The 2009 inductees for the National Toy Hall of Fame have been announced, and this year’s class of honorees is the direct opposite of last year’s class. Where the 2008 version required a lot of imagination to wring the most fun out of them, 2009’s hall of fame class requires a lot less thinking and a lot more hand-eye coordination. Joining the stick, Ken and Barbie, and the bicycle are the following: the ball, the Big Wheel, and the Nintendo Game Boy.
It’s about time! I’ve got a first generation Game Boy from way back in 1989, and it still works great today. No matter how many times it’s been dropped, you just cannot kill that big gray Tetris-playing brick. Gunpei Yokoi‘s creation has done more to cause obesity and health problems in the world than all the high fructose corn syrup ever guzzled, but I couldn’t have made it through the annual family trip to Florida without my trusty Game Boy. Given that it has sold 200 million units worldwide, I’m not the only one with fond memories of my Nintendo car rides.
Tags: toys, National Toy Hall Of Fame, ball, big wheel, Game Boy, Nintendo, video games, Strong National Museum Of Play, 2009 toy hall of fame, Gunpei Yokoi