New World Video Game Hall of Fame Opening, Gamers Nominate Your Favorites Now

The Strong—home of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG)— today has announced the opening of the new World Video Game Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, which will be a new addition to The Strong museum in Rochester, New York, will recognize individual electronic games—arcade, console, computer, handheld, mobile—that have maintained long-term popularity and influenced the industry or pop culture.

Inductees to first class of the World Video Game Hall of Fame will be announced at The Strong museum in Rochester, New York, June 2015 and will be on permanent view in the museum’s eGameRevolution exhibit.

Nomination are now open and anyone may nominate a game to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Strong has set aside a select set of criteria each game should match, listed below. Nominations for the inaugural class will be accepted through March 31, 2015.

• 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.

So geeks, gamers and anyone else interested, if your favorite game matches the criteria listed then visit the hall of fame nomination page to list your favorite games. Finalists will be determined by an internal advisory committee; a separate selection committee of journalists, scholars, and those familiar with video games will choose the eventual winners.

Which games do you think should make the cut? I know I for one could probably compile a long list! Post your favorites in a comment below.