display of pretend alien weaponry. It had been constructed by one frontline trooper and used in a stunning public demonstration of craftsmanship. Imagine the excitement of a 20-year-old who commands the undivided attention of over 16,000 Youtubers by literally carving out his own future. If you want another glimpse, just Google ‘dafrontline trooper’.

Valentines Date night with a difference.. and a Welsh/Samoan Comedian. Image by Big Mark Photography

Valentines Date night with a difference.. and a Welsh/Samoan Comedian. Image by Big Mark Photography

February and beyond

And hitting mid-February, you’d be foolish to miss these gatherings that carry you through to March:

  • Gamers Quest VI: Final Gear Halo Kart … Online. It’s a comedy night on Valentines. Think date night, with the added romance of gamers getting bonus points with their significant others.
  • Game Masters: The Premium Experience.  Food, drink, and videogames on a Friday night? Why not. 
  • Game Changes: The Kiwi Story. In this free family event, you get to listen to the epic stories of some of our own Game Masters. Did you realise that a guy in Hawke’s Bay has made mobile games that have peaked millions of App Store downloads? No? well … you can hear it from the proverbial horse’s mouth. 
  • Media Design School 3D Animation and Game Making. One of the presenters is an acclaimed film maker, and the other has a BAFTA (that’s the British one that played on the box on Monday). Hard to believe, but this is also a Free event. 

Bragging aside, these are definitely worth further investigation.

Final thoughts

In the next blog, I review the week’s events and highlight the superstars and sessions that feature in the epic Game Masters: The Forum. To tide you over, I’ll leave you with this little piece of mesmerising artistry.

Play it. Love it!

By Te Papa | Posted in Events, Exhibitions | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Game Masters – The Forum announced

7 February 2013 – 2.49pm
Masaya Matsuura, of NanaOn-Sha (Japan)

Masaya Matsuura, of NanaOn-Sha (Japan)

Game Masters – The Forum taking place on March 4–5th at Te Papa in Wellington, brings together game developers, artists, educators, researchers, and filmmakers. The goal of the forum is to share knowledge and expand awareness of game development opportunities – both in New Zealand and abroad.

‘Attendees will shatter the stereotypes of games and discover the cultural, educational, and social impact they are having,’ said Stephen Knightly, Chair of the NZ Game Developers Association. ‘They’ll also have the chance to network with others in the fastest growing sector of New Zealand’s screen industry.’

International speakers confirmed for the event include Masaya Matsuura, of NanaOn-Sha (Japan), and Luke Muscat from Halfbrick (Australia.)

Matsuura-san’s work includes the seminal PaRappa the Rapper and the innovative Vib Ribbon – a game which generated its platforming levels from the music CDs gamers placed in their PlayStations. He is a true pioneer of the videogame industry, whose games have inspired a generation of game designers, and continue to create fun and imaginative ways for people to immerse themselves in music.

Luke Muscat from Halfbrick (Australia)

Luke Muscat from Halfbrick (Australia)

Luke Muscat and his team of just six people at Halfbrick are behind some of the hottest, most well–known, and best-selling mobile games of all time, including Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride, and Monster Dash. In the last two years alone, Luke’s games have been downloaded more than 300 million times.

The New Zealand industry is also well represented, starting with Mario Wynands – the Director of Sidhe/PikPok, New Zealand’s most successful and prolific developer and publisher of games across a wide range of platforms. In the last fifteen years, the company has released numerous successful and critically acclaimed titles, including Shatter, Speed Racer, Flick Kick Football, and Monsters Ate My Condo.

‘Game Masters – The Forum is really an opportunity to take a look under the hood of videogame development,’ suggested Helen Stuckey – a curator, researcher, and member of the Game Masters Industry Advisory Board. ‘It’s a chance to hear strong local and international speakers, to reflect on other ways to do business/make games, and an opportunity to consider the future of games themselves.’

Game Masters – The Forum will cover a wide range of topics, including those relevant to the game development industry and discussion of videogames as a cultural phenomenon. Subjects include Transmedia, Community Engagement, Games as Art, Serious Games, and Game History.

Attendees from industry, education, government, and the general public are all welcome, however tickets are strictly limited and there is no scope to expand the venue, so early booking is advised. Ticket prices start at $130 for both days, and numerous options are available, including student discounts, single day passes, and an expanded industry-specific option through which attendees will have opportunities to network with The Forum’s special guests.

For more information, refer to Game Masters – The Forum website. To book, or to find out more about the ticketing options, see The Forum registration page.

By Te Papa | Posted in Exhibitions, News, Uncategorized | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Human Video Games!

14 January 2013 – 4.46pm

I am immediately intrigued. Human Video Games? My mind conjures up little stick figures being chased through a maze by giant Cheezles with teeth!  Mmmmn…Cheezles…anywayyy, as soon as the event kicks off at 1pm on a scorchingly hot day at Te Papa,  I find an excuse to meander down to the Human Video Games event, stand in the blazing hot sun, and take pictures of random kids lobbing tennis balls at tin cans for the blog.

My job so rocks sometimes!

The event has been dreamed up by Te Arikirangi Mamaku, Events Producer, and Charlette Potts and the Discovery Centre Team.

Charlette Potts and Sylvia Potts, DC Hosts. Photo: Charlette Potts. © Te Papa.

Charlette Potts and Sylvia Potts, DC Hosts. Photo: Charlette Potts. © Te Papa.

I give much respect to the Event Producers and Discovery Centre hosts of Te Papa for the thoroughly enjoyable and often quirky events and activities that they produce on a shoestring budget.  They do an amazing job to attract people from all over the world to their events, and over the years, I’ve seen some fantastic gigs at my workplace.  Lucky me!

But back to the event. The premise for Human Video Games is simple.  Inspired by the Game Masters exhibit currently showing at Te Papa, Human Video Games borrows the themes and gameplay from popular games such as Angry Birds, and translates them into a real-world setting. 

Human Video Games Sign. Photographer: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Human Video Games Sign. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Charlette informs me that they’re not allowed to use the names of, or associate the event with the original games, due to trademark-y legalese reasons. Despite the restriction, people are still intrigued enough to give the games a good go, and Charlette and her team have set the event up so well, nobody notices the omission.

All this fuss about trademark considerations reminds me that the name of one of the world’s most popular and beloved games (which is also an inspiration for one of the activities) has a surprisingly earthy origin. The story goes that the original name for this game was Puck Man; but it was soon changed to the famous Pac-Man to avoid language malfunctions. True story.

Today, there’s not a pc, console, or arcade machine in sight at Human Video Games, just uncoordinated, self-conscious adults being thoroughly trounced by kids as they fling tennis balls at towers constructed from cans.

Human Video Games Event. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Human Video Games Event. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

I get sucked into the madness, as does Charlette, and we attempt to knock down a few cans. Sounds easier than it is, and twenty or so throws later, the novelty has well and truly lost its allure. I no longer have the precision, the coordination, or the energy of my youth, and all I get for my efforts are shoulder cramps and a sweaty, red face. It’s so difficult to look your best basking in radioactive-level sunlight! Then there’s the kid next to me, blithely announcing to everyone that he can “do this all day,” and he proceeds to do exactly that, loosening a volley of shots that unerringly finds its mark every time, worthy of an Olympic archery champion. “I hear they’re giving away special Minecraft codes up in Game Masters today,” I lie, and the kid takes off like a rocket. Despite the skilful removal of my competition, I find I still suck at throwing tennis balls.

The maze has been painstakingly created with gaffer tape – roughly 260 metres of the stuff.

Te Papa Ampitheatre. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Te Papa Ampitheatre. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

The hot sun broils the glue on the tape, and corners of the maze curl toward the sky. The staff are “keeping a close eye on it,” Charlette says. Oh yes, I can see that.

Discovery Centre Staff hard at work at the craft table at the Human Video Games event. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Discovery Centre Staff hard at work at the craft table at the Human Video Games event. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Destinee Robinson soon puts the maze to work, displaying far more pep than I can muster in this heat. I’m panting more than she is just watching her run. “Whew – that was hard work!” I say, wiping my sweaty brow in the shade as Destinee hits the home stretch. I politely decline an invitation to “give it a go.” “Sorry, I need to save all of my energy for taking photographs for the blog – important work and all that.” My response elicits great amusement amongst the staff, but why, I have no idea.

Destinee Robinson putting the maze to work. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.

Destinee Robinson putting the maze to work. Photo: Maraea Rihari. © Te Papa.


Hmmn, this could start a revolution. Games where you get off the couch! Games where you must interact with real, live people! Games where you might collect a few bruises – just like the games I played as a kid, minus the bullying older brothers: the crying, whimpering, and begging for mercy…

The next Human Video Games event is on in a couple of weeks. Come along!
Free Entry
1pm-3pm
26-27 January, 2013,
The Ampitheatre,
Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.

By Maraea R | Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Game Masters – This Way Up!

6 January 2013 – 10.09pm

Game Masters – This Way Up!

Great interview about Te Papa’s newest exhibition, Game Masters, exploring gaming history since the Seventies, on National Radio’s This Way Up with Phil Louie, Host Supervisor, and Kristelle Plimmer, Concept Developer.

Aired 22 December, 2012.

By Maraea R | Posted in Exhibitions | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Old School Gaming with Game Masters

3 January 2013 – 2.41pm

My love of gaming began in 1982, Cobham Court, Porirua, in the smoke-filled, illicit depths of the local gaming arcade that existed solely to extract as many twenty cent coins from me as possible.  There, I learned to quickly jimmy the coin slot with a wire to wring a free game from the machine when the arcade operator wasn’t looking – more often than not, the machine resisted my efforts, and I’d soon find myself sulking outside on the pavement post discovery, rubbing a freshly-cuffed ear as I gazed longingly within.

 Whiffy teenaged boys and the occasional brave girl shuffled between Defender and Galaga, Pacman, and Donkey Kong; conducting painful first romances against the marching, staccato audio of Space Invaders.  Dodgy deals and frantic trades of lunch for “Gotta dollar, cuz?” in order to continue playing was the order of the day – and night.  Even the frenetic whisper of “It’s the truant officer!” wasn’t enough to clear the den of glassy-eyed Spacies players.  There were reputations to uphold, make or break.  The most eligible boy in school wasn’t the brainiest, or the sporty one – it was the kid who had the highest score on Defender! 

 The Spacies parlour was located at the back of McDonald’s, and its proud claim to being New Zealand’s first golden arches added to the parlour’s infamy – and attraction.  Every local teenage girl knew that she was in for a rocking good night when she was asked to “hang out and play Spacies” by a boy.  The tantalising offer of a Big Mac and a game of Donkey Kong convinced many young ladies they’d found their Knight on a stolen BMX.

 Ah, those were the days!

 Fast forward thirty years, and the beloved arcade, console and pc games of my youth are now considered worthy of artistic contemplation in the new Game Masters exhibition at Te Papa.  Who knew?  My misspent years of playing games and having no social life finally pays off when Phil Louie, Host Supervisor of Game Masters, Te Papa’s shiny new exhibit, asks me to blog about the exhibit. 

Phil, Games Master Supervisor. Photo: Lucy Moore . © Te Papa.

Phil, Games Master Supervisor. Photo: Lucy Moore. © Te Papa.

 What’s a girl to say to such a generous offer?  Next to designing the games, or getting paid to play them, writing about the games is the nearest thing to career nirvana I will probably ever experience, which doesn’t bode well for my career path!  I ask the most important question – do I get to play the games? (For research purposes, of course!)

 I feel inordinately special when Phil says “Yes” with a grin on his face.  He’s a gamer, and we’ve had many discussions through the years about our favourite console, pc, and online games.  He knows exactly what I’m thinking: ‘Awesome with a capital O!’ 

 From Yuji Naka, Sonic the Hedgehog, to Will Wright, SimCity and The Sims, to Paulina Bozek, SingStar, one of the few successful female game developers in the industry; Game Masters explores forty years of game design, evolution, history, and technology.  Packed with over 100 playable games – from the seminal Space Invaders, the arcade game that spawned a revolution in the Seventies, to the more recent, yet no less popular kinetic game Dance Central, this exhibit is proving to be one of the most interactive exhibits I’ve ever worked on.  From six-year-olds to grandparents, casual gamers to hardcore, retro technology buffs to graphic animators – there’s something for everyone. 

I am so stoked to find Eric Chahi’s Another World nestled next to Fable 3.  Fable 3 will have to wait for another blog post, because I’m lovingly soaking up the graphics of Another World, which catapaults me back to 1992, when I first played this game.  In my mind’s eye, I see a Twenty-something bright-eyed and bushy-tailed version of myself obsessively re-playing the same stage literally hundreds of times, and dying,  just so I could see what happened next in Lester’s mysterious journey.  It took a combination of timing, good hand/eye co-ordination, and sometimes pure smarts to get to the next fiendishly difficult stage, but somehow I managed to ‘clock” what has been rated the ’99th most essential video game of all time’ by 1UP.com.

What’s your memory of the first computer game/s you ever played?

Game Masters is on at Te Papa National Museum till the 28th April.

Adults: $16.00

Students/ Gold Card: $14.00

Children: $9.00

By Maraea R | Posted in Exhibitions | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Module performs for Game Masters

6 November 2012 – 12.01pm

In association with Te Papa’s season of Game Masters exhibition, opening at Te Papa on 15 December, renowned electronic musician/producer Module, aka Jeramiah Ross, will perform his critically acclaimed soundtrack from the award-winning video game Shatter. He will perform two concerts at Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 January 2013, 7pm–8.30pm.

Module performing Shatter Live, San Francisco Bath House, September 2012, image by Mario Wynands. Copyright: Mario Wynands

Module performing Shatter Live, San Francisco Bath House, September 2012, image by Mario Wynands. Copyright: Mario Wynands

Building on a successful production at Wellington’s San Francisco Bath House, ‘this is set to be a much larger production for a broader audience’ says Module.

The performance tells the story of a robot breaking free to escape an oppressive machine-based world. Module will single-handedly play and loop a wide range of instruments including computers, synthesizers, and electric guitars.

Attendees can expect a heady mix of French Electro, fused with 80s inspired Dance Music and driven by pounding dance rhythms, blazing solos, and keyboard embellishments.

In true Module fashion, the show will be an immersive sensory experience that will include lasers and lights. The high production standards will be supported by Wellington based digital media artists Interrupt Collective.

Module Live is set to be a truly memorable experience.

Tickets for both nights go on sale early November with a limited number of early release tickets priced at $15.00 (+ booking fee) available through Te Papa’s website. Normal ticket prices range from $12.00 for children, to  $22.00 for adults.

www.tepapa.govt.nz/gamemasters

Enquiries

For further information, contact:

Tina Norris, Manager Communications (Acting), 021 225 7538, 04 381 7233, Tina.Norris@tepapa.govt.nz

For event specific information and images, contact:

Te Arikirangi Mamaku, Events Producer, 027 250 4140,  04 381 7239, Tearikirangim@tepapa.govt.nz

By Te Papa | Posted in Events, Exhibitions | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

The Gods of Gaming are coming to Te Papa

14 August 2012 – 9.56am
World of Warcraft © Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

World of Warcraft © Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Te Papa is delighted to announce its summer blockbuster exhibition, Game Masters, opening 15 December 2012. 

Featuring over 120 playable games across arcade, consoles, and PC, including Donkey Kong, The Sims, The Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, and not forgetting mobile games such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja;this exhibition has games suitable for all ages. 

The exhibition profiles a selection of the world’s most influential videogame designers, and the iconic games developments of the past 40 years. Videogame creatives are often little known outside of their field, and the exhibition will provide a platform for acknowledging the huge individual creative contributions they have made to the industry. 

International videogame designers whose work will be profiled include Tetsuya Mizuguchi with Child of Eden, Chris Metzen with World of Warcraft, and Toru IIwatani, the father of Pac-man.

Pre-sale exhibition tickets, including for the opening weekend, will be sold exclusively through Visa for a limited time from 15 October. Visa cardholders will also have the opportunity to attend an hour-long preview on Friday 14 December. Numbers are limited.

Te Papa is New Zealand’s exclusive venue for the exhibition which has been developed by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne.

Game Masters
15 December 2012 – 28 April 2013
Visa Platinum Gallery, Level 4, Te Papa
Exhibition charges apply.
www.tepapa.govt.nz/gamemasters

By Roxan Mathys | Posted in Exhibitions, Museums, News | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
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