Donkey Kong, Final Fantasy VII, Halo among Video Game Hall of Fame finalists

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It is on like Donkey Kong.

Some pretty heavy hitters are among the dozen electronic games that are listed as finalists for induction into this year’s World Video Game Hall of Fame:

  • Microsoft Windows Solitaire
  • Myst
  • Mortal Kombat
  • Donkey Kong
  • Final Fantasy VII
  • Street Fighter II
  • Halo: Combat Evolved
  • Resident Evil
  • Portal
  • Pokemon Red and Green
  • Wii Sports
  • Tomb Raider

“These 12 World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists span decades, gaming platforms, and countries of origin—but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on the world of gaming and popular culture,” Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games, said during last week’s announcement.

“Whether it’s a pop culture icon like Donkey Kong, an innovator and true original like Portal, or a game like Wii Sports that transformed millions of living rooms into interactive zones for all ages, they’re among the most influential games of all time.”

The winners will be announced May 4 during a ceremony at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y. We’ll bring you the news of the winners then.

The public can nominate finalists for the 2018 Hall of Fame at worldvideogamehalloffame.org. Inductees to the first two classes — DOOM, Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pong, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and World of Warcraft — are displayed on permanent view at The Strong museum.

In the video below, a Strong curator explains the critera for how the finalists are ultimately chosen:

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) - Twelve new finalists are battling it out for their place in the World Video Game Hall of Fame.The finalists were announced Tuesday morning and include Donkey Kong, Final Fantasy VII, Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft Windows Solitair

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About the author

Jayson Peters

Jayson Peters

Born and raised in Phoenix, Jayson Peters is a southern Colorado-based newspaper copy editor and website designer. He has taught online media at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and now teaches at Pueblo Community College. A versatile digital storyteller, he has led online operations at the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Arizona, followed by the Pueblo Chieftain, Colorado Springs Independent, Colorado Springs Business Journal and Pueblo Star Journal. He is a former Southern Colorado Press Club president and founder and curator of Nerdvana.