If rock ‘n’ roll has its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, video games are not to be outdone with the Video Game Hall of Fame. And every year, new titles join this video game pantheon, managed by the Strong National Museum of Play.
Located in Rochester, New York, the museum has selected four games for the 2022 edition. To know :
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Sid Meier’s Civilization
- Dance Dance Revolution
Other games, including mobile titles, have been considered for a time, namely Assassin’s Creed, Candy Crush Saga, Minesweeper (the minesweeper), NBA Jam, PaRappa the Rapper, Resident Evil, Rogue and Words with Friends. But they were not retained.
According to archivist Julia Novakovic, “Ms. Pac-Man promoted and signaled the expansion of play between the sexes. By providing the first widely recognized female video game character, Ms. Pac-Man represented a turning point in the cultural conversation regarding the place of women in the arcade as well as in society as a whole..”
Regarding The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time“the game’s sprawling 3D world, fluid combat, intricate puzzles, and story that plays out over time have combined to amaze gamers who have never forgotten it”, explains Andrew Borman, curator of the museum.
Sid Meier’s Civilization was selected for its popularity. “Players have immersed themselves in the Civilization series for over a billion hours”, annonce Jon-Paul Dyson, directeur du Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic games.
At last, Dance Dance Revolution has, as its name suggests, “been a revolution for the musical gaming scene”, says Lindsey Kurano, curator of video games. “Music has been an integral part of human life since prehistoric times, so it’s no surprise that DDR has enjoyed unique popularity that has spanned ages, genders, and regions.”
