The Strong, a New York museum focused on the history of play, is introducing the World Video Game Hall of Fame. With it, they hope to recognize "individual electronic games of all types-arcade, console, computer, handheld, and mobile-that have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general."
The finalists for the Hall of Fame's inaugural year were announced on April 28, and among the 15 nominees is a beloved game developed in the Dallas area: Id Software's Doom.
As the museum website puts it: "This revolutionary first-person shooter game introduced by Id Software in 1993 popularized the genre with fast-paced action, smooth-scrolling graphics, and adrenaline-pumping combat that gamers loved and some cultural critics lambasted for being too violent. DOOM introduced numerous technological innovations into game play and influenced the form, function, feel, and perception of many of the first-person shooting games that followed."
It's a good choice. Doom's influence is still easily felt today, as first-person shooters have become one of the most popular genres with today's video game players.
But it's got some pretty stiff competition. The other finalists on the list are Angry Birds, FIFA, The Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, The Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pokemon, Pong, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros., Tetris and World of Warcraft.
Personally, I'm partial to the ones I've highlighted in bold -- well, and Doom, of course.
The final inductees to the Hall of Fame will be announced on June 4, and they will be selected with help from a committee of "journalists, scholars, and other individuals familiar with the history of video games and their role in society."
"The 15 finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame span decades, gaming platforms, and geographies-but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on popular culture and society in general," Jon-Paul Dyson, director of The Strong's International Center for the History of Electronic Games said in a press release. "Whether it's the groundbreaking game Pong or a more recent viral sensation like Minecraft, all of these games have helped shape the way that people across the globe play and relate to one another."
According to The Strong, World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees should meet this criteria:
- Icon-status: the game is widely recognized and remembered.
- Longevity: the game is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over time.
- Geographical reach: the game meets the above criteria across international boundaries.
- Influence: the game has exerted significant influence on the design and development of other games, on other forms of entertainment, or on popular culture and society in general. A game may be inducted on the basis of this criterion without necessarily having met all of the first three.
I think there's little doubt that Doom meets all four requirements, and as such I'd love to see a little piece of D-FW's gaming history recognized in the Hall of Fame.
For an extra bit of fun (and some interesting popularity stats) you can vote for you favorite finalist in a poll on The Strong's website.
