A row of classic arcade games (Photos courtesy of Joshua Tsui)St
ep into a world where pixels meet history, where the hum of arcade machines and the thrill of competition echo through time. Imagine wandering through an immersive space filled with vibrant art, interactive displays, and nostalgic sounds that transport you back to the golden age of gaming.Joshua Tsui, director of innovation at DePaul's Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration, has organized an interactive art exhibit that tells the history of the arcade developer Midway. The exhibit stems from Tsui's 2020 documentary “Insert Coin," which encapsulates his early career and the team who created “Mortal Kombat," “NBA Jam" and other famous video games.
The exhibit includes 15 playable games that communicate the story of the iconic company and feature interviews with former Midway designers and behind-the-scenes videos, art and other ephemera from the development.
"Insert Coin" gained significant recognition at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2020 and was widely screened across the nation, capturing the essence of Midway's revolutionary impact on the gaming industry.
"It has been an unexpected honor to transform a film into a tangible and immersive experience. I am excited for visitors to explore the history of a Chicago-based company that has profoundly influenced the global landscape of video games, entertainment and popular culture," Tsui says.
The exhibit is open now through Feb. 16, 2025, at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art in Glen Ellyn, IL. For more information and tickets, visit here. To learn more about Joshua and the Jarvis Center, watch this video.