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Joseph Campbell, the scholar of comparative myth whose work inspired the Star Wars saga, reminded us that every archetypal hero of fable and fiction is drawn into an adventure, enlists the support of trusted comrades, passes alone beyond a threshold of ordinary endurance, survives the crucial ordeal, and then remerges steeled and restored. Whether his name is Gilgamesh, Quetzalcoatl, Hercules, Odysseus, Orpheus, Beowulf, or Luke Skywalker, every typical hero of myth endures the arduous tests that give him moral substance, […]

Continue Reading about Comic Book Heroes and the Battle of Good vs. Evil Published on:
October 7, 2009

My mother just celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday. Her kids came home to Clinton, NY, from California and Colorado, from Ohio and Rochester, of course. Her grandchildren showed up, and so did three of her great-grandchildren. Friends and family, nieces and nephews, cousins and colleagues all gathered at Mom’s favorite restaurant for a dinner and birthday party.  Mom got cards and good wishes, a few presents, a cake with candles, and, of course, a crown to announce her status as the […]

Continue Reading about You Say It’s Your Birthday Published on:
September 25, 2009

Autumn in upstate New York is not my favorite season. I’m a summer guy. I enjoy the heat, swimming, golfing, landscaping, fresh air blowing through open windows, and light clothing. Autumn abruptly ends all of these things, and each year I suffer more than your normal New Yorker from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Sure, I love the autumn leaves and landscape, the first batch of chili, and Halloween. However, these are small consolations as I count the many days until the return […]

Continue Reading about Is Fantasy Football an Electronic Game? Published on:
September 22, 2009

Six years ago, James Paul Gee announced at the beginning of his book, What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy, “I want to talk about video games—yes, even violent video games—and say something positive about them.” It was not quite as provocative as Martin Luther nailing his ninety-five theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, but it was nonetheless a bold statement at a time when few scholars promoted the educational value of […]

Continue Reading about Dr. James Paul Gee Speaks on Gaming and Learning in the 21st Century Published on:
September 15, 2009

Most of my colleagues and friends know this about me: I am a gardener. Except during winter, you’ll find me in my garden whenever I have a spare moment. Gardening ranks as one of the most popular forms of adult leisure, so I know I’m not alone in my hobby. My gardening enthusiasm also links me to the museum’s founder, Margaret Strong, who loved cultivating her home’s landscape.
When I can’t be in my own garden, I find other gardens to […]

Continue Reading about ROC Gardens Published on:
September 11, 2009

I’m psyched! Today, the National Center for the History of Electronic Games is announcing that we’ve acquired the Videotopia Collection. The 114 arcade games in this group include pioneers like Computer Space and Pong, crowd-pleasers like Space Invaders and Galaga, icons like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, rarities like Tank and Time Traveler, racing simulation games like Sega’s Super GT, and landmark titles like Breakout and Tron. This unique group of arcade games represents the heyday of arcades in all its […]

Continue Reading about NCHEG Has Acquired the Videotopia Collection! Published on:
September 8, 2009

My recent family vacation to the Adirondacks was a great respite from work, school, and the seemingly endless yard work that has consumed the better part of my summer. The weather was great—just right for a scenic boat ride on the lakes—and other than a marauding bear outside the inn in which we were staying (yes, a real bear), the trip was filled with quality family time, relaxing evenings, and great gaming.
Great gaming? This is not a concept normally associated […]

Continue Reading about Retro Arcade Gaming…in the Adirondacks?!? Published on:
September 3, 2009

It was a sunny August day when the Strong curators rolled into the little town of Arcola, Illinois. Dominated by its towering grain elevator and surrounded by endless fields of corn and soy beans, Arcola is the birthplace of Johnny Gruelle, the artist and author best known for creating Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy. Our destination? The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum, of course.
Founded a decade ago by Johnny Gruelle’s granddaughter Joni and her husband, Tom Wannamaker, the Raggedy Ann […]

Continue Reading about Raggedy Ann Makes Her Move Published on:
August 31, 2009

First patented in 1891, the Ouija Board has been popular ever since—a remarkably long run. Moving a heart-shaped “planchette” across a board printed with an alphabet, the numbers 0-9, and YES and NO options allowed players to spell out and compile apparently un-sourced “messages.” The effect was mysterious then and remains a bit spooky today.
It’s no coincidence that Ouija became popular in the late 1800s when spiritualism was sweeping from Europe to the United States. The original sellers promised an […]

Continue Reading about Ouija Board: “Yes, Yes” and “Oh, No!” Published on:
August 25, 2009