Oregon
Enthusiasts puzzle over how to save Oregon’s museum of gaming
Avid gamer Bryan Fosmire sits at his eating room desk in September 2022. He needed to revert to taking part in board video games at residence after Oregon’s Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery was closed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Bryan Fosmire was a daily at Oregon’s Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery. In the present day the 28-year-old mechanical engineer performs video games like “Terraforming Mars” at his eating room desk in Dundee. However the museum gave him a distinct, richer place to indulge his love of video games.
“The very first thing you’d most likely discover going is the enormous wall, filled with cabinets of video games, on the again,” he stated.
When it was open between 2010 and 2020, the Washington County museum had a group of about 9,000 video games. Its mission was to coach individuals and make the video games accessible.
“They really did have displays across the room as effectively. Even going again as far as historic video games like the place the primary cube got here from and the way they might use bones earlier than that,” Fosmire stated.
Cabinets of video games from the Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery earlier than it closed in 2020.
Kyle Engen
The museum included a small retailer and a bit of café. For Fosmire, it was a spot to satisfy like-minded individuals.
“You’d go in, and if there have been individuals there you could possibly meet them and see in the event that they needed to play one thing,” he stated. “If not, you could possibly simply carry your individual group, pull one thing off the shelf and simply play it.”
However the museum needed to shut as a part of the statewide pandemic shutdown.
“We’ve received simply the sort of materials that may switch an an infection,” stated co-founder Kyle Engen. “Dealing with video games and passing cube round and passing items round. So we needed to shut.”
Now the museum’s assortment sits in packing containers, packed in a number of storage lockers and houses throughout Washington County.
Museum co-founder Kyle Engen’s Washington County house is full of video games from the gathering. He is searching for new management and a brand new location for the museum.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Engen and co-founder Carol Mathewson need to carry the museum again. However they’re having bother.
“I reached out to a few or 4 universities round right here, to the anthropology departments,” Engen stated. “I referred to as, I despatched emails. By no means a response in any respect.”
The married couple opened the unique Museum of Gaming in Beaverton again in 2010, after Engen couldn’t discover work they usually determined to try to make a dwelling off one thing they love.
He’d collected video games all his life. His childhood had been spent taking part in fantasy video games in Eugene with individuals like Richard Garfield, the inventor of the favored card recreation Magic: The Gathering.
For just a few years, the museum earned sufficient to maintain the doorways open, despite the fact that it needed to transfer a few instances as landlords regarded for larger rents.
Museum co-founder Carol Mathewson shows a replica of Bizerte Gertie, a 1943 recreation the place the article is to not find yourself courting “Alice the Hound Canine.”
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
However now Engen and Mathewson’s home is full of packing containers of outdated video games: 50 variations of Monopoly, puzzles, mahjong, bingo and uncommon video games — like Bizerte Gertie from 1943.
“Video games anthropologically have every part to do with how we be taught,” Mathewson stated.
Bizerte Gertie, for instance, was created for World Conflict II troopers. The purpose was to go to a membership, date a ravishing girl and take her for a stroll alongside the seaside. There’s a coquettish damsel on the field and three leering army males. However in an indication of these instances, the article of the sport was to keep away from ending up with what the sport’s directions seek advice from as: “Alice the Hound Canine.”
One of many objects of 1943 Milton Bradley recreation Bizerte Gertie was for gamers to not find yourself with “Alice the Hound Canine.”
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Engen and Mathewson have spent years accumulating such video games in thrift shops, typically spending 75 cents right here or just a few {dollars} there. They consider video games illustrate the eras during which they have been created, like a 1969 recreation created by the journal Psychology In the present day.
“It was referred to as Blacks &Whites, and you could possibly not win the sport in case you have been a black character. Interval. That was the purpose of the sport,” Mathewson stated. “This stuff are metaphors that observe us by way of each period of historical past.”
Engen stated their assortment addresses that historical past. Take, for instance, taking part in playing cards. It’s not clear how they have been invented, however one idea is that they began as IOUs, traded round by Chinese language troopers through the seventh century.
“As a result of they have been so distant from the central authorities, they couldn’t pay the military. In order that they wrote scripts saying, ‘We owe you 10 {dollars}.’ on items of paper. Then the lads began playing with these and taking part in playing cards have been invented,” Engen stated.
Mathewson stated this sort of historical past and context doesn’t get handed round in a store. For that, video games want their very own museum.
“What we wish is a venue to impart all this actually groovy stuff that we discovered by doing the analysis,” Mathewson stated.
However after a decade of making an attempt to maintain the museum working, and a pandemic, they’re weary.
“I’m now not prepared to do no matter it takes to maintain it going for 60 hours per week,” stated Engen. “I’m uninterested in that now.”
Kyle Engen and Carol Mathewson’s house is packed filled with video games from the gathering.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Along with new management, the museum additionally wants a brand new location. Organizers have tried in search of assist from native companies and authorities companies. They hold being advised to simply open a retailer, the place individuals should buy new video games and see the gathering on the identical time. However there are already loads of gaming shops and occasional retailers within the Portland area, and even a minimum of one gaming restaurant, the Mox Boarding Home.
Mike Williams, the financial improvement supervisor on the metropolis of Beaverton stated metropolis leaders may be capable of assist — however first they want info.
“How a lot house do they want? What can they afford? How do they need to use the house?” he stated. “And after we all know these issues. We may also help them discover a location. On this case, we additionally thought: ‘Hey, a bit of bit of specialised technical help can be useful as effectively.’”
Mathewson stated they’ve numerous individuals fascinated about organising a museum, however they want a benefactor, “We want somebody with good deep pockets as a result of that’s what the symphony has or the artwork museum,” she stated.
There was hope that a few of Engen’s outdated video games may present the cash to reopen. Collectors’ playing cards may be price $100,000 or extra. However over time, a number of the assortment’s most precious playing cards have disappeared as individuals performed with them and cataloged the gathering.
Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery earlier than it closed in 2020.
Kyle Engen
Trent Bray’s Oregon State Beavers picked up a huge win in Week 13, narrowly beating out Pac-12 rivals Washington State 41-38. Spirits were exceptionally high for the Beavers postgame as they snapped a five-game losing streak and stayed alive in the hunt for a postseason game.
Bray met with local media postgame to share his excitement for the result and where the Beavers found success in the victory. The full presser video is linked below. Bray speaks for the first eight minutes.
NOTES
– “I think tonight was just what I’ve seen from these guys all season long. Ups and downs but they just keep going back to work. They they believe in each other. It was just a great team win.”
-On finding success in simplifying the offense: “I think Gunderson and the staff did a great job of narrowing things down. What do we do well, how can we use guys…What we did with Jabari and how we used his legs helped us move the ball. So I think they just did a good job of narrowing it down and and, you know, less is more and I think that’s what we found tonight.”
-On still having a chance to make a bowl game: “I think it’s it’s it’s big. We give ourselves an opportunity with the last game to go to the postseason, which is where everyone wants to be, and we got another great team we got to face but I think it’s a definitely a a good thing and a motivating thing.”
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Minutes after No. 12 Boise State knocked off Wyoming Saturday night, the Broncos’ next opponent — Oregon State — secured its biggest victory of the season.
A 55-yard Everett Hayes field goal with 20 seconds remaining lifted the Beavers to a 41-38 victory over Washington State in the unofficial Pac-12 championship game.
Oregon State (5-6), which had dropped five straight games following a 4-1 start, and Washington State (8-3) are competing as independents the next two years before Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State join the Pac-12 for the 2026 football season.
“Tonight was just what I’ve seen from these guys all season long: ups and downs, but they just keep going back to work,” first-year Beavers head coach Trent Bray said. “They believe in each other, and it was just a great team win. … We’ve been so close in so many games this last month or two. For them to be in that and pull it out and do it is huge.”
The Broncos (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West) and Beavers will face off at 10 a.m. Mountain time on Black Friday at Albertsons Stadium.
Oregon State won four of its first five games, but lost starting running back Jam Griffin and others along the way. A 42-37 defeat at Nevada began a streak of five consecutive losses that culminated in an embarrassing 28-0 shutout at Air Force last week.
The Beavers were out-gained 410-175 in Colorado Springs. One week later, Oregon State out-gained the high-flying Cougars 484-385.
“I think (offensive coordinator Ryan) Gunderson and the staff did a great job of narrowing things down,” Bray said. “What do we do well? How can we use guys? … Less is more, and I think that’s what we found out tonight.”
Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy started the first eight games at quarterback but was benched during a 44-7 loss at California. Ben Gulbranson, who went 7-1 as a starter during the Beavers’ 10-win 2022 season, started the San Jose State game but was unavailable against Air Force due to injury.
Gulbranson returned to the lineup Saturday and completed 22 for 34 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, including a pick-six that put Washington State up 38-31 in the fourth quarter. The junior bounced right back to lead a game-tying touchdown dive.
“I’m happy for Ben because he’s put in a lot of work and been through a lot his whole career,” Bray said of Gulbranson, who lost his starting job to transfer DJ Uiagalelei last year. “When it went bad, he didn’t hang his head, didn’t give up. He went right back and led the team down to score.”
The Beavers also used freshman quarterback Gabarri Johnson as a runner against Washington State. Johnson finished with six carries for 47 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought what we did with Gabarri and how we used his legs helped us move the ball,” Bray said.
Oregon State had scored just 20 combined points over its last three games before exploding for 41 Saturday night. Needing a victory for bowl eligibility, the Beavers would love to contain Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty and spoil Boise State’s College Football Playoff bye aspirations.
“We know we’ve got a big-time opponent coming to the Blue this Friday, and we’ve got to be ready,” Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson said. “We know we’re going to get everybody’s best. We got Wyoming’s best tonight, and I promise you we are going to get Oregon State’s best.”
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The Oregon Ducks clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game after their win a week ago against the Wisconsin Badgers. As for who the Ducks will play, that will not be decided until next week.
Updated Potential Big Ten Title Matchups
Heading into the final week of the Big Ten regular season, there are still three potential teams that can meet the Oregon Ducks. Those teams would be the Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, and the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Buckeyes, Nittany Lions, and Hoosiers are all 7-1 in Big Ten play. If each were to win their final game of the regular season, Ohio State would get the nod to go to the Big Ten championship game. This is due to the fact that Ohio State handed each Penn State and Indiana their only losses of the 2024 season. The Buckeyes lone loss was at the hands of the Oregon Ducks.
Ohio State gave Indiana their first loss of the season in a 38-15 rout. Penn State held on for dear life against Minnesota and won 26-25.
Ohio State, Indiana, and Penn State all have a path heading into the final week. What are each team’s scenarios for meeting the Ducks in Indianapolis?
Ohio State Clinching Scenarios
For Ohio State, it is very simple. The Buckeyes just need to beat rival Michigan at home to clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game. Win and they are in. However, if. Michigan were to shock the college football world and beat Ohio State on the road, there is still a path for Ohio State to get in. They would need Indiana and Penn State to both lose.
-Win vs. Michigan
OR
-Indiana and Penn State both lose
Penn State Clinching Scenarios
For Penn State, they need to win at home vs. Maryland. Additionally, they will need Ohio State to get upset at home by Michigan. The Nittany Lions don’t need to worry about the Hoosiers at all.
-Win vs. Maryland
AND
-Ohio State Loss
Indiana Clinching Scenarios
The Indiana Hoosiers need some help to get in after their defeat at Ohio State. The Hoosiers will not only have to win at Purdue, but for both Ohio State and Penn State to lose as well.
-Win at Purdue
AND
-Ohio State Loss
AND
-Penn State Loss
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