Nintendo Gameboy Inducted Into National Toy Hall of Fame

[Greg Tito]

Nintendo Gameboy Inducted Into National Toy Hall of Fame

The legendary handheld takes its rightful place amongst the hallowed toys of legend like Mr. Potatohead and The Cardboard Box.

The Strong National Museum of Play [http://www.museumofplay.org/], located in Rochester, NY, is the only museum that's dedicated to the simple act of play and how it informs our culture. Since 1998, the Museum has inducted toys into its National Toy Hall of Fame which follow the following criteria: icon-status, longevity, discovery, and innovation. So far, 44 toys have been honored, including this year's class of the ball, the Big Wheel, and the Nintendo Gameboy.

The Gameboy, joining the Atari 2600 as the only other electronic game on the roster, was an historic piece of hardware for its time. When it was released in 1989, it seemed like every school-age child carried one around and whipped it out at the first sign of boredom. Kids loved it because it could fit into any pocket, and parents loved the Gameboy because it kept the kids occupied on long car rides. Plus, and this is purely anecdotal, it was the first gaming system that I ever saw a girl play.

Here's their justification [http://www.museumofplay.org/nthof/toys/index.php?toy=nintendo_game_boy] for placing the Gameboy amongst heroes:

The innovative Nintendo Game Boy transformed the electronic games market by popularizing handheld gaming. No video-game platform did more to put gamers "on the go" than Nintendo Game Boy. And go they did-bringing their gaming experience to school, to summer camp, and to the back seat of the family automobile. Over the past two decades, Game Boy has become synonymous with portable gaming fun.

It makes perfect sense to me that the Gameboy is so venerated, but I am little concerned with some of the other "toys" on the list. I understand how iconic the stick [http://www.museumofplay.org/nthof/toys/index.php?toy=ball]? Really? A stick is in the Toy Hall of Fame? You might as well just put a rock, a piece of paper and a pair of scissors in there, too. What? That's the class of 2010? Wonderful.



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[Quadtrix]

I still wish that Nintendo kept using the Game Boy name. Game Boy DS doesn't sound that bad.

 

[Camarilla]

I hate to admit it, but I chuckled at the 'Strong National Museum of Play'

 

[War Penguin]

I still wish that Nintendo kept using the Game Boy name. Game Boy DS doesn't sound that bad.

I agree. I sometimes refer to my DS as a Game Boy. The name is just too iconic not to say.
And it deserves its place in the Hall of Fame.

 

[Snotnarok]

How did this not happen sooner? This thing was in everyones hands at one point. I know parents who played this as a system alone, I think they still do even.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The stick deserves it's place. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poohsticks]
Although I hope there's a d20 in there, or I'll be... *rolls dice* ...very unhappy.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I still have my original gameboy, and I still get alot of mileage out of it. *sigh* such wonderful memories surrounding that system. It truly deserves its spot in that place.

 

[oppp7]

Congratulations Nintendo.
I still forget and call my DS a gameboy.

 

[Chipperz]

Oh... Oh you haven't lived until you've had a "lightsaber" fight with sticks on top of an ancient castle.

It's awesome. It also served as a reminder to my mum to not drag people to places they don't want to go - because we will amuse ourselves. Loudly.

 

[Pendragon9]

Ah. That little piece of tech really does deserve a place in history. So many good memories.

 

[inglioti]

that is one item from my generation that really does deserve it - when i first got the see through brick of a gameboy that i thought was waterproof (never tested it - thank god) with warioland 3 - i was amazed. so many hours.

thinking about buying a DS now actually...

 

[Awexsome]

I didn't know that a "National Toy Hall of Fame" existed.

But the Gameboy seems to be a worth addition to it. The great-great grandfather of all handhelds...

 

[Cavouku]

The oldest handheld may have been all those Game 'N' Watches, but the Gameboy was the revolution of the handheld market. I didn't even mind the upgrades, like color, advance, advance SP, hell, even the one nobody knows about, the little one; it was fun to see too.

Man, got a DSi a while ago... haven't played it for a while ago now...

Well, video games are expensive, what can I say?

Oh, and Greg; don't kid yourself. The Stick's legacy will live forever. A walk in the park isn't complete without finding that one AWESOME stick. Especially if it's stuck up in the trees, and you adventure your way to get it. Everything the article said is true; sticks rule.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

The Gameboy wasn't a toy

No it was much more then that...It was a beacon of light. So now we would have something to do while we just waited. It was awesome *sniff*
Off topic, but I just got a Gameboy Micro about 3 weeks ago and I love it!

 

[Wakefield]

Fantastic news. I do hope the 64 gets in there at some point. Every game (almost) on that system was Golden.

 

[WolfLordAndy]

I still wish that Nintendo kept using the Game Boy name. Game Boy DS doesn't sound that bad.

I think the reasoning behind it was that they wanted older people to use it as well. Which calling it a game BOY gives a distinct child like quality. Still, they could have called it the GB DS or something...

 

[Pilot Bush]

I am in agreement with this movement

 

[Pilot Bush]

however it does not clarify that this is the children's toys hall of fame...so I could think of one or two that should also be included.

 

[silentsentinel]

Kept parents happy? Hah. My dad got mad because I wouldn't look out the window during long car rides and enjoy the scenery. Yes, because endless fields full of cows are wonderful to look at for five hours.