Competitors for Video Game Hall of Fame
The World Video Game Hall of Fame fielded thousands of nominations for the Class of 2019 from more than 100 countries, hall officials said after narrowing the field to 12.
“Will Centipede devour the competition? Can Mortal Kombat fight its way to victory? Will Microsoft Windows Solitaire play its cards correctly?’’ the Hall of Fame said in a news release revealing this year’s 12 finalists. “Can Super Mario Kart speed past the finish line? Is NBA 2K a slam dunk?’’
The other contenders are: Candy Crush, Colossal Cave Adventure, Dance Dance Revolution, Half-Life, Myst, Sid Meier’s Civilisation and Super Smash Bros. Melee.
An expert committee will choose which finalists will be inducted on May 2. Gamers can weigh in with an online ballot until March 28.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame, housed at the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, recognises individual electronic games of all types: arcade, console, computer, hand-held and mobile. Those deemed worthy of the hall have left a mark on the video-game industry or pop culture and been popular over time and across countries.
Last year, John Madden Football, Spacewar!, Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy VII were honoured. The Class of 2019 will be the fifth group to go into the hall since it was established in 2015.
Newzoo analysts estimated the video game market at nearly US$140 billion in 2018, with more than 2.3 billion active gamers. The numbers dwarf the $43.4 billion in revenue generated by the American film industry.
The 12 Hall of Fame finalists span decades, gaming platforms and countries of origin, but all have had an impact, Jon-Paul Dyson, director of he Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games, said in the news release. “Whether it’s a true pioneer like Colossal Cave Adventure, a mobile gaming phenomenon like Candy Crush that’s been played by hundreds of millions, or a game like Mortal Kombat that pushed boundaries and changed the landscape of the gaming industry,’’ Dyson said, “they’re among the most influential games of all time.’’