The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect

How did Pac-Man and its ever more complex and interactive successors come to “capture our imaginations and influence our world?” The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect is an exciting and abundantly illustrated companion book to our American Art Museum’s exhibition of the same name. It explores the story line, development, innovation and imagery of eighty of the most popular video games ever produced—as determined by public vote. The author and guest curator Chris Melissinos (formerly chief gaming officer for Sun Microsystems) makes a compelling argument for video games as an artistic medium.  Hardcover, 256 pages; more than 100 illustrations. 10"x10"

Museum Provenance

The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s interactive exhibit The Art of Video Games (March 16 – September 30, 2012) is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium. These nostalgic and highly collectible gifts, accessories and toys celebrate the relatively simple joys of ‘80s arcade and Atari console games.

Every Smithsonian purchase will arrive with a museum provenance card explaining how it is adapted from or inspired by an object or objects in our collection.