The word canon is one that has had a chilling effect on me, lately. When I hear the word I get the sneaking suspicion that it's part of a question, like "describe elements of the Canadian literary canon", and that my answer will determine whether I live or die by swift beheading. ProTip: don't be an English major.
That very word was thrown about at GDC by one Harry Lowood, curator of the History of Science and Technology Collections at Stanford, when he announced that he and other industry professionals had created what they called a "game canon", a list of the ten most important video games of all time. But this is no ordinary list, mind you -- this is a canon. Harry Lowood and his cohorts have set out to establish a list of games that ought to be preserved the way that the Library of Congress manages the National Film Registry, effectively ushering these games into the VIP section of cultural and historical significance. But they're games, and games can't be historically significant, can they?
Well, maybe. From the Times:
Mr. Lowood and the four members of his committee — the game designers Warren Spector and Steve Meretzky; Matteo Bittanti, an academic researcher; and Christopher Grant, a game journalist — announced their list of the 10 most important video games of all time: Spacewar! (1962), Star Raiders (1979), Zork (1980), Tetris (1985), SimCity (1989), Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990), Civilization I/II (1991), Doom (1993), Warcraft series (beginning 1994) and Sensible World of Soccer (1994).
Undoubtedly you've got objections and additions for this list, and that's natural. Lists of "Best ____ Games Ever Made" are more or less made to piss people off. These titles, on the other hand, were selected for the ways in which they've spawned entire genres or changed the way we look at game design. It's an intriguing selection -- never thought I'd see Sensible Soccer on anybody else's list -- and it makes you think: what other titles have changed the course of gaming? What else ought to be on this list?
Canons, after all, are constantly added to, updated, revised. Should the world ever recognize gaming as having any sort of cultural worth, I'm sure the game canon will be no different. Hit up the comments and tell us what you'd like to see in such a list and why.
[Via NY Times]
Contest:
4:51 PM on 03.12.2007
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Jesus: "What would I do?"
Ken: (thinks) "OH! THANKS JESUS!"
I agree with SimCity, SMB3, Tetris, and Doom, without question, but Warcraft, SC, and Civ in one list, I don't get what the big stretch is...
Sim vs Fantasy Sim vs mildly historical Sim?
Mortal Kombat would be nice, but I'm more irked that there isn't ANY fighting game on that list at all. I also think that an MMO deserves to be on the list.
There's three strategy games on that list... seriously.
Civ and Warcraft are very different. Civ is turn based and it city building is more in depth than warcraft. It's hard to explain but if you ever try it out it's pretty apparent.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=17493&type=wmv&pl=game
Well, they mentioned the entire Warcraft series but didn't include Dune 2, which is the very first modern RTS as well as an awesome game in its own right.
None of the Ultima games were worth mentioning? Sensible World of Soccer: first time heard of this game evar.
I think ancient games like King's Quest set the stage for RPGs too, as did microwave dinners, Elvis, and soda pop
I they put Warcraft instead of Dune 2 because Warcraft has been impacting the gaming world for years and with multiple types of games (RTS and MMO), while you are the first person to even mention Dune 2 since it was released.
Ya actually I see what you're saying. I am getting mixed up. This is a list of "most important" not a list of "firsts", so in that respect I can appreciate the impact the Warcraft games have had on the industry versus Dune 2. Dune 2 may have set down a winning formula but Warcraft took that and blew it wide open.
Obviously I don't include the Elder Scrolls or NWN type games in the same sort of genre because they're very different types of games.
But SMB3 on the other hand took the platforming formula and enlarged the scope. Different and diverse worlds, replayable levels, a bunch of abilities with the costumes...
....hmmm, sounds like Mega Man.
Also agree with Neiro that a classic RPG like King's Quest needs to be in there, and yeah, where the hell is pong?
And I know the entire rest of the world is batshit crazy for their "football," but why the hell is Sensible World of Soccer on there?
My list would go something like (roughly chronological because I can't be bothered to look up dates):
Pong, Zork, Tetris, Double Dragon, Megaman 2, Dragon Quest, SimCity, Street Fighter 2, Wolfenstein 3D, and - wait for it - Starsiege: Tribes.
I like Zork, Tetris, Doom, SimCity, and Warcraft, the last one because I assume WoW is included there. I choose Doom over Wolfenstein because of multiplayer. And, as loathe as I am to put it in, Madden should be on the list too. Let's be honest, that game sells more consoles than anything else. They're sold to the sub-par Jiffy-Lube working Wal-Mart attending wife-beating retards of this country, but they confirm that yes, you can repackage the same crap every year and people will continue to crawl over each other to give companies money.
Anyone wanna help me develop a game that caters to the lowest common denominator? We'll make billions.
How about a game based on Ow! My Balls!? If Idiocracy is accurate at all, we'll be swimming in Brawndo in no time.
Those "experts" ain't smarter than me.
Pong, Pacman, Starcraft to begin.
Sensible Soccer?
GET THE FUCK OUT!