Game Arts Curators Kit

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 Acquiring equipment can often be one of the most difficult tasks for small organizations. The availability of devices, game consoles, and computers may be extremely limiting regarding the types of interactive work you are able to present. For those getting started with game exhibition, some options are listed below: Acquiring equipment can often be one of the most difficult tasks for small organizations. The availability of devices, game consoles, and computers may be extremely limiting regarding the types of interactive work you are able to present. For those getting started with game exhibition, some options are listed below:
-  * Purchasing: While more initially the most cost-prohibitive, acquiring machines for repeat use is the most ideal scenario for most curatorial practices. Having a collection of mid-range or low-range PCs, while potentially having 2-3 higher-end machines for complex or graphically intensive work is a great start to having a lasting repository. However, there can be additional considerations to make regarding the best devices to buy. MiniPCs are great for low-end options, providing fanless devices which can be easily obfuscated and installed. These are especially great for long-term interactive installations, as many of them have customizable BIOS which will allow them to turn on and off automatically when given power, reducing facilitation time when opening or closing an exhibition. If an interactive art exhibition needs to be modular, portable, and easy to set up, the advantage of having laptops as a mid-range device can be significant, as they can be used as-is, are easily hidden for cable management in long-term installations. Plus, Windows laptops which are a few years old are available for lower prices, often have factory-refurbished models available for even cheaper, and will have more information available regarding longevity and other usage questions. High-end machines will always be expensive, but the best option is often either a small service who custom-builds PCs from parts, or self-modifying a workstation tower, ones that are either designed for gaming or video-editing. If storage and/or presentation within an exhibition space are an issue and a full-sized tower is unwieldy, smaller-scale “gaming” MiniPCs will often have enough performance for game exhibition, but can significantly increase in price when additional power is needed, and are more difficult to repair/modify/upgrade than a more traditional tower PC.+  * Purchasing: While initially the most cost-prohibitive, acquiring machines for repeat use is the ideal scenario for most curatorial practices. Having a collection of mid-range or low-range PCs, while potentially having 2-3 higher-end machines for complex or graphically intensive work is a great start to having a lasting repository. However, there can be additional considerations to make regarding the best devices to buy. MiniPCs are great for low-end options, providing fanless devices which can be easily obfuscated and installed. These are especially great for long-term interactive installations, as many of them have customizable BIOS which will allow them to turn on and off automatically when given power, reducing facilitation time when opening or closing an exhibition. If an interactive art exhibition needs to be modular, portable, and easy to set up, the advantage of having laptops as a mid-range device can be significant, as they can be used as-is, are easily hidden for cable management in long-term installations. Plus, Windows laptops which are a few years old are available for lower prices, often have factory-refurbished models available for even cheaper, and will have more information available regarding longevity and other usage questions. High-end machines will always be expensive, but the best option is often either a small service who custom-builds PCs from parts, or self-modifying a workstation tower, ones that are either designed for gaming or video-editing. If storage and/or presentation within an exhibition space are an issue and a full-sized tower is unwieldy, smaller-scale “gaming” MiniPCs will often have enough performance for game exhibition, but can significantly increase in price when additional power is needed, and are more difficult to repair/modify/upgrade than a more traditional tower PC.
    
   * Rental: There are a variety of companies worldwide who can rent and ship computers and mobile devices to even more rural locations. Rental gives you the benefit of having machines with similar operating systems and updates, making pre-installation computer setup easy. Many of these businesses usually cater to either temporary offices or conventions, making pricing for short-term events or longer installations available. However, these services can be quite cost prohibitive, and consume a significant amount of an event’s budget, especially if non-profit discounts are not available. However, for shows showing older games, there may be a computer recycling business or non-profit (such as FreeGeek in the United States), who offer short-term rentals of machines for free or low cost.   * Rental: There are a variety of companies worldwide who can rent and ship computers and mobile devices to even more rural locations. Rental gives you the benefit of having machines with similar operating systems and updates, making pre-installation computer setup easy. Many of these businesses usually cater to either temporary offices or conventions, making pricing for short-term events or longer installations available. However, these services can be quite cost prohibitive, and consume a significant amount of an event’s budget, especially if non-profit discounts are not available. However, for shows showing older games, there may be a computer recycling business or non-profit (such as FreeGeek in the United States), who offer short-term rentals of machines for free or low cost.
    
-  * Donation/In-Kind Partnership: A creative way to source devices can be from collaborating with sponsors or partners. Especially for smaller organizations doing shorter-term exhibitions, other local businesses such as cybercafes, universities, or offices may be interested in providing equipment to sponsor an event when they are financially unavailable to do so. Local game studios, media production companies, or entertainment venues might have higher-end machines that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive, while being mutually beneficial to promote their business (via signage or in-person presence).+  * Donation/In-Kind Partnership: A creative way to source devices can be from collaborating with sponsors or partners. Especially for smaller organizations doing shorter-term exhibitions, other local businesses such as cybercafes, universities, or offices may be interested in providing equipment to sponsor an event when they are financially unavailable to do so. Local game studios, media production companies, or entertainment venues might have higher-end machines that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive, while being mutually beneficial to promote their business (via signage or in-person presence). Sometimes community members or institutions are happy to donate machines when they are upgrading, provided you can come pick them up. Putting out the word that you take donations can lead to opportunistic scores over time.
    
 In terms of accessories, always seek the simplest version of the device needed. For example, wireless gamepad controllers, keyboards, and mice not only increase the chance of theft, but also need to be charged and synced, which increases the need for facilitation. Purchasing cables online via a wholesale retailer is always a sound investment, as having a repository of power, display, audio, and input cabling is easy to store, and difficult to damage. Over-the-ear headphones are similarly beneficial to handle audio bleed between interactive stations and can be sourced cheaply. For displays, mid-scale TVs within the 32” range are affordable for new purchases, but are often available second-hand online, via community marketplaces, or in thrift stores. While projectors can be cost prohibitive, they are easily storable, and are an easy way to create large-scale displays. Projector rental however, can be relatively cost-effective based on the region, as their smaller size make them much easier to ship, and higher-end ones can often be rented for far below the cost of the device if purchasing them is not a possibility. In terms of accessories, always seek the simplest version of the device needed. For example, wireless gamepad controllers, keyboards, and mice not only increase the chance of theft, but also need to be charged and synced, which increases the need for facilitation. Purchasing cables online via a wholesale retailer is always a sound investment, as having a repository of power, display, audio, and input cabling is easy to store, and difficult to damage. Over-the-ear headphones are similarly beneficial to handle audio bleed between interactive stations and can be sourced cheaply. For displays, mid-scale TVs within the 32” range are affordable for new purchases, but are often available second-hand online, via community marketplaces, or in thrift stores. While projectors can be cost prohibitive, they are easily storable, and are an easy way to create large-scale displays. Projector rental however, can be relatively cost-effective based on the region, as their smaller size make them much easier to ship, and higher-end ones can often be rented for far below the cost of the device if purchasing them is not a possibility.
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   * Logistical Concerns: This includes considerations like furniture, seating, and power. If possible, be aware of the available power in all parts of the space, interactive art equipment can be very power intensive and multiple stations in a single outlet has the capacity to blow a fuse or switch a breaker. Always plan for a continuous pathway around your space, the ideal flow of traffic, and identify potential bottlenecks. Games that could draw crowds or have a high capacity should not be placed on opposite sides of the room, as the resulting crowd can clog a middle space. Make considerations for quieter areas of the space, where those who are overstimulated can relax and decompress. Ensure that additional features of your space (food/drink, conversation areas, seating), don’t obstruct game spaces, and areas that may draw queues such as food/drink stations or bathrooms have appropriate space to expand. Creating set spaces for these objects, like adding a table for empty drinks to be taken away from, can help prevent these objects from being left on the floor, or worse, the exhibition objects, and makes the role of attendants easier.   * Logistical Concerns: This includes considerations like furniture, seating, and power. If possible, be aware of the available power in all parts of the space, interactive art equipment can be very power intensive and multiple stations in a single outlet has the capacity to blow a fuse or switch a breaker. Always plan for a continuous pathway around your space, the ideal flow of traffic, and identify potential bottlenecks. Games that could draw crowds or have a high capacity should not be placed on opposite sides of the room, as the resulting crowd can clog a middle space. Make considerations for quieter areas of the space, where those who are overstimulated can relax and decompress. Ensure that additional features of your space (food/drink, conversation areas, seating), don’t obstruct game spaces, and areas that may draw queues such as food/drink stations or bathrooms have appropriate space to expand. Creating set spaces for these objects, like adding a table for empty drinks to be taken away from, can help prevent these objects from being left on the floor, or worse, the exhibition objects, and makes the role of attendants easier.
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 The two additional items always handy for equipment prep is an installation toolbox, and extra parts. Installation tool boxes should include a basic hardware kit (hammer, pliers, screwdriver, etc), pencils, a level, sharpies, and adhesive hangers, and any additional considerations specific to the exhibition. Cable management can be incredibly difficult for exhibitions, so plan how each piece can be laid out to obfuscate cabling and get access to power. Cable ties and colored masking tape are affordable substitutes for professional cable management enclosures. The two additional items always handy for equipment prep is an installation toolbox, and extra parts. Installation tool boxes should include a basic hardware kit (hammer, pliers, screwdriver, etc), pencils, a level, sharpies, and adhesive hangers, and any additional considerations specific to the exhibition. Cable management can be incredibly difficult for exhibitions, so plan how each piece can be laid out to obfuscate cabling and get access to power. Cable ties and colored masking tape are affordable substitutes for professional cable management enclosures.
 Extra parts should ideally be an additional 10% of all basic needs for the exhibition. This includes additional computers, cables, controllers, and audio devices. If unavailable, make contingency plans for how to exhibit a specific piece, or how an additional piece of equipment could be sourced in an emergency. Extra parts should ideally be an additional 10% of all basic needs for the exhibition. This includes additional computers, cables, controllers, and audio devices. If unavailable, make contingency plans for how to exhibit a specific piece, or how an additional piece of equipment could be sourced in an emergency.
-Installation:+ 
 +===== Installation ===== 
 Installation can be separated into the following steps: Installation can be separated into the following steps:
-  - Unload: Drop-off of all equipment, either to an off-site location, or any equipment being delivered to the space day-of+  - Unload: Drop-off of all equipment, either to an off-site location, or any equipment being delivered to the space day-of.
   - Placement: Placement of all gear necessary for each game station in its respective location.   - Placement: Placement of all gear necessary for each game station in its respective location.
   - Hookup: Routing power to location and plugging in and turning on of all equipment.   - Hookup: Routing power to location and plugging in and turning on of all equipment.
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 Unless there are enough installers for this to be an individual’s specific task, or if the issue is a significant emergency, follow through on installing the show before addressing specific troubleshooting issues. This can allow for a prioritization of all additional tasks, a better understanding of available extra/leftover equipment, and can reduce additional trips to purchase/source necessary gear. Prepare for troubleshooting by collecting contact information for participating artists in a single document, maintain your inventory in a spreadsheet, and ensure that you have on-site backups of all applications and software running in the exhibition. When working with a larger installation team, ensure that everybody knows who to talk to about the issue, so that all bugs can be accounted for and delegated amongst the group. Unless there are enough installers for this to be an individual’s specific task, or if the issue is a significant emergency, follow through on installing the show before addressing specific troubleshooting issues. This can allow for a prioritization of all additional tasks, a better understanding of available extra/leftover equipment, and can reduce additional trips to purchase/source necessary gear. Prepare for troubleshooting by collecting contact information for participating artists in a single document, maintain your inventory in a spreadsheet, and ensure that you have on-site backups of all applications and software running in the exhibition. When working with a larger installation team, ensure that everybody knows who to talk to about the issue, so that all bugs can be accounted for and delegated amongst the group.
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 ==== Authors for this section: ==== ==== Authors for this section: ====
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 ==== Editors for this section: ==== ==== Editors for this section: ====
  
-Emilie Reed+Emilie Reed, Jim Munroe
exhibition_design.1630866283.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/09/05 13:24 by jim

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