For many television watchers, bigger is better in terms of screen size, but nobody will be playing videogames on a bigger screen than in Des Moines today. The Science Center of Iowa is hosting its "Gathering of Gamers Tournament" with the final rounds to be played on the six-story high I-MAX screen.
Sally Dix, the Science Center’s spokeswoman, says this will conclude a series of video game contests. She says they’ve been running events for gamers on Thursday nights for the past several months, not only for those who like to play the video games but those who are interested in how they’re made with the latest computer technology, too.
Dix says you do not need to have taken part in previous events to enter this competition. Not only is the I-MAX screen six stories tall, it also has a 12-thousand watt sound system. Dix says it’s the ultimate place to play video games — and three popular games are on the docket for this final tourney.
All three games are via X-Box 360: Guitar Hero Three, Madden NFL ’08 and Halo Three. She says she expects a wide variety of people to be playing the games, from all age groups. Even if you’re not going to take part in the competition for the honor of playing on the super-sized screen, Dix says there will be a host of interesting features at the Des Moines facility that all tie into video gaming.
An expert from Iowa State University’s human computer department will be at the Science Center to talk about how video games work, from conception to creation, another way to connect a popular piece of current culture with science behind it.