1977
-
- In Japan, Nintendo unveils the Color TV Game 6 video game system. It plays six versions of paddle and ball games. (One million units sell over its lifetime. The sequel, Color TV Game 15 also sells one million copies.) [124.27]
1978
- March
- Nintendo releases the Computer Othello arcade game. [865.128]
1980
- December
- Nintendo of Japan begins exporting coin-operated video games to the United States. [273.102]
1981
-
- At Nintendo, Sigeru Miyamoto designs the Donkey Kong game, based on films King Kong and Beauty and the Beast. The character "Mario", a construction worker, is created. [43.51] [124.49]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game. The first location in the USA to host one of the games is the Spot Tavern in Seattle, Washington. The hero Mario was originally called Jumpman. [44.TD7] [89.29] [124.49] [672.148]
- The annual Amusement and Music Operators Association convention is held. Nintendo shows the Donkey Kong video game. [89.30,42]
1982
- April
- MCA's Sidney Sheinberg claims the Donkey Kong video game infringes on Universal Studios' copyright for the movie King Kong. Nintendo is given 48 hours to turn over all profits from the game and destroy any unsold games. (By the end of the year, a judge will rule in Nintendo's favor.) [124.117]
- June
- MCA files a lawsuit against Nintendo claiming copyright infringement of Donkey Kong against the film King Kong. [124.122]
- November 15
- Atari signs an agreement with Nintendo for the world-wide license of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior video games for Atari home computers. [119.D5]
- December
- In the New York District Court, judge Robert Sweet rules in favor of Nintendo over MCA Universal in the case of copyright infringement of the film King Kong by the video game Donkey Kong. Judge Sweet grants a summary dismissal, as MCA did not own the rights to King Kong, and even if they did, the game is considered completely different from the movie. (The case is appealed to the US Supreme Court, but the ruling stands. Nintendo is awarded US$1.8 million.) [124.124]
1983
-
- Nintendo releases the Game & Watch Mario's Bombs Away handheld video game. [460.53]
- July 15
- In Japan, Nintendo ships the Family Computer (Famicom) video game system. It features 1.79-MHz processor, 256x240 pixel graphics, able to display 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 52 colors. Price is 14,800 yen. (500,000 units sell in the first two months. In two years Nintendo will market this same technology as the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.) [124.35] [298.40] [449.66] [567.19] [1255.19]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game for the Family Computer in Japan. [298.40] [1255.19]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Jr. video game for the Family Computer in Japan. [298.40]
- Nintendo releases the Popeye video game for the Family Computer in Japan. [298.40]
1984
- January
- At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nintendo debuts the Advanced Video System (AVS) video game system, with keyboard, music keyboard, tape-storage, wireless controllers, and Zapper gun. Video game distributors are not interested in making any orders. [124.161]
- (month unknown)
- In Japan, certain game cartridges are discovered to cause Nintendo's Famicom game system to freeze. Nintendo recalls all system to be fixed. [124.35]
- June 8
- Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Gremlins to theaters in the USA. A small table top version of the Donkey Kong video game appears. [1035]
- June
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, Nintendo agains shows the Advanced Video System (AVS) video game system. Again, video game distributors are not interested in making any orders. [124.161]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Radar Scope arcade video game. [396.16]
- Nintendo releases the Spitball Sparky SuperColor Game & Watch handheld game. It features an LCD screen with colorband overlays. Price is US$39.95. [15.65]
1985
- January 5
- At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nintendo first shows the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [527.24] [528.29]
- (month unknown)
- Twin Galaxies International announces its Achievement Award arcade video game winners for 1984. Best Video Game: Punch-Out by Nintendo; [104.12]
- June
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It uses a 6502 processor, and generates images with 256x240 resolution in 16 colors. It includes two controllers, a Zapper gun, and a Robotic Operating Buddy robot. Distributors show little interest in taking any orders. [12] [70] [88.8] [124.163] [317.68]
- October 18
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the United States, in New York City. Special displays are set up in department, toy, and electronics stores. The NES comes with the Robotic Operating Buddy and the Zapper light gun. Price is US$125. Seventeen game cartridges are available with the launch of the game system. (Total sales over the product's lifetime reach 36 million.) [70] [124.165] [429.20] [510.12] [597] [722.86] [865.127] [1192.73]
- October
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. (Total worldwide sales: 40.24 million, a record still held in January 2004.) [410.9] [412.24] [541.64] [871.38] (August [1159.90])
- Nintendo releases the Baseball video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1131.68]
- Nintendo releases the 10-Yard Fight video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [1157.18]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Ice Climber game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [387.24]
- During Nintendo's test-marketing of the Nintendo Entertainment System in New York, 90,000 units are sold. [162.39]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo's Famicom game system in Japan for the year: 6.5 million. [190.1-8]
1986
- February
- Nintendo begins an intense marketing campaign of its Nintendo Entertainment System in Los Angeles, California. [124.169] [162.39] [429.21] [611.28] [865.127]
- February 21
- In Japan, Nintendo releases the Disk System for the Famicom. The system is a 128-kB disk drive to run software; disks can be rewritten with new games at special vending machines. Price of the Disk System is about US$100. [124.75] (1985 [1255.19])
- Nintendo releases the Legend of Zelda video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [868.116] (1985 [1255.19])
- May
- To date, Nintendo has sold 500,000 Disk Systems for the Famicom. [124.75]
- May 27
- In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest video game for the Famicom. The game was written by Yuji Horii. (1.5 million copies are sold.) [298.48] (February [124.69])
- June
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [609.9]
- (month unknown)
- The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in Scandinavia. [124.413]
- Capcom releases the Commando video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Ghosts 'N' Goblins video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the 1942 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom signs an agreement with Nintendo to produce games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [715.93]
- Capcom signs an agreement with The Walt Disney Company to produce Disney games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [715.92]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong 3 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.95]
- Sharp releases the Sharp Famicom Twin video game system in Japan. The unit is a combined Famicom and Disk System. [1091.94]
- September
- Nintendo begins nation-wide marketing of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [164.S3.6] [429.21]
- December 31
- To date, Nintendo has sold almost two million Disk Systems for the Famicom. [124.75]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System during the year: 1 million. [124.169]
1987
- January
- Nintendo releases the Zelda II: The Adventure of Link video game for the Famicom in Japan. [868.116]
- January 26
- In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest II video game for the Famicom. (About 2.3 million copies are sold.) [124.69] [298.48]
- February
- Konami releases the Gradius game cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is based on the arcade game. [124.217]
- March
- Nintendo releases the Pro Wrestling video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1196.76]
- Nintendo releases the Soccer video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [1157.18]
- May
- Data East releases the Burgertime video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is based on the arcade game. [514.28]
- Konami releases the Castlevania video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [514.28] [1159.91]
- SNK releases the Ikari Warriors video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [514.28] (1986 [595.26])
- (month unknown)
- Midway releases the Spy Hunter video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [397.59]
- Capcom releases the Section Z video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Trojan video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Mattel agrees to distribute the Nintendo Entertainment System in Italy and the United Kingdom. [124.413]
- Activision releases the Super Pitfall video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [545.49]
- July
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. This is the first NES game with a battery-powered save feature. [304.146] [429.22] [561.11] [591.96] [1159.90] (1986 [406.33])
- August
- Nintendo releases the Metroid game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [304.132] [429.22] [1192.73] (1986 [359.134] [779.25]) (1989 [1159.93] [1161.78])
- Acclaim releases its first cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Star Voyager. [124.220]
- September
- Nintendo begins including the Super Mario Bros. game cartridge with the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [429.21]
- October
- Nintendo releases the Punch-Out!! video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [304.144] [1135.116]
- November
- Konami releases the Goonies II video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1159.100]
- December
- Konami releases the Metal Gear video game for the Famicom in Japan. [1262.127]
- Square releases the Final Fantasy video game for the Famicom in Japan. (Total sales over its lifetime: 1.3 million.) [556.98]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [420.68] [715.93] [1158.66] [1159.91] (1988 [460.72])
- December 31
- Unit sales to date of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems: about 4 million. [189.35]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems during the year: 3 million. [124.169] [312.39]
- Unit sales of cartridges (by Nintendo and licencees) for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US during the year: 15 million. [312.39]
- Market share of home video game systems in the US: Nintendo Entertainment System 70%. [164.S3.6]
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