You know that feeling when you are playing Pac-Man. The one when your heart starts racing as the little yellow man is moving along, but you just can’t move quick enough and there are little dudes coming at you from both sides about to trap you in a corner. Most commonly, nowadays, we get this rush while playing Pac-Man on our mobile devices. But, do not fear! For COSI has come to save the day and give us back that adrenaline rush the way it was intended. Playing Pac-Man from it’s original 1980 design.

When I was little, I had a babysitter who had one of these consoles in her basement. For this very reason, I would always want to go to her house. I would say “Emily, can we go play at your house today?” As I got older and no longer needed a babysitter, this luxury was no longer a part of my free-time spenders. However, this summer pastime is about to be brought back to life for me and many others.

Central Ohio’s COSI, Center of Science and Industry, is bringing a gaming haven right to your backyard. This summer's exhibit is one you are not going to want to miss. All guests will have the chance to discover true heroes of gaming at "Game Masters: The Exhibition" and journey through five decades of video game creation to learn how these iconic arcade, console, handheld, and mobile games transformed from ideas to reality. This exhibit was designed, “with rare concept art, revealing interviews with the world’s most influential video game designers, and 100 plus playable games, this exhibition is the ultimate fan experience,” said Josh Kessler, Project Manager at COSI. “COSI is excited to be one of only two venues hosting this exhibition in the United States. We expect a fun, engaging, educational experience for our guests.”

The different stages you can walk through are as follows.

Arcade Heroes.

This looks at designers who produced games during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period that has become known as the golden age of arcade games. This era is represented by a hand-picked selection of exceptional videogames. These vintage arcade games have been acquired from collections both in Europe and the United States and refurbished to their original playable condition.

(Timberwolf Times)

Game Changes.

The focus is on a selection of influential game designers, both individuals and teams, who have been responsible for major developments in the field. Each display includes a series of playable games and a range of contextual materials, including original artwork such as storyboards, character designs, and animatics.

Indies.

This explores the groundbreaking and future-focused world of independent game designers. This section of the exhibition highlights 14 of the most innovative and influential indie designers today and allows visitors to play and learn about popular games like Minecraft, Angry Birds, and Fruit Ninja.

(Learningworks for Kids)

COSI is open this summer seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed July 1). "Game Masters: The Exhibition" is free with COSI admission or Membership. The exhibit will be running through June.