The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, today announced the 15 finalists for induction into the hall. They are: Angry Birds, Doom, FIFA, The Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, The Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pokémon, Pong, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and World of Warcraft.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame received thousands of nominations for the inaugural class. This year’s final inductees, chosen with guidance from an international selection committee made up of journalists, scholars, and other individuals familiar with the history of video games and their role in society, will be announced during a special ceremony at The Strong museum on June 4 at 10:30 a.m.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame recognizes electronic games that meet the following criteria: iconic status, wide recognition, and remembrance; longevity, i.e., the game is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over time; geographical reach, as the game meets the above criteria across international boundaries; and 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.
Anyone can nominate a game to the World Video Game Hall of Fame online at worldvideogamehallofame.org (A game may be inducted on the basis of the last criterion without necessarily having met all of the first three).
