BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Red-haired doll Raggedy Andy, the kite and the Atari 2600 video game system were selected Thursday for entry into the Strong National Museum of Play's all-star lineup where they will join the bicyle, Lionel model trains, Mr. Potato Head and 33 other classic toys.
"They are outstanding toys that have engaged multiple
generations over time, inspiring them to create, learn, discover," said the
Rochester museum's president, G. Rollie Adams.
In 1977, Atari converted a television set into a toy.
While it wasn't the first home video game system, it popularized the newborn
electronic games genre with its bright colors, catchy music and pop-in cartridge
versions of arcade favorites such as Pac-Man, Frogger and Space Invaders.
"It may look primitive compared to the advanced video
game systems available today, but it helped make these possible," said the
museum's curator, Patricia Hogan.
The game system is the most recently invented member
of the hall. The kite, believed to have originated in China almost 3,000 years
ago, is among the oldest.
Kites remain a universal favorite, with some cultures
in Asia and the Middle East turning kite contests into a national pastime.
The kindly rag doll character Raggedy Andy follows
his sister, Raggedy Ann, into the hall.
Raggedy Ann, inducted in 2002, was created in 1918 in
a children's book series by illustrator and author Johnny Gruelle, and her
brother was introduced two years later. They come to life when humans aren't
looking and embark on stirring adventures, and have been featured through the
years in stories, poems, cartoons and greeting cards.
(Agencies)
