A new exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) presents a captivating journey through the evolution of video games over the past fifty years. The Game Worlds exhibition features playable titles, including the recently launched Hollow Knight: Silksong, developed by the Adelaide-based indie studio Team Cherry. The game, which debuted in September, gained immense popularity, reportedly crashing a global gaming platform due to high demand.
Bethan Johnson, co-curator of the exhibition, expressed excitement about including Hollow Knight: Silksong in the showcase. “Being able to include Hollow Knight: Silksong from Team Cherry has been really huge for us,” she noted. The exhibition not only allows visitors to play the latest games but also features original hand-drawn sketchbooks and maps from the Hollow Knight universe, accompanied by a spoiler alert for those currently immersed in the game.
From Classic to Contemporary Games
The exhibition opens with classics like the text-based adventure game Zork, released in the 1970s. Visitors can also enjoy globally recognized titles such as Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls, and The Sims. In addition to the gaming stations, the exhibition includes vintage advertising, showcasing the playful side of early marketing, such as the promise that users “won’t use the Commodore 64 more than 24 hours a day.”
The exhibition has garnered significant interest, particularly among students. So far, 2,800 students are booked to visit. Year 9 student Amy enjoyed trying out a vintage game from 1996, a time before she was born. “It’s simpler than today’s games and there are no touchscreens, but the controls make sense,” she said. “It’s way more fun than regular lessons.”
Johnson highlighted the creativity of early game developers, stating, “Even at the start of this burgeoning technology, people turned to it to create and play and share fictional worlds.” This sentiment reflects the enduring appeal of video games as an art form.
A Thriving Australian Game Development Scene
The timing of the exhibition coincides with the upcoming Melbourne International Games Week, scheduled for October 4-12, 2024. This ten-day event has established itself as the largest gaming forum in the Asia Pacific region.
The Australian video game industry reported a revenue of just over $339 million in 2024, with an impressive 93 percent of that revenue attributed to exports. Johnson pointed out Australia’s rich history in video game development, noting iconic titles such as The Hobbit from 2003 and Team Fortress from the 1990s.
“Not only in terms of contemporary games being developed, but also historic titles as well … we are an epicentre for a lot of really incredible game development,” Johnson stated.
The Game Worlds exhibition runs from October 5, 2024, to February 8, 2026, at ACMI in Federation Square, Melbourne. It promises to be an engaging experience for both gaming enthusiasts and those interested in the evolution of this dynamic medium.
