What if you could dive into the past, present and future of the gaming world, all in one place? Well, you can, if you head to Game On, a special exhibition currently being held at Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation). Game On has been travelling the world since its first showing at the UK's Barbican Centre in 2002, and this year it comes to Tokyo for the first time, bringing you 135 different games to try out.
The exhibition is split into nine 'stages', taking you through the history of games and into the future. As you step inside, you’re greeted by Computer Space, the world's first commercially sold arcade game made in 1971. Next to it is the tennis game Pong, which was released the following year and is considered the very first sports arcade game. Keep walking and you'll come across an area that replicates an '80s-style arcade, featuring the classic Space Invader and Street Fighter games. In Stage 3 you'll find role playing, adventure, simulation and puzzle games – the first games to be brought into households and bound to make you feel super nostalgic as you play on the 'family computer'. In Stage 5, you’re surrounded by a wide range of portable games, including some on smartphones, while in Stage 6 you can see original sketches of Sonic the Hedgehog and every Pokemon game packaged in their original boxes.
They've saved the best for last, though. Towards the end of the exhibition, put on the visor-style headset and enter the mind-bending virtual reality world of Playstation VR, a brand-new game that might just make you never want to return to the real world. Believe the hype!
Note that you need to purchase a special ticket beforehand in order to experience the PlayStation VR and only those 12 years or older are allowed to participate. For pricing and additional details, click here.
