The Berlin Computer Game Museum—Playing with History

One of the many things I will miss about Berlin is the Computerspielemuseum. So I thought I should share my impressions and give you a small review. I am not affiliated with the museum in any way. However, I love museums, I love games, and I love supporting the cause of learning about games.

Please Do Touch

I love strolling through museums of pretty much any kind. But one thing I don't like is not being allowed to touch stuff. It sometimes seems as if they restrict me only to test my self-control.

Luckily for weirdos like me, this place is not the typical museum. You don't come here to merely look at things. You come here to try out games you haven't had the chance to play, to relive childhood memories, or to simply have a good time with friends. No idea who this Pong dude is that everyone is talking about, nor what a Space Invader looks like? Here you have the chance to get to know them and find out that Pong is actually not a character and that Space Invaders is friggin' hard. Enjoy playing with 60 years of video game history.

More than 300 Pieces on Display

The Computerspielemuseum in Berlin has more than 300 pieces that can be touched, looked at, played, read, stood on, or sat on.

Highlights

The Painstation in the Berlin computer game museum

The Painstation
Still mad at your friend for returning your PS2 game with more scratches than a cat’s scratch post? Bring him here and pay him back in a round of Painstation! The system is based on the classic Pong. If the player makes a mistake, it sends sensory, increasingly painful feedback to the player's left hand in form of heat, electric shock, or whipping. Ideal for a bittersweet revenge or sour vendetta. Ouch! This is behavioral therapy at its best (or worst). You will learn to play better rather quickly.

Arcade
With the rise of home consoles most of the arcades in Europe went extinct. Finding a good old arcade to hang out with friends, foes, or strangers is a hard mission nowadays, sadly. In the computer game museum, you can find a cozy arcarde room with a good handful of arcade games. Just your smokes have to stay outside.

Burnout bike
Burnout burns calories. The museum offers a game of Burnout. However, instead of pressing an action button to stay on the gas, you hit the pedals of an indoor bike. Who thought racing could be so exhausting!

Children of the 80s enjoying some Atari VCS in the 70s room

Era rooms
This one really brought back childhood memories for me. The museum rebuild a few rooms how they typically looked like in the 70s or 80s or 90s, with Mad magazines, Star Wars posters, and—you probably guessed—old consoles. The best part: You can sit down on a couch or chair and play, e.g. a round of Super Mario. A pity you won't even get close to saving Peach...

Kid enjoying the Computerspielemuseum, Berlin

Learn

But it's not only fun and games. Those who prefer to keep their hands in their pockets to look and learn will not be disappointed either. There are numerous things to read and watch, from making-ofs to introductions to game design.

Shop

The museum also features a small shop where you can spend your bucks on gaming merchandise.

To Sum it up...

The Computerspielemuseum is a fun place to hang out on a Sunday afternoon. Coming here is like coming back to the 80s, to a small arcade. And it is probably cheaper since you don't need to constantly feed those hungry machines with coins. You can easily spend hours without getting bored. Even your granny will have a good time.

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Computerspielemuseum
Karl-Marx-Allee 93a
10243 Berlin
Opens daily from 10 am to 8 pm.

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Have you been to the Berlin Computerspielemuseum? How was your experience?

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