Video Games History, the Italian retrogaming event
October 2 and 3 are red-flag days for Italian retrogaming fans: in those days Monza will host the fourth edition of Video Games History, “the landmark event for retrogaming and more generally video games fans“. Organized by GamesCollection in partnership with retro-stores, associations, hardware manufacturers and games developers, the exhibition will be held in the Lombard city Urban Center and will provide the opportunity to go back to the past of video games without ignoring to glance at the present and the future of the medium.
The event’s Facebook page states that this year the space for Video Game History will cover 800 square meters, where there will be the chance to “visit a real museum with the whole video games history from the beginning to nowadays (with consoles, games, original magazines, artworks, unique pieces and vintage gadgets)“, join tournaments, experience rare consoles and games. Next to the past there will be the present (Street Fighter IV) and the upcoming future (the FIFA 11 preview) and a mix of the two like tournaments with Pac-Man Championship Edition and Bomberman Live on the Xbox Live Arcade network.
Furthermore the new edition of Video Games History will give the opportunity to launch the First PONG Italian Tournament (yes, exactly “that” PONG) and host “a series of meetings with historical Italian programmers, Bonaventura ‘BdB’ di Bello and Riccardo Cangini (Simulmondo) among these, but also an international guest whose curriculum includes works with SEGA“. Being arranged during the weekend, the exhibition much appropriately covers an evening at the longue bar atop the Urban Center with a party, music and Dj/Vj.
Those willing to skip the essential mundane occasions – after all you don’t meet fellow retrogamers, and maybe retrogaming-girls in your everyday life… – will be pleased to know that Video Games History will have room for trading of old and new hardware and software as well, featuring communities and retrogaming-dedicated stores and retailers of the latest stuff too. Aside from the awards of the several tournaments, on Sunday there will be a draw among the attending visitors to grant an Xbox 360 console.
The best part of the event? The entrance to the Urban Center, the tournaments and the party at the longue bar will be completely free. What a better occasion to meet whom shares an interest so unique and community-driven as retrogaming is? For my part I hope to be there but I can’t guarantee anything.