Directors Cuts: Insights behind the NVM from Iain Simons. This month, Iain looks at the locations behind our favourite videogames, and discusses why where something is made is so important.

Due to incredible demand over the summer holidays period, the NVM has now extended its opening hours to Wednesday – Sunday every week. The NVM will be open all school holidays too, such as the upcoming October Half Term from October 23rd – 31st.

The National Videogame Museum (NVM) is delighted to announce the launch of its new online exhibition.
This new website showcases the experiences of players of the social simulation videogame Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the 2020/21 lockdown period. These experiences and stories were collected via an online open call and have now been selectively curated and showcased on a new dedicated website.

We’ve found out a lot about Gang Beasts during our Gang Beast Takeover this summer. Here’s a list of 5 things we learned:

Until the day that we can directly control games with our minds, and that future might not be too far away, these pieces of degrading plastic and electronics, imbued with our memories of interacting with the soaring narratives or dazzling mechanical inputs, offer the primary way for us to engage with our favourite medium.

From 22nd July to the 31st August, the NVM will be open every day, with a special exhibit about Sheffield’s best wobbly brawler – Gang Beasts! We’ve partnered up with local developers Boneloaf to give our visitors an insight into how they made the worldwide smash-hit game.

We are teaming up with the University of Sheffield’s School of Education and the Literacies Research Cluster to promote maker-led education. We’ll be supporting the MakerFutures program to develop digital literacies in schools, libraries, and museums (like ours!).

A week-long remote event to explore self-care and making games, experiences and things together — 4 Days of Thinking Together + 3 Days of Making. Recruiting now!

The National Videogame Museum is delighted to announce that it is being supported by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Digital Innovation and Engagement Fund for its new project: Playing with Power. This support will allow the museum to continue growing and innovating, as we continue opening post-lockdown.

Lose yourself in this free immersive online experience which takes you on a unique virtual journey. Set in Sheffield’s only time-travelling nightclub, you are invited to travel back through time and experience a number of different historical eras each with a link to Sheffield’s colourful history.