Editor's Note: The following is an Alumni Perspective feature written by April Pruitt BA’14. This article first appeared in UT Dallas Magazine.

April Pruitt and family

April Pruitt BA'14 shares a passion for video games with her son Jake and husband Jeremy. The family is shown in the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas.

VIDEO GAMES: Before they were in our pockets, they were on our televisions and before that, they were in a dark arcade room filled with sights and sounds that are still part of our culture. They are the media that combine art with technology.

In 2014, I completed a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on art and technology and business management. I was an older student, getting my education and raising a family at the same time.

I felt a little out of sync with some of my younger classmates. For instance, the games of my youth were “Galaga” and “Pac-Man” — often played in arcades where I tried to progress through the various levels while getting the most play from a 25-cent investment on a console without a pause button. Many who grew up with modern games like “Portal” and “Halo” just didn’t understand the attraction to the arcade games. Fortunately there were enough fellow classic game enthusiasts at UTD to found a club for those with similar interests.

My goal after graduation was to work in the animation and video game industry. Little did I expect that I would be re-creating an arcade from the 1980s, an adventure that began when I read that the National Videogame Museum would be established in Frisco, Texas.

When I reached out to museum founders Joe Santulli, John Hardie and Sean Kelly to offer my help, it turned out that they were just as excited to hear from me since they needed help getting more than 40 different games ready for regular play.

Joe, John and Sean provided a storage locker full of classic arcade games (some of which are more than 50 years old) including “Computer Space,” the original dedicated “Pong,” “Galaga,” “Centipede” and “Q-bert.” Most were in rough shape and would need work both inside and out.

UT Dallas Magazine
Spring 2016

UT Dallas Magazine cover Spring 2016

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Because the average game weighs over 300 pounds, I enlisted the help of my husband, Jeremy, who has some amazing woodworking skills. We began working in the storage locker because the museum’s building wouldn’t be ready for several months. In the hot Texas sun, we pulled games apart, taking out heavy CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors that hold a 10,000-volt charge, whether plugged in or not. It was overwhelming, but I love a great adventure, especially if it involves technology.

The Frisco Discovery Center was eventually ready for the museum to start moving in. The move allowed us to continue making repairs, but in a climate-controlled, powered and safe environment.

After moving the games into the museum, Joe, Jeremy and I visited a local arcade auction and were fortunate to find a number of other games, including the power couple themselves — “Pac-Man” and “Ms. Pac-Man.”

Repairing classic video games is a complicated task. Each game manufacturer has its own way of building arcade games, from the main printed circuit board to the cabinet holding it.

Several main components are included in all the games: the monitor, main game board, power board and power brick. But these items may be presented in completely different ways in each game. For example, “Missile Command” has only one board for the main computer with audio built onto the power board, but “Spy Hunter” has a four-board stack for the main computer and smaller boards mounted all over the cabinet, for a total of 12 different circuit boards.

The technology for game display also varies. Some machines, such as “Asteroids,” are vector-based, meaning that the scene is drawn on the fly rather than having a picture move across the screen. These complex games require a special vector monitor and specific testing equipment for the boards.

The bulk of my job, though, was not patching wires but conducting research — a lot of it. For board repairs, I needed to locate technicians for each manufacturer.  Many of the technicians are engineers whose hobbies include classic video games. Someone who regularly repaired Atari games, such as “Space Duel,” probably wouldn’t have the expertise to repair Taito’s  “Zoo Keeper.”  I was fortunate to have my husband’s help with the sometimes months-long quest for technicians, as well as handling shipping the boards for repairs.

Besides pulling monitors and other support boards that often needed 30-year-old capacitors and other components replaced, I repaired unfortunate wiring configurations made possible by an abundant use of electrical tape or even duct tape. I never knew what I would find in a machine, since many had been on location in bars or stuck in a barn for years.

The new home for these classic games, the National Videogame Museum, is the first of its type in the U.S., dedicated to preserving the history of the video game. The 10,000-square-foot facility includes interactive exhibits for electronic games of all kinds, including handhelds, consoles, and the area where I devote the most time — a replica arcade from the ’80s.

Videogame Museum

Recently, the National Videogame Museum opened in Frisco, Texas. The 10,000-square-foot facility includes interactive exhibits for electronic games of all kinds, including handhelds and consoles, as well as a classic, fully stocked arcade.

Every time I am at the museum, I experience a feast for the eyes.

A black light responsive theme created by a local artist includes a sculpted foam centipede that appears to come out of the wall, providing an authentic arcade feel. Local artists also created murals throughout the museum depicting video game characters ranging from Mario to Lara Croft. Interactive exhibits about the history of video games include the world’s largest “Pong” and Super Nintendo controllers with buttons that are the size of an adult hand. Little-known gaming systems are displayed throughout. Collectible promotional items— stuffed dolls, hats, keychains, patches and even cereal boxes — fill display cabinets. And thanks to donated furniture from well-known game designer and producer Randy Pitchford of Gearbox Software, visitors can see a replica of his office.

Working in the museum is an amazing experience, one that I will remember for a lifetime. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring these classic games back to life.