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. The museum has not been constructed. The IVGHoF took a hiatus on inducting members into its Hall of Fame after 2022, and resumed in 2025.
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 Ralph H. Baer "Father of Video Games", inventor of the first home video game console Otto Berkes Member of the Xbox design team Seamus Blackley Member of the Xbox design team 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 2025 Trip Hawkins Founder of Electronic Arts 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 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 2025 Tim Sweeney Founder of Epic Games 2025 Satoshi Tajiri Creator of Pokémon and co-founder of Game Freak 2021Tommy TallaricoVideo game composer and founder of Tommy Tallarico Studios 2020Will WrightOriginal designer for The Sims
Competitive gamers Year Name Description2015 Thor Aackerlund Competitive Gamer2010 Eric Akeson Competitive Gamer2017 Chris Ayra 90's eSports Competitor2015 Tim Balderramos Competitive Gamer2010 Rob Barrett Competitive Gamer2021 Phil Britt Golden Age Gamer2025 Tim Collum Golden Age Gamer 2010 Dennis Fong Competitive Gamer2022 Jack Gale Golden Age Gamer2015 Eric Ginner Competitive Gamer Katherine "Mystik" Gunn Competitive Gamer2010 Ike Hall Competitive Gamer2015 Steve Harris Competitive Gamer2019 Ryan Hart 1990's Gamer Donald Hayes 2000's Gamer Pete Hahn 2000's Gamer2016 Isaiah "TriForce" Johnson 2000's eSports Competitor2025 Jang "Moon" Jae-ho Competitive Gamer2015 Josh Jones Competitive Gamer2017 Michael Klug Golden Age Gamer2010 Andrew Laidlaw Competitive Gamer 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 Gamer Jeff Peters Golden Age Gamer2010 Perry Rodgers Competitive Gamer Todd Rogers Competitive Gamer Scott Safran Competitive Gamer2020 Tomo Ohira 90's Gamer2016 Chris Tang 90's eSports Competitor2025 Michael 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 Game2025 Black Knight Digital Era Pinball2022 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 Game Galaga Golden Age Game 2025 Half-Life 90's Era Game2017 Halo 2000's Era Game2025 Humpty Dumpty EM Era Pinball2021 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 Game2025 Medieval Madness Modern Era Pinball2016 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 Game Final Fantasy franchise 90's Era Game Half-Life 2 2000's Era Game Guitar Hero 2000's Era Game2025 The Sims 2000's Era Game2025 Space Invaders Golden Age Game2022 StarCraft 1990's Era Game2019 Street Fighter series 90's Era Game Super Mario 64 90's Era Game2016 Super Mario Bros. Golden Age Game2019 Super Smash Bros. Melee 2000's Era Game 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 collection Video Game Palooza Video game STEM-based charity2020 Keisha Howard Founder of Sugar Gamers2025 Games Done Quick Annual charity speedrunning event
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. 2025 Trip Hawkins Founder of Electronic Arts
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