The Science Museum in London has opened a new interactive exhibition on the history and culture of computer games.

The Game On exhibition features more than 120 classic and modern games, dating from the earliest prototypes in the 1960s to the present day.

The display debates the positive and negative effects of computer games on our society, examines how our bodies and brains react to playing them‚ considers how designers build and make modern games and projects the future of the games industry. Different opinions are reflected on three ‘debate’ walls.

UK artist and illustrator Jon Burgerman has created a huge timeline looking at the history of gaming in the form of a large creature with several stomachs. Each section features a key element of computer game culture‚ such as classic games, cultural and political events and technical advances. Another piece illustrates hand‚ eye and brain co-ordination when playing games.

Gaetan Lee‚ programmes developer at the museum, said: “Game On traces the science behind the dramatic developments in computer game production over the last 30 years and tackles some of the serious issues behind this huge multi-billion pound industry.

“We’re particularly excited that our visitors will have a chance to see the PDP-1 – the computer which ran the world’s first video game‚ Space War‚ and the world’s first manufactured arcade game‚ Computer Space.”

The exhibition also considers the influence of computer games in music and film in relation to film genres such as anime and comic genres like manga. It also displays game advertising and design posters and illustrates the development of characters such as Mario by Super Mario Bros.

Sections of the exhibition focus on the different influences that Europe‚ North America and Japan have had on the games industry. The show runs until 25 February 2007. Details: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk