2001
- January 14
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The episode title, "Pokey Mom" is a reference to the Nintendo Pokémon video game characters. [915]
- January 15
- Nintendo releases the Mario Tennis video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [311.54] [401] [554.117]
- January
- Capcom releases the Mega Man X video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. Price is US$29.99. [311.55] [554.117]
- In Japan, Nintendo releases the Mobile Adapter GB, allowing Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance users to connect to wireless phones for multi-player gaming. [296.136]
- February 4
- Nintendo releases the Paper Mario video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [304.140] [311.63] [395.135] [401] [411] [448.118] [473.100] [614.144] [871.38] [989.102]
- February 14
- Nintendo announces the release dates of the Game Boy Advance: March 21 in Japan, and June 11 in the US. [597]
- (month unknown)
- Worldwide shipments of all Game Boy versions since 1989: 100 million. [597]
- March 4
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A character asks "Why weren't you Kong Donkeys outside cleaning up?", a reference to the video game Donkey Kong. [860]
- March 5
- Nintendo releases the Conker's Bad Fur Day video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [989.100] [1102.113]
- March 21
- In Japan, Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance handheld video game system. It features 32-bit ARM processor, and 240 x 160 pixel 32,000-color display. A Link Cable allows four players to play together on certain games. Size is 3.25 x 5.6 inches; weight is 140 grams. Two AA batteries power the system for about 15 hours. Price is 9800 yen. (611,504 units sell in the first week. 1.6 million sell in the first five weeks.) [298.40] [311.55] [361.47] [393.12] [394.84] [407.122] [473.28] [564.14] [597]
- March 28
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Stadium 2 video game for the Nintendo 64. [401] [411]
- March 31
- Unit sales of the Super Mario 64 game to date: 9.52 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the GoldenEye 007 game to date: 7.61 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the Mario Kart 64 game to date: 7.16 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the Zelda: Ocarina of Time game to date: 6.04 million. [298.38]
- Unit sales of the Pokémon Stadium game to date: 4.3 million. [298.38]
- March (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Stadium 2 for the Nintendo 64. [476]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Silver. [476]
- April 8
- Nintendo releases the Dr. Mario 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$29.95. [394.89] [401] [411] [564.15] [871.38]
- April 14
- Nintendo releases the Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Forest) video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [476.64]
- April (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Stadium 2 for the Nintendo 64. [992]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Silver. [992]
- May 7
- Nintendo releases the Mario Party 3 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [411] [871.38]
- May 13
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. When a child is asked what he likes to play, he says "Pokémon", likely referring to the video game. [916]
- May 14
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [304.142] [401] [1072.84]
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [304.142] [401] [1072.84]
- May 16
- Nintendo shows off the GameCube system in Los Angeles, California, and announces the launch dates of September 14 in Japan and November 5 in North America. [597] [992.6,48] (launch date November 3 [739.14])
- May 17
- The Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Los Angeles, California, over three days. Nintendo unveils the GameCube video game system. [385.68] [473.28] [597] [630.50] [674.48]
- May 21
- Nintendo announces the initial price of the GameCube in the US will be US$199. [597]
- May (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Mario Party 3 for the Nintendo 64. [556.48]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons. [556.48]
- (month unknown)
- Worldwide shipments of all Game Boy versions since 1989: 110 million. [597] [813.10]
- June 11
- Namco releases the Namco Museum video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [401]
- Nintendo launches the Game Boy Advance portable game system in the US. [296.38] [311.55] [453.46] [459.31] [597] [674.48] [1149.662]
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Advance video game for the Game Boy Advance. [401] [411] [476.15]
- Konami releases the Castlevania: Circle of the Moon video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [304.144] [401]
- June 22
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance in the United Kingdom. [813.108]
- July 17
- Enix releases the Dragon Warrior III Remix game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [298.51]
- July 30
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Crystal video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [401] [458.20] [476.30]
- August 8
- Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. A home video game system with four controllers is played. A new video game system is purchased, the Okama Gamesphere, likely a reference to the upcoming Nintendo GameCube. The game "Thirst for Blood" is played on the system. [1103]
- August 11
- Nintendo releases the Mario Kart: Super Circuit game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [291.20] [388.66] [401] [411] [458.40]
- August 22
- Nintendo announces it is delaying the release of the GameCube in North America from November 5 to November 18, to increase the quantity of systems available at launch from 500,000 to 700,000. [597]
- August 24
- In Tokyo, Japan, Nintendo holds the annual Spaceworld show, over three days. [291.14] [297.136] [389.10,66] [420.89] [992.50]
- September 10
- Nintendo releases the Advance Wars game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [304.132] [388.66] [401]
- September 14
- In Japan, Nintendo launches the GameCube video game system. It features 405 MHz "Gekko" processor based on a 256-bit IBM Power PC, and 43 MB RAM. Size is 6 x 6 x 4.3 inches; price is 25,000 yen. Code name during development was Dolphin. (133,719 units sell in the first week.) [291.21] [296.38] [298.38,40] [361.46] [377.62] [378.59] [388.20] [597] [815.60]
- Nintendo releases the Luigi's Mansion game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.150] [298.40]
- Nintendo releases the Wave Race: Blue Storm game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.25,156] [298.40]
- Sega releases the Super Monkey Ball game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.158] [298.40]
- September
- In Japan, Capcom and Nintendo announce six games in the Biohazard (Resident Evil) series will be released for the GameCube: a remake of the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Resident Evil 4. [741.18]
- September 25
- Enix releases the Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [298.51]
- September (month)
- Unit shipments of the GameCube in Japan during the month: 1.3 million. [360.34]
- October 15
- Capcom releases the Super Street Fighter II: Turbo Revival video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [401] [458.29]
- October
- Capcom releases the Mega Man Battle Network game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [296.60] [297.56] [460.72]
- October 26
- Nintendo releases the Pikmin game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.56,152] [298.76]
- October 30
- In Los Angeles, California, Nintendo hosts a Hollywood party to celebrate the opening of Cube Clubs nationwide. The locations allow players to try out GameCube games prior to the launch of the system. [597] (October 3 [304.44])
- October (month)
- Top selling Game Boy Advance video game in the USA for the month: Mario Kart: Super Circuit. [630.83] [812.16]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Crystal. [630.83] [812.16]
- Top selling Game Boy Advance video game in Japan for the month: Reversal Trial. [812.16]
- Top selling GameCube video game in Japan for the month: Luigi's Mansion by Nintendo. [812.16]
- Top selling Game Boy Advance video game in the United Kingdom for the month: Mario Kart: Super Circuit by Nintendo. [812.16]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the United Kingdom for the month: Grand Theft Auto 2 by Take 2. [812.16]
- November 15
- Nintendo releases the Golden Sun video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [291.17] [297.128] [298.76] [401] [444.41]
- November
- Sega releases the Sonic the Hedgehog game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [296.60] [297.56]
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden NFL 2002 game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [298.76]
- THQ and Sega announce an exclusive deal for THQ to port Sega titles to the Game Boy Advance. [331.30]
- Nintendo files a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Organization, for a combination cell phone and handheld videogame. [1188.52.4]
- November 18
- Nintendo releases the GameCube video game system in the US. It features four controller ports, one controller, 485 MHz IBM Gekko main processor, 162 MHz ATI Technologies "Flipper" graphics processor, 40 MB RAM, DVD-based proprietary disc drive. Games come on 3-inch optical discs holding up to 1.5 GB. Price is US$199.95. (Over 500,000 are sold in the first week in the US, the biggest game machine launch in the country to date.) [291.8] [296.38] [297.24] [298.40,188,216] [345.36] [387.17] [458.35] [597] [751.71] [815.60]
- Nintendo releases the Luigi's Mansion game for the GameCube in the US. [296.60] [297.25,56,150] [298.196] [401] [1077.33]
- LucasArts releases the Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader game for the GameCube in the US. [297.56] [298.202] [1077.33]
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden NFL 2002 game for the GameCube in the US. [297.56] [298.204] [401]
- Electronic Arts releases the SSX Tricky game for the GameCube in the US. [297.56] [298.76202] [401]
- Nintendo releases the Wario Land 4 game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [297.132] [298.76] [411]
- November (month)
- Top selling GameCube video game in the United States for the month: Luigi's Mansion. [815.16]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. [628.70] [815.16]
- December 2
- The Fox Television Network airs the Malcolm in the Middle TV show. A character mentions the Nintendo Entertainment System and Double Dragon 4 game. [921]
- December 3
- Nintendo releases the Super Smash Bros. Melee video game for the GameCube in the US. (Total sales over its lifetime: 5.5 million copies.) [296.60] [297.25,56,156] [298.76190] [386.27] [1114]
- Nintendo releases the Pikmin game for the GameCube in the US. [297.25,56,152] [298.76,200] [386.125] [401] [453.15]
- December 14
- Panasonic releases the SLGC-10 video game system in Japan. The system, also known as "Q", is a special GameCube which can play audio/video CD/DVD discs. Price is 39,800 yen (about US$305). [304.56] [307] [386.22]
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance system with Orange or Black cases in Japan. They also include improved brighter display screens. [472.96]
- Capcom releases the Resident Evil Gaiden video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [322.55] [834.17]
- December
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Advance 2 game for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. [298.150] [304.72] [386.21]
- December (month)
- Top selling GameCube video game in the USA for the month: Super Smash Bros. Melee. [308] [633.72] [636.74]
- Top selling Game Boy Color video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Crystal. [308] [633.72]
- Top selling Game Boy Advance video game in the USA for the month: Super Mario Advance. [308] [633.72]
- Year
- Unit sales of the Game Boy Advance in the US during the year: 4.8 million. [346.46]
- Unit sales of the GameCube video game system during the year: 1.3 million. [360.20]
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