1983
- January 22
- The National Broadcasting Company airs the TV show The A-Team in the USA. Two arcade games appear, Pac-Man and Hockey. [958]
- February 19
- In Washington, D.C., the Corcoran Gallery of Art exhibits 200 video arcade games. US$35 tours include limited free plays, competitions, prizes, etc. [133.A22]
- (month unknown)
- Sega releases the Astron Belt video game in arcades in the USA. [302.39] [960.22]
- June 3
- MGM/UA Entertainment releases the film WarGames to theaters in the USA. A scene takes place in an arcade; Galaga is prominently featured, and we also see Ms. Pac-Man. [1105]
- (month unknown)
- Midway releases the Spy Hunter video arcade game. [397.58] [412.130]
- Namco releases the Xevious video game to arcades. [959.38] (1982 [1091.65])
- July 1
- Cinematronics releases Dragon's Lair to arcade centers. It is the first laser-disc based coin-operated arcade game. Cost per play is 50-cents. Advanced Microcomputer Systems designed the game, with animation provided by Don Bluth Animations. Cost to purchase a machine is about US$5500. [53.D9] [64.30] [145.C11] [150.D4] [294.79] [302.39] [303.79] [305.37] [685.134] (Starcom releases game [22.79])
- August 25
- Bally Manufacturing agrees to acquire the American coin-operated assets of Sega Enterprises. [146.D13]
- (month unknown)
- Mylstar Electronics releases the M.A.C.H. 3 laser disc arcade video game machine. [305.37]
- Data East USA ships the Bega's Battle laserdisc arcade video game. [303.79]
- October
- Sega Enterprises introduces the Astron Belt video game to arcades in North America. The game uses laser disk technology. [153.D2] [302.39]
- Year
- Sales of arcade video game machines during the year: US$2.9 billion. [305.37]
- Arcade video game revenue for the year: US$5 billion. [53.D1]
1984
- (month unknown)
- Unit sales of Dragon's Lair arcade video game machines to date: 8000. Revenue: US$140 million. [305.37]
- May 26
- In Houston, Texas, 14 top scorers from 14 regions of the US compete in the Grand National Finals of Konami's Track & Field arcade game. The top three will play in Japan in June against Japan's top three players. [18.8]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Radar Scope arcade video game. [396.16]
- Capcom releases the 1942 arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Atari releases the Marble Madness arcade video game. [1039.122]
- July 13
- Universal Pictures releases the film The Last Starfighter to theaters in the USA. In the film, a young man plays the Starfighter arcade video game, then travels into space to operate a real spaceship. [1145]
- (month unknown)
- Mylstar Electronics introduces the Three Stooges arcade video game. [15.10]
1985
- (month unknown)
- Bally Manufacturing announces it is dropping out of the coin-operated and videogames business. [73.14]
- February 5
- Warner Communications signs an agreement with Namco for Namco to acquire a controlling interest in the Atari Coin-Operated Games division of Atari Games, for about US$10 million. [124.240] [159.D4]
- (month unknown)
- Twin Galaxies International announces its Achievement Award arcade video game winners for 1984. Best Video Game: Punch-Out by Nintendo; Best Laserdisc Game: Space Ace by Cinematronics; Most Innovative Game: I, Robot by Atari; Best Visual-enhanced Game: I, Robot by Atari; Best Audio-enhanced Game: Spy Hunter by Bally; Manufacturer of the Year: Atari. [104.12]
- Atari releases the four-player Gauntlet arcade video game. [418.28] [1201.105]
- Capcom releases the Gunsmoke arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Section Z arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the The Speed Rumbler arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- July 15
- James Vollandt plays Joust for over 67 hours on one coin, (with four 20-minute breaks) a world record for any arcade video game. His record high score is 107,216,700. [778.45] [866.142]
- July
- Sega releases the Hang On video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
- December
- Sega releases the Space Harrier video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
1986
- (month unknown)
- Taito releases the Bubble Bobble arcade video game in the US. [786.7]
- Capcom releases the Avengers arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Legendary Wings arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Side Arms arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Trojan arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the XX Mission arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- September
- Sega releases the Out Run video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
1987
- (month unknown)
- Capcom releases the Bionic Commando arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Black Tiger arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Last Duel arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the 1943 arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Street Fighter arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Tiger Road arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Tengen releases the Road Runner video game. [68.16]
- Midway releases the Spy Hunter II arcade video game. [480.90]
- July
- Sega releases the After Burner video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
1988
- (month unknown)
- Arcadia Systems introduces the Leader Board golf game to arcades. The software was written by Access Software. [72.11]
- Capcom releases the Dynasty Wars arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Forgotten Worlds arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Ghouls 'n' Ghosts arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Strider arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- July 10
- Bally Manufacturing agrees in principle to sell its coin-operated amusement game manufacturing business to Williams Industries for US$8 million. [163.D4]
- August
- Sega releases the Power Drift video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
1989
- June
- (to May 1990) The American Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York, presents a retrospective exhibition of video games called Hot Circuits - A Video Arcade. Included are 46 playable arcade video games. [960.5] [1002.C11]
- (month unknown)
- Konami releases the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade video game. [460.56]
- Capcom releases the Final Fight arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the U.N. Squadron arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- September 12
- NEC Home Electronics introduces a coin-operated version of the TurboGrafx-16 video game system. [171.D5]
- November 22
- MCA/Universal Pictures releases the film Back to the Future Part II to theaters in the USA. An arcade game Wild Gunman appears, based on the game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [935]
1990
- February 11
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. Two characters play a boxing home video game "Super Slugfest" on the TV, using single-button joysticks. One character goes to the arcade to practice on the arcade version. [756]
- May
- Sega releases the G-LOC video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
- (month unknown)
- SNK introduces the NeoGeo MVS system in arcades. [595.26]
- Capcom releases the Carrier Airwing arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Magic Sword arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Mega Twins arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Mercs arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- October 11
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. One scene takes place in a video game arcade. [757]
- November
- Sega releases the R-360 video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
1991
- (month unknown)
- Capcom introduces the Street Fighter II arcade video game. [234.D6] [664.48] [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Captain Commando arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases The King of Dragons arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the 3 Wonders arcade video game in the US. [715.93]
- Konami releases The Simpsons arcade video game. [460.140]
- July
- Sega of America ships the Time Traveler holographic video game to arcade centers. [13.8]
- October 3
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. A character plays a Touch of Death martial arts video game in an arcade. [759]
- November 7
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. Two characters play a home video game on the television, with a single-button joystick. At a convenience store, a standalone arcade game is shown. [760]
- December 26
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. A character plays an arcade video game resembling Ms. Pac-Man. [761]
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