BIT GENERATION 2000 "TV GAMES" (English) / Contemporary Art Center, ATM

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BIT GENERATION 2000 "TV GAMES"
URL: http://www.tvgame-museum.com/
October 28 (Sat), 2000 to January 28 (Sun), 2001


Photos: Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM 2000

Videogames, or "TV games" in Japanese, represent a new form of expression made possible by digital technologies. Although the videogame was born in America, Japan is now the world's leading producer, exporting a product that influences such fields as music and fashion. Talented young Japanese are attracted to the videogame industry, and for the past several years, they have made remarkable achievements in this visual representation, supported by the development of computers.

The exhibition probes into videogames from the perspective that they are not merely for games for children, but are one of the few cultural fields where Japan is the world leader, in view of the fact that it is a new way of expression reflecting the mood of the times.

The theme, "What are Videogames?" is explored from various angles; their past and future, game hardware and software, and their influences on other areas. Richly detailed explanation panels as well as game machines are presented at the exhibition.

Closed on Mondays and Dec. 28, 2000 through Jan. 3, 2001 and Jan. 9 (Tue), but open on Jan. 8 (Mon).
Hours:	9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (No admittance after 6:00 p.m.)
Organizers:	Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito, The Yomiuri Shimbun
Collaboration:	Kobe Fashion Museum, TV Game Museum
Special Cooperation:	Kouichi Sugiyama, Hiroshi Masuyama, Hisakazu Hirabayashi
Supported by:	Computer Entertainment Software Association
Sponsored by:	Toyota Motor Corporation
Cooperation:	Eidos Interactive KK, ASCII Corporation, ATLUS Co., Ltd., ENIX Corporation, CAPCOM CO., LTD., Kyoto Research Park Corp., Creatures inc., GameStudio inc., GAME FREAK inc., Konami Co., Ltd., Shogakukan Production co., ltd., Square Co., Ltd., Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Sony Communication Network Corp., Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Taito Corporation, D3D co., ltd., Dreams Ltd., Namco Ltd., Nintendo Co., Ltd., PetWORKs co., ltd., Furifuri co., frognation. com, Pokemon Center Inc., Bomber Express co., ltd., Marigul Management inc., Media Factory, inc., RandnetDD Co.,Ltd., SOUM Corporation
Admission:	¥800 General ¥600 Advance-purchase tickets, groups (20 or more) ¥1,000 H.T.P. (one-year Pass for 15- to 19-year-olds, available at ATM and JR East) ¥2,000 Pass for Adults (one-year pass for persons aged 20 and above) Free Students (through 9th grade), senior citizens (65 and older), and handicapped persons

Structure of the Show:

Zone 1: From the Atom to the Bit
An introductory section leading visitors from the physical world to an electronic world.
* Pong (a ping-pong table)
* Pac-Man (a maze)

Zone 2: The Evolution of Videogames (Hardware)
The development of computerized presentation is displayed, featuring the evolution of the CPU (central processing unit).
* A chronological table of the development of videogames
* 3-D Mario character
* The development of interface

Zone 3: The History of Videogames (Contents)
The classification and development of game software
* Display of examples
* Through videos, Hisakazu Hirabayashi explains the "grammar" of games when designing software.

Zone 4: The people and Their Imagination
A genealogical report of people involved in games
* Graphic panels: Various people's roles in the development of games

Zone 5: Videogames as Social Phenomena
Influences of games on other areas, and social phenomena they have given rise to.
* Pokemon character goods, etc.
* Pikachu car

Zone 6: From the Present to the Future
* Introduction of the latest software for domestic game machines, such as Sega's Dreamcast and Sony's PlayStation2
* Introduction of TV Game Museum

"Computer Family" by Grinder-Man is presented at "The Secret Room."

Related projects:

Opening Talk
Two creators of "Pokemon" and "PostPet" will talk about the games they are now involved in designing, including the future of games what they are going to do. It will be a historic session.
Date: October 28 (Sat), 2000
Venue: Workshop room of the Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Panelists: Tsunekazu Ishihara, Kazuhiko Hachiya
Presider: Hiroshi Masuyama
Seating: 80 (on a first-come-first-served basis)
Admission: Included in admission fee to the current exhibition

Talk Events

1. On media art: Can media art make a breakthrough to create a new way of expression?
Date: December 17 (Sun), 2000
Venue: Workshop room of the Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Panelists: Keiji Nakamura, Hisashi Muroi
Seating: 80 (on a first-come-first-served basis)
Admission: Included in admission fee to the current exhibition

2. On TV game music: Kouichi Sugiyama, famous for writing the music of "Dragon Quest," and Hisakazu Hirabayashi, a leading game analyst, will give a talk session.
Date: January 20 (Sat), 2001
Venue: Workshop room of the Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Panelists: Kouichi Sugiyama, Hisakazu Hirabayashi
Seating: 80 (on a first-come-first-served basis)
Admission: Included in admission fee to the current exhibition

BIT GENERATION 2000 "TV GAMES"
Catalogue ¥2,500

Mail to: contrepoint@arttowermito.or.jp

It's NEW!
ATM Contemporary Art Gallery's
Pass for Adults

A new pass has been developed for adults aged 20 and older, letting the holder make an unlimited number of visits to the Contemporary Art Gallery's exhibitions for one year from the date of purchase.
The price is ¥2,000. The artwork on the pass has been designed by Hiroko Ichihara, an artist who incorporates words in her works. The logo on the pass reads: "Contemporary art -- as easy as pie."
The pass is on sale at theticket counter in Art Tower Mito.

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