International Video Game Hall of Fame
Introduction The '''''International Video Game Hall of Fame''''' ('''IVGHoF''') is a planned museum to be operated in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States.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. 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. 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.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. 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.The city's council and chamber of commerce authorized a steering committee to organize and plan out the museum. The museum's organizers aimed to collect donations to build a modern facility, estimated to cost between $30 million and $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. Their initial goal was to start construction within five years from its onset.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. The event also honored ''Pac-Man'' on the 30th anniversary of the arcade game's release through induction into the Hall of Fame. The initial events drew in at least 3,500 visitors to the town. 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.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.
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.===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 Atari2021John CarmackCo-founder of id Software2020Mark CernyAmerican video game designer, programmer, producer and entertainment executive 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'' 2022 Tom Kalinske Former president and CEO of Sega of America 2016 Hideo Kojima Developer of the ''Metal Gear'' series 2022Sid Meier Programmer, designer, and producer of ''Civilization'' 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 2021Tommy TallaricoVideo game composer and founder of Tommy Tallarico Studios 2020Will WrightOriginal designer for ''The Sims''===Competitive gamers=== Year  Name Description2015  Thor Aackerland  Competitive Gamer2010  Eric Akeson  Competitive Gamer2017 Chris Ayra  90's eSports Competitor2015  Tim Balderramos  Competitive Gamer2010  Rob Barrett  Competitive Gamer2021  Phil Britt  Golden Age Gamer2010  Dennis Fong  Competitive Gamer2022  Jack Gale  Golden Age Gamer2015  Eric Ginner  Competitive Gamer2015  Katherine "Mystik" Gunn  Competitive Gamer2010  Ike Hall  Competitive Gamer2015  Steve Harris  Competitive Gamer2019  Ryan Hart  1990's Gamer2019  Donald Hayes  2000's Gamer2019  Pete Hahn  2000's Gamer2016  Isaiah "TriForce" Johnson  2000's eSports Competitor2015  Josh Jones  Competitive Gamer2017  Michael Klug  Golden Age Gamer2010  Andrew Laidlaw  Competitive Gamer2010  John McAllister  Competitive Gamer2016  Lonnie McDonald  Competitive Gamer2015  Tim McVey  Competitive Gamer2021  Robin Mihara  1990's Gamer2010  Billy Mitchell  Competitive Gamer2020  Donn Nauert  Golden Age Gamer2019  David Palmer  Golden Age Gamer2019  Jeff Peters  Golden Age Gamer2010  Perry Rodgers  Competitive Gamer2010  Todd Rogers  Competitive Gamer2010  Scott Safran  Competitive Gamer2020  Tomo Ohira  90's Gamer2016  Chris Tang  90's eSports Competitor2020  Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi  2000's Gamer2021  Daigo "The Beast" Umehara  2000's Gamer2010  Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel  Competitive Gamer2022  Robert Whiteman  1990's Gamer2010  Steve Wiebe  Competitive Gamer2022  Lim "BoxeR" Yo-hwan  2000's Gamer2010  Phil Younger  Competitive Gamer===Games=== Year  Name Description2019  ''Assassin's Creed'' series  2000's Era Game2022  ''Centipede''  Golden Age Game2019  ''Computer Space''  Golden Age Game2015  ''Defender''  Legendary Arcade Game2019  ''Doom''  90's Era Game2017  ''Donkey Kong''  Golden Arcade Game2019  ''Fortnite''  2000's Era Game2019  ''Galaga''  Golden Age Game2017  ''Halo''  2000's Era Game2021  ''Joust''  Golden Age Game2022  ''League of Legends''  2000's Era Game2016  ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past''  90's Era Game2017  ''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild''  Modern Age Game2016  ''Minecraft''  Current Era Game2021  ''Mortal Kombat''  1990's Era Game2020  ''Warcraft''  90's Era Game2019  ''Ms. Pac-Man''  Golden Age Game2010  ''Pac-Man''  Legendary Arcade Game2017  ''Sonic the Hedgehog''  90's Era Game2020  ''Pong''  Golden Age Game2020  ''Final Fantasy'' franchise  90's Era Game2020  ''Half-Life 2''  2000's Era Game2020  ''Guitar Hero''  2000's Era Game2022  ''StarCraft''  1990's Era Game2019  ''Street Fighter'' series  90's Era Game2019  ''Super Mario 64''  90's Era Game2016  ''Super Mario Bros.''  Golden Age Game2019  ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''  2000's Era Game2019  ''Tetris''  Golden Age Game2021  ''Wii Sports''  2000's Era Game2016  ''World of Warcraft''  2000's Era Game===Community Action Award=== Year  Name Description2016  Patrick O'Malley  Community Action Award2017  Extra Life  Fundraising organization2019  Doc Mack  Founder of Galloping Ghost, arcade game collection2019  Video Game Palooza  Video game STEM-based charity2020  Keisha Howard  Founder of Sugar Gamers===Walter Day Lifetime Achievement Award=== Year  Name Description2015  David Bishop  Programmer and vice-president of Namco America2017  David Crane  Programmer and co-founder of Activision2019  Reggie Fils-Aimé  President of Nintendo of America2022  Jerry Lawson  Known for his work in designing the Fairchild Channel F and the ROM cartridge2020  Gabe Newell  Co-founder of the video game developer Valve2021  Gary Stern  Co-founder, chairman and owner of Stern Electronics2016  Steve Wozniak  Co-founder of Apple Inc.
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