Now Hiring at the CVGA!

For those who are interested in working at the archive next semester, we now have one more job opening!


If you already applied in August/September, feel free to apply again. It may be that your Winter term schedule is more compatible with our needs.
 
Go to the Student Employment website and apply using the online system (Job ID 21972). Please include your Winter semester availability as well.

Note that we're looking primarily for work-study students, and would prefer someone who plans on being able to work during the upcoming Spring/Summer.

Library Assistant

Job ID 21972

Funding Source Work-Study

Employer Art, Architecture & Engineering Library

Job Description - Work at the Computer & Video Game Archive desk to circulate games, answer questions, and enforce archive policies. - Test donated games and equipment, help install software/hardware, etc. - Assist in running archive-related special events and tournaments. - Contribute to the archive blog and Twitter account.

Educational value of this job. - Gain experience working in an academic library, and gain knowledge of the inner workings of a library special collection. - Gain experience repairing newer & older computers/consoles. - Increase your knowledge of the video game and media industry.

Job Requirements At least 4 of the following: - Previous customer service experience. - Knowledge of and experience playing a large number of old & new video games. - Knowledge of and experience using software related to PC games (Steam, DOSBox, etc.) - Experience building/repairing PC computers and/or video game consoles. - Experience designing posters and informative displays. - Experience giving tours or coordinating special events.

Number of Available Openings 1

Hours 16.0 to 20.0 hours per week

Compensation $9.00/hour, $0.25 raise after 300 & 600 hours worked

Time Frame Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer

Contact Person Valerie Waldron

Work Location Computer & Video Game Archive, Art, Architecture & Engineering Library, Duderstadt Center.

Smithsonian Seeks Gaming Images

The Smithsonian's Art of Video Games Exhibition is seeking images of creative projects and paraphernalia inspired by video games.

According to their site, they are looking for "photographs that show how video games can inspire creativity! These might include images of video-game-inspired drawings, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, events, graphics, food, wallpaper... anything, really! We're particularly interested in seeing creative and crazy costumes inspired by your favorite game characters."

Read more about it here.

National STEM Video Game Challenge

Submissions are being accepted for the National STEM Video Game Challenge, an opportunity for students and educators to flex their creative muscles and share their original video game concepts.

The competition is divided into four categories: Middle School, High School, Collegiate, and Educators. The general goal of the competition is to motivate interest is Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Submissions will be accepted anytime between November 15th - March 12.

Read more about the competition here.

Thanksgiving Hours for the CVGA

The Computer & Video Game Archive will be open today from 11:30am-9pm, with an English 125 class taking place in the archive in the morning from 10:00-11:30am.

We will be closed from Wednesday - Sunday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and will resume our hours on Monday, Nov. 28th.


Happy Thanksgiving!

How To Do Things With Video Games

Ian Bogost, author of several books including How To Do Things With Video Games, spoke to Forbes recently in an interview about video games as a medium.

He discusses the strengths of video games as a medium, the power of games in politics, and how the industry is handling adult themes in games. He also mentions the varying answers that people give to the question "what is a video game?" and how that affects whether they consider themselves gamers.

Read the interview in more depth here.

CVGA Joins Google+

The Computer & Video Game Archive now has a presence on Google+, which can be found here.
 

CVGAon

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. We hope you'll join in on the conversation.

Pondering the Issue of Games in Libraries

Phil Minchin of Port Phillip Library in Australia shares his views on why games are an overlooked but important addition to libraries via a blog post on the Library Journal blog.

In it, he points out a number of reasons why games should be in the collection, including that they are important elements of culture, that they foster community, and that they are art - the poetry of system.

Read more about his insights here.

Top Games - Month of October 2011

Here are our top games played in the archive for the month of October. There was a tie for 1st place, with Melee being back in the lead for the first time in quite awhile.

1. (tie) Super Smash Bros. Melee (Gamecube)
1. (tie) Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360)
3. FIFA Soccer 11
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3)
6. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Xbox 360)
7. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
8. (tie) Super Smash Bros. (N64)
8. (tie) Infamous 2 (PS3)
10. Halo Reach (Xbox 360)

It'll be tough for Melee to stay in the lead for next month though, since we just got FIFA 12 and Gears of War 3, along with other anticipated games like Batman: Arkham City. Who do you think will win next month?