4 New Games Added to the "World Video Game Hall of Fame"

[2ko]

Article here

The 4 new games added are:

• Angry Birds
• Dragon Quest
• Fifa International Soccer
• Silent Hill

Pretty solid list. The fact the DQ is only now being added led me to looking up what made it previous years cause it is such an important game in gaming history.

Honestly, some of their choices in past years are kinda.... strange. Especially when considering things that aren't in the hall of fame yet.

Like how did Madden Football make it in before FIFA? This is supposed to be the "World Video Game Hall of Fame". Does anyone outside of USA even care about American football? A quick google search also tells me that FIFA has sold about 3x what Madden has.... Heck, apparently NBA2K also outsells Madden. So why madden at all?

Anyways I thought it was a pretty neat tid-bit of news to share. Can't really argue with these 4 games being added imo. Looking into previous years has led me with some headscratchers though lol

[sly345]

So why madden at all?

Because it's an american thing i guess.
I looked over the list and it's highly questionable and makes me wonder if only young millennials and gen-z are involved. Skyrim and Angry Birds? That's what you induct before Maze War? Before Wolfenstein 3D? Before Maniac Mansion? Before Monkey Island? Before M.U.L.E.? Before Alone in the Dark (without that, Resident Evil wouldn't be a thing even...) and most of all: Where the hell is Pitfall?
This is as bad of a joke as every other "Hall of Fame" (like the Rock n' Roll one or the WWE)

[marvelvscapcom2]

Omg The level of baffoonery of this hall of fame is on par with what I'd expect from any hall of fame.  Like Sly said.  It seems universal for hall of fames to be lacking.  But boy oh boy do we got some meat on this bone.  What were they thinking?


My main thing is I don't know what gives this company the accolades or litigious credibility to even do this to begin with outside of a subjective self contained Joke. Isn't there usually a board and isn't that board usually selected at random by unanimous vote to assemble a "hall of fame" in other mediums? And doesn't that board usually consist of legends of said medium. Like for example Shigeru Miyamoto and Niel Druckman ect.  I suppose I should take it with a grain of salt but I feel there is a large difference between a museum level "hall of fame" and some guy posting his top 20 games on YouTube. The care is lacking here.  Not by who they put but by who they left out.


These 4 selections aren't entirely bad. But they become insanely bad once I find who's left off.  If one were to represent mobile as a gaming medium it has to be through Angry Birds. It is peak for mobile gaming.  Silent Hill seems quite a bit forced though. Get all the way out of here.  If there is not one entry of Metroid, Castlevania, the Red Dead Redemption, Bioshock or Starfox franchises here.  Get Silent Hill as far distanced from my face as possible lol.

On top of that. Why is it the first entry?  2 is far more influential and genre pushing and by far the critical consensus for the best Silent Hill game. We cant say the hall of fame always picks the first because they didnt with Grand theft auto III proving they are trying to pick the most influential to the franchise.  Has anyone outside of silent hill die hard fans even played the first entry on OEM hardware?  2 is the king.  2 is the entry.   

I think the company has also pigeonholed itself by allowing so few entires per year. It makes it so they dont get to everyone fast enough. 



Bioshock not being here is quite frankly a loss of credibility. It has one of the most quoted endings in video game lexicon and pushed fps story telling in the 6th Gen landscape. A generation dominated by story driven fps.

Dude where is donkey kong country? 

Banjo Kazooie?


Punchout!!!!!   Literally punch out.

Do I have to get into the absence of fallout?  Is fallout not one of the most innovative RPGs of all time?  Am I in the twilight zone. That game is probably top 5 all time in terms of sheer influence on industry and cult establishing of a falollowing.


You get not one metroid or castlevania both of which have an entire genre named after them but you get garbage ass FIFA? Which has gone through an identity crisis most of its existence and only sells because its the only soccer game allowed on the market because of EA bully stranglehold on sports licensing.  Applies to Madden to.  Easy to sell 150 million units with no competitors.

Bejeweled over Castlevania?  Isn't Bejewled Extremely Derivative? Why not Bubble Bobble.

Barbie Fashion Designer over Super Metroid?



This whole thing needs to be scrapped now.  The more I ponder it the worse it gets lol.   Started off a meh but now it's resentment.  The hobby should he handled with care by now. Either do it right or not at all. Its not that hard to not do this imo.

[dhaabi]

I'm surprised that Silent Hill was ultimately inducted over other finalists like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, League of Legends, and Mega Man. But after reading that one of the four criteria is influence, then that surprise is somewhat diminished considering that nearly every indie and modern survival horror game is inspired by it or Resident Evil. I'm also surprised that there wasn't just one but two MMOs as finalists: the aforementioned League of Legends and also Runescape.

While I don't care about these historical accolades and what has or hasn't been inducted and nominated, I will point out that there are four criteria to how selections are made:

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 this criterion alone without necessarily having met the first three.

The Wikipedia article for World Video Game Hall of Fame also mentions that Influence is considered to be the most important criteria too, though there's nothing on The Strong's website itself to confirm that.

Like how did Madden Football make it in before FIFA? This is supposed to be the "World Video Game Hall of Fame". Does anyone outside of USA even care about American football? A quick google search also tells me that FIFA has sold about 3x what Madden has.... Heck, apparently NBA2K also outsells Madden. So why madden at all?

I agree, especially when considering that one of the four criteria for selection is geographical reach.

My main thing is I don't know what gives this company the accolades or litigious credibility to even do this to begin with outside of a subjective self contained Joke. Isn't there usually a board and isn't that board usually selected at random by unanimous vote to assemble a "hall of fame" in other mediums? And doesn't that board usually consist of legends of said medium. Like for example Shigeru Miyamoto and Niel Druckman ect.  I suppose I should take it with a grain of salt but I feel there is a large difference between a museum level "hall of fame" and some guy posting his top 20 games on YouTube. The care is lacking here.  Not by who they put but by who they left out.

The below text explains how final nominations are decided upon and the types of people involved in that process:

An internal committee of museum staff—including curators, gaming historians, and educators—reviews the nominees each year. They choose the 12 finalists based on the criteria of icon-status, longevity, geographic reach, and influence, and they also try to ensure that the finalists provide a range of game types (console, home computer, handheld) and a blend of returning and first-time finalists.

Personally, I'd consider these sorts of experts far more capable of making selections in this sort of process based on history and cultural influence than the kinds of industry figures you're suggesting. In the end, there is an exhaustive list of games that could be nominated or inducted. This is just one organization's selections.

[sly345]

Bejeweled over Castlevania?  Isn't Bejewled Extremely Derivative? Why not Bubble Bobble.

While it wouldn't be the first puzzle game i'd think off, certainly not before Columns, Klax, Puzzle Bobble, it is a big franchise (50 million sold by 2010, obviously a lot more now) and it started the whole Match 3 Fad. There were and are thousands of copycats jumping up everywhere from straight up clones on google play to more interesting titles. It definitely belongs in a hall of fame but not before the other puzzle games that existed. Not before Klax or Colums that did all that connect stuff long before.

Personally, I'd consider these sorts of experts far more capable of making selections in this sort of process based on history and cultural influence than the kinds of industry figures you're suggesting. In the end, there is an exhaustive list of games that could be nominated or inducted. This is just one organization's selections.

I would say it depends on who these "experts" are. There are video game "scholars" in the way there are archaeologists or historians or scientists. In the end it might be some ex-ign morons or some random youtubers (god forbid some clueless people like the AVGN or Pat the NES Punk)

The problem is that the foundations are ignored. Rogue gets nominated once, when it should be in there from the start (especially considering today where tons of games are "roguelite" or "roguelike") and Starcraft first and Warcraft never even mentioned? Without the success of Warcraft 1 & 2, Starcraft would not even be a thing and Warcraft spawned World of Warcraft.
And tons of games never mentioned that should. I would put Wing Commander in there, given the fact that it pushed technological boundaries, is popular enough to spawn mods, was in the Guinness Book of World Records (WC3 and then 4 as most expensive video games until Shenmue) and where the reason why the whole "space opera" genre even exists (Colony Wars, Freespace, Freelancer, Starlancer and so on)
Same with Half-Life (shouldn't that be first ballot? influenced, the mods (counter-strike!), the culture about it, it made Valve and led to Steam and for over 20 years people ask where Half-Life 3 is)
Again, i just look at it, i don't claim to be an expert, but i definitely shake my head at those weird choices and nominations.

And then there's the induction of Barbie Fashion Designer...what exactly did that influence or how did that have any longevity?

[marvelvscapcom2]

Personally, I'd consider these sorts of experts far more capable of making selections in this sort of process based on history and cultural influence than the kinds of industry figures you're suggesting. In the end, there is an exhaustive list of games that could be nominated or inducted. This is just one organization's selections.

Can I ask why? Just off curiosity.  I myself meet every criteria for what you just mentioned. Mostly all of that is self defined. You cant self define yourself as Shigeru Miyamoto or a legend in the medium. An artist. Anyone can say they are an expert. Self proclaimed experts do things like put Silent Hill 1 in a hall of fame before any Metroid title lol.  I am a curator of retro games, I educate people on games I suppose, run a gaming page and media presence, and know vague game history. That bar is so vague and so low. I'm just a guy. I know as much as anyone else or less. None of which make someone's subjective opinion gospel to exclude and include people's sentimental gaming choices. At least with a developer or inventor they have autuority on the matter I can't have as a consumer. That is the problem with most review publications and hall of fames in general but at least most of those have board members that actually have created or transformed the medium.  I'm not saying developers would be universally better. But that criteria you just quoted basically means any gamer on this site to James Rolfe or any other person in between.  I guarantee our hall of fame would be better.  Didn't this site make a top 100 games thing once? 




I also don't understand your backtrack on Silent Hill 1 because I feel your gut instinct was definitely right, as it meets none of the criteria you show their site posted for a submission to the hall of fame. It's sole existence is because of a lane Resident Evil carved 3 years prior, even its own devs admitted this, so it cant possibly be considered innovative as a first entry into a genre.  It didn't chart new ground.  It altered an existing formula's mood. Aside from being first. 2 did everything better.


For every other aspect of gaming

Icon Status - 2 is far more known, sold way more units and is the beacon of the franchise that has been remade like 3 times because of how iconic it is.


Geographical reach - 2 sold more units in every country and was a cult classic in Japan

Innovation-   2 is the main torch bearer for psychological terror. It did it far better than 1.  And 1 has mostly been considered to have aged poorly. And is not revered by casuals while 2 is.


To induct a game into the hall of fame that 97 out of 100 consumers hasn't even played is just insane. 



And now I add the main reason why I dislike hall of fames.


What metric that you listed does Silent Hill do that Super Metroid or Metroid didn't do better?


Metroid is so genre innovating that it is literally the co-name of an entire genre. People literally couldn't name the genre without using the name Metroid.  Metroid is more globally recognizable. Far more accessible to the average player considering Silent Hill isn't even played by children or casuals.  Metroid has more staying power being that its older.   It's not even in the same realm.   It's maybe 10x more qualified.  It is a pioneer.


I'm sorry. Off this alone this particular site loses credibility.  To me anyway.  I just wish these sites would say "our top q00" which screams "opinion and biased" not "hall of fame" which indicates consensus, authority and gospel. The entire hall of fame just off that observation alone doesnt have "historians" and game archeologists that should be taken with any ounce of sincerity over a typical guy.  There is no universe where Silent Hill 1 gets in before 2.   And no world where it comes even close to GTA 5 (the best selling game of all time. Other franchises have 2 entires)   and Metroid.  Metroid is possibly more hall of fame.worthy than Donkey Kong if i'm being frank.  Unless we include spinoffs


I don't think I could have done worse if I intentionally tried. Like the rock n roll hall of fame. Its lost all meaning.

[marvelvscapcom2]

Bejeweled over Castlevania?  Isn't Bejewled Extremely Derivative? Why not Bubble Bobble.

While it wouldn't be the first puzzle game i'd think off, certainly not before Columns, Klax, Puzzle Bobble, it is a big franchise (50 million sold by 2010, obviously a lot more now) and it started the whole Match 3 Fad. There were and are thousands of copycats jumping up everywhere from straight up clones on google play to more interesting titles. It definitely belongs in a hall of fame but not before the other puzzle games that existed. Not before Klax or Colums that did all that connect stuff long before.

Personally, I'd consider these sorts of experts far more capable of making selections in this sort of process based on history and cultural influence than the kinds of industry figures you're suggesting. In the end, there is an exhaustive list of games that could be nominated or inducted. This is just one organization's selections.

I would say it depends on who these "experts" are. There are video game "scholars" in the way there are archaeologists or historians or scientists. In the end it might be some ex-ign morons or some random youtubers (god forbid some clueless people like the AVGN or Pat the NES Punk)

The problem is that the foundations are ignored. Rogue gets nominated once, when it should be in there from the start (especially considering today where tons of games are "roguelite" or "roguelike") and Starcraft first and Warcraft never even mentioned? Without the success of Warcraft 1 & 2, Starcraft would not even be a thing and Warcraft spawned World of Warcraft.
And tons of games never mentioned that should. I would put Wing Commander in there, given the fact that it pushed technological boundaries, is popular enough to spawn mods, was in the Guinness Book of World Records (WC3 and then 4 as most expensive video games until Shenmue) and where the reason why the whole "space opera" genre even exists (Colony Wars, Freespace, Freelancer, Starlancer and so on)
Same with Half-Life (shouldn't that be first ballot? influenced, the mods (counter-strike!), the culture about it, it made Valve and led to Steam and for over 20 years people ask where Half-Life 3 is)
Again, i just look at it, i don't claim to be an expert, but i definitely shake my head at those weird choices and nominations.

And then there's the induction of Barbie Fashion Designer...what exactly did that influence or how did that have any longevity?

I'm starting to think Barbie Fashion designer is meant to troll. Because it's definitely a head scratcher.  I notice a lot of these lists. Even ones done by rolling stone magazine always put a ridiculous take.  They do this so people share it and roast it which only helps engagement. 


Welcome to the video game hall of fame folks! To your left you will see Barbie Fashion Designer.  Oh Fallout 3 and Half-Life?  Those are in the archives. Didn't quite make the cut lol.  Not up to snuff with Barbie. A titan of industry.


Half-Life is a good pick though. I had no idea they excluded it.  I know its all opinion but some games just have to be there.  And early. Half-Life is one of those. 

[dhaabi]

Personally, I'd consider these sorts of experts far more capable of making selections in this sort of process based on history and cultural influence than the kinds of industry figures you're suggesting. In the end, there is an exhaustive list of games that could be nominated or inducted. This is just one organization's selections.

Can I ask why? Just off curiosity.  I myself meet every criteria for what you just mentioned. Mostly all of that is self defined. You cant self define yourself as Shigeru Miyamoto or a legend in the medium. An artist. Anyone can say they are an expert. Self proclaimed experts do things like put Silent Hill 1 in a hall of fame before any Metroid title lol.

I also don't understand your backtrack on Silent Hill 1 because I feel your gut instinct was definitely right, as it meets none of the criteria you show their site posted for a submission to the hall of fame. It's sole existence is because of a lane Resident Evil carved 3 years prior, even its own devs admitted this, so it cant possibly be considered innovative as a first entry into a genre.  It didn't chart new ground.  It altered an existing formula's mood. Aside from being first. 2 did everything better.

I'm sorry. Off this alone this particular site loses credibility.  To me anyway.  I just wish these sites would say "our top q00" which screams "opinion and biased" not "hall of fame" which indicates consensus, authority and gospel. The entire hall of fame just off that observation alone doesnt have "historians" and game archeologists that should be taken with any ounce of sincerity over a typical guy.  There is no universe where Silent Hill 1 gets in before 2.

Considering that these individuals are well-connected to a highly reputable institution related to the preservation, documentation, and education of video games, I will assume that they are far more informed about the history of games than you and I, and I would also argue that have more knowledge pertaining to games as a collective medium than individual developers whom often are far more like you or I as hobbyists of games than as people who actually study them.

Something I think you're failing to realize is that The Strong is a museum, and their collection of Hall of Fame selections comprise a physical exhibit for guests to visit—it is not just some list to garner online attention and discussion. If the barrier to inducting games into The Strong's Hall of Fame museum exhibit was limited to one game per genre, then the exhibit would be rather condensed while limiting a litany of other options that are just as worthy of being recognized. As a franchise, Silent Hill is not unlike Resident Evil, but it's also very much unique in its own way. Within the modern survival horror landscape of games, nearly all new titles are derivative of these two specific franchises, and it's quite apparent to identify which of the two is the inspiration. I'm not here to argue whether it's more appropriate to induct Silent Hill or Silent Hill 2 if they're the only two options being presented--they both have their strengths and lasting legacies and would be suitable to add to any list like this, though I'd personally say that it's the debut title that's most culturally impactful as the first three entries play identically besides the updated controls from tank to 3D locomotion, with the former also adopting a strong cinematic presence with its fixed camera design. Regardless, my own personal opinion doesn't matter in this conversation. Needless to say though, a universe does exist where a reputable organization (that shouldn't be dismissively compared to some news journalism site or YouTube personality) deemed Silent Hill better suited to such position than Silent Hill 2.

Of course, a game like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night would be just as appropriate to induct (as I'd argue that it specifically is far more impactful to games later developed as it spearheaded the pseudo-genre "Metroidvania" that you're alluding to), but as I mentioned, this is one singular organization's selections. Naturally, not everyone (far from everyone, in fact) will be satisfied with the final selections. However, I don't think anyone actually knowledgeable about the four inductees from the final pool of twelve each year would be able to argue in good faith that they aren't suitable options. And yes, this includes the previously mentioned Barbie Fashion Designer. Also, here is the extensive FAQ provided by The Strong relating to how the Hall of Fame process is conducted.

And then there's the induction of Barbie Fashion Designer...what exactly did that influence or how did that have any longevity?

I'm starting to think Barbie Fashion designer is meant to troll. Because it's definitely a head scratcher.  I notice a lot of these lists. Even ones done by rolling stone magazine always put a ridiculous take.  They do this so people share it and roast it which only helps engagement.

Welcome to the video game hall of fame folks! To your left you will see Barbie Fashion Designer.  Oh Fallout 3 and Half-Life?  Those are in the archives. Didn't quite make the cut lol.  Not up to snuff with Barbie. A titan of industry.

Fortunately, the internet offers us many opportunities to delve into topics we're unfamiliar with. Here is the Wikipedia article for Barbie Fashion Designer, complete with sources. Meanwhile, here are two videos published by Strong Museum providing greater context to the game's history. And, lastly, here is the lengthy writing on The Strong's website that goes into much detail about this selection.

Before dismissing something outright, it is best to gain knowledge about it first—this is sound advice that can be applied to anything in life. Then, opinions should be made, or else a person will likely present themselves as ignorant that will influence the effectiveness of their argument. With that said and after having gained an understanding of its impact, I stand by my previous statement that a game like Barbie Fashion Designer is a perfectly fine inductee. I'm not sure I understand why there has been such an impassioned display of opinion toward this topic, and especially when it's evident there's a lack of context being demonstrated too in that opinion's stance.