005: Game On!

Games are such a hot topic in museums, but the topic is a complex one. As blogger Kevin Bacon (no, not that one) points out, video games are expensive, are being made by many dedicated people outside museums, and can be a challenging vehicle for telling nuanced historical stories. So should museums invest in games? And if so, what should they be seeking to achieve? In this episode, the Punks talk to Sharna Jackson, Tate Kids Editor and the woman behind Seahorse, a digital content agency for children, and Sophia George, co-founder of Swallowtail Games and the V&A’s first ever Game Designer in Residence, about all things games and gaming in the museum. What is the difference between a game and a toy? Why are women less likely to enter a career in gaming than men? And why is ‘gamification’ such a dirty word?