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1971
- Nutting Associates releases the first commercial coin-operated arcade video game, Computer Space. Nolan Bushnell adapted the game from the earlier Spacewar video game on the PDP-1 computer.
1972
- Magnavox introduces the Odyssey 100 video game system, which attaches to a standard television to display simple moving white blocks. Rotating game dials control game-play. The system was invented by Ralph Baer, and developed since 1966 at Sanders Associates. About 100,000 units are sold for US$100 each.
- Atari releases the Pong coin-operated arcade video game system. Nolan Bushnell and Al Alcorn developed the game at Atari, partly based on the Magnavox Odyssey system.
1976
- Atari introduces the Breakout arcade video game. 15,000 machines are sold over its lifetime.
- Fairchild Camera and Instrument of California introduces the Channel F home video game system, the first system using plug-in cartridges for games. The system features color and sound through a television connection. Price is US$149.95 for the system unit, plus US$19.95 for plug-in cartridges.
1977
- Atari introduces the Atari Video Computer System (VCS), later renamed the Atari 2600. The system uses plug-in cartridges, delivers color graphics and sound through a television connection, and uses joysticks or paddles. Price is US$199.
1978
- Taito introduces the Space Invaders arcade video game, in Japan. The original name was Space Monsters, created by Toshihiro Nishikado. Over 350,000 machines are sold world-wide over its lifetime.
1979
- Atari releases the Asteroids arcade video game system.
1980
- Mattel Electronics releases the Intellivision home video game system. Price is US$300.
- Midway Manufacturing introduces the Pac-Man arcade vide game. Within a year, 100,000 machines are sold for US$200 million in revenue, with the machines taking in US$1 billion in quarters.
1981
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong arcade video game in the US.
- Sales of home video game systems and cartridges in the US hits US$1 billion for the year.
1982
- Coleco Industries introduces the Colecovision home video game system.
- Atari introduces the Atari 5200 video game system. Price is US$269.
- Atari releases E.T. the Extraterrestrial video game cartridge for the Atari 2600 game system. 4 million cartridges are produced, 2 million are sold, 1 million are returned. The game is considered one of the worst video games ever made. Millions of cartridges are later buried in a land-fill site.
- Warner Communications announces that fourth quarter earnings would be substantially below expectations, due to sluggish sales in its Atari video games division. The next day, Mattel also announces financial problems for the quarter. Overnight, stock of both companies lose one-third of their market value. This marks the beginning of the end of the video game craze, which will bottom out in 1985, before climbing back to 1982 levels in 1989.
1983
- Cinematronics releases Dragon's Lair to arcade centers. It is the first laser-disc-based coin-operated arcade game. Cost per play is 50-cents. Advanced Microcomputer Systems designed the game, with animation provided by Don Bluth Animations.
- Nintendo releases the Family Computer (Famicom) video game system in Japan. The system is a phenomenal success, with 500,000 units selling in the first two months. In 1985, Nintendo will release a similar system in the US called the Nintendo Entertainment System.
1985
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the US, slowly resurrecting the video game industry. The system comes with a two-button and "plus" pad controller, a Zapper light gun, and Robotic Operating Buddy mechanical robot that can interact with a few games. Total sales of the NES over the product's lifetime reach 36 million.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. Total worldwide sales: 40.24 million, the best-selling game of all time.
- Sales of video game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: about US$100 million.
1987
- Nintendo releases the Metroid video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
- Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
- NEC releases the PC Engine video game system in Japan.
- Square releases the first Final Fantasy video game for the Famicom system in Japan.
1988
- Ultra Games releases the first Metal Gear video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. 2 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
1989
- Nintendo releases the hend-held Game Boy video game system in Japan. Games are played on a 2.5-inch monochrome screen.
- Sega Enterprises introduces the Genesis home video game system in the US. It features 16-bit Motorola 68000 processor, 512-color output with 80 animated sprites. Price is US$189. Total North American sales in its lifetime: 14 million.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Land video game for the Game Boy in the US.
- NEC Home Entertainment introduces the TurboGrafx-16 home video game system in the US. It features 16-bit graphics processor, 512 colors, 64 movable sprites, stereo sound. Price is US$199. Less than 1 million units are shipped in its lifetime.
- Atari introduces the first color hand-held video game system, the Lynx.
- Sales of video game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: US$3.4 billion.
1990
- Nintendo ships the Super Mario Bros. 3 video game cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
- Nintendo releases the Super Family Computer (Super Famicom) game system in Japan. The system uses a 16-bit processor, displays graphics in over 32,000 colors, and includes the Super Mario World video game. 300,000 units ships on the first day of release; 4 million ship within first year.
1991
- Sega releases the game Sonic the Hedgehog for the Genesis video game system.
- Nintendo releases the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. The 16-bit system uses new game cartridges, incompatible with the Nintendo Entertainment System. The system produces graphics in 512x448 resolution in 256 colors, and is priced at $200. Twenty million units sell in the first year.
- Square releases the Final Fantasy II video game for the Super NES in the US.
1992
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Kart video game for the Super NES in the US.
1993
- Panasonic releases the REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer game system in the US. It features 32-bit processor, 16-million color output, and CD-ROM drive. Price is US$700.
1994
- The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is created, and develops a game rating system.
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Country video game for the Super NES in the US. Six million copies are sold in six weeks.
- Sega Enterprises introduces the Saturn video game system in Japan. It features a double-speed CD-ROM drive, and incorporates eight processors. Graphics resolution is 640x224 in 16 million colors.
- Sony introduces the PlayStation in Japan. It features a 32-bit processor, with special integrated audio and graphics functions. Graphics resolution is 640x480 in 24-bit color. Price is 39800 yen, about US$400. 100,000 systems sell in the first two days.
1995
- Sony Electronics introduces the 32-bit CD-ROM game system, PlayStation, in North America. Price is US$300.
- Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat 3 video game for the Super NES in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Country 2 video game for the Super NES in the USA.
1996
- Nintendo releases the first Pocket Monsters (Pokémon) video games in Japan.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars video game for the Super NES in the US.
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 video game system in Japan. It features 64-bit main processor, 64-bit graphics and sound coprocessor, 32-bit color at 640x480 resolution, and four control ports.
- Nintendo launches the Nintendo 64 video game system in North America.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
1997
- Sony releases the Final Fantasy VII video game for the PlayStation in Japan.
- Nintendo releases the Mario Kart 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the GoldenEye 007 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
1998
- Take 2 Interactive releases the first Grand Theft Auto video game for the PlayStation.
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Red version and Pokémon Blue version video games for the Game Boy in the USA.
- Konami releases the Metal Gear Solid video game for the PlayStation in the US.
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color hand-held video game system in Japan. It can display up to 56 colors simultaneously from a palette of 32,000.
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US.
- Sega releases the Dreamcast video game system in Japan. It features 200 MHz 128-bit Hitachi SH-4 processor, 12X speed 1 GB CD-ROM drive, and 56 kbps modem. Its processing power is unsurpassed, but it arrives too late to threaten the Nintendo 64, or the highly anticipated Sony PlayStation 2.
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color handheld video game system in the US.
1999
- Nintendo releases the first Mario Party video game, for the Nintendo 64 in the US.
- Square releases the Final Fantasy VIII video game for the PlayStation in Japan.
- Nintendo releases the Super Smash Bros. video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
- Sega releases the Dreamcast video game system in the US. Price is US$199.
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition video game for the Game Boy Color in the US.
- Sony releases the Gran Turismo 2 video game for the PlayStation in the USA.
2000
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Stadium video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
- Sony releases the PlayStation 2 video game system in Japan. About one million units are shipped on the first weekend.
- Nintendo releases the Perfect Dark video game for the Nintendo 64.
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver video games for the Game Boy Color in the US.
- Sony releases the PlayStation 2 video game system in the US. Price is US$300.
2001
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance handheld video game system in Japan. It features 32-bit ARM processor, and 240 x 160 pixel 32,000-color display. Two AA batteries power the system for about 15 hours.
- Sony releases the Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec video game for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. One million copies sell in the first two days.
- Nintendo releases the Mario Party 3 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advanced handheld video game system in the US.
- Square releases the Final Fantasy X video game for the PlayStation 2 in Japan.
- Nintendo releases the GameCube video game system in Japan. It features 405 MHz processor based on a 256-bit IBM Power PC. Games come on 3-inch optical discs holding up to 1.5 GB. Price is 25,000 yen.
- Capcom releases the Devil May Cry video game for the PlayStation 2 in the USA.
- Take 2 Interactive releases the Grand Theft Auto III video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US.
- Konami releases the Metal Gear Solid 2 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US.
- Microsoft launches the Xbox game system in the US. Price is US$299. The system features 8 GB hard drive, 733 MHz Pentium III processor, 250 MHz nVidia XGP graphics coprocessor, and broadband Internet connection. Games come on dual-layer DVDs that can store 9 GB of data.
- Microsoft releases the Halo video game for the Xbox in the US.
- Nintendo releases the GameCube video game system in the US. Price is US$200.
- Square Electronic Arts releases the Final Fantasy X video game for the PlayStation 2 in the USA.
2002
- Sega discontinues the Dreamcast video game system, shifting focus to providing software for other game systems.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 for the Game Boy Advance in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the e-Reader card scanner for the Game Boy Advance in the US. It scans dot codes on e-Reader cards, which can contain games and program enhancements. Price is US$39.99.
- Take 2 Interactive releases the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. 12 million copies are sold in two years.
- Microsoft launches the Xbox Live online gaming service in the US.
2003
- Worldwide shipments to date of the Sony PlayStation 2 video game system: 50 million.
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance SP in Japan. It features a flip-up 2.9-inch color LCD screen with built-in lighting, and rechargeable battery.
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance SP in North America. Price is US$100.
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker video game for the GameCube in the USA.
- Nokia releases the N-Gage handheld video game system worldwide. It features 104 MHz ARM processor, 176x208 pixel 4096-color display, cell phone, wireless connectivity, web browser, MP3 audio player, stereo FM radio. Games are available on MultiMedia Cards.
- Tapwave releases the Zodiac handheld video game system in North America. Price is US$300.
2004
- Microsoft releases the Fable video game for the Xbox in the USA.
- Rockstar Games releases the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game for the PlayStation 2. 4.5 million copies are sold worldwide in the first week.
- Microsoft releases the Halo 2 video game for the Xbox in the US. First day sales total 2.4 million units in North America, for US$125 million revenue.
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS handheld video game system in the US and Canada. It features ARM 9 3D processor, ARM 7 2D processor, dual backlit 3-inch LCD screens, DS compact card slot, Game Boy Advance cartridge slot, wireless communications, touch screen with stylus. Price is US$150. 500,000 units are sold in the first week.
- Sony releases the PlayStation Portable in Japan. It features 4.3-inch wide-screen color display, Memory Stick and USB ports, game and video support via Universal Media Disc, and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity.
2005
- Capcom releases the Resident Evil 4 video game for the GameCube in the US.
- Sony releases Gran Turismo 4 for the PlayStation in the USA.
- Sony releases the PlayStation Portable in North America. Price is US$250.
- Activision releases the Doom 3 video game for the Xbox in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Emerald video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the Nintendogs video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Micro handheld video game system. Size is 4 by 2 inches, and plays all Game Boy Advance titles. Price is US$100.
- Sony Computer Entertainment releases the SOCOM 3: US Navy SEALS video game for the PlayStation 2 in the USA.
- LucasArts releases the Star Wars Battlefront II video game for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Xbox in the USA.
- Microsoft launches the Xbox 360 video game system in North America. Price is US$300 for a basic Core System, or US$400 with wireless controller, headset, and 20 GB hard drive.
- Activision releases the Call of Duty 2 video game for the Xbox 360 in the US.
2006
- Square Enix releases the Kingdom Hearts II video game for the PlayStation 2 in the USA.
- Sony announces the PlayStation 3 video game system. It features motion-sensing wireless controllers, 20/60 GB hard drive, HDMI video output, Blu-Ray high-definition DVD player.
- Nintendo releases the New Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA.
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS Lite video game system in the USA. Price is US$130.
- Sierra releases the Scarface: The World is Yours video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the USA.
- Microsoft releases the Gears of War video game for the Xbox in the USA.
- Sony releases the PlayStation 3 in Japan.
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo Wii video game system in North and South America. It includes wireless remote controller, Nunchuk controller, and Wii Sports video game. Price in the USA is US$250.
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA.
2007
- Microsoft releases the Halo 3 video game for the Xbox 360 in the USA. First day sales: US$170 million, a record. Worldwide sales in the first week: US$300 million, 5 million units.
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Galaxy video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA.
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