By Adam Nedeff, researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History With host Pat Sajak’s departure from Wheel of Fortune after more than 40 years as host, one can’t help
How Software Development Helped Make Sony’s PlayStation the King of 1990s Consoles
Recently ICHEG added a display of rare PlayStation software development materials to its eGameRevolution exhibit. Among these materials are an MW.3 or “PS-X” and blue and green
Cabbage Patch Kids: A 1983 Phenomenon
As a child who preferred playing outside with sticks and leaves, only a handful of dolls ever really captured my attention. In fact, I only recall true fondness for four dolls:
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Twister
Inducted Year: 2015 In 1964 toy inventor Reyn Guyer conceived a shoe polish promotion as a game with a mat on the floor and with people serving as the playing pieces.
Rolling through Life with Kismet
My grandmother loved to play all kinds of games. In fact, I probably inherited my love for games from her. When my sister and I would show up on Nana’s doorstep and ask her to play
Pong
Inducted Year: 2015 By most measures of popular impact, Pong launched the video game industry. A simple game involving two paddles and a ball, Pong introduced millions to
Hazardous Materials in Collections
As an extremely active collecting museum, The Strong National Museum of Play is home to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to
My Little Pony Prances into the National Toy Hall of Fame
My Little Pony invites children in the age-old play of hair grooming, brushing, and braiding. The ponies encourage fantasy, narrative, and storytelling. The variety of figures
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Toys That Talk: Blathering Bears of the 1980s
I’ve reached the age where pangs of nostalgia hit me when anyone mentions pop culture references from the 1980s. (DuckTales. Rainbow Brite. Trips to the mall with a pit stop at
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Silly Putty
Inducted Year: 2001 When the Japanese invasion of Asia threatened America’s rubber supply during World War II, chemists at General Electric began looking for a synthetic
Seeing Is Believing: Play Twister!
When Twister’s three developers brought the concept to game publisher Milton Bradley in 1966, the firm agreed, initially, to manufacture the game. All it took was a demonstration
Work vs. Play: Do I Even Call This Work?
An interesting dynamic exists between work and play. In my last blog, I discussed how domestic chores can be play. The work versus play issue came to mind recently since so much of
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