APPLY ONLINE – LEVEL UP! From online guessing to online gaming

Building blocks, pop-up figures, dolls and inflatable cars are almost self-explanatory in the display cases and delight young and old alike. Its meaning and function can be seen in it, even if it is not part of your own game. But what about Gameboys, consoles, and controllers? What do they say? How can you collect and display digital games yourself? Which ones are classic, iconic, or worthy of ending up in a toy museum?

The Hessian Museum of Toys and Games in Hanau investigated these questions. Using some key items on loan from the Computer Games Museum in Berlin as well as some items from our own collection, the aim is to highlight the history of video games. There are certainly a number of really important toys and objects missing from the exhibition – so the museum encourages you to come forward with your suggestions, ideas and perhaps even individual donations. Furthermore, during preparation, it quickly became clear that the magic of video game media could not be conveyed without stimulating technical equipment.

In collaboration with the Seligenstadt Pinball and Arcade Museum, there is an original Donkey Kong machine to play on and you can experience the museum's first computer game for yourself. The Museum considers itself very lucky to have found two regional partners, BUNTSPECHT & RABE Softwaremanufaktur and EMPERIA Digital Solutions, who, with funding from the Hesse Museum Association, have developed their own little serious game with the Museum! The museum's original idea for an online escape mini-game became a dangerous mini-game. Using pieces from the permanent exhibition, visitors and new people around the world can get to know the museum and learn a little background on its pieces. The aim is to arouse fascination with the collections in a playful way, convey initial content and, of course, whet the appetite for visiting the museum. The link to “Russells and Grody's Adventure” can be found on the museum's home page: www.hpusm.de

A small movie about the game can now also be viewed on the home page. This explains how the idea eventually becomes a little browser game. In keeping with the museum's tradition, the history of games should not only be viewed from the point of view of the players, but the concept and production of games as well as the ideas and contexts to be found in each game are also closely examined. .

With the first Wilhelmsbad E-Sports Cup in November 2024, the museum is embarking on another exciting project as part of the program accompanying the exhibition: avid video gamers will have the opportunity to participate in the EA FC Open Championship. The Wilhelmsbad E-Sports Cup will be played in two online preliminary rounds, on Friday 8 and 15 November 2024, and a final round held at the museum on Saturday 23 November 2023. The winner will receive a prize money of €500, but the second and third place winners will also receive a prize money of €500. 200 and 100 euros. There will also be a Mario Kart event taking place at the museum on Sunday, November 24, 2024. There will also be lots of cool games and prizes here. The Museum is very pleased to have this project supported by the Ministry of Digitization and Innovation of the State of Hesse. Anyone interested can register using a separate registration form. The link will then be available on the museum's home page: www.hpusm.de

Through this approach to the world of digital gaming culture, the museum hopes not only to learn a lot itself, but also to give the growing gaming community new points of contact with the museum. The museum director, Dr. Victoria Ashenfeldt sums up: “We at the Hessian Museum of Toys and Games are convinced that playing together has always been a good idea. Perhaps the family conflicts over online media and time that are growing everywhere today could be better resolved together if parents made more time for digital play.” With their children? Maybe the children can teach their parents something?” It's all in keeping with the museum's ethos: staying curious together!

More information about the museum, the program and bookable offerings such as guided tours or classroom programs can be found at: www.hpusm.de