なつかしい! Play Old Video Games at the Ontario Science Centre Until September 2

I don't normally rush to press with one-off blog posts, but a surprising exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre I saw today was just too good to pass up. Called Game On 2.0, it offers a playable interactive history of video games. I got a kick out of seeing old games from my childhood like Pong and Activision's Pitfall. What really impressed me--and the reason that I'm posting today--was the number of domestic Japanese game systems and toys on display. Seeing a system I had only heard about, like Nintendo's Famicom, was pretty interesting.

Even though most of the children and adults in the exhibition room seemed more interested in playing the games than checking out the cultural history displays, the OSC did make an effort to investigate the crucial role marketing and product tie-ins have played in the popularization of video games.

Unlike Pokemon, PaRappa the Rapper didn't cross over to the North American market.
I wonder why?

While the Ontario Science Centre is definitely geared to kids and families, the chance to play the arcade version of Japanese Space Invaders just might be too tempting to pass up if you are in the Toronto area this month (August 2013).

Anyone recognize this one?