The National Videogame Arcade

World’s first dedicated cultural centre for games opens in Nottingham, Saturday 28 March

• Five-storey building in the heart of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter to promote the diverse cultural, educational, economic and social benefits of games
• A mixture of permanent and constantly-changing exhibitions suitable for all ages
• First major exhibition Jump! examines the history and craft behind one of the medium’s most fundamental pleasures
• A History of Games in 100 Objects tells the story of videogames in Britain from 1951 to the present day

The National Videogame Arcade (NVA), the world’s first permanent centre to celebrate and explore games culture, will open in Nottingham on Saturday 28 March, coinciding with the start of the Easter holidays. Supported by Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, the NVA showcases and makes accessible the widest imaginable array of interactive experiences - from vintage arcade machines and home computers to experimental new works and unique location-specific installations. Through innovative cultural partnerships and education programmes, the NVA will connect new audiences with the UK's heritage as a world-leading innovator in games development, to inspire and empower game-makers of all ages and backgrounds. “Videogames are pioneering new forms of creative expression and engagement with technology,” said NVA Co-Director Jonathan Smith. “A new generation is growing up with games that shape their fundamental conceptions of social interaction, creativity and learning. At this incredibly exciting time, The National Videogame Arcade invites everyone to share in the discovery of new ways for people to play together.” The NVA’s special exhibition programme opens with Jump!, an in-depth exploration of this elemental gameplay action. Examining the history and spirit of jumping from Donkey Kong (1981) to Destiny (2014) through a series of innovative interactive exhibits and playable games, Jump! is accompanied by a special exhibition guide written by Professor James Newman, author of Teaching Videogames (Routledge, 2013). One permanent feature of the NVA will be A History of Games in 100 Objects. This interactive exhibition will map the history of videogame culture in Britain - from the appearance of the world’s first game-playing computer at the 1951 Festival of Britain, to the newest virtual reality experiences on Oculus Rift. The NVA is a project of GameCity, which has worked since 2006 to bring videogames to the widest possible audiences through the internationally-renowned GameCity Festival and GameCity Prize, along with innovative public engagement projects such as Off The Map, in collaboration with The British Library. Iain Simons, Co-Director of the NVA, said: “Since announcing the opening of The National Videogame Arcade in October last year we’ve been overwhelmed by the support we have received locally, nationally and internationally. We simply can’t wait to open our doors at the end of March.” For more information, visit: www.gamecity.org   LISTINGS INFORMATION   Opening date:       Saturday 28 March 2015 Opening times:     10am - 6pm Tuesday - Sunday plus Bank Holidays Address:                  National Videogame Arcade, 24-32 Carlton Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NN Tickets:                    £8.50 for adults, £6.50 concessions and £25 for a family of four   For further information contact: James Douglas or Rosie Beaumont-Thomas at Four Colman Getty Tel: 0203 697 4267 / 0203 697 4267 E: James.douglas@fourcolmangetty.com / Rosie.Beaumont-Thomas@fourcolmangetty.com