Tue, Oct 31, 2006 page14

• Something old, something new 溫故知新

  • • 
    • 
    • 

  The Science Museum in London has launched its first exhibition dedicated to the history of video games, with fans able to put their old skills to the test on more than 120 classics. ”It's very rare to be able to have the whole of an industry on display, from the early conception to the latest product,” said Heather Mayfield, deputy head of the Science Museum.

  The exhibition, entitled “Game On,” will showcase Wii, Nintendo's new, seventh-generation video game console, which has yet to be launched officially. Visitors working their way around the 13 rooms can turn back time by getting their hands on “Spacewar!”, one of the earliest video games for a digital computer, created in 1962 by Steve Russell at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  Arcade games line the walls. Among them is the 1971 game “Computer Space,” generally accepted as the world's first commercially-sold, coin-operated video game, and “Pong,” a basic version of table tennis and often considered the world's first arcade game, which was launched in 1972.

  

  Reece Wallace, 11, plays a game of table-top Space Invaders during the opening of the "Game on" exhibition. 「遊戲開始」開幕展當天，十一歲的瑞西•瓦歷斯玩著桌上型的「Space Invaders」遊戲。 (照片：法新社)

  PHOTO: AFP

  Visitors can try older two-dimension platform games, often in black-and- white with simple computer music, such as “Space Invaders”, “Pac-Man” and “Donkey Kong”, which progressively gave way to “Mario Bros.”, “Zelda” and more recently “Pokemon” — more technical color games packed with fast-moving action.

  The exhibition also dedicates rooms to hand-held consoles, from early versions with liquid crystal displays and tinny music to modern consoles with three-dimensional color games.

  Some video games have gone on to become films, such as “Mario Bros.” and “Tomb Raider.” “Game On” has already been shown in several countries, including the United States, Sweden and Israel. (AFP)

  倫敦科學博物館舉辦首次電玩史展，電玩迷可以重溫一百二十多種經典電玩，測試自己是否寶刀未老。科學博物館的副館長海瑟．梅菲德說︰「這是展示電玩產業全貌的千載難逢機會，從早期概念到近期產品一應俱全。」

  名為「遊戲開始」（Game On）的展覽將展示尚未正式發行的任天堂第七代新主機「Wii」。穿梭十三個展示廳的參觀者可以打「太空大戰」，讓時光倒流。太空大戰是最早期的數位電腦遊戲之一，由麻省理工學院的史提夫．羅素在一九六二年所創。

  多款遊戲機沿著展覽牆排列，其中有一九七一年據說為全球第一台商業式投幣電玩的「Computer Space」，與一九七二年普遍被認為是全球第一台遊戲機的基本桌球遊戲「Pong」。

  參觀者可以嘗試通常為黑白顯色、配上簡單電腦音樂的早期2D平台遊戲，例如「Space Invaders」、「Pac-Man」與「Donkey Kong」，它們之後被動作快速的科技彩色電玩如「瑪俐兄弟」、「Zelda」與較近期的「皮卡丘」等取代。

  展覽也有專門為掌上型電玩設置的展覽廳，從備有液晶顯示器與簡單電子音樂的早期版本，到現代版的3D彩色電玩都有。

  有些電玩已被改拍成電影，像是「瑪俐兄弟」與「古墓奇兵」等。「遊戲開始」已在美國、瑞典與以色列等國家展出過。　　　　　　　　　　　 （法新社/翻譯：賴美君）

  For your information

  Today's Words 今天單字

  1. dedicate v.t. 獻給 (xian4 gei3) 例: The movie was dedicated to the director's late wife. (這部電影是獻給導演已故的妻子。) 2. conception n. 概念 (gai4 nian4)，構想 (gou4 xiang3) 例: The plan was carried out well from its earliest conception. (這個計畫從最初構想就進行順利。) 3. showcase v.t. 展示 (zhan3 shi4) 例:They went to the tradeshow to showcase their latest product. (他們參加貿易展，展示最新產品。) 4. progressively adv. 漸漸地 (jian4 jian4 di5) 例: The situation in Iraq is getting progressively worse. (伊拉克的情勢每況愈下。)
• Most Popular

  • 1

    LA Dodgers show off World Series rings

  • 2

    Hong Kong Sevens settles into new Kai Tak Stadium

  • 3

    Dodgers edge Tigers and Yankees beat Brewers in opening games in the US

  • 4

    US hands over first long-awaited F-16

  • 5

    Huge 7.7 quake rocks Thailand and Myanmar