Minn.'s 'Oregon Trail' Inducted Into Video Game Hall Of Fame

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Everyone remembers playing "The Oregon Trail" in school. What many people may not know is the schoolhouse staple was developed right here in Minnesota.

The game was developed in 1971 to help schoolchildren in Minnesota learn about history. For those unfamiliar with the game, players take on the role of a group of settlers crossing the U.S. on the way to the West coast. Along the way, players must hunt for food, fend off disease and ford through rivers.

Now, the popular pioneer simulator is being inducted into The Strong National Museum of Play's World Video Game Hall of Fame.

"The Oregon Trail is perhaps the oldest continuously available video game ever made, but more importantly, it pioneered a blend of learning and play that showcases the valuable contribution games can make to education," said Jon-Paul Dyson, director of The Strong's International Center for the History of Electronic Games, in a press release.

More than 65 million copies of the game have been sold to date, according to the press release.

Other inductees in the 2016 class include "Grand Theft Auto III," "The Legend of Zelda," "The Sims," "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Space Invaders."

The Strong's World Video Game Hall of Fame was established in 2015. Inductees are on permanent display at the museum in Rochester, New York.