* Donkey Kong, Halo: Combat Evolved and Street Fighter II made the cut
* Pac-Man, Grand Theft Auto III and The Legend of Zelda are already in the Hall of Fame
* Pong (1972) was the world’s first video game
The World Video Game Hall of Fame has announced that five classic video games will be inducted this year. They are Donkey Kong, Halo: Combat Evolved, Pokemon Red, Pokemon Green and Street Fighter II. The Hall of Fame, which is housed in the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY, recognizes individual video games that have gained a high level of popularity and made a significant cultural impact. This year’s inductees were chosen based on their iconic status, their continued popularity, their geographical reach and their influence on games development, entertainment and pop culture, writes CNBC.
The inductees will join other video game classics such as DOOM, Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pong, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Super Mario Brothers, Tetris, and World of Warcraft.
A look back at the hall of famers reveals just how far gaming technology has advanced since its inception. Pong, which was released by Atari in 1972, was the world’s first video game. The game consists of nothing more than players bouncing a ball back and forth between paddles.
When you compare those humble beginnings to today’s market, where gamers immerse themselves in a virtual reality experience and connect via internet to play with friends, you can see just how far the technology has advanced.
According to the Strong Museum, anyone can nominate a game to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Final selections are determined by a group of journalists, scholars, and other individuals familiar with the history of video games and their role in society. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 induction.
