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Skyfox Does London

An article by Skyfox, posted on March 07. 2003.

So you think you know everything there is about the Computer Games Industry do you? You have played PacMan, meddled with Metal Gear and tackled Tomb Raider... but can you say you have stood next to the FIRST arcade machine? Huh? Can you? Well, the 'Game On' exhibition at the Barbican in London is the place you want to be.

So 'what's this all about' I hear you cry! Well, myself (Skyfox), my good friend Chris (MI Novel guy), Spaff, Lemonhead and Tom Sarris (LucasArts PR guy), for some unknown and perhaps evil reason, all met up down in London to pay this exhibition a visit. Tell a lie, it was also a first chance for us to meet up in person, and it was a lot of fun... so sit yourself down and I shall tell you a tale!

To cut a long story short, after a 3-hour train ride down from Liverpool and a 10 taxi fare, me and Chris arrived at the Barbican. (On a personal note, may I remind people never to use the toilet on a train... it's tricky and flushing one is the second most scary experience in my life, you have been warned.) We all met up, shook hands, said hello and mocked Spaff a little about his flares... but onto the stuff you want to hear! The 'Game On' exhibition basically spanned two floors and started at the beginning of gaming history. One of the first arcade machines (which I totally forgot to take a picture of, sorry!) and onto what I assume was a 70's arcade machine as it was bright yellow and styled in a silly way.

On show seemed to be every computer platform known to man (and woman, we have to be PC these days), and I just had to take a picture of the machine that started me on my trek to geekdom... the Spectrum 48k with the rubber keys. * big sigh * Amigas, Mega Drives, NES', PC Engines, Atari Lynxs, they had them all! I think even a Mac was there, although I must not have looked for too long, for fear of blindness.

Next up, games... for what would computers be without games? Email answers to dowereallycare@thescummbar.com now! If you are as old as I am, you will remember some of the classics on display here, Elite, Sensible Soccer, Flashback, hundred of classics, and guess what my friends. Yes, Monkey Island was there! But what collection of classic games would be complete without that eh? Using my expert Monkey Island EyeTM (available now from the downloads section) I was able to determine that it was the PC CD Rom version on display, but it got better... ORIGINAL concept art! Tom told us they searched high and low to find these for the exhibition, and I don't know, there was just something great seeing that they had decided to recognise the Monkey Island games so much there. You and I both know it deserves it. (Pictures available below)

The rest of the displays consisted of more recent games like Tomb Raider, The Sims and Grand Theft Auto 3, even looking into future games, but basically it was the Monkey Island stuff you wanted to hear about wasn't it? Fast forward if you please...

* Sqeeeeeeeeeeel *

Time: Two hours from previous paragraph
Location: Lost somewhere in London
Reason: We are all following Spaff while he searches for the world's longest intestine. (I kid you not!)

At this point in time, the rest of us are debating about attacking Spaff for leading us on a two hour wild goose chase looking for an intestine! Although, this did give us all a chance to chat and to teach Tom all about cricket! Sadly, all we brits hated cricket so we probably didn't give the best impression of it. I just have to take this opportunity to say what a top bunch of blokes these guys are. We all had a good laugh and I know I would be up for it again.

So the rest of you guys, thanks for reading this and enjoy the photos dotted around!

All the Best
~Skyfox
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Comment from Governor Phatt

cool pics...umm...whats wrong with flares? : p hehe

Comment from Ralgath[queztone]

aiyyyy, nice read :) love the pics :) an almost-nekkid guybrush! my pr0n collection is finally complete!

cool tshirt spafford (connects to your pimping record) :D

wish i was there with you guys

Comment from scabb-

I can't find the "Monkey Island EyeTM" In the Downloads section.

Comment from Skyfox

eeewwwww!! Did you HAVE to say that!

Comment from Scummbuddy

Searching for that intestine didn't have anything to do with that picture infront of McDonald's, did it?

Comment from Narrative

lol, wicked stuff

Comment from Shanty

Oh. There was actually someone taking pictures when *I* was there... WAS IT ONE OF YOU PEOPLE, I WONDER. Actually I don't. Sorry.

Comment from Skyfox

Neither did we know until we got there, quite suprised we were, but then we thoght about it, MI is such an important part of PC games history, how could it not be included?

Actually, I loved playing that old arcade Star Wars machine again, was one of my faves as a kid!

Comment from Gabez

Sounds like fun! I had heard about this 'Game On' exhibition, but I didn't know there was so much MI related stuff there.

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