Site visit: The Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, NY

Hi! Dave recently gave me privileges to write posts for this blog, ostensibly to give readers an idea of what it is like to do technical support to CVGA. However, I'm taking this post to share a few images from another terrific gaming archive.

I just returned from a classic family road-trip during our local school district's spring break. We visited many museums and parks, from the Carl Sagan Planet Walk in Ithaca, NY, to A Christmas Story House and Museum in Cleveland, OH. My favorite museum we visited, though, was The Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, NY.

Video Game-Themed Pops Concert on Campus

THE MICHIGAN POPS ORCHESTRA PRESENTS “GAME OF POPS” on April 13, 2014 at
7:00 P.M.

(ANN ARBOR) - Led by Music Director Tristan Rais-Sherman, the Michigan Pops Orchestra presents Game of Pops on Sunday April 13th Michigan Theater. This April, the University of Michigan’s only student-run, student-directed orchestra will perform its annual spring concert!

This semester, the Michigan Pops is putting on a show guaranteed to thrill audience-members of all ages, including the music of John Williams, Mario, Shostakovich, The Olympic Games, Hercules, Halo, Kingdom Hearts, Prokofiev and, of course, Game of Thrones. This concert is sure to defy any stereotypes of a typical “orchestra concert” by utilizing a unique combination of vocal performers, multimedia, stage antics, and special effects. This semester, we will be featuring the Michigan Pops Concerto Competition winner, Allen Chang. Once again, Game of Pops promises to be an epic, adventure-packed show!

Pops appeals to the music-lover in everyone with its diverse repertoire, from classical pieces to video game themes to popular film scores! Working under the guidance of the University Activities Center, the Michigan Pops Orchestra’s members comprise a diverse group (undergraduate and graduate) from all disciplines, from English to Environmental Studies to Engineering! This 97-member, tightly-knit ensemble demonstrates commitment to and passion for musical collaboration each semester with an exhilarating performance! Join in on the games with the Michigan Pops in Game of Pops on Sunday, April 13th! Those who go…will be champions.

Concert and Ticket Information:

Sunday, April 13, 2014, 7:00 PM
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty
$5 for Students, $8 for Adults
Children/Students in Public Schools and Ann Arbor Day Cares are FREE at the door
Seniors 65+ are also FREE at the door
Tickets sold at TICKETMASTER.COM, AT THE DOOR (April 14) OR IN ADVANCE.

Pick up a “Passport to the Arts” with an MCARD from April 1-15 at Office of New
Student Programs in the LSA Building and redeem it at the door for a FREE TICKET!

For more about the Michigan Pops Orchestra, please visit our website:
http://www.michiganpops.com/

Contact:
Anitha Menon
Michigan Pops Orchestra, External Publicity Director
616.328.9893
avmenon@umich.edu

Most Popular Games During the Month of March 2014

Here is our list of most popular games played in the archive during March. Trigger Happy Havoc quickly rose in the ranks, and a variety of Nintendo games made a satisfying appearance as the semester continues. FIFA was so popular that we started getting requests for FIFA 13 and 12 again, also reflected in the list.

1. FIFA 14 (Xbox 360)
2. Madden NFL 25 (Xbox 360)
3. Halo 4 (Xbox 360)
4. (tie) FIFA Soccer 13 (Xbox 360)
4. (tie) Mariokart Wii
6. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (PS Vita)
7. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)
8. Super Smash Bros. Melee (Gamecube)
9. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
10. Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64)