The World Video Game Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2024 inductees. The winners include Asteroids, Myst, Resident Evil, SimCity, and Ultima. These games have significantly influenced popular culture and the video game industry. Let’s take a closer look at each game and their impact.
Asteroids:
Asteroids, released in 1979, quickly became a hit in arcades, surpassing the popular Space Invaders. Atari’s Asteroids offered challenging gameplay, impressive graphics, and intense sound effects. It became Atari’s bestselling coin-operated game, with over 70,000 arcade units sold. The home version on the Atari 2600 brought the game’s popularity into millions of living rooms. Jeremy Saucier, assistant vice president for interpretation and electronic games, describes Asteroids as a simple yet challenging game that became one of the most influential video games of all time.
Myst:
Released in 1993 by Broderbund, Myst became one of the most popular computer games of all time. It introduced players to a mesmerizing world of mysterious puzzles and haunting vistas. Utilizing early CD-ROM technology, Myst offered high storage capacity but slow loading times, which added to the game’s contemplative style. Selling over six million copies, Myst became the best-selling computer game in the 1990s. Robin and Rand Miller, the creators of Myst, recently reunited to develop a new version of the sequel, Riven. Kristy Hisert, collections manager, praises Myst as a work of artistic genius that captured the imagination of an entire generation of players.
Resident Evil:
Resident Evil, released in 1996 by Capcom, popularized the “survival horror” genre. It became the first game to demonstrate that video games could provide mature entertainment for older teenagers and adults. The franchise has since become a billion-dollar media franchise, with films based on Resident Evil grossing over $1.2 billion. Lindsey Kurano, video game curator, emphasizes Resident Evil’s engrossing gameplay, chilling suspense, and cheesy B-movie dialogue as factors that made it a favorite among gamers seeking more mature content.
SimCity:
Maxis released SimCity in 1989, which expanded the audience for video games by offering a city-building simulator that appealed to adults. Drawing from real-life urban design principles, SimCity allowed players to build their own cities and tackle ever-changing problems. The game influenced the development of many city-building and real-time strategy games. Aryol Prater, research specialist for Black play and culture, credits SimCity with appealing to players who wanted intellectually stimulating fun on their personal computers.
Ultima:
Ultima: The First Age of Darkness, released in 1981 by Richard Garriott, helped define the computer role-playing genre. It combined role-playing mechanics, a massive fictional world, and fantasy and science fiction themes. Ultima spawned a legendary franchise with eight sequels, inspiring many top game designers in creating their own role-playing games. Andrew Borman, director of digital preservation, acknowledges Ultima’s significant impact on the role-playing game genre and its enduring popularity among fans and developers worldwide.
Conclusion:
The World Video Game Hall of Fame recognizes electronic games that have enjoyed popularity over time and exerted influence on the industry or popular culture. The 2024 inductees, Asteroids, Myst, Resident Evil, SimCity, and Ultima, have left a lasting legacy in the gaming world. These games showcase the evolution of the video game industry and its ability to captivate players with innovative gameplay, immersive worlds, and mature storytelling. As technology continues to advance, it will be fascinating to see how future games make their mark in the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
