1988
- January 28
- Atari Games signs an agreement with Nintendo, to become a licensed producer of game cartridges for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [124.248]
- February 10
- In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest III video game for the Famicom. (About 3.4 million copies are sold.) [124.69] [298.48]
- February
- Konami releases the Contra game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [304.140] [1159.95]
- Nintendo releases the R.C. Pro-Am Racing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1102.113] [1159.98]
- (month unknown)
- In Japan, Nintendo launches the Family Computer Communications Network System, releasing the Communications Adapter modem for US$100. The service can link game systems to central services and other games systems. [124.75]
- May
- Acclaim releases the Rambo video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- Jaleco releases the City Connection video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- June
- Tradewest releases the Double Dragon video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1159.98]
- At the Consumer Electronics Show, Tengen announces games for the Nintendo Entertainment System: Pac-Man, RBI Baseball, and Gauntlet. [124.244]
- Ultra Games releases the Metal Gear video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [471.51] [666.58] [1159.99] [1262.127] (May [513.25])
- (month unknown)
- Sony and Nintendo negotiate an agreement giving Sony the licensing rights to video games on compact disks for a jointly developed game system. [124.379] [189.36]
- Konami releases the Blades of Steel video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [235.74]
- Nintendo releases the Ice Hockey game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [304.126]
- Capcom releases the Gun Smoke video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Legendary Wings video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Mickey Mousecapades video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the 1943 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- The Software Creations company in England creates a ROM Developments group to work exclusively on NES games. [1133.46]
- July
- Nintendo of America debuts the Nintendo Power magazine in the US. 3.6 million copies are given away. [453.38] [518.10] [718.36]
- September 1
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. 2 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. (Total sales: 7.46 million.) [304.144] [412.24] [871.38] (October [1159.94] [1161.78])
- September
- The first Nintendo television show, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show airs in the US. [124.192] [1161.78]
- November
- Sunsoft releases the Blaster Master video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [713.43] [1159.96]
- December 12
- Atari Games files a lawsuit against Nintendo in US District Court in San Francisco, California, claiming Nintendo used monopolistic and exclusionary business practices by their security chips in the Nintendo Entertainment System and game cartridges. Atari Games claims US$100 million in damages, and says they have developed a compatible security chip so Atari Games and Tengen could compete with Nintendo in cartridge production. [31.364] [124.249] [165.D13] [190.1-14] [314.106]
- December
- Konami releases the Castlevania II: Simon's Quest video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [1070.94]
- Nintendo releases the Zelda II: The Adventure of Link video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. The game cartridge includes a battery for saving one's place in the game. [304.126] [561.11] [591.96] [1159.93] [1161.78] (1989 [406.33])
- Square releases the Final Fantasy II video game for the Famicom in Japan. (Total sales over its lifetime: 760,000.) [556.98]
- Tengen introduces the first independently manufactured game cartridges compatible with the Nintendo Entertainment System. [124.266]
- Capcom releases the Bionic Commando video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93] [1159.95]
- In Japan, Henk Rogers releases the Tetris video game for the Nintendo Famicom game system. [124.312]
- The Software Publishers Association accuses Nintendo of engineering a shortage of Nintendo-compatible cartridges though its complete control and single sourcing of cartridge manufacturing. [124.245]
- December 31
- Unit sales to date of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems: about 11 million. [189.35] (7 million [1161.78])
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System during the year: 7 million. [124.169]
- Unit sales of game cartridges for the Nintendo Entertainment System during the year: 33 million. [124.172]
- Sales of Nintendo Entertainment System video game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: US$1.7 billion. [167.D23]
1989
- January 5
- Nintendo countersues Atari Games, charging fraudulent inducement of their licensing agreement, and making and selling unauthorized cartridges. [124.252] [165.D13] [166.35]
- January
- Capcom releases the Mega Man II game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [304.134] [420.68]
- February 1
- Atari files a lawsuit against Nintendo for US$250 million in US District Court. Atari accuses Nintendo of violation of anti-trust laws, due to Nintendo's licensing agreements preventing licensees from releasing game titles on competing systems for two years. [124.257] [165.D13]
- February 3
- Nintendo files an amendment to its January lawsuit against Atari Games, charging patent infringement. [166.35]
- February
- US District Court in San Francisco grants an injunction against Nintendo, barring Nintendo from suing retailers who buy competitors' video game cartridges for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [174.D5]
- (month unknown)
- Atari Games countersues Nintendo, accusing Nintendo of infringing on patents held by Atari Games. [124.256]
- April
- In Japan, Nintendo introduces the Game Boy hand-held game system. It features 8-bit 1 MHz Z-80 microprocessor, 8 kB RAM, and displays games on a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Size is 3.5 x 5.75 x 1.25 inches; weight is 11.2 ounces. Included with the system is the Tetris video game cartridge. (200,000 sell in the first two weeks.) [124.294] [169.D6] [316.32] [361.47] [378.60] [474.50,92] [483.70]
- May
- Taito releases the Operation Wolf video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- Tengen ships the Tetris video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [124.336]
- May 17
- In New York, Tengen holds a reception for retailers, trade representatives, and press for the launch of the Tetris game cartridge. [124.336]
- June 4
- At the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Nintendo introduces the Game Boy portable hand-held video game system, with monochrome display. Price is US$89.95, including the Tetris game cartridge. [169.D6] [543.9] [1159.88] (July [1095.28])
- June 15
- Federal District Judge Fern Smith grants Nintendo's request, and issues a preliminary injuction blocking Tengen from selling its Tetris game cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System, effective June 21. [124.338] [170.D4]
- June
- US federal regulations require all toy guns to look like toy guns. Nintendo changes the NES Zapper Light Gun from gray to orange. [1161.78]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man 2 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93] [1193.82]
- June 16
- Columbia Pictures releases the film Ghostbusters II to theaters in the US. Someone asks "Do you want to play ... Super Mario Bros?". A Nintendo NES Advantage joystick is used. [900] [892]
- (month unknown)
- LJN releases The Uncanny X-Men video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [626.93]
- Nintendo releases the Bomberman video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [420.70]
- SNK releases the Baseball Stars video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [304.126] [595.38]
- Mattel Electronics releases the PowerGlove for the Nintendo Entertainment System. (US$40 million worth sell in the first year.) [41.46]
- Capcom releases the Duck Tales video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Strider video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Willow video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- July
- SNK releases the Baseball Stars video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1159.100] [1219.80]
- August
- Nintendo ships the Game Boy portable video game system in the US. (40,000 sell on the first day of sale.) [124.294] [253.D5] [453.40] (September [1151.46])
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Land video game for the Game Boy in the US. (Total sales: 18.06 million.) [410.9] [412.24] (14 million [1147.30])
- Nintendo releases the Dragon Warrior video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. The game had been previously released in Japan for the Famicom as Dragon Quest. It is not be released as Dragon Quest because TSR holds a trade mark on that name in the US. [298.48] [1161.78]
- September
- Capcom releases the DuckTales video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [982.82]
- November
- Universal Studios releases the film The Wizard to theaters. The film is about video game playing, with a promotion of the upcoming Nintendo game Super Mario Bros. 3. [124.191]
- November 22
- MCA/Universal Pictures releases the film Back to the Future Part II to theaters in the USA.
- A Jaws video game cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System appears in an antique store window.
- An arcade game Wild Gunman appears, based on the game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
[935]
- December 7
- U.S. Congressman Dennis Eckart announces at a large news conference that he is recommending an investigation of Nintendo by the Justice Department. [124.265]
- December
- Acclaim releases the IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1197.74]
- Seika releases the Shadowgate video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [177.S3.10] [1159.98]
- December 31
- Unit sales to date of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems: about 20 million. [189.35]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems during the year: 9.2 million. [177.S3.10] [181.35] [189.36]
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System game cartridges during the year: 53 million. [181.35]
- Sales of Nintendo game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: US$2.7 billion. [183.D4]
- Unit sales of the Game Boy game system during the year: 1 million. [177.S3.10] [181.35]
- Market share of US video game industry: Nintendo 80%, Sega 5%. [174.D5] [175.C1] [314.106] (Nintendo 90% [349.35])
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