Writers & Gamers

Level Up

Our special exhibit, Level Up: Writers & Gamers, explores how Americans use role-playing and video games to define and respond to our culture. The exhibit guides visitors into the world of game writing, from the 1970s to the present. Some of the games featured include Dungeons & Dragons, Zork, Apocalypse World, Baldur’s Gate III, and game writers from the last 50 years such as Michael Pondsmith, Porpentine, and Tanya DePass.

Now on view in the Meijer Gallery and Roberta Rubin Writers Room

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Discover new worlds through a timeline of influential games and game writers

On-site and Online

Level Up: Writers & Gamers spans two exhibit spaces at the American Writers Museum.

Dive into different forms of game writing, learn about influential games and writers from the last 50 years, and explore ways you can be part of the story in the Meijer Gallery.
Take a break and play a game! The Roberta Rubin Writers Room has been transformed into a gaming room complete with books, board games, and card games to bring your imagination to life. Hear from others and contribute your own story about the games that mean the most to you.
Gaming groups will be welcome to rent the space for their longer sessions or full campaigns!

Online content will delve deeper into the vast universe that is game writing. Featuring exclusive content not on view in the Museum, the online component of Level Up will explore game narrative in a different and exciting way!

Be a Part of the Exhibit!

Game stories can’t happen without players, and we are honoring that with videos of fans just like you. Videos will be on display in the Roberta Rubin Writer’s Room on a rotating basis for the duration of Level Up.

Simply click the button below to get started. You can choose from three different questions, or answer them all. All stories are welcome.

Submit a Video

Curating Team

Jennifer Helen Allaway – Narrative Designer, Writer, and Public Speaker
Derek Tyler Attico – Science Fiction Author, Essayist, and Photographer
Alexander Bevier – Freelance Game Producer, Developer Support, and Content Manager
Brandon Crilly – Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer, Games Writer, and Teacher
Keisha Howard – Creator of Sugar Gamers, Co-Founder of The Blaze Breakers, and Advisor to Live CGI
Patrick Jagoda – Professor at University of Chicago, Co-founder of Game Changer Chicago Design Lab and Transmedia Story Lab
Howard Andrew Jones – Speculative Fiction and Fantasy Author and Editor
Jon Peterson – Writer and Game Scholar
Dedren Snead – Writer, Artist, Game Developer, Creative Consultant, Emerging Technologist and Futurist

Keisha Howard, Derek Tyler Attico, and Jon Peterson at the opening of Level Up: Writers & Gamers.

Level Up

On-site and Online

Be a Part of the Exhibit!

Curating Team

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