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, 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 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 ball is, given its ubiquitous history. I can maybe even understand the cardboard box after I saw Calvin turn it into a Transmogrifier. But the stick? 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.

Permalink

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

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

Quadtrix:
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.

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.

Gunpei Yokoi would be very happy if he was alive to see such a event

RIP-Gunpei Yokoi

The stick deserves it's place.
Although I hope there's a d20 in there, or I'll be... *rolls dice* ...very unhappy.

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.

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

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. :D

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

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...

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...

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.

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!

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

Quadtrix:
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...

I am in agreement with this movement

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.

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.

congratz gameboy. i knew ya could do it.

The_root_of_all_evil:
The stick deserves it's place.
.

I completely agree. I am glad I was not the only one who thought of pooh sticks :P

Reminds me of the fact I lost my original Gameboy some years back . :(

Still got a colour GB though.

Gameboys, well... yeah they're good stuff.

also, NEVER under any circumstances underestimate a stick's enjoyment factor, hell I remember playing with sticks for hours and hours as a child, I mean growing up poor had nothing to do with it, hell i got in a fight with a friend i knew who had EVERY damn toy immaginable, over a stick that was well ballanced and easy to swing at dandylions and stuff...
/end nostalgia

can't.... stop... laughing... at guy... in... mario costume... but the gameboy was awesome and as was said before they shouldn't have dropped its name... it was so iconic

The_root_of_all_evil:
The stick deserves it's place.
Although I hope there's a d20 in there, or I'll be... *rolls dice* ...very unhappy.

Im sorry my friend but that toy is most for adults and teenagers. These toys have to appeal to kids when they are atleast 4 or 5, such that they can use a gameboy for example.Also, not everyone plays table-top, and by that i mean very few people if you compare it to the gameboy.

stompythebeast:

The_root_of_all_evil:
The stick deserves it's place.
Although I hope there's a d20 in there, or I'll be... *rolls dice* ...very unhappy.

Im sorry my friend but that toy is most for adults and teenagers. These toys have to appeal to kids when they are atleast 4 or 5, such that they can use a gameboy for example.Also, not everyone plays table-top, and by that i mean very few people if you compare it to the gameboy.

Oh really?

Wiki:
As of 2006, Dungeons & Dragons remains the best-known[8] and best-selling[9] role-playing game, with an estimated 20 million people having played the game and more than US$1 billion in book and equipment sales.

And most roleplayers have at least one d20. That's without including any of the other d20 games.

Wiki:
Gameboy: Units sold worldwide: 118.69 million

If the d20 isn't in there, I'd be certain the d6 is.

The_root_of_all_evil:

stompythebeast:

The_root_of_all_evil:
The stick deserves it's place.
Although I hope there's a d20 in there, or I'll be... *rolls dice* ...very unhappy.

Im sorry my friend but that toy is most for adults and teenagers. These toys have to appeal to kids when they are atleast 4 or 5, such that they can use a gameboy for example.Also, not everyone plays table-top, and by that i mean very few people if you compare it to the gameboy.

Oh really?

Wiki:
As of 2006, Dungeons & Dragons remains the best-known[8] and best-selling[9] role-playing game, with an estimated 20 million people having played the game and more than US$1 billion in book and equipment sales.

And most roleplayers have at least one d20. That's without including any of the other d20 games.

Wiki:
Gameboy: Units sold worldwide: 118.69 million

If the d20 isn't in there, I'd be certain the d6 is.

check the figures for the gameboy and compare. If they are similar or there is not a big difference then victory is yours

War Penguin:

Quadtrix:
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.

Yeah, I have to agree with this too. The name of "Game Boy" is iconic.
Anyway, the Game Boy deserves this honor, after all it pioneered portable video gaming. I remember that thing though, it was a brick.

stompythebeast:

check the figures for the gameboy and compare. If they are similar or there is not a big difference then victory is yours

20 Million people have D&D, D&D groups have 4-6 players on average. That's 80-120 million D20's out there. Most players have at least 2 (The "high" one and the "low" one).

Now let's look at the number of games in the D20 system, of which Dungeons and Dragons is one.

http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/d20/d20.htm

And that's modern ones. How about going back to 200 AD?

Worth a cool $17,925.

I'm gonna roll for victory now, unless you want to roll a parry?

I love that the gameboy in the picture has Tetris playing, I still have a copy of the game, which still works!

The_root_of_all_evil:

stompythebeast:

check the figures for the gameboy and compare. If they are similar or there is not a big difference then victory is yours

20 Million people have D&D, D&D groups have 4-6 players on average. That's 80-120 million D20's out there. Most players have at least 2 (The "high" one and the "low" one).

Now let's look at the number of games in the D20 system, of which Dungeons and Dragons is one.

http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/d20/d20.htm

And that's modern ones. How about going back to 200 AD?

Worth a cool $17,925.

I'm gonna roll for victory now, unless you want to roll a parry?

Hey, you proved it, good job. I will not roll, i admit defeat. (should of known not to play dwarve-mage)