ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees were announced Thursday at the Strong National Museum of Play.
This year's Hall of Fame inductees include Asteroids, Myst, Resident Evil, SimCity, and Ultima.
The Hall of Fame recognizes a game's longevity, geographic spread, and influence on video game design and pop culture. Hall of Fame inductees will be determined by a panel of journalists and scholars knowledgeable about the history of video games and their impact on society. This year, a special fan vote was also important.
The breakdown of new members is as follows:
asteroid
Atari's Asteroids was first released in 1979 and quickly overtook Space Invaders to become the most popular game in many arcades. It became Atair's best-selling coin-operated game, selling over 70,000 arcade units before becoming available at home on the Atari 2600.
Commenting on Asteroids, Jeremy Saucier, Assistant Vice President of Interpretation and Electronic Games, said: He is one of the most widely played and influential video games of all time. ”
mist
The game was released by Broderbund in 1993 and became the best-selling computer game of the 1990s, selling over 6 million copies. His early CD-ROM technology had large storage capacities but slow loading times, making it suitable for a slow-paced, meditative style of gaming.
“There are very few other games that can match this. mistThe ability to open up an imaginative world. “This is a work of artistic genius that captivated the imagination of an entire generation of computer game players, and its influence can be seen in many of today's open-world games,” said Strong, his museum collection manager, and Christie. says Heissert.
resident evil
Known as Resident Evil in Japan, this game was the first to popularize the “survival horror” genre. The game Resident Evil, created by his director Shinji Mikami and released by Capcom in 1996, inspired a film series that grossed over $1.2 billion at the box office.
Lindsay Crano, video game curator at the Strong Museum, said:resident evilIts combination of cheesy B-movie dialogue, engrossing gameplay, and chilling suspense has made it a favorite for gamers looking for a more mature video game, and helped establish one of gaming's most enduring series. It was helpful. ”
sim city
Released by Maxis in 1989, the game helped expand the video game audience by providing an urban design simulator that appealed to both children and adults.
Arior Prater, a research expert on black play and culture, said: sim city. At the time, many people thought of video games in terms of arcade shooters and console platformers. sim city It appealed to players looking for intellectually stimulating fun on their newly purchased PC. ”
altima
Designed by Richard Garriott and released in 1981, Ultima is credited with helping define and inspire the computer role-playing genre.
Andrew Bowman, Director of Digital Preservation, said:altima It helped define the genre of computer role-playing games. It may not be a household name, but this game and the series it spawned are legendary among role-playing game fans and game developers around the world. ”
Here's a breakdown of the other finalists:
elite
— Developed in the UK, Elite pioneered innovative 3D graphics and the idea of open-world gaming by allowing players to control ships sailing through the galaxy.
guitar hero
— Guitar Hero, with licensed music and social gameplay, has sold more than 25 million copies and earned more than $2 billion. Launched by Harmonix and acquired by Activision.
metroid
— With its protagonist Samus, Nintendo's Metroid gave the gaming industry its first playable human female character in a mainstream video game. This franchise has sold over 20 million copies of her worldwide.
neopets
— Browser-based free-to-play Neopets offered a social component where players could chat with each other and form guilds. It had 25 million active users at its peak in 2005 and served as a testing ground for cyber safety mechanisms and immersive advertising.
Tokimeki Memorial
— Konami's Tokimeki Memorial elevated the dating simulator genre by offering a consistent story, colorful graphics, and engaging gameplay.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
— Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, released by Neversoft/Activision in 1999, spawned sequels and generated sales of approximately $1.4 billion. Hawk, a real-life skateboarder, said the game “both ignited and overshadowed my career.”
you don't know jack
— You Don't Know Jack reimagined the television game show for the home video game market. Multiplayer streaming versions of his games have increased during the coronavirus lockdown.
