- NPD Group, Inc.
- · reports that Atari Inc. has become the #1 ranking video game publisher in sales
- money.cnn.com
- · states that video games are now a $10 billion dollar industry
- AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)
- · hosts the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games
- · inducts Yu Suzuki of Sega to the AIAS Hall Of Fame
- Atari Inc. (subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA)
- · is renamed from Infogrames, Inc.
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- · hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Games Awards for video game publication
- · hosts the 6th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- E3 2003 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 9th annual expo is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center
- · The 6th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
- Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)
- · hosts the 5th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)
- GDC (Game Developers Conference)
- · hosts the 3rd annual Game Developers Choice Awards
- Microsoft Corporation
- · acquires Connectix Corp.
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Game Boy Advance SP (GBASP) handheld console
- Nokia Corporation
- · introduces the N-Gage multimedia handheld console
- Square Enix Co., Ltd.
- · Square Co., Ltd. and Enix Corporation merge
- new companies:
- ·
- defunct companies:
- · The 3DO Company
- Activision
- · acquires Luxoflux Corporation, Gray Matter Interactive Studios, Shaba Games LLC, and Z-Axis Ltd.
- AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)
- · hosts the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games
- · inducts Will Wright of Maxis to the AIAS Hall Of Fame
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- · 5th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- · 10 of 21 awards go to video games
- · awards Ian Livingstone the BAFTA Interactive Special Award
- · 5th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- Empire Interactive PLC
- · acquires eJay AG (becoming eJay Entertainment GmbH)
- E3 2002 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 8th annual expo
- · The 5th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
- Eidos Interactive
- · selects dutch model Jill De Jong as the new digitized Lara Croft character
- G4 Media, LLC (subsidiary of Comcast Corporation)
- · launches the G4 cable television video game network channel
- Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)
- · hosts the 4th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)
- GDC (Game Developers Conference)
- · hosts the 2nd annual Game Developers Choice Awards
- Infogrames Entertainment SA
- · acquires Eden Studios
- · Infogrames, Inc. acquires Shiny Entertainment from Interplay Entertainment Corp.
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Phantasy Star Online network video game (for GameCube)
- Microsoft Corporation
- · acquires Rare Ltd.
- PCCW (Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan Co., Ltd)
- · merges VR1 Entertainment and Jaleco USA to form Jaleco Entertainment
- · releases the Metroid Prime video game (for GameCube)
- Sega Corporation
- Tiwak
- · is renamed from Yeti Interactive
- Vivendi Universal
- · acquires Massive Entertainment
- new companies:
- · .400 Software Studios, Firefly Games
- defunct companies:
- · Encore Software, Inc. (assets acquired by Navarre Corporation)
- Nikkei News
- · reports that the video game Phantasy Star Online (for Sega Dreamcast) has had 300,000 worldwide users login already by midyear
- Reuters
- · reports that the Sega Dreamcast console has an estimated 800,000 online users playing its various online games already by midyear
- · reports that Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sega are cooperating to allow online users for the Playstation 2 and Dreamcast consoles to play each other via the 1st ever cross-console network
- Activision
- · acquires Treyarch Invention LLC
- AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)
- · hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games
- · inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall Of Fame
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- · hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- · 15 of 21 awards go to video games
- · hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- E3 2001 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 7th annual expo
- · The 4th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
- Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)
- · hosts the 3rd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)
- Game Park Inc.
- · introduces the GP32 (Game Park 32) wireless-multiplayer multimedia handheld console
- GDC (Game Developers Conference)
- · hosts the 1st annual Game Developers Choice Awards
- Indrema
- · releases the L600 Entertainment System multimedia home console
- Infogrames Entertainment SA
- Microsoft Corporation
- · releases the Xbox home console
- Midway Games, Inc.
- · will no longer manufacture arcade games
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the GameCube home console
- · releases the Game Boy Advance (GBA) backwards-compatible handheld console
- · Uri Geller vs Nintendo lawsuit: Uri Geller sues Nintendo over his resemblance to a Pokemon character. The suit is dismissed.
- Panasonic
- · releases the Q multimedia console
- PCCW (Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan Co., Ltd.)
- · acquires VR1 Entertainment
- Sega Corporation
- · will no longer develop home consoles, in order to focus on game development
- · Sega of America Inc. v. Kmart Corporation lawsuit: Sega sues Kmart over an unpaid debt of over $2 million dollars
- · 2nd annual Sega Dreamcast Championships (featuring the Crazy Taxi 2 video game)
- · 1st place: Lindsay Gall ($15,000 & Jamaica resort trip)
- · 2nd place: Michael Pirring ($10,000)
- · 3rd place: Roger Mogle ($5,000)
- Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
- · is renamed from Sierra On-Line
- Sony
- · cooperates with AOL to incorporate internet features with the Playstation 2 console; which include a browser, email, and instant messaging capabilities
- new companies:
- ·
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Reuters
- · reports that the Sony Playstation 2 console will export controls by Trade Ministry of Japan since the PS2 is sophisticated enough for military application
- NPD Group, Inc.
- · reports that Electronic Arts ranks 1st in third-party video game publishing in the USA, ahead of Infogrames Entertainment SA
- AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)
- · hosts the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games
- · inducts Hironobu Sakaguchi of Square Enix to the AIAS Hall Of Fame
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- · hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- · 7 of 20 awards go to video games
- · awards David Bowie in part for his contributions to the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul (for PC)
- · hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies
- Bandai Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Wonderswan Color handheld in Japan
- E3 2000 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 6th annual expo
- · The 3rd annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
- Electronic Arts Inc.
- · the video game Ultima Online has over 150,000 online users by the month of march
- · acquires DreamWorks Interactive, LLC
- Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)
- · hosts the 2nd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)
- Infogrames, Inc.
- · acquires Hasbro Interactive, Inc. along with the Game.com division and rights to the Atari (Corporation) label
- · acquires Paradigm Entertainment, Inc.
- Mattel, Inc.
- · sells Learning Co. to Gores Technology Group
- Microsoft Corporation
- · acquires Bungie Software Products Corp.
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · sells its 100,000,000th Game Boy handheld console
- · spends over $80 million issuing gloves to over a 1,000,000 children after numerous reports of serious hand injuries from the controllers while playing certain stages of Mario Party (for N64)
- · Nintendo of America, Sega America, Electronic Arts, Inc v. Yahoo!, Inc. The lawsuit is over piracy negligence and profiting from counterfeit videogame products sold on Yahoo Auctions. The lawsuit is fully dropped in 2001 in order to cooperate against piracy
- nVidia Corporation
- · acquires 3Dfx Interactive, Inc.
- Midway / Williams
- · announces to cease the Atari Games (Corp) label
- Sega Corporation
- · Sega.com, Inc. launches SegaNet, the 1st online console gaming network
- · releases the Naomi 2 arcade console.
- · releases the ChuChu Rocket video game, the 1st online console game
- · releases the NFL 2K1 video game, the 1st online console sports game
- · releases the Phantasy Star Online video game, the 1st online console RPG game
- · 1st annual Sega Dreamcast Championships (featuring the Sonic Adventure video game)
- · all the internal consumer R&D divisions become individual developer companies
- Sony Corporation
- · releases the Playstation 2 (PS2) home console
- · acquires Verant Interactive, Inc.
- THQ Inc.
- · acquires Volition
- Toymax
- · releases the Activision TV Games controller/console
- Ubi Soft Entertainment, Inc.
- · acquires Red Storm Entertainment, Inc.
- new companies:
- · Yeti Interactive, Smilebit, Sega Rosso, 21-6 Productions
- defunct companies:
- · SNK
- Activision
- · acquires Elsinore Multimedia, Neversoft Entertainment, and Expert Software
- AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)
- · hosts the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games
- · inducts Sid Meier of Firaxis to the AIAS Hall Of Fame
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- · hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Awards
- Billy Mitchell
- · gets a perfect score on the Pac-Man arcade game: 3,333,360
- Bleem
- · releases the Bleem! emulator for Playstation for an IBM-compatible PC
- Connectix Corporation
- · releases the Virtual Game Station emulator for Playstation for a Macintosh
- E3 1999 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 5th annual expo
- · The 2nd annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
- Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)
- · hosts the 1st annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)
- Infogrames Entertainment SA
- · acquires GT Interactive Software (GTIS), Ozisoft, Accolade, Gremlin Interactive (Infogrames Sheffield House)
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Dreamcast internet-ready 128-bit home console
- SNK
- · releases the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC) handheld
- Sony Corporation
- · Sony Corporation v. Bleem LLC
- Take 2 Interactive
- · acquires TalonSoft
- Tiger Electronics (subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc)
- · releases the Game.com Pocket Pro handheld
- new companies:
- · 7 Studios, Bohemia Interactive Studio, Bam! Entertainment, Inc., Liquid Entertainment, 3d6 Games, Inc., 7FX
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Activision
- · acquires CD Contact Data, and Head Game Publishing
- AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)
- · hosts the 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games
- · inducts Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo to the AIAS Hall Of Fame
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- · hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Interactive Awards
- Bandai Co. Ltd
- · releases the Wonderswan handheld in Japan
- E3 1998 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 4th annual expo
- · The 1st annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
- Eidos Interactive
- · acquires Crystal Dynamics
- Electronic Arts Inc.
- · acquires Westwood Studios, Inc. & Virgin Studio
- Game One channel (subsidiary of Canal+
- · Infogrames Entertainment SA and Canal+ launches the Game One television channel
- Hasbro, Inc.
- · acquires Tiger Electronics
- · Hasbro Interactive, Inc. acquires Atari Corporation & Microprose
- Majesco Sales Inc.
- · releases the Genesis 3 home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Game Boy Color (GBC) handheld console
- · releases the Pokemon video game for the Game Boy handheld console
- · releases the Camera & Printer accessories for the Game Boy handheld console
- Sega Corporation
- SNK
- · releases the Neo Geo Pocket (NGP) handheld
- new companies:
- · Metro3D, Inc., Rockstar Games, WildTangent, Inc., Elixir Studios Ltd., BreakAway Games, Ltd.
- defunct companies:
- Activision
- · acquires CentreSoft Ltd. and Raven Software
- Bungie Software Products Corp.
- · establishes Bungie Studios West
- E3 1997 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 3rd annual expo
- Electronic Arts Inc.
- · acquires Maxis
- Gunpei Yokoi (1941-1997)
- · dies after a double car accident
- Mythic Entertainment
- · is renamed from Interworld Productions
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the NES 2 compact home console
- · releases the SNES 2 compact home console
- · Nintendo v. Prima Publishing lawsuit: Nintendo sues Prima over copyrights to map of the N64 video game GoldenEye 007. Nintendo loses the suit
- · Nintendo v. Games City lawsuit: Nintendo sues Games City for selling the Game Doctor and Doctor V64 backup devices for the SNES and N64 consoles. Nintendo wins the suit.
- Sony Corporation
- · releases the Playstation development software for PC
- Tiger Electronics
- · releases the Game.com
- new companies:
- · Irem Software Engineering Inc., Crave Entertainment, Inc., Warthog PLC, Irrational Games LLC, Human Head Studios, Inc, Illusion Softworks, a.s., 2015 Inc., 4D Rulers Software, Inc., 4HEAD Studios
- defunct companies:
- · Gametek
- Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · merges with JTS Corp.
- Bandai Co. Ltd.
- · introduces the Tamagotchi handheld virtual pet
- Blizzard Entertainment (division of Vivendi Universal Games)
- · acquires Blizzard North
- DigiPen Institute of Technology
- · receives accreditation and is the first school in north america to offer college degrees in video game development, with support from Nintendo
- E3 1996 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 2nd annual expo
- Eidos
- · acquires Core Design
- · Core Design develops the Tomb Raider video game (released for the Saturn console)
- Infogrames Entertainment SA
- · acquires Ocean Software Ltd.
- Microprose Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment, in 2000)
- · is renamed from Spectrum Holobyte
- Namco
- · releases the Alpine Racer arcade game
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Nintendo 64 (N64) 64-bit console
- · releases the Game Boy Pocket (GBP) handheld console (30% smaller version of the previous Game Boy handheld console)
- · Gunpei Yokoi leaves Nintendo
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Computer & Entertainment, Inc.
- Sega Corporation
- SNK
- · releases the Neo Geo CDZ in Japan only
- Sony Corporation
- · releases the Crash Bandicoot video game
- Warner Communications Inc. (subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.)(owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · sells Atari Games Corp to Midway Games, Inc. (subsidiary of WMS Industries, formerly known as Williams Electronics)
- new companies:
- defunct companies:
- ·
- E3 1995 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
- · The 1st annual expo
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Game Boy Play-It-Loud (GBPIL) color/clear versions of Game Boy
- · releases the Virtual Boy (by Gunpei Yokoi) 32-bit console
- · releases the Satellaview BS-X accessory for the Famicom console in Japan only
- · Nintendo vs Samsung Electronics lawsuit: Nintendo sues Samsung for promoting software piracy. The suit is settled.
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. v. NTDEC
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Saturn home console
- new companies:
- · Interworld Productions, Talonsoft, Frog City Software, Inc.
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Aiwa
- · releases the CSD-GLM Mega Drive multimedia home console in Japan only
- Apogee
- · establishes the 3D Realms Entertainment division
- Bandai Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Playdia multimedia home console
- Blizzard Entertainment (division of Vivendi Universal Games)
- · is renamed from Silicon & Synapse
- ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board)
- · is established by the ESA (Entertainment Software Association, formerly IDSA, Interactive Digital Software Association)
- NEC
- · releases the PC-FX multimedia home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Super Game Boy adapter for the SNES home console
- · releases the Donkey Kong Country video game
- · Alpex Computer Corp. vs Nintendo lawsuit: Alpex sues Nintendo over patent infringements. Nintendo loses the case.
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Dragon Pacific Intern
- Sega Corporation
- · introduces the cable tv Sega Channel in cooperation with Time Warner (AOL Time Warner); The subscription service provides Genesis games via cable box to customers
- · releases the 32X adapter for the Genesis home console
- · releases the Nomad handheld console
- · releases the Saturn home console
- · releases the Daytona USA arcade game
- SNK
- · releases the Neo Geo CD home console
- Sony Corporation
- · releases the Playstation (PS) home console
- William Higinbotham (1910-1994)
- · The inventor of the video game dies at 84
- new companies:
- ·
- defunct companies:
- Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Jaguar home console
- Broderbund
- · releases the Myst video game
- Commodore
- · releases the Amiga CD32 multimedia home console
- Hollenshead
- · releases the Doom video game
- Magnavox
- · is acquired by the Carlyle Group
- Microprose Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment, in 2000)
- · is acquired by the Spectrum Holobyte
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Star Fox video game (the 1st game to use the Super FX Chip)
- Panasonic
- · releases the 3DO home console
- Pioneer
- · releases the Laseractive multimedia home console
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Virtua Fighter (by Yu Suzuki) arcade game, which is later displayed at the Smithsonian Institution
- · releases the Night Trap video game for the Sega CD console
- Tandy
- · releases the Video Information System (VIS) multimedia internet home console
- new companies:
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Atari Games Corp.
- · Atari Games Corp. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.
- JVC
- · releases the Wondermega console
- Midway Home Entertainment Inc.
- · releases the Mortal Kombat arcade game
- Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)
- · releases the CD-I multimedia home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Sega CD home console
- · releases the Virtua Racing arcade game
- · releases the Game Gear handheld console
- Taito Corp.
- · creates the Wowow home console (unreleased)
- TTI (Turbo Technologies Inc.)
- · releases the Turboduo home console
- new companies:
- · Wow Entertainment Inc. (AM1)
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Fujitsu
- · releases the FM Towns Marty home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · New York State vs Nintendo lawsuit: the state attorney general sues Nintendo over the monopoly of the video game industry. Nintendo loses the suit and offers customers a $5 rebate on Nintendo games
- Sega
- · releases the Sonic The Hedgehog (by Yuji Naka) video game
- new companies:
- · Vicarious Visions, Inc, id Software, Bungie Software, Silicon & Synapse
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Camerica
- · releases the Game Genie adapter in Canada (1991 in the USA)
- NEC
- · releases the TurboExpress handheld console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Super Mario 3 video game
- · releases the SNES (Super Nintendo/Super Famicom) 16-bit console
- · Nintendo vs Color Dreams lawsuit: Nintendo sues Color Dreams over unlicensed production of Nintendo video games
- SNK
- · releases the Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES) home console
- Sega
- · releases the R-360 arcade game, the first 3D - 360° gameplay
- THQ Inc.
- · Toy Head-Quarters merges with Trinity Acquisition Corporation
- new companies:
- · Eidos Interactive, Microprose Software, Inc., Team17 Software Limited, Natsume Inc.
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Atari Inc. (subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Lynx handheld console
- Hasbro, Inc.
- · acquires assets of bankrupt Coleco Industries, Inc.
- Mattel, Inc.
- · releases the Power Glove controller for the NES home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Game Boy (GB) (by Gunpei Yokoi) handheld console
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen lawsuit: Nintendo sues Tengen over the Tetris video game copyrights. Tengen loses and recalls all its Tetris games.
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen lawsuit: Nintendo sues Tengen over production of unlicensed Nintendo games. Nintendo loses
- · Nintendo v. Camerica Ltd. lawsuit: Nintendo sues Camerica over patent violations of the Game Genie for the NES console. Camerica wins the suit.
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Genesis home console
- Tengen
- · releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game
- Activision
- · is renamed to Mediagenic
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Nintendo Power magazine
- · Nintendo vs Camerica Ltd. lawsuit: Nintendo sues Camerica over the clone production of an Advantage joystick controller for the NES console
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari Games Corp (owned by Midway / Williams, in 1996) establishes the Tengen division
- new companies:
- · KOEI Co., Ltd., Visual Concepts
- defunct companies:
- · Coleco Industries Inc.
- Activision
- · acquires Infocom
- Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- Electronic Arts Inc.
- · acquires Batteries Included
- Konami Corporation
- · releases the Castlevania video game
- NEC
- · releases the Turbografx-16 console
- Taito Corp.
- · releases the Double Dragon arcade game
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. vs Blockbuster Entertainment lawsuit: Nintendo sues Blockbuster for photocopying complete NES manuals for its rental games. Nintendo wins the suit, and Blockbuster includes original manuals with its rentals.
- · Nintendo of America, Inc. vs Blockbuster Entertainment lawsuit:
- new companies:
- · Acclaim Entertainment, Inc., Maxis, Gametek Inc., Apogee Software, Ltd., Empire Interactive PLC
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Activision
- · acquires Gamestar Software
- Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Atari 7800 backwards-compatible home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Metroid video game
- · releases the Famicom Disk Drive System home console in Japan only
- · releases the Legend Of Zelda (by Shigeru Miyamoto) video game
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Sega Master System (SMS) home console
- · releases the Outrun arcade game
- Sharp
- · releases the Twin Famicom home console
- Sinclair Research Ltd.
- · is acquired by the British Government
- Taito Corp.
- · releases the Bubble Bobble arcade game
- · releases the Arkanoid arcade game
- new companies:
- · :Majesco Sales Inc., Ubi Soft Entertainment, Inc., Bethesda Softworks Inc.
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Alex Pajitnov
- · creates the Tetris video game
- Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- Commodore
- · releases the Amiga 1000 home computer
- INTV Corp.
- · releases the INTV III home console
- Namco
- · creates the Xevious arcade game
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Super Mario Bros. video game
- · releases the Robotic Operating Buddy (ROB) robot and video game for the NES home console
- Sears (Tele-Games)
- · releases the Dina home console
- new companies:
- · Titus Interactive, Westwood Studios, Inc.
- defunct companies:
- · RDI Systems
- Activision
- · releases the Pitfall video game (by David Crane)
- Hasbro, Inc.
- · acquires Milton Bradley
- Milton Bradley Company
- · distributes the Vectrex home console
- RDI Systems
- · releases the Halcyon laser-disc home console
- · releases the Thayer's Quest arcade game
- Sega Corporation
- · Sega Enterprises and CSK merge to form Sega Enterprises Ltd.
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- new companies:
- · Kemco
- defunct companies:
- · Astrocade Inc.
- Acornsoft
- · releases the Elite video game
- Bally/Midway
- · releases the Spy Hunter arcade game
- Coleco Industries, Inc.
- · releases the Colecovision home console
- · releases the Adam home console/computer
- Commodore
- · releases the Commodore 64 (C-64) home computer
- Electronic Arts
- · releases the One-On-One arcade game
- Gottlieb
- · releases the Mad Planets arcade game
- Magicom (formerly Starcom)
- · creates the Space Ace laser-disc arcade game (Cinematronics manufactures & markets it)
- Mattel, Inc.
- · releases the Aquarius home console
- · releases the Intellivision II home console
- Mystique
- · releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- Starcade
- · the video game tv game show
- Starcom (later Magicom)
- · creates the Dragon's Lair laser-disc arcade game (Cinematronics manufactures & markets it)
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- Williams Electronics
- · releases the Blaster arcade game
- new companies:
- · Infogrames Entertainment SA, Interplay Entertainment Corp., Navarre Corporation, AM2
- defunct companies:
- · (Video game crash of 1983: Console and home video game sales plummet)
- Acorn
- Astrocade Inc. (formerly Astrovision)
- · releases the Astrocade console
- Bally/Midway
- · releases the Tron arcade game before the movie
- Coleco Industries, Inc.
- · releases the Gemini home console
- Commodore
- · releases the VIC-20 home computer
- Emerson
- · releases the Arcadia 2001 home console
- Entrex
- · releases the Adventure Vision home console
- GCE (General Consumer Electronics)
- · releases the Vectrex home console
- Gottlieb
- · releases the Q-Bert arcade game
- Milton Bradley
- · releases the Microvision home console
- Namco
- · releases the Pole Position racing arcade game
- · releases the Dig Dug arcade game (licenses it to Atari)
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Zaxxon arcade game
- Sinclair Research
- · releases the ZX Spectrum home computer, at the time the most common gaming computer in the UK
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Quantum arcade game
- · releases the Atari 5200 home console
- · Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- Williams Electronics
- · releases the Joust arcade game
- · releases the Robotron: 2084 arcade game
- new companies:
- · Electronic Arts Inc., Lucasfilm Games
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Astrovision Inc.
- · distributes the Bally Computer System after buying the rights from Bally/Midway
- Bally/Midway
- · releases the Gorf arcade game
- Coleco Industries, Inc.
- · releases the Total Control 4 home console
- Konami Corporation
- · creates the Frogger video game
- Namco
- · releases the Galaga arcade game
- Nelsonic
- · releases the Space Attacker watch LCD game
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Donkey Kong arcade game (by Shigeru Miyamoto)
- Sega Corporation
- · test markets the SG-1000 home console
- Sinclair Research
- · releases the ZX81 home computer (the first widely available 'domestic' computer to play games in the UK)
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- Williams Electronics
- · releases the Stargate arcade game
- new companies:
- ·
- defunct companies:
- · APF Electronics Inc.
- Apple
- Namco
- · releases the Pac-Man arcade game (by Toru Iwatani)
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Radarscope arcade game
- · releases the Game & Watch handheld LCD game (by Gunpei Yokoi)
- Sinclair Research
- · releases the ZX80 home computer (the first 'domestic' computer to play games in the UK)
- Stern Electronics (a subsidiary of Universal Research Laboratories)
- · releases the Berzerk arcade game
- Texas Instruments
- · releases the TI-99/4 home console
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Missile Command arcade game
- · releases the Battlezone arcade game (it is later enhanced for the US Army for military training)
- · Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- Williams Electronics
- · releases the Defender arcade game
- new companies:
- · Activision, Mindscape, Inc., Sierra On-line
- defunct companies:
- ·
- Bally
- · releases the Videocade & Computer System home console
- Cinematronics
- · releases the Warrior arcade game
- Mattel, Inc.
- · releases the Intellivision console
- Milton Bradley
- · releases the Microvision handheld
- Sega Corporation
- · releases the Monaco GP arcade game
- Texas Instruments
- · releases the Gamevision home console
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · creates the Cosmos handheld (unreleased)
- · releases the Adventure arcade game
- · releases the Lunar Lander arcade game
- · releases the Asteroids arcade game (by Ed Logg & Lyle Rains)
- · Atari Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- new companies:
- · Capcom Inc.
- APF Electronics Inc.
- · releases the MP-1000 home console
- Bally/Midway
- · releases the Bally Professional Arcade home console
- Cinematronics
- · releases the Space Wars vector arcade game
- Entreprex
- · releases the Apollo 2001 home console
- Konami Corporation
- · releases the Block Game arcade game
- Magnavox
- · releases the Odyssey 2 (G7000 Videopac) home console
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Color TV Game 15 home console
- · releases the Computer Othello arcade game
- Taito Corp.
- · releases the Space Invaders arcade game
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · introduces the trackball controller on the arcade game Football
- · releases the Pinball Game System home console
- · Atari Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- new companies:
- · SNK
- Bally/Midway
- · releases the Bally Home Library Computer home console
- Namco
- · is renamed from Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · releases the Color TV Game 4 home console
- · releases the Color TV Game 6 home console
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · Atari, Inc. releases the Atari 2600 home console (originally named Video Computer System VCS)
- Coleco Industries, Inc.
- · releases the Telstar home console
- Exidy
- · releases the controversial Death Race arcade game
- Fairchild Camera & Instrument Corp.
- · releases the Video Entertainment System (Channel F) home cartridge console
- Midway Home Entertainment Inc.
- · releases the Sea Wolf arcade game
- Radolfin
- · releases the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System home console
- RCA
- · releases the Studio II home console
- Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)
- · acquires Atari
- Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Pong home console
- Magnavox
- · releases the Odyssey 4000 home console
- Microsoft Corporation
- · is established
- Midway Home Entertainment Inc.
- · releases the Gunfight arcade game, the 1st to use a microprocessor
- Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Gran Trak arcade racing game featuring a steering wheel
- Exidy company
- · is established
- Kee Games
- · releases the Tank arcade game
- Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)
- · acquires Magnavox (Philips Consumer Electronics)
- Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · releases the Got'Cha arcade game
- Midway Home Entertainment Inc.
- · releases the Winner arcade game
- Williams Electronics
- · releases the Paddle-Ball arcade game
- Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)
- · company is established
- · releases the Pong arcade game (by Al Alcorn)
- Hunt The Wumpus video game
- · is developed by Gregory Yob while at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Magnavox
- · releases the Odyssey home console
- Namco
- · is renamed from Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.
- Magnavox
- · signs a preliminary license agreement with Sanders Associates
- Nutting Associates
- · introduces the 1st ever arcade game Computer Space
- Oregon Trail video game
- · is in development by Don Rawitsch
- RCA
- · cancels a license agreement with Sanders Associates
- Konami Corporation
- · is established
- Sanders Associates
- · Bill Harrison develops the a light gun
- Tecmo, Inc.
- · is established
- Sanders Associates
- · funds Ralph Baer to develop an interactive television game; He develops the primative video game 'Chase' in 2 months time.
- Sega Corporation
- · Rosen Enterprises, Inc. merges with Sega
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · is renamed from Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd.
- Panasonic
- · is established by Matsushita Co.
- Spacewar video game
- · is presented at the MIT Science Open House
- Spacewar! video game
- · The second ever video game is invented by Steve Russell, with assistance from Peter Samson, Dan Edwards, Alan Kotok, & J. Graetz
- Sega Corporation
- · is incorporated
- Midway Home Entertainment Inc.
- · is established
- Tennis For Two video game
- · is exhibited for visitors to the Brookhaven National Laboratories, for its second and last season before its dismantling.
- William Higinbotham & Robert Dvorak
- · develop in 3 weeks an unpatented video game called Tennis For Two on an analog computer connected to an oscilloscope as a screen, at the Brookhaven National Laboratories in New York. The game is exhibited for visitors to play with using 2 bulky controllers each equipped with a knob for trajectory and a button for firing the ball over the net.
Before The Video Game Era
- Namco
- · is established as Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.
- Sega Corporation
- · Rosen Enterprises, Inc. is established
- Taito Corp.
- · is established
- Sega Corporation
- · is renamed from Standard Games to Service Games Of Japan
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · changes Marufuku Co. Ltd. to Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd.
- Ralph Baer
- · The future founder of the video game industry, first conceives the idea of an interactive television while employed by Loral Electronics in Bronx, New York.
- Sega Corporation
- · moves from Honolulu to Tokyo
- Bandai Co., Ltd.
- · is established in Tokyo
- Mattel, Inc.
- · is established
- Sega Corporation
- · is established as Standard Games
- Ralph Baer
- · The future founder of the video game industry moves to the USA.
- TDK Corporation
- · is established
- Coleco Industries, Inc.
- · is established as the Connecticut Leather Company
- Bally Corporation
- · is established
- Lego Group ("leg godt" ~ "play well")
- · The future parent of the Lego Interactive division is established in Billund, Denmark
- D. Gottlieb & Co.
- · is established
- Hasbro, Inc.
- · is established as Hassenfeld Brothers in Providence, Rhode Island.
- Ralph Baer
- · the future founder of the video game industry (& the handheld electronic game Simon) is born in Germany.
- Panasonic
- · parent company is established as Matsushita Electric Devices Manufacturing Works
- Magnavox
- · is renamed from the Commercial Wireless & Development Company
- Magnavox
- · is established as the Commercial Wireless & Development Company
- William A. Higinbotham
- · The future inventor of the video game is born
- Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)
- · is established
- Nintendo Co. Ltd.
- · Fusajiro Yamauchi establishes the foundation of the future company in Japan
- Nokia Corporation
- · is established in Tampere, Finland.
- Milton Bradley Company
- · is established in Springfield, Massachusetts.
pLinks
eLinks
- Tennis For Two (1958) The First Video Game (requires Realplayer) U.S. Department Of Energy Website
- Video Game Time Line Project Video Game Settings <paf@isgroup.net>
- Video Game Music Archive
- Video Game Museum Game Screenshots & Platform Specs
- Game Market Watch Video Game News
- Computer Games Magazine Video Game News
- ESRB Entertainment Software Rating Board