In honor of the release of Boston-based Harmonix Music Systems’ The Beatles: Rock Band, Governor Deval Patrick has proclaimed September 9, 2009 “Video Game Innovation Day” in the state of Massachussets.
While the proclamation was obviously spurred by the release of the Fab Four title, Patrick makes a good case for Massachussets and gaming. In 2008, the videogame companies in the state generated over $3 billion in sales. Looking back at gaming history, one of the first games ever created, Spacewar!, was designed by MIT students in 1961.
Despite all of the hype, I don’t know if The Beatles: Rock Band is as important as Spacewar!, but it is damned good. Who’s playing today, Video Game Innovation Day, and what do you think?