The Strong National Museum of Play has unveiled the 2023 class of the World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees. A total of four games made it to the 2023 class namely The Last of Us, Barbie Fashion Designer, Wii Sports, and Computer Space.
The games were selected based on several criteria which include popularity and influence. Every year several video games are nominated for a chance to be inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
Since the World Video Game Hall of Fame opened in 2015, some of the biggest titles ever made in the history of video games have been inducted including Tetris, Super Mario Bros., and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Out of the four new games inducted into the 2023 World Video Game Hall of Fame, The Last of Us is the youngest. It was highly praised by video game curator Lindsey Kurano through a press release.
“Despite debuting in 2013, The Last of Us remains popular because of its quality of gameplay and strength of story,” said Kurano. “The 2023 HBO adaptation has expanded the game’s reach and popularity. Created with Naughty Dog’s involvement, the show has garnered support from both critics and fans as one of the best video game adaptations ever made.”
The four World Video Game Hall Of Fame inductees cuts across different genres
One of the most important features of the 2023 World Video Game Hall Of Fame inductees is that they are cut from different genres. Nevertheless, they have all played important roles in their respective genres and at different eras in the video game industry.
The goal of the World Video Game Hall Of Fame is to recognize different games across all platforms including mobile, arcade, console, PC, and more. All the games inducted into the 2023 World Video Game Hall Of Fame had unique stories.
Wii Sports
Wii Sports remains one of the best-selling video games of all time. The game was instrumental to the massive success of the Nintendo Wii platform when it was launched in 2006. It continues to command passionate followers.
“With more than 82 million copies sold, Wii Sports is one of the best-selling video games of all time, but its true influence comes from the fact that it made gamers out of millions of people around the world who’d never thought about playing one before,” said Aryol Prater, research specialist for Black play and culture.
“It became a gaming phenomenon as news stories proliferated about the game getting diverse groups of people—including those at many senior centers—off their couches and breaking a sweat with virtual bowling, tennis, and more,” Prater added.
Computer Space
Released in 1971, Computer Space is considered “the first commercial video game”. Its popularity may have waned over the years and not many gamers today know the game. However, it laid the foundation for the video game’s commercial success.
“There was no video game industry in 1970,” said Jeremy Saucier, assistant vice president for interpretation and electronic games. “The games that we’d now call video games were still mostly locked away on computers in university and research labs, inaccessible to the public. Computer Space changed all that in 1971. By showing that video games could reach paying audiences outside of computer labs, it laid the foundations for the game industry.
Barbie Fashion Designer
Barbie Fashion Designer was arguably the first game that showed that girls have a place in the gaming world. Released in 1996, it was one of the first games that was directly targeted towards girls. The game was instrumental in the domestication of the Barbie franchise.
“Barbie Fashion Designer became a jumping-off point for the girls’ games movement and shook up the software and gaming scene,” said Kristy Hisert, collections manager at The Strong. “It also sparked important questions and debate. What does it mean to be a game for girls? Should there even be games ‘for girls’? What are the implications of these games? What are the consequences of gendering games?”
Other notable games made it to the finals
Although anyone can head to the official website of the World Video Game Hall Of Fame and nominate any game of their choice, the final decisions are made “on the advice of journalists, scholars, and other individuals familiar with the history of video games and their role in society”.
Other games that made it to the final of the 2023 World Video Game Hall Of Fame include FIFA International Soccer, Age of Empires, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, NBA 2K, Goldeneye 007, Wizardry, and Quake.
The Strong National Museum of Play located in Rochester, New York, will showcase the 2023 inductees (and likely previous inductees) on a permanent basis in a newly-expanded space at Strong Museum. The new space will be opened on 30 June. So far, 40 game titles have joined the World Video Game Hall Of Fame since its establishment.
Which other game do you think deserves a spot in the World Video Game Hall Of Fame? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.
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