Free Pixel

We (meaning Ian Bogost, John Sharp of SCAD, and myself) are currently organizing an event scheduled for early 2010:

“The Art History of Games” will be a 3 day symposium on the role of games as art form
February 4-6, 2010 at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta
How do games relate to the established art world? Games have served humanity in a number of diverse ways including entertainment, education, exercise, conflict resolution, ritual and self-expression. But not until the 20th century did games and the play experiences they provide emerge as an art form as well. With nods to the past and future, and with open acknowledgement of all the awkwardness, bravado and measured successes thus far, “The Art History of Games” seeks to more clearly articulate the importance of digital games as a form of art. The symposium aims to bridge the gulf between practice and theory in a combination of participating game designers, scholars and art historians.

Confirmed speaker include John Romero, game industry pioneer and icon; Christiane Paul, Curator of New Media at the Whitney Museum of American Art; Frank Lantz, Director of the New York University Game Center; Jesper Juul, noted game scholar, author of Half-Real; and Henry Lowood, Curator of the History of Science & Technology Collections at Stanford University.
Embedded in the event will be the premiere of three commissioned artgames by Jason Rohrer, Tale of Tales and Eric Zimmerman. The designers will present their work during the conference, and will participate in the discussion.

The symposium is organized by SCAD Atlanta and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Info and registration here.