I don’t know why it took so long but the Nintendo Game Boy has finally been voted into the national toy hall of fame. It’s a new inductee for 2009 and joins quite a few other classic toys.

Here’s the article from the Museum of Play website:

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.

Following the enormous success of their NES home console, Nintendo launched Game Boy in 1989 and the system became an instant hit. The secret to Game Boy’s success was not driven by advanced graphics or processing power, but rather by simple and efficient design, head-to-head connectivity, and scores of intriguing games. Game Boy’s Game Link cable allowed simultaneous multiplayer gaming—a first for a portable system. The classic puzzle game Tetris came bundled with Game Boy and it appealed to a diverse audience, ranging from children to grandparents. Additional launch titles included Super Mario Land, which featured Nintendo’s already-iconic character Mario. The hit titles kept coming as the system evolved.

Gaming technology advances quickly and Game Boy remained relevant through a series of smaller, more powerful versions with enhanced gameplay features. These advanced platforms incorporated backward compatibility, wireless communication, and unique peripherals devices. From its original configuration through to the tiny Game Boy Micro, the Game Boy line of video-game platforms popularized portable handheld gaming.

Here’s a list of all the toys currently in the hall of fame:

Alphabet Blocks
Atari 2600 Game System
Baby Doll
The Ball
Barbie
Bicycle
Big Wheel
Candy Land
Cardboard Box
Checkers
Crayola Crayons
Duncan Yo-Yo
Easy Bake Oven
Erector Set
Etch A Sketch
Frisbee
G.I. Joe
Hula Hoop
Jack-in-the-Box
Jacks
Jigsaw Puzzle
Jump Rope
Kite
LEGO
Lincoln Logs
Lionel Trains
Marbles
Monopoly
Mr. Potato Head
Nintendo Game Boy
Play-Doh
Radio Flyer Wagon
Raggedy Ann and Andy
Rocking Horse
Roller Skates
SCRABBLE
Silly Putty
Skateboard
Slinky
Stick
Teddy Bear
Tinkertoy
Tonka Trucks
View-Master

As a kid, I loved my gameboy, and even enjoy playing it today when I decide to get it out. I am happy to see that it will live on in the hall of fame.