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

1997 January 1 Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [808] January 12 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Ouside the "Noiseland Arcade", a sign is displayed above a live gorilla: "Friday Meet Donkey Kong in Person". The gorilla throws a barrel at a man, knocking him down. [834] January (month) Top selling video game in the USA during the month: Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [874.D10] [1074.36] Top selling Super NES video game in the USA during the month: Donkey Kong Country 2. [874.D10] February 10 Nintendo releases the Mario Kart 64 game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [298.38] [401] [458.41] [871.38] [1159.89] February Acclaim releases the Turok: Dinosaur Hunter video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.91] (April [1161.81]) February (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Mario Kart 64 for the Nintendo 64. [794.28] March Nintendo drops the price of the Nintendo 64 in the United States to US$149. [674.45] Electronic Arts agrees to produce six Nintendo 64 sports titles by Christmas 1998. [352.73] March 26 Nintendo releases the Blast Corps video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1102.113] [1159.96] March 28 Buena Vista Pictures releases the film The Sixth Man to theaters in the USA. A character is told to forget girls and "stick to Nintendo". [932] March 31 Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy game systems over the past twelve months: about 7 million. [271.D4] Unit sales of Nintendo 64 game systems in North America to date: 2.5 million. [271.D4] April 1 Midway releases the Doom 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [411] April In Seattle, Washington, USA, the Nintendo 64 Developers Conference is held, over two days. [1158.105] Nintendo releases the Game Boy Pocket portable game system in multiple case colors in the USA. [453.44] [1161.81] Nintendo releases the Mario Kart video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] May Nintendo releases the Game & Watch Gallery for the Game Boy in the USA. [1161.81] Catapult ends the Xband modem service for the Super NES in the USA. [1161.81] (month unknown) Unit sales of the Nintendo 64 in North America to date: 2.6 million. 2.7 million have been sold in the rest of the world. [355.72] June Nintendo releases the Rumble Pak for the controller of the Nintendo 64 video game system. [453.44] [1161.81] June 19 The Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Atlanta, Georgia, over three days. Total attendance is 37,100. Nintendo unveils the Banjo-Kazooie video game. [462.195] [591.16] [674.45] [1028.38] June 23 The United States Supreme Court refuses to review the case of Alpex vs. Nintendo of America, letting stand the verdict that Nintendo had not infringed on a patent owned by Alpex. [597] (month unknown) Nintendo releases the Super Famicom Jr. in Japan. The unit is a redesigned Super Famicom. [1091.94] July Nintendo releases the Star Fox 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$69.95, including a Rumble Pak that allows the game to make the controller vibrate. The game was developed at Nintendo by Shigeru Miyamoto. [352.73] [401] [690.12] [1158.57] Konami releases the International Superstar Soccer 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.92] August Nintendo releases the GoldenEye 007 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. (Over its lifetime, 8 million copies are sold, making this the best-selling video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.) [298.38] [421.38] [566.92] [746.157] [1147.116] [1159.89] [1161.81] (July [411]) Nintendo releases the Tetrisphere video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.95] (month unknown) In Tokyo, Japan, the Spaceworld video game show is held. 240,000 attend the show. Nintendo demonstrates a new Zelda game for the Nintendo 64. Nintendo premieres the Yoshi's Story video game for the Nintendo 64. [390.4,34] September Treasure releases the Mischief Makers video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [573.94] October 4 Gunpei Yokoi, inventor and toy maker, dies. He designed Nintendo's Game & Watch handheld games, Game Boy, and Game Boy Pocket. [1161.81] October Nintendo releases a redesigned smaller Super NES in the USA. Number of internal chips is reduced from eleven to five, there is no eject lever, no LED power light, no RF switch, and no RF modulator. [1160.104] [1161.81] October 31 Nintendo releases the Diddy Kong Racing video game for the Nintendo 64. [411] [531.7] (month unknown) Nintendo releases a redesigned smaller Game Boy Pocket portable game system. Price is US$55. [271.D4] December Nintendo releases the GoldenEye video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] 1998 January 21 Capcom releases the Resident Evil 2 game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [577.102] February 15 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. On a desert island, one character tells another to "draw up plans for a coconut radio and if possible a coconut Nintendo system". [839] February 28 Nintendo releases the Yoshi's Story video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [390.17] [411] [1160.104] March Nintendo announces the Game Boy Color handheld video game system. Specifications: 2.1 MHz 8-bit Z80 processor, 32 kB RAM, 2.3-inch 166x144 pixel TFT screen, 56 colors out of 32,000 palette, 4-channel FM stereo sound, two AA batteries power the system for about 10 hours. [1093.34,58] (4 or 8 MHz processor [1151.46]) April Nintendo releases the 1080-degree Snowboarding video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [545.30] May The Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Total attandance of the show is 41,300. Nintendo unveils the Pokémon video games. [546.28] [595.140] [674.45] [811.8] [1028.38] At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences holds its first annual awards ceremony. Shigeru Miyamoto is indicted into the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the video game industry. Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering: GoldenEye 007. Console Action Game of the Year: GoldenEye 007. Console Game of the Year: GoldenEye 007. Interactive Title of the Year: GoldenEye 007. Console Racing Game of the Year: Diddy Kong Racing. Best Sports Game of the Year: ISS 64. Best Fighting Game of the Year: WCW vs. NWO: World Tour. [435.100] [1161.81] May 31 Nintendo releases the Banjo-Kazooie video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [411] [423.22] [545.74] [1102.113] June 1 Nintendo releases the Game Boy Camera in the US. Price is US$49.95. [422.38] [453.44] [978.84] [1161.81] Nintendo releases the Game Boy Printer in the US. Price is US$59.95. [422.38] [453.44] [1161.81] June Nintendo drops the price of the Nintendo 64 in the US to US$129. [674.45] June 24 Midway releases the Mortal Kombat 4 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [545.74] [808] (month unknown) Nintendo releases the F-Zero X video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [304.127] Unit shipments of the Nintendo 64 video game system to date: 16 million. [366.206] July 31 MCA/Universal Pictures releases the film BASEketball to theaters in the USA and Canada. A character says "You still hangin' out, playin' Nintendo?". [930] August Nintendo releases the World Class Track Meet video game with the Power Pad controller in the USA. [1161.78] Nintendo launches Pokémon in Topeka, Kansas. Ten Volkswagen Beetles decorated like the Pikachu character travel throughout the country. [595.141] Nintendo launches the www.pokemon.com web site. [595.141] August 26 Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. Video game dialog: "Where is the Nintendo?" "We don't have a Nintendo. We got a ColecoVision plugged into the black and white TV." [1244] August (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: WWF War Zone. [474.58] [991.46] September 1 Nintendo releases the Pokémon Red version and Pokémon Blue version games for the Game Boy in the US. [401] [546.34] [595.141] (May 1999 [554.17]) September 10 Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II video games for the Game Boy in Japan. [808] September The European Computer Trade Show names Goldeneye 007 for the Nintendo 64 the Console Game of the Year. [674.46] September (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: GoldenEye 007. [474.58] October 21 In Japan, Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color portable video game system. It features 2.1 MHz processor, and 32 kB RAM. It can display 10, 32, or 56 colors simultaneously from a palette of 32,000. Size is 3 x 5.25 x 1 inches; weight is 6.7 ounces. (155,774 units sell in the first week.) [298.40] [474.50] [545.26] October (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: WCW/NWO Revenge. [961.33] (month unknown) Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [304.138] The 1999 Guiness Book of Records lists Super Mario Bros. 3 as Best-Selling Video Game. [235.10] Nintendo and LucasArts sign a five-year agreement for three new Star Wars games on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. [961.32] Nintendo releases the Expansion Pak for the Mintendo 64. It provides an extra 4 MB of memory for the game system. Price is US$29.95. [961.33] November T-HQ releases the WCW/NWO Revenge video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] Nintendo releases the Pokémon Pikachu handheld electronic pet. It can record walking steps. [546.34] [595.141] November 22 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A child mispronounces "superintendant" as "Super Nintendo". [877] November 23 Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color handheld video game system in the US. Price is US$79.95. [453.44] [483.69] [546.28] [685.133] November Nintendo releases the Tetris DX video game for the Game Boy Color. [474.92] November 25 Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$59.95. [298.38] [304.150] [367.94] [483.69] [546.28,62] [991.240] November (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. [1093.36] December 9 LucasArts releases the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$49.99. [304.54] [643.116] [991.240] December 11 Warner Bros. Pictures releases the Jack Frost film to theaters in the USA. A character says he has packed "batteries for the Game Boy". [1068] December Infogrames releases the V-Rally 99 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] Year Top selling video game in the US for the year: GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64. Total sales: 1.6 million copies. [820.30] Sales of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color in the USA during the year: 2.43 million. [1100.34] 1999 January 26 Konami releases the Castlevania 64 video game for the Nintendo 64. [401] [411] January (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. [592.42] [1094.31] Top selling Game Boy video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Blue Version. [592.42] [1094.31] (month unknown) Activision signs a deal with the Walt Disney Company to create six Nintendo 64 video games based on Disney properties. [235.122] February 8 Nintendo releases the Mario Party video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [440.42] [871.38] February (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Mario Party for the Nintendo 64. [592.42] Top selling Game Boy video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Blue Version. [592.42] (month unknown) Nintendo of America and Disney Interactive announce a thirteen-title deal for Nintendo to publish a series of Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color games using Disney characters. [404.114] Konami releases the NHL Blades of Steel '99 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [235.74] March All-Nippon Airlines introduces Pokémon-decorated airplanes for select flights between Tokyo and the US. [595.142] March 28 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. An arcade video game is played, Monkey Fracas Jr., with a space ship fighting a giant ape throwing barrels pulled from inside a planet. This is a reference to the video game Donkey Kong Jr.. [840] March (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Blue Version for the Game Boy. [1095.32] Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Mario Party. [1095.32] Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: The Legend of Zelda DX: Link's Awakening. [1095.32] April 26 Nintendo releases the Super Smash Bros. game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [304.126] [359.134] [401] [440.42] (May [554.17]) April 30 Activision releases the A Bug's Life video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [235.122] [411] April (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Mario Party. [1096.30] (month unknown) Unit sales of the Nintendo 64 video game system worldwide to date: 24 million. [379.66] May 1 Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. Deluxe video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [401] May 12 Nintendo announces its next-generation console, code-named "Dolphin". It will use a 400 MHz "Gekko" processor developed with IBM, based on the PowerPC processor. [597] [1096.28] May 13 Interact Accessories releases the Sharkwire Online kit for the Nintendo 64. The kit includes a modem cartridge, keyboard, telephone cord, and Spyglass Device Mosaic Web browser. Users can then access the Internet to send and receive email and browse Web sites. [597] May 16 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A handheld video game resembling the original Nintendo Game Boy is used on an airplane, interfering with the plane's controls. [878] May 19 LucasArts releases the Star Wars Episode 1: Racer video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [440.43] [643.116] [1094.40] May Sega Enterprises president Shoichiro Irimajiri announces the company will soon sell games for the Game Boy Color in Japan. [1097.30] May 31 Kemco releases the Shadowgate: Trials of the Four Towers video game for the Nintendo 64. [235.125] [411] May (month) Top selling video game in the USA during the month: Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64. [1097.30] June 1 Nintendo releases the Pokémon Pinball video game for the GameBoy in the US. [401] [405.100] [554.17] [595] June Nintendo announces a new joint venture in Japan for an online network for the Nintendo 64 to access the Internet, play online tournaments, download new software to the 64DD disk drive. [1097.30] Nintendo announces it will sell telecommunications software in Japan to link the Game Boy to cell phones, to download and play games. [1097.30] June (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Star Wars Episode I: Racer for the Nintendo 64. [1098.34] July 1 Nintendo releases the Pokémon Snap video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$49.95. [401] [405.100] [417.81] [440.43] [595.142] (June 30 [411]) July 10 Nintendo releases The New Tetris video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] July Nintendo releases the Command & Conquer video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] (May [411]) Nintendo releases the Star Wars Episode 1: Racer video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] July 27 Nintendo releases the Mario Golf 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [411] [871.38] (August [554.17]) August Retro Studios officially begins work on Metroid Prime video game for the next Nintendo video game system (GameCube). [436.48] Nintendo reduces the suggested retail price of the Nintendo 64 in the USA to US$99.95. [1098.32] Infogrames releases the Premier Manager 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] Activision releases the Quake II video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [235.123] [393.28] August 27 In Tokyo, Japan, the Space World '99 show is held. Nintendo reveals the 64DD, an attachment to the Nintendo 64 allowing storage of game data and access to the Internet. [393.9,13] [819.25] August In Tokyo, Japan, the Game of the Year ceremony is held. The Fresh Prize is awarded to Nintendo for the Pikachu Genki Dechu video game. The Visual Prize is a tie between The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64 and Final Fantasy VIII for the PlayStation. Second place for Game of the Year is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. [393.13] August 31 Year to date sales of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color in the USA: 2.68 million. [1100.34] Atari Games releases the Gauntlet Legends video game for the Nintendo 64. [235.125] [411] [418.28] (September [554.17]) August (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Snap. [1099.40] Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Pinball. [1099.40] Top selling Game Boy video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Blue. [1099.40] (month unknown) Sales of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game for the Nintendo 64 to date: US$137 million. [378.58] Unit sales of video game systems in North America to date: Nintendo Entertainment System 35 million, Super Nintendo 20 million. [378.59] Unit sales of the Nintendo Game Boy video game system worldwide to date: 80 million. [378.60] [597] September Ubi Soft releases the Racing Simulation - Monaco Grand Prix video game for the Nintendo 64 in England. [393.21] Acclaim releases the WWF Attitude video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] Acclaim releases the Shadowman video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28] September 23 Enix releases the Dragon Quest I & II Remix game for the Game Boy Color in Japan. [298.51] September (month) Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Snap. [819.22] [1100.36] Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Pinball. [819.22] October 1 Nintendo releases the Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [401] [447.4] [554.17] [595.143] [819.154] Nintendo releases the Mario Golf video game for the Game Boy Color. [304.126] [401] October 8 The Duke Nuken - Zero Hour video game is released for the Nintendo 64 in England. [393.13] October Nintendo releases a limited edition Game Boy Color decorated with Pokémon characters, bundled with the video game Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition. Price is US$109.95. [595.143] [819.154] Nintendo releases the Pokémon Red version and Pokémon Blue version games for the Game Boy in Europe. [595.143] October 22 The 33rd annual Tokyo Motor Show is held in Tokyo, Japan. Nintendo demonstrates a Panasonic in-car game system allowing the Nintendo 64 to connect to a mini television in the car. [820.24] October 31 Capcom releases the Resident Evil 2 video game for the Nintendo 64. [411] October (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Yellow for the Game Boy Color. [753.42] Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Snap. [753.42] November 10 Warner Bros. releases the film Pokémon: The First Movie to theaters. (The Pokémon characters originated with a video game in Japan. Total American theater ticket sales: US$86 million.) [440.43] [447.4] [463.293] [493.29] [496.40] [595.143] [819.154] November 15 Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Included within the game is the original Donkey Kong video game. [393.28] [401] [411] [819.135] [1099.61] November Nintendo releases the Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver video games for the Game Boy Color in Japan. [595.143] Time magazine in the US features the Pokémon characters on its cover. [595.143] THQ releases the Wrestlemania 2000 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [1218.82] Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Set, including Jungle Green Nintendo 64 system, Donkey Kong 64 Game Pak, Jungle Green Controller, and Expansion Pak. [446.52] November (month) Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Yellow for the Game Boy. [753.42] Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Donkey Kong 64. [753.42] December 1 Nintendo releases the 64DD disk drive for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. Included are a modem cartridge, Kyojin no Doshin (Doshin the Giant) video game, and Mario Artist: Paint Studio software. (Total sales over the product's lifetime: about 250,000.) [393.45] [825.32] [1151.44] December Unit sales of the Nintendo 64 video game system worldwide to date: 28.7 million. [377.62] December 31 Unit shipments of Nintendo's Mario Party video game in the USA to date: 1.15 million. [597] October-December Market share of shipments of video game systems in the US during October to December: PlayStation 49.1%, Nintendo 64 32.1%, Dreamcast 18.8%. [748.202] Year Market share of video game systems in the US: PlayStation 34%, Game Boy 31%, Nintendo 64 17.5%, Dreamcast 16%. [684.17]