The World Video Game Hall of Fame Announces 1st Inductees

— -- The Strong World Video Game Hall of Fame in upstate New York has announced its first class of inductees and it's a good one!

Doom, Pong, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and World of Warcraft are on the list of games announced at the beginning of the month that "have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general," according to the museum's website.

The games will now be on display at the museum in Rochester, New York.

The Strong Museum itself is an interactive place "devoted to the history and exploration of play. ... At 55,000 items and growing, The Strong’s collection of video games, other electronic games, and electronic game-related historical materials is the largest and most comprehensive public assemblage of such items anywhere."

The reason for the inductees makes sense. These games were not only popular but affected future games.

For example, the museum's website said Doom "was more than just a commercial success -- it also pioneered key aspects of game design and distribution that have become industry standards. The game’s designers created a game 'engine' that separated the game’s basic functions from other aspects such as artwork."

Super Mario Bros. came out when "the American home video game market had crashed, but Mario’s infectious, upbeat personality helped Nintendo revive it."

Nominees for the second class of the Hall are able to be submitted through next March.

"Anyone may nominate a game to the World Video Game Hall of Fame," the museum says.

Basic criteria include:

• Icon-status
• Longevity
• Geographical reach
• Influence