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Iowa Aims to Establish International Video Game Hall of Fame
eldavojohn writes "Anyone who's seen King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters knows that Ottumwa, Iowa is the Dodge City of video games. Yesterday, 3,500 people showed up to the kick-off speech that announced the intent to build the International Video Game Hall of Fame right there. Radio Free Iowa states Ottumwa's desire to become the 'video game capital of the world' and held a Halo 3 and Guitar Hero tournament there yesterday. Will this town of 25,000 residents secure the title?"
that Ottumwa, Iowa was a real place.
I thought it had been made up for MASH. You know, like Toledo, Ohio.
I like you, Stuart. You're not like everyone else, here, at Slashdot.
There are 3,500 people playing video games in one room at quakecon right now. Could they have picked a worse inaugural weekend to do this? Anyone who's anyone in the videogame press is at Quakecon, home to iD software, the SMU Guildhall and countless other software houses. Not to mention 2 hours south is Austin, where at any one point there are probably 3,500 people playing halo in the dorms at UT. Good luck with that.
moox. for a new generation.
Being someone who has lived in Iowa his entire life, but who also spent a lot of time travelling inside and outside the country, I cringe when people make comments like that. But then again, a lot of Iowans who aren't from Ottumwa say the same thing about Ottumwa.
I find it a little silly that they want to become the "videogame capital of the world". Most of the world can't find Ottumwa, or even Iowa on a map and those who can wonder why they would express such a desire, but you have to start somewhere I guess, and I wish them the best of luck.
Since Twin Galaxies has been doing its thing there for so long, Ottumwa actually seems like a sensible choice. I am one of those who scratched my head over Cleveland being selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame despite Cleveland's claims to being the location of the first rock concert and the first rock DJ. Ultimately, Cleveland offered the best financial incentives. Maybe Ottumwa was the only city even remotely interested.
makes about as much sense as locating the Hockey Hall of Fame in Rio de Janiero or calling Des Moines Surf City USA.
Actually, I travel to Iowa at least once a week from Michigan. I can't speak for Ottumwa (I've wanted to head down to Twin Galaxies to take a picture, but haven't had time), but Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Dubuque are all decent places to be. I've even spent a little time in a tiny town called Perry. Now, that's a place where there's not much to do. But it's still cool, they have the only hotel I've stayed at with a two lane bowling alley in the basement that is still functional.
Here in San Francisco we have the completely ignored "Walk of Game" in the Meteron which was heavily advertised but no one really cared, because its fucking dumb.
Here's the kicker, its within walking distance to Bungie and probably and 4-5 large game publishers like Lucas Arts (well a cab ride anyway).
Here's the Problem...Games are not Hall of Fame material that would dumb, only Gamers could be hall of fame material. (Kinda like the real HOF)
However, gamers are the least interesting people in the world. Reference The Image Comment http://xkcd.com/621/
If you want to make something people would actually give a shit about, make a museum gallery (not historical, more like MOMA style) that goes beyond button mashers and shows the interesting, weird, and beautiful games that never made it to the masses, that would never be seen unless a someone who knew where to find them was and put them on display to play.
"Get them before they get....
Shhh!
The more that the urban scum on the coasts think that Iowa is devoid of anything good, the better. As an Iowan, I can safely say that the state is best left sparsely populated with nice people whose personalities reflect its tranquil beauty.