Video Game Museum of Rome explained

VIGAMUS
Location:	Via Sabotino 4, 00195, Rome
Type:	Video game museum

The Video Game Museum of Rome (VIGAMUS) is an interactive video game museum that displays the history of video games. The first official announcement for the museum was at the Italian Videogame Developer Conference (IVDC) in 2010. The museum opened its doors to the public in October 2012.^[1] VIGAMUS is among the founding members and promoters of EFGAMP, the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation Projects. This federation aims to find new opportunities of digital preservation, with a particular attention to video games.^[2]

Located in a large exhibition center, the museum is divided into different areas of video game history, starting with the Magnavox Odyssey.^[3] The collection displays 440 pieces of video game ephemera and has more than 100 panels with information about the history and background of the items displayed. Fifteen video game retrospectives give the viewers first-person knowledge of making certain games.

In addition to the regular exhibits, the museum also has different interactive areas for arcade games, console games, and an Oculus VR room.

Some of the unique items featured at the museum include the DOOM master disks and Crytek demo disks.^[4] The museum partnered with Crytek to launch a graduate course aimed at virtual reality development.^[5] The museum also has its own magazine called VMag about the video game industry.^[6]

Video game tournaments and conventions

The museum often hosts themed nights or tournaments, such as their Dark Souls III Day^[7] and the 20th Anniversary of Pokémon Tournament.^[8] The museum invites guests to play in a tournament to win versions of the newly released games or themed prizes.

In November 2016, the museum partnered with the Leonardo Caltagirone Group to launch GAMEROME, a new video game convention.^[9]

Interactive areas

Console

The console interactive areas feature 36 stations for visitor use, with new games added frequently.^[10] There are different themed corners and rooms, such as areas for The Witcher series of books and video games, and the SEGA Corner.^[11]

Arcade

VIGAMUS has a large collection of Arcade cabinets from the '80s and '90s and some of their featured games include:

• Street Fighter II
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2
• Neo Geo MVS

Oculus room

Launched in June 2016, this room houses the Oculus Rift DK2, sponsored by ASUS, visitors have a chance to play a variety of games in VR.^[12]

Further reading

• Archeogaming

Notes and References

1. Web site: Europe's first videogame museum, ViGaMus, to open in Rome. 6 September 2016.
2. Web site: EFGAMP – The official website of the European Federation of Game Archives, Museum and Preservation Projects . 2022-08-23 . en-US.
3. Web site: Concept. VIGAMUS, The Video Game Museum of Rome. 6 September 2016.
4. Web site: UNIQUE ITEMS. VIGAMUS, The Video Game Museum of Rome. 6 September 2016.
5. Web site: Crytek Partners With VIGAMUS Academy for New VR Development Using CRYENGINE Masters Course . www.crytek.com . 6 September 2016.
6. Web site: VIGAMUS Magazine . VIGAMUS Magazine . it-IT . 6 September 2016.
7. Web site: Dark Souls III Day: abbracciando le tenebre al Vigamus - GameSource. 6 September 2016. it-IT. 16 April 2016.
8. Web site: I Pokemon compiono 20 anni: al VIGAMUS la festa. 6 September 2016.
9. Web site: International Games Festival Rome  - GAMEROME launchesin 2016. 6 September 2016.
10. Web site: Console. VIGAMUS, The Video Game Museum of Rome. 6 September 2016.
11. Web site: Museum . 2023-02-05 . Vigamus . en-US.
12. Web site: OCULUS ROOM. VIGAMUS, The Video Game Museum of Rome. 6 September 2016.