We all know how much gaming and esports is taking off, but have you ever stopped for a moment to appreciate how it all began?

Well, if you’re in the Dallas area, you can stop by the National Video Game Museum, located in Frisco, TX to see the history of the video game industry, where it’s heading next, and find ways to be a part of it all.

The mission of the National Video Game Museum is simple, to “preserve the history of the videogame industry by archiving not only the physical artifacts but also the information and stories behind its creation.”

And in this episode of All In With Esports, one of the co-founders of the museum, John Hardie, sits down to talk to Lewis about how it all began, what you can expect, and why he’s so excited to share this gem with everyone who has a passion for gaming and it’s history!

To learn more about the museum, visit: www.nvmusa.org

Full Episode Breakdown:

3:02 – How long did it take for this idea to go from just an idea to actual reality, and why it was such a long journey.

5:04 – John shares the stories behind the amazing murals throughout the museum, and why it was so special to have even more people be a part of this.

6:40 – The history of the games that were created, and why some of the games that so many of us cherish from our childhoods were never meant to explode the way they did.

8:10 – Why the timelines move to some more obscure versions of games.

9:20 – Why the 3rd party games were born, and the significance they played in the world of gaming.

11:30 – The number of controllers that were created throughout history, and why you’ll be shocked at how many there are. Plus so many cool things that you’ll see of things that were designed and prototyped, but never came to market.

14:10 – After the crash of the video game market, John discusses what it was that brought it back. 

18:00 – The cool story behind the game Dragon’s Lair, and why it was such an icon back in the day.

20:10 – How the pandemic affected the museum, and what they did to make improvements.

21:40 – What kind of STEM opportunities does the National Videogame Museum use to help students advance. John shares all of the amazing things that they’re doing for kids.

24:10 – Some of the early VR sets that are in the museum, John and Lewis have a great laugh over it.

26:20 – Why some of the exhibits in the museum might seem a little too real.

28:40 – How the new exhibits get chosen, and why they can get rotating ones vs. just standard ones.

32:30 – John discusses why some of the displays really bring people back down memory lane.

36:00 – More discussions about more murals and exhibits in the museum, and why so many of them are tied to local help.

37:20 – Some of the cool stories of the gift shop, and why it’s more than just a place to buy some items.