The Association of Archives and Projects for the Conservation of Video Games (AAPCJV) announces the launch of an ambitious initiative: the creation of a museum dedicated to video games in Bucharest: Video Games Museum.
This initiative, carried out with the support of the Romanian Video Game Developers Association (RGDA) and supported by private donations, aims to preserve and highlight the heritage of Romanian and universal video games as a cultural phenomenon that has influenced whole generations since its beginnings.
The official opening of the Museum of Video Games is planned for the last quarter of 2024. The location of the museum will be announced soon.
For this initiative, AAPCJV has co-opted into the project team Andreas Lange, the curator of the ComputerSpieleMuseum in Berlin, the largest video game museum in Europe, who will take care of the universal wing of the museum.
By collaborating with RGDA and with the support of Romanian gaming industry leaders, the museum will highlight the significant contributions of Romanian developers to the global video game industry, through the wing dedicated to games created in Romania.
The Video Games Museum will offer visitors an immersive journey through the history of video games, showcasing their evolution from simple pixels to complex universes that fascinate the imagination. The exhibits will feature a wide range of artefacts including game consoles, original software, concept art and developer interviews, creating an immersive and educational experience for all ages.
Among the games present in the museum, visitors will be able to interact with the first game developed in Romania, Astro 64, in 1978, by Viorel Darie for the Felix C-256 calculator.
“Globally, the gaming industry is constantly expanding. In fact, it will approach $200 billion in 2024, surpassing the music and film industries combined.
Romania deserves to appear on the international map of countries that already have a museum dedicated to gaming. Not only through the heritage left by Romanian game and hardware enthusiasts and developers, but especially because there is an increased interest from brands and companies to get actively involved in the world of gaming, in order to access new audiences”, stated Vlad Popovici, expert in the gaming industry, veteran of the advertising industry and co-founder of AAPCJV.
“Interactive games are what distinguish us from primates. Since the dawn of homo sapiens, humans have played analog games. In the last 50 years, we have started playing digitally, and our realities are succeeding from virtual to real. We also have the new Flappy Bird and the eternal Princess Peach on our phone. It’s totally normal to be nostalgic, and it’s okay to think you’re a video game character. Imagine a journey from Pong to Mario, an Xbox, next to a Tetris, which is opposite a Solitaire, where two moves to the left lead to Quake, and where above is Prince of Persia seen through the new Apple Vision . The interactive history of humanity in RGB, with hundreds of consoles and thousands of games. This will be the Video Games Museum,” said Miloš Jovanović, Creative Director, AAPCJV Co-Founder and gamer since the 70s.
“We are excited to launch this landmark project that marks the recognition of video games as fundamental elements of contemporary culture. The Museum of Video Games will be a space where enthusiasts of all ages can explore, learn and find inspiration in the history and art of video games. This initiative underlines our commitment to recognize and celebrate video games not only as a form of entertainment, but as an important part of cultural heritage, influencing entire generations”, said Adrian Ștefănoiu, veteran in the entertainment and advertising industry, co- founder of AAPCJV.
The Association of Video Game Archives and Preservation Projects is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of video games as an essential part of preserving digital history. AAPCJV aims to inform the general public about the importance and impact of video games in contemporary society.
