ROCHESTER (AP) – The 12 finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame this year draw from four decades of gaming, from Atari Asteroids, played on coin-fed consoles in arcades, to Guitar Hero, for living-room rockers who compete on a plastic guitar.
Asteroids, which debuted in 1979 and Guitar Hero, which arrived in 2005, are nominated alongside 1980s launches Elite, Metroid, SimCity and Ultima, and from the 1990s: Myst, Neopets, Resident Evil, Tokimeki Memorial, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and You Don’t Know Jack. Fans are invited to vote online until March 21.
The Hall of Fame recognises games for their longevity, geographic reach and influence on video game design and pop culture.
There is no shortage of contenders, according to Director of International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum in Rochester Jon-Paul Dyson, where the Hall of Fame is located.
Thousands of nominations come in each year for electronic games of all types – arcade, console, computer, handheld, and mobile.
“Asteroids is an icon of the late 70s arcade. Myst showed the potential of CD-ROM technology in the 90s. Neopets became a staple of browser-based, free games as we entered the 2000s.
“And Guitar Hero, which is less than 20 years old, has already proven its staying power,” Dyson said in a news release revealing the finalists.
The three games that receive the most public votes will form a ‘Player’s Choice’ ballot, to be counted with other ballots submitted by members of a committee of journalists and scholars with video game expertise.
The top vote getters will be inducted on May 9.