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Arts

Toronto, the video game

Posted by Tim / November 13, 2010

10 Comments

Honest Ed's video gameIt may not be a video game situated entirely in Toronto, but LEPOS, on display this weekend only at Magic Pony, features familiar Toronto settings like the iconic Honest Ed's at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst as well as the nearby Spadina subway station (image below).

The arcade style game currently sits in Magic Pony's back gallery space and is on a four day loan from Toronto-based artist, illustrator and game creator Diego Bergia. His Lepos Bible, a 65 page book documenting the entire project's history, is also on sale along with some prints from the game and other video game related paraphernalia. I've also been told that the arcade game system itself might be available for $3,000.

LEPOSThe only downside is that the video game remains a prototype only (it never went into production) so you can't actually play it at Magic Pony. But it is on some sort of video loop so plenty of the screens are available for viewing.

Images courtesy of Diego Bergia

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Lesley / November 13, 2010 at 12:22 pm
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/imhalfmydadsage/5167981390/
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Alex / November 13, 2010 at 04:11 pm
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So, I should head to the Magic Pony to watch a loop of a video game that I'll never be able to play? Pass.
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Bubba / November 13, 2010 at 06:38 pm
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at least they got an accurate visual of what the TTC is really like, sans the robots and aliens. Just needs some garbage on the platform and seepage on the walls.
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Magic Pony / November 13, 2010 at 07:13 pm
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Although the arcade aspect of the exhibition is definitely worth checking out, it is not the only reason to head down to Magic Pony this weekend. Diego Bergia has created an entire Lepos installation complete with limited edition prints, arcade style walls, blown up characters, and customized gaming extras. He even made a limited edition coin! This exhibition is to celebrate the launch of Diego's new book the Lepos Bible, a 65 page book documenting the entire project's history from street-art to video games.
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Siguy / November 14, 2010 at 10:12 am
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I checked this out. It was rad. I was aware of Lepos prior to the show (some of the robot characters are up outside my favourite Vietnamese sub place on Spadina) but the arcade, super nintedo packages and old game magazine inserts were so convincing, some people who weren't thought this actually was a real classic game from the 90s. The attention to detail on these pieces is incredible and the whole show is a lot of fun.
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Guy / November 14, 2010 at 10:23 am
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Yeah, for anyone who is taking this too literally, the back story is BS. The art work is heavily derived from the Metal Slug series which came out in 1996.
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heyhey replying to a comment from Siguy / November 14, 2010 at 01:02 pm
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I read about this and headed down to pay a visit. Really interesting the way the era's video games have been portrayed, really neat framed artwork as well. The place was also quite busy.
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loveandmathematics replying to a comment from Alex / November 14, 2010 at 01:54 pm
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You seem really intelligent.
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chris / November 14, 2010 at 04:06 pm
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i went to the smithsonian and they had all these rad aerospace exhibits but you can't even fly them. PASS.
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Ellie replying to a comment from chris / November 15, 2010 at 10:48 am
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Alex got pwned.
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