International Video Game Hall of Fame
The International Video Game Hall of Fame (IVGHoF) is a planned museum to be operated in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States.
| Established | July 2010 |
|---|---|
| Location | Ottumwa, Iowa |
| Website | www |
Ottumwa considers itself as the "Video Game Capital of the World" as the city was home to the Twin Galaxies arcade which became the epicenter for numerous competitions in arcade games.[1] The museum's organization is operated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit by Ottumwa business leaders and other residents, designed to recognize "the champions, industries, and professionals" of the video game industry.[2] While the museum has not been constructed, the IVGHoF continues to induct new members into its Hall of Fame.
History
The idea of the museum was conceived around 2009.[1] The city laid claim that they were the Video Game Capital of the World in 1982, following the recognition that Twin Galaxies had received for being the authoritative source for high scores in arcade games, a point that had not been challenged since. Around 2009, community leaders started speculating on the possibility of a museum, recognizing that previous efforts to establish a United States video game museum had all failed and that this was potentially a way to capitalize on the city's claim to fame. Leaders recognized that since 1982, the video game industry had significantly changed, with arcade games having waned in favor of consoles and computers, but felt they could still be a proper home to this museum due to the town's history as Cooperstown, New York serves for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.[1] The city leaders also saw the opportunity to help the financially struggling city to bring in more revenues from tourism to the primarily farming community.[3]
The city's council and chamber of commerce authorized a steering committee to organize and plan out the museum.[4] The museum's organizers aimed to collect donations to build a modern facility, estimated to cost between $30 to $50 million, with interactive displays to celebrate its inductees, and to acquire at least one working version of each of the estimated 100,000 coin-operated and home video game systems that have been produced to date.[5][4] Their initial goal was to start construction within five years from its onset.[3]
The museum inducted its first class during its multiday "Big Bang 2010" event on August 7, 2010. Inducted into the Hall of Fame during this initial ceremony included Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Namco's Masaya Nakamura, home video game system pioneers Ralph H. Baer and Nolan Bushnell, game designer Steve Ritchie, members of the original Xbox design team including Seamus Blackley, and several arcade game high-score champions including Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell.[6] The event also honored Pac-Man on the 30th anniversary of the arcade game's release through induction into the Hall of Fame.[7] The initial events drew in at least 3,500 visitors to the town.[4] In subsequent years, due to low donations, the IVGHoF has scaled back these events, still holding ceremonies for honoring inductees, as to be able to better met their target goals.[8]
In 2016, the IVGHoF and the town established the "Video Game Walk of Fame" along the town's main street, believed to be the first of its kind. While the IVGHoF itself focuses more on the people and organizations of the video game industry, the Video Game Walk of Fame was designed to commemorate key video games. In its inaugural year, the IVGHoF selected Pac-Man for the first "star" on this, and put into display on August 7, 2016, alongside the events to induct new members into the Hall of Fame.[9]
Inductees
The IVGHoF selects inductees from both the industry and from players, as well as select video games. Selections are made first through an open nomination process, public input to narrow down the electees, and then voting among a set of video game journalists, executives, and gamers for final inductees.[10][11][12][13][14]
Developers and industry leaders
| Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kevin Bachus | Member of the Xbox design team |
| 2010 | Ralph H. Baer | "Father of Video Games", inventor of the first home video game console |
| 2010 | Otto Berkes | Member of the Xbox design team |
| 2010 | Seamus Blackley | Member of the Xbox design team |
| 2010 | Nolan Bushnell | Founder of Atari |
| 2019 | Brian Colin | Developer of Rampage and Arch Rivals |
| 2017 | Warren Davis | Developer of Q*bert |
| 2019 | Richard Garriott | "Lord British", and developer of the Ultima series |
| 2010 | Ted Hase | Member of the Xbox design team |
| 2016 | Satoru Iwata | Former president of Nintendo |
| 2015 | Eugene Jarvis | Developer of Defender and Robotron: 2084 |
| 2016 | Hideo Kojima | Developer of the Metal Gear series |
| 2010 | Shigeru Miyamoto | Developer of Donkey Kong |
| 2010 | Masaya Nakamura | Founder of Namco |
| 2017 | Howard Phillips | Spokesperson for Nintendo of America |
| 2010 | Steve Ritchie | Pinball game designer |
| 2019 | Bonnie Ross | Head of 343 Industries, the studio managing the Halo franchise |
| 2015 | Gary Stern | President of Stern Electronics and Stern Pinball |
Competitive gamers
| Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Thor Aackerland | Competitive Gamer |
| 2017 | Chris Ayra | 90's eSports Competitor |
| 2015 | Tim Balderramos | Competitive Gamer |
| 2010 | Rob Barrett | Competitive Gamer |
| 2010 | Dennis Fong | Competitive Gamer |
| 2015 | Eric Ginner | Competitive Gamer |
| 2015 | Katherine "Mystik" Gunn | Competitive Gamer |
| 2010 | Ike Hall | Competitive Gamer |
| 2015 | Steve Harris | Competitive Gamer |
| 2019 | Ryan Hart | 90's Gamer |
| 2019 | Donald Hayes | 2000's Gamer |
| 2017 | Michael Klug | Golden Age Gamer |
| 2010 | Andrew Laidlaw | Competitive Gamer |
| 2010 | John McAllister | Competitive Gamer |
| 2019 | David Palmer | Golden Age Gamer |
| 2019 | Jeff Peters | Golden Age Gamer |
| 2010 | Perry Rodgers | Competitive Gamer |
| 2010 | Scott Safran | Competitive Gamer |
| 2016 | Chris Tang | 90's eSports Competitor |
| 2010 | Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel | Competitive Gamer |
| 2010 | Phil Younger | Competitive Gamer |
Games
| Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Assassin's Creed series | 2000's Era Game |
| 2019 | Computer Space | Golden Age Game |
| 2015 | Defender | Legendary Arcade Game |
| 2019 | Doom | 90's Era Game |
| 2017 | Donkey Kong | Golden Arcade Game |
| 2019 | Fortnite | 2000's Era Game |
| 2019 | Galaga | Golden Age Game |
| 2017 | Halo | 2000's Era Game |
| 2016 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 90's Era Game |
| 2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Modern Age Game |
| 2016 | Minecraft | Current Era Game |
| 2019 | Ms. Pac-Man | Golden Age Game |
| 2010 | Pac-Man | Legendary Arcade Game |
| 2017 | Sonic the Hedgehog | 90's Era Game |
| 2019 | Street Fighter series | 90's Era Game |
| 2019 | Super Mario 64 | 90's Era Game |
| 2016 | Super Mario Bros. | Golden Age Game |
| 2019 | Super Smash Bros. Melee | 2000's Era Game |
| 2019 | Tetris | Golden Age Game |
| 2016 | World of Warcraft | 2000's Era Game |
Community Action Award
| Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Patrick O'Malley | Community Action Award |
| 2017 | Extra Life | Fundraising organization |
| 2019 | Doc Mack | Founder of Galloping Ghost, arcade game collection |
| 2019 | Video Game Palooza | Video game STEM-based charity |
Walter Day Lifetime Achievement Award
| Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | David Bishop | Programmer and Vice-president of Namco America |
| 2017 | David Crane | Programmer and co-founder of Activision |
| 2019 | Reggie Fils-Aimé | President of Nintendo of America |
| 2016 | Steve Wozniak | Co-founder of Apple Inc. |
References
- Good, Owen (April 6, 2009). "A Claim to Fame, in the Dodge City of Video Games". Kotaku. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- "International Video Game Hall of Fame - About". International Video Game Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Yadron, Danny (August 7, 2010). "City Resorts to Pac-Man for a Reboot". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Good, Owen (August 13, 2010). "Thousands Attend Iowa Hall of Fame Launch". Kotaku. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Snider, Mike (August 4, 2010). "Video Game Hall of Fame Inducting Pac-Man and pals". USA Today. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Good, Owen (July 17, 2010). "The Incoming Class of the International Video Games Hall of Fame". Kotaku. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Benedetti, Winda (August 5, 2010). "Iowa's Town Claim to Gaming Fame Gets Cornier". NBC News. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Good, Owen (May 18, 2011). "Video Game Hall of Fame Cancels This Year's Gala Weekend". Kotaku. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Newmann, Mark (August 7, 2016). "World Video Game Walk of Fame opens in Ottumwa". Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- "Class of 2010". International Video Game Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- "Class of 2015". International Video Game Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- "Class of 2016". International Video Game Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- "Class of 2017". International Video Game Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
- "IVGHOF Class of 2019 Inductees". International Video Game Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 6, 2019.