References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 26.

1977-1987	1988-1989	1990	1991	1992	1993-1994	1995-1996	1997-1999	2000	2001
2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007-end

1995 January In Las Vegas, Nevada, the Winter Consumer Electronics Show is held, over four days. Nintendo shows the Virtual Boy video game system, featuring a red color 3-D world. Price is to be under US$200. [677.C2] Capcom releases the Mega Man X^2 game for the Super NES in the US. [420.70] (month unknown) Nintendo officially drops the Nintendo Entertainment System from its product line. [12] [611.28] February Nintendo releases the Kirby's Avalanche video game for the Super NES in the US. [304.130] [543.9] Acclaim Entertainment releases the NBA Jam - Tournament Edition video game for the Super NES in the US. [410.9] March Taito releases the Bust A Move video game for the Super Nintendo in the USA. [543.9] [1159.101] Square releases the Chrono Trigger video game for the Super Famicom in Japan. Price is 11,400 yen. (2 million copies sell in the first two months.) [341.249] [747.94] (February [543.36]) Nintendo releases the Mario's Picross video game for the Game Boy in the US. [543.9] March 31 Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy game systems over the past twelve months: about 5.5 million. [271.D4] (month unknown) NEC unveils the R4300 processor, a 64-bit chip developed by MIPS Technologies for use in Nintendo's next home video game system (Ultra-64, Project Reality). The 100 MHz processor performs at about 125 MIPS. [69] April Konami releases the Metal Warriors video game for the Super NES for US$59.99 to US$69.99. [488.140] [972.94] Nintendo pays about US$39.5 million to acquire 25% ownership of Rare Toys and Games of Britain, the maker of the Donkey Kong Country video game. This is Nintendo's first investment in a video game developer outside Japan. [251.D7] [350.91] May 6 Nintendo of America announces its Ultra 64 game machine. It uses a 93.75 MHz MIPS R4300i processor manufactured by NEC with 16 kB instruction cache, 8 kB data cache, 64-bit integer and floating-point units, and 32-bit system interface. A 62.5 MHz Reality Coprocessor chip handles audio/video processing. Release target date is April 1996. [70] [250.34] [382.63] (May 11 [672.150]) May 14 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A child says "I'll kick your butt... at Nintendo". [803] May Enix releases the Ogre Battle video game for the Super NES in the USA. [747.214] [1159.100] [1161.80] May (month) Top selling video game for the month in the US: Donkey Kong Country by Nintendo for the Super NES. [674.26] June Nintendo releases the EarthBound video game for the Super NES in the USA. [637.9] [1071.90] [1159.96] Catapult releases the XBand modem for the Super NES in the USA. The dial-up modem allows game play versus other players. [726.111] [1161.80] (month unknown) Capcom releases the Street Fighter II video game for the Game Boy in the US. [458.29] Sony Electronic Publishing releases the Spawn video game for the Super NES in the US. [746.159] July Nintendo launches the Virtual Boy video game at Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. [1095.28] August 11 Square Soft releases the Chrono Trigger video game for the Super NES in the USA. [304.146] [401] [412.87] [452.35] [556.106] [543.37] [1159.91] August Time Warner releases the Primal Rage video game for the Super NES in the US. [410.9,80] [609.9] August 21 Nintendo of America introduces the Virtual Boy portable video game system in the US. It features 32-bit 20 MHz RISC processor, a special headset that creates a stereoscopic 3-D environment with two RTI mirror-scanning 384x224 pixel LED arrays, 8- or 16-Megabit ROM Game Paks, digital stereo sound, double-grip controller with dual directional control buttons, and powered by six AA batteries. An optional Playlink cable is available to connect two systems. The game Mario's Tennis is included in the hardware. Price is US$179.95. (About 770,000 units are sold worldwide in total.) [245.D7] [253.D5] [451.10] [453.42] [543.73] [674.42] [1096.28] (August 14 [962.101]) August 30 Nintendo releases the Killer Instinct video game for the Super NES in the USA. [246.C2] [410.9] [543.53] [609.9,104] [1159.98] September 15 United Artists releases the film Hackers to theaters in the US. A Nintendo Powerglove appears. A character says "A wake-up call for the Nintendo generation". [897] September Williams Entertainment releases the Doom video game for the Super NES in the US. (This is the first Super NES game released with a "Mature" rating.) [609.29] Capcom releases the Mega Man VII video game for the Super NES in the US. [410.78] [420.70] September (month) Top selling video game title for the month in the US: Killer Instinct by Nintendo for the Super NES. [732.22] October 1 Square releases the Secret of Evermore video game for the Super NES in the US. The game is a sequel to Secret of Mana. [341.249] [401] [412.87] [429.105] [451.9] [452.35] [543.37] [972.94] October 4 Nintendo releases the Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island game for the Super NES in the US. (Total sales: 4.12 million.) [304.148] [401] [410.80] [412.24] [871.38] [1159.91] [1161.80] October Nintendo reduces the price of the Virtual Boy from US$179.95 to US$159.95. [733.38] Nintendo announces the official release name of the Ultra 64: Nintendo 64. [733.38] Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat 3 video game for the Super NES in the US. [410.9] [429.104] (June 15 [808]) October (month) Top selling video game for the month in the US: Mortal Kombat 3 by Williams Entertainment for the Super NES. [733.38] November Playmates releases the Earthworm Jim 2 video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.96] Acclaim releases the Mortal Kombat 3 video game for the Game Boy in the US. [808] November 24 At the Shoshinkai show in Chiba, Japan, Nintendo displays the 64-bit cartridge-based Nintendo 64 video game system. Target ship date is April 21, for 25,000 yen (US$250). Games demonstrated are Super Mario 64 and Kirby's Air Ride. Nintendo gives details of the 64DD add-on for the Nintendo 64, with a 64 MB hard drive. [252.46] [262.D2] [597] [674.42] [1150.21] November (month) Top selling Super NES video game in the US for the month: Mortal Kombat 3 by Williams Entertainment. [768.34] (month unknown) Unit sales of Nintendo Virtual Boy game systems in the US to date: 350,000. [253.D5] Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy systems in the US to date: 18 million. [253.D5] December 4 Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest video game for the Super NES game system in the USA. [246.C2] [401] [1159.92] [1161.80] December 9 Enix releases the Dragon Quest VI video game for the Super Famicom in Japan. (3.2 million copies are sold.) [298.51] [1201.28] December 17 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Animated characters resembling Mario, Luigi, and Donkey Kong appear. [831] December (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest by Nintendo for the Super NES. [826.30] 1996 January Capcom releases the Mega Man X^3 game for the Super NES in the US. [420.70] January (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest by Nintendo for the Super NES. [827.32] February 5 Nintendo announces a delay in introducing its 64-bit video game system in the US until September 30, due to a chip shortage. [255.D5] February Nintendo releases the Pocket Monsters - Green Version and Pocket Monsters - Red Version video games for Super Game Boy in Japan. [542.84] [595.140] March 9 Nintendo announces a delay in introducing the Nintendo 64 in Japan to June 23, due to a lack of chips, and delays in software development. [256.48] March Nintendo releases the 3D Tetris video game for the Virtual Boy. (This is the last game released for the system.) [685.136] March 31 Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy game systems over the past twelve months: about 4.1 million. [271.D4] March (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest by Nintendo for the Super NES. [779.25] Top selling Game Boy video game in the US for the month: Donkey Kong Land by Nintendo. [779.25] April (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest by Nintendo for the Super NES. [828.24] (month unknown) Sales of Game Boy systems to date: 48 million worldwide; 19 million in North America. [1152.88] May 13 Nintendo releases the Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars video game for the Super NES in the US. [401] [429.51] [542.96] [871.38] [1159.91] [1161.80] [1192.80] (1998 [304.138]) May 15 In Los Angeles, California, Nintendo gives a preview of the Nintendo 64 game system, showing the Super Mario 64 game. [258.D1] May (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars for the Super NES. [869.26] June 23 In Japan, Nintendo ships the Nintendo 64 video game system. Price is 25,000 yen. It features 64-bit 93.75 MHz MIPS R4000 Series RISC main processor, 64-bit 62.5 MHz graphics and sound coprocessor, 4.5 MB of RAM, 32-bit color at 640x480 resolution, four control ports. (500,000 units sell in the first week.) [28.34] [262.D1] [298.40] [353.24] [355.73] [363.52] [364.134] [391.10,12] [1152.70] Nintendo releases the Super Mario 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. The game was developed at Nintendo by Shigeru Miyamoto. (Total sales: 11.62 million.) [43.51] [298.40] [412.24] [1147.30] [1152.72] Nintendo releases the PilotWings 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [298.40] [1152.72] (month unknown) Nintendo installs the Nintendo 64 game system in three Nintendo Family Entertainment Centres in Canada, in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. [1153.18] Capcom releases the Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems video game for the Super NES in the US. [626.93] Nintendo announces the Game Boy Pocket handheld video game system. Specifications: 4.19 MHz Z80 processor, 8 kB RAM, 4 gray shades, 4.5 x 3 x 1 inch size, 4.5 ounce weight, 2 x AAA power the unit for about 10 hours. Price is US$60. [483.56,70] [685.133] [1152.87] July Nintendo launches the Pokémon Blue video game for the Game Boy in Japan. [595.140] July (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run for the Super NES. [871.35] August Nintendo releases the Tetris Attack video game for the Super NES in the US. [391.96] [1159.90] Unit sales of Nintendo 64 game systems in Japan to date: 900,000. [262.D1] August (month) Top selling Super NES video game in the US for the month: Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars. [914.18] September 1 Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Land 2 video game for the Game Boy in the US. [391.94] [401] September 3 Nintendo releases the Game Boy Pocket portable game system in the USA. [1152.89] [1161.80] September Nintendo releases The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle 2 video game for the Game Boy in the US. Price is US$19.99. [391.94] Nintendo releases the Mega Man video game for the Game Boy in the US. Price is US$19.99. [391.95] Titus releases the Realm video game for the Super NES in the US. [391.95] September 29 Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 video game system in North America. Price is US$199.95. (350,000 sell out in the first three days.) [42.44] [262.D1] [265.42] [355.72] [377.62] [391.6,10] [453.44] [674.42] [686.12] [687.22] [981.23] [1097.30] [1154.102] [1155.9] [1161.80] Nintendo releases the Super Mario 64 game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [298.38] [453.44] [686.12] [793.18] [981.23] [1159.88] (September 26 [401] [871.38]) Nintendo releases the Pilotwings 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [391.95] [793.18] [981.23] [1159.93] (August 31 [411]) September (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [981.23] October 1 Acclaim Entertainment releases the Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 video game for the Super NES in the US. [401] (June 16 [808]) October Nintendo releases the Wave Race 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.90] Black Pearl releases Disney's Pinocchio video game for the Game Boy in the US. [391.95] October (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [976.28] Unit shipments of Nintendo 64 video game systems during the month: 500,000. [42.44] November 1 Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat Trilogy video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [808] Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble video game for the Super NES in the US. [401] [1159.91] November 15 At the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington, over five days, 3000 participants rate 57 video games. Top pick is Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [772.196] November Nintendo releases the Killer Instinct Gold video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.95] Midway releases the Wayne Gretkzy's 3D Hockey video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.97] The Shoshinkai and Space World shows are held in Japan. Nintendo shows a prototype 64 Disc Drive for the Nintendo 64. Nintendo shows many upcoming games for the Nintendo 64, including Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, Yoshi's Island 64, Zelda 64, Kirby's Air Ride, Earthbound 64, Blast Corps, and GoldenEye 007. [1040.29] [1156.22] Nintendo ceases marketing the Virtual Boy in the USA. Less than 500,000 systems were sold in North America, with only 14 titles available. [1040.29] The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reverses the August 1994 decision in favor of Alpex Computer versus Nintendo, over patent infringement of video game technology. The court rules that Alpex's bit-mapped memory system is different from Nintendo's system. [264.D2] By Thanksgiving Day in the USA, Nintendo has sold 750,000 Nintendo 64 systems in the USA, making this the fastest-selling system to date. [1040.29] Lawyers for Alpex Computer file a petition for a rehearing of the case against Nintendo by the U.S. Supreme Court. [264.D2] [597] November (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [1040.29] Top selling Super NES video game in the USA for the month: Donkey Kong 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble. [1040.29] December 4 Shares of GT Interactive Software drop 37.6% in Nasdaq trading, after the company reported thatits games for the Nintendo 64 would be delayed. [681.D4] December 6 Enix releases the Dragon Quest III Remix game for the Super Famicom in Japan. [298.51] December Enix releases the Terranigma video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1203.68] Nintendo releases the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [643.116] [1159.94] December (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [1073.59] Top selling Super NES video game in the USA for the month: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble. [1073.59] Year Unit sales of the Nintendo 64 video game system in the US during the year: 1.7 million. [265.42] [377.62] [1074.36] Unit sales of the Super Mario 64 game during the year: 1.6 million. [265.42]