GAMETECH: Honour the names behind the games
Each of them created works of deep cultural significance. They changed how we consume entertainment. But only three of those names are famous for it. The Strong Museum of Play in New York has opened a ‘World Hall of Fame’ for gaming, an event that should be cause for celebration. Upon closer inspection, however, there’s something not quite right about the whole thing. All six of the inaugural entries are, well, ones and zeroes. They are Super Mario Bros, DOOM, Pong, World of Warcraft, Pac-Man and Tetris. Kubrick and Bergman can hold their heads high in a hall of fame for cinema. Hendrix and Franklin stand proud in any roster of musical genius. In a hall of fame for gaming, however, only the games themselves achieve recognition. Their creators remain largely unconsidered.
The Strong Museum is one of the largest museums in America, devoted to “learning through play”. It houses historical examples of toys and electronic entertainment.
