Read on for a look at the people and games that make Power UP such a unique event.
Chris – Assistant Visitor Services Manager
“I was introduced to games by the chunky Atari ST, and while I loved gliding down waterways in Live and Let Die, or running away from boulders in the shameful Indiana Jones rip-off Rick Dangerous, my enduring memory is that of my brother and father playing the co-operative mode of Double Dragon. Watching two beloved family members mercilessly square off was a useful introduction to the next generation story-driven games so I guess I should be thankful?”
James – Assistant Visitor Services Manager
“I was utterly obsessed with Age of Empires when I was 11 years old. It was so interesting and exciting- the different civilisations with their different strengths, and working through from the Stone to the Iron Age. Never has foraging for berries or building granaries been so thrilling! My favourite unit was the Elephant Archer- I remember creating my own scenarios with hundreds of them. Oh, and the “cheat” where you could, somewhat incongruously, magic-up a car with a rocket launcher on top. So much fun!”
Lisa – Assistant Content Developer of Contemporary Science
“My greatest gaming memory was the time that my sister and I got a PS2 and The Simpsons Hit and Run game for Christmas. I was a Simpsons fanatic and getting to play as the characters on-screen with my sister was amazing. The special Christmas car horn was a bonus. I also loved playing games on the family computer when I was younger. I remember the slow evolution from playing Detective Barbie, then The Sims and then trying to play Doom without getting caught by my parents. I’ve moved onto PS4, still play Doom and agree that it’s terrifying.”
Alexander- Visitor Services Assistant
“Welcoming in the New Years of 2004 and 2005 playing Timesplitters 3 in my mate Harry’s room while our parents were downstairs. I always played as a giant sock puppet, while Harry played as a cardboard robot. Finding a copy in my second year of university meant I could introduce new friends to such a wonderfully silly game.”
Khalil – Assistant Content Developer of Contemporary Science
“I still maintain that Time Splitters 2 is the finest shooter ever made. The varied environments, weapons and game modes, and the ridiculous characters (Robofish, anyone?) gave it infinite playability. Plus, the long-lost art of split-screen multiplayer. I poured untold hours into that game, and I regret nothing. Also, the Dark Souls series are well known for being harsh, unforgiving games which punish mistakes that other games would let slide. I’m not proud to say it, but the first time I played it I kept dying at the tutorial level. The tutorial level. Weird thing is, that’s what makes those games so great.”
Danielle- Science Museum Explainer
“When Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time came out on N64- I had played the old SNES version Link to the Past exhaustively and was so blown away that I could explore this world and characters I knew so well in 3D! It was like my dreams came true!”
Lauren – Assistant Visitor Services Manager
“When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with The Sims. I loved recreating the houses of my friends – and soon cultivated my hobby as a virtual interior designer. To create lavish lifestyles for my Sims (and to support my virtual career ambitions), I used cheat codes to make them instant multi-millionaires.”
What is your favourite gaming memory? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @sciencemuseum.