The Strong National Museum of Play has finally announced this year's roster of titles to be honored in the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Out of 12 finalists, Pokemon Red and Green, Donkey Kong, Halo: Combat Evolved, and Street Fighter II are the ones to receive the prestigious accolade.
Unfortunately, games such as Wii Sports, Final Fantasy VII, and even Windows Solitaire, did not make the cut, but their chances are up again for next year's list of inductees.
The newest list comes as the third batch of inductees to the Hall of Fame. The titles were announced via a ceremony at The Strong museum in New York, Thursday, May 4. Although the final inductees ultimately became a short list, the initial 12 finalists encompass games that have had undeniable impact globally.
"These 12 World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists span decades, gaming platforms, and countries of origin — but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on the world of gaming and popular culture," said Jon-Paul C. Dyson, The Strong's director for the International Center for the History of Electronic Games.
Video Game Hall Of Fame Criteria
There were thousands of nominations across 100 countries, according to The Strong. A coterie of journalists and scholars familiar with video game selected the final inductees, judging the titles based on their icon status, longevity, geographical reach, and influence. The Strong notes, however, that a game may be included on the basis of influence alone.
A Brief Look At This Year's Video Game Hall Of Fame Inductees
Nintendo's presence is felt in this year's lineup of inductees, to be sure, especially with Pokémon and Donkey Kong in the mix. Not to be overlooked, however, is Halo: Combat Evolved, which proved that it was possible to play first-person shooters on consoles. There's also Street Fighter II, which helped spawn an arcade renaissance in the '90s.
Here's a brief look at this year's inductees:
• Pokémon Red and Green - These titles, released in 1996, were the first Pokémon games in history. This game needs no introduction, as you can expect. It gave players around the world a unique turn-based RPG, while also encouraging them to catch 151 pocket monsters, which they can level up or use to battle other trainers. Pokémon is unarguably a global phenomenon, and one of the whole gaming populace's prized franchises. Its latest iterations, Sun and Moon, were released last year.
• Street Fighter II - Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, which Capcom released in 1991, is such a popular and powerful game that it helped in creating the one-on-one fighting genre. Like Pokémon, it would be hard to find a person over the age of 20 who doesn't know what Street Fighter is.
• Donkey Kong - Without Donkey Kong, Mario wouldn't have existed. Released back in 1981, Donkey Kong was not just a game: it was a stellar example of the burgeoning genius of video game legend Shigeru Miyamoto. We still play Miyamoto's games today. The latest iteration of his Zelda series, Breath of the Wild, is on track to become game of the year.
• Halo: Combat Evolved - This sci-fi first-person shooter fused together complex storylines, memorable characters, and a stellar multiplayer experience. According to The Strong, Halo proved that first-person shooters aren't exclusive to PCs; they can work just as well on a gamepad controller.
Do you agree with this year's Video Game Hall of Fame inductees? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
