Game Masters: September & October Highlights
IT’S been almost two months since ACMI launched its Game Masters exhibition. But as Grace Yew reports, there’s still lots to look forward to – from acclaimed DJs to workshops on how to build your own apps.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image’s (ACMI) Game Masters exhibition features a vibrant variety of gaming masterpieces – but that’s not all. For the final months of the exhibition’s run, ACMI has organised an array of exciting and educational programs for gaming aficionados and casual fans to enjoy.
Game Masters focuses on the gaming industry’s history, and sheds light on the individuals who transformed games from recreation into art. Through assorted talks, workshops, and even parties, ACMI’s September-October lineup allows visitors to delve beneath the displays and get involved in every aspect of game culture.
Talks & Live Events
ACMI will commence its final series of forums with In Conversation with Tetsuya Mizuguchi on September 20. Legendary developer Mizuguchi – renowned for his groundbreaking audio-visual work on Sega Rally Championship, Rez, and new release Child of Eden – will share his sure-to-be revolutionary insights.
Also launching in September is Re:Play, a series of video game events presented in collaboration with Freeplay and Film Victoria. Every third Tuesday, the gaming experts will take you on a memorable journey through the intricacies of game genres. September 18’s Postcards from Imaginary Worlds explores fantasy realms such as Minecraft and Dungeons and Dragons. The Stuff of Nightmares, a discussion that promises to dismember the horror genre, will be held on October 16.
Fancy a trip behind the scenes? ACMI curator Emma McRae will explain the conception and development of Game Masters’ three sections – Arcade Heroes, Game Changers, and Indies – in Game Masters Curator Talks on September 20, October 11, and October 25.
Late Nights & Extended Hours
On the last Thursdays of September and October, ACMI will be hosting Late Bit – free, unique Game Masters events, saturated with eclectic games-inspired music and live performances.
Join local synth and indietronic DJs as they fill the ACMI Lightwell with infectious rhythms. Synth masters Galapagoose, Kikuyu, and DJ Zeal, will provide the soundtrack for Synth Pop! on September 27.
The final night, October 25, is appropriately titled End Game. End Game will feature Comeback Kid DJs, zany pop duo Oscar + Martin, and returning electro pros Mintendo.
Workshops
Throughout September and October, Intermix will stream live from ACMI to regional Victorian centres, participating universities and cultural and council organisations. If you prefer to see it in person, head down to ACMI for these free participatory sessions.
Tetsuya Mizuguchi will return on Friday, September 21, for a workshop, where he will elaborate on his career, his trademark audio-visual fusion techniques, and the nature of the Japanese game industry.
On October 6, the Chiptune Workshop will screen Chiptune’s acclaimed documentary, Reformat the Planet. Under the guidance of Melbourne’s brightest Chiptune artists, you will be able to remix and create you own 8-bit soundtrack.
Hot on Chiptune’s heels is Remix to the Max on October 8 and 9, where an Experimenta artist will teach you the art of mash-ups and remixing, and offer the opportunity to create a unique personal project.
Acclaimed games collective Voxel Agents (Train Conductor) and the Academy of Interactive Entertainment’s (AIE) Incubator program developer will be present on October 10 for a tell-all on How Games Collectives Work, an exploration of the collaborations that produce the best new games in the industry.
ACMI rounds off the Intermix workshops with a Game Studio Tour on October 13, where local developer Torus Games takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio. The prolific Torus Games has released over 95 titles, covering every popular platform since the original Nintendo Game Boy.
For the school holidays, family-friendly creative workshop Kids in the Studio: Wacky Contraptions (September 24-18, October 1-5) invites children to create oddball inventions using everyday objects. While Make a Movie: It’s a Good Game is a three-day workshop for kids to write, direct, star in, and edit their own takes on ABC’s Good Game.
Games: A Family Affair runs on Sunday, October 28, and will give families a chance to spend a day exploring popular favourites like Angry Birds, Pokémon, and Sonic, with innovative hands-on activities and personalised souvenirs.
And aspiring developers will enjoy Open Studio: Make a Game in a Weekend with the Voxel Agents. On September 15 and 16, the award-winning Voxel Agents collective will bring their studio to ACMI for a two-day demonstration of the full creative process. You can contribute ideas, lend a hand, and even play the final prototype!
For mobile game fans, Make an App: Build Your Own Mobile Game App Workshop runs on September 15 and 22, and teaches you how to create and publish a mobile game or app.
Finally, running until the end of the exhibition will be ACMI’s own Videogarden: Screen It Games Showcase. This will be screened in ACMI’s outdoor gallery on Flinders Street and will feature a compilation of original gameplay videos created entirely by primary and secondary students from across Victoria.
Visit ACMI’s website for more information and detailed schedules.