Gamers are rejoicing as four classic video games have been selected to be inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
Welcome To The Club
On Thursday, May 3, the Strong National Museum of Play announced that Final Fantasy VII, John Madden Football, Spacewar!, and Tomb Raider would become the fourth members of this elite club. The four video games represented different genres and made an impact on pop culture. Spacewar! is the oldest inductee, the game was released in 1962, the other games became video game staples since they were introduced in the 1990s.
The Other Finalists
The four games faced competition between eight other finalists that were a part of the selection process. Among the modern-day games that were nominated but were eliminated from consideration include Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Dance Dance Revolution. Vintage games such as Asteroids, Ms. Pac-Man, and Metroid were also included in the final vote.
A Tech Times Exclusive
Tech Times corresponded with Jeremy Saucier, the Strong's Assistant Vice President for Interpretation and Electronic Games. He stated that the games met the Video Game Hall of Fame's criteria of achieving icon status, longevity, and geographic interest. Also, he also mentioned that decision came down to two groups.
"Spacewar!, John Madden Football, Tomb Raider, and Final Fantasy VII were inducted on the advice of the Player's Choice ballot and an International Selection Advisory Committee of journalists, scholars, and other experts on the history of video games," wrote Saucier to Tech Times.
Video Game Roundup
When Nintendo's new President Shuntaro Furukawa takes office this June, it is expected that he would be looking to build up the video game company's smartphone products. Furukawa wants to replicate the success of Pokémon Go by giving Nintendo fans the chance to play iOS and Android adaptions of their favorite games. Both Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem: Heroes had strong pre-release hype, but gamers were turned off by some of the game's numerous factors such as pricing and in-game transactions.
Harry Potter fans will visit Hogwarts in the literary franchise's latest video game. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a roleplaying smartphone game that will take players to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While players will not encounter Harry, Ron, and Hermione because the game is set in the 1980s, several professors such as Dumbledore and Snape are expected to help players learn spells and solve mysteries.
Ashland University in Ohio became the very first college in the United States to start a scholarship for Fortnite Battle Royale players. If players decide that they would enroll in the program, they would have access to coaches and staff members, who would be able to advise them regarding gameplay. The students would also have access the university's trainers and training facilities. Ashland University is expected to start the program this fall, and it is open to existing and prospective students.
Other Honored Games
Spacewar!, John Madden Football, Tomb Raider, and Final Fantasy VII will join previous recipients of this award in this illustrious group. Last year, Pokémon Red and Green, Street Fighter II, Donkey Kong, and Halo: Combat Evolved were selected to join the Video Game Hall of Fame. Other inductees include DOOM, Super Mario Bros., The Sims, and The Oregon Trail.
