- February
- Atari cancels the Atari 5200 video game system. [1447.93]
- Terrence Valeski creates Intellivision, Incorporated. [402.D2]
- March
- David Rosen and Isao Okawa buy Sega Enterprises (Japan) from Gulf & Western for $38 million. [1460.xiv,343]
- January-March
- Atari incurs a net loss of US$34.9 million for the first three months of the year. [156.D2]
- (month unknown)
- The Odyssey Division of North American Philips ceases production of hardware for its Odyssey programmable videogame system. [20.8]
- April
- The first issue of Big K magazine is issued. [1391.250]
- (month unknown)
- Unit sales of Dragon's Lair arcade video game machines to date: 8000. Revenue: US$140 million. [305.37]
- May
- Quote by James Morgan, chairman and CEO of Atari: "We are going to reignite the consumer's love affair with video games.". (They don't, and two months later Morgan is out of his job.) [306.46]
- Quote by Jon Loveless, marketing vice-president of Synapse Software: "I don't think there's a market left for dedicated [video game] machines.". (From a sales high of $3 billion in 1982, to a low of $0.1 billion in 1985, the industry rebounds to $3 billion by 1989.) [306.46]
- Jack Tamiel makes an offer to buy Atari from Warner Communications. [1447.95]
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- May 21
- Atari officially discontinues the Atari 5200 video game system. [15.65] [155.D3]
- Atari introduces the Atari 7800 ProSystem. It features higher resolution graphics than the Atari 5200, optional keyboard to make it a home computer, and compatibility with Atari 2600 cartridges. Price is US$149. The number 7800 represents 5200 plus 2600. [15.66] [124.D3] [1395.52] [1460.267]
- May
- Warner Communications and Jack Tramiel discuss a purchase of Atari assets, but no agreement can be reached. [156.D2]
- May 26
- In Houston, Texas, 14 top scorers from 14 regions of the US compete in the Grand National Finals of Konami's Track & Field arcade game. The top three will play in Japan in June against Japan's top three players. [18.8]
- June 8
- Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Gremlins to theaters in the USA. A small table top version of the Donkey Kong video game appears. [1035]
- June
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, Nintendo agains shows the Advanced Video System (AVS) video game system. Again, video game distributors are not interested in making any orders. [124.161]
- June 29
- Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Cannonball Run II to theaters in the USA. A man plays Pac-Man in a car, probably the Atari 2600 version. [1380]
- Warner Communications begins talks with Jack Tramiel on the sale of part of Atari. [156.D2]
- June 30
- In Tokyo, Japan, the top three Track & Field video game players from the US play against the top three Japanese players, over two days. The world champion Gold Medalist is John Britt of Riverside, California. [18.8]
- (month unknown)
- Milton Bradley discontinues manufacturing of the Vectrex. [16.84] [17.10]
- Atari releases its first 8 kB game cartridges for the Atari 2600 video game system. Titles include Stargate, Crystal Castles, Millipede, and Track & Field. [15.64]
- RDI test markets the Halcyon home video game system. It features laserdisc-based games, speech playback, and laserdisc movie playback. Price is US$2000. Game titles available: Thayer's Quest, Orpheus, Adventure in the Carribean, The Sprit of Whittier Mansion. [18.10]
- Atari drops the price of the Atari 2600 to about US$60, and the price of the Atari 5200 to US$90. [18.12]
- Atari announces plans to release a Mindlink game controller, which directs gameplay by reading electrical impulses in players' heads. [1460.268]
- Nintendo releases the Spitball Sparky SuperColor video game & Watch handheld game. It features an LCD screen with colorband overlays. Price is US$39.95. [15.65]
- Atari releases the Marble Madness arcade video game. [1039.122]
- Epoch releases the Epoch Super Cassette Vision video game system in Japan. [1091.92] [1505.432]
- British Parliament passes the Video Recordings Act, and designates the British Board of Film Censorship as the authority responsible for classifying videogames. [1201.60]
- Robert T. Mruczek in New York, USA sets new world record score in Star Wars arcade video game: 300,007,894. [1482.41]
- July 2
- Warner Communications sells off the home video game and computer systems business of Atari to Jack Tramiel for US$240 million in long-term loans. Warner has the option to purchase up to 32 percent interest in the new company for $2 per share. [27.D1] [1395.53] [1460.268] [1505.108] (July 3 [1395.15] [1447.95]) (July 6 [124.157])
- July 13
- Universal Pictures releases the film The Last Starfighter to theaters in the USA. In the film, a young man plays the Starfighter arcade video game, then travels into space to operate a real spaceship. [1145]
- (month unknown)
- Mylstar Electronics introduces the Three Stooges arcade video game. [15.10]
- October 24
- In New York City, the Electronic Games Design Awards (Arkies) are presented to top 27 computer, video, educational, standalone, and arcade games of 1984, as selected by readers of Electronic Games magazine. [368.12]
- December 19
- The youth media watchdog of the German Federal Republic adds three video games to its list of titles that could not be advertised, and sold only to adults: River Raid cartridge of Activision, Battle-Zone arcade game of Atari, and Speed Racer game for the Commodore 64. [1505.131]
- Year
- Sales of video game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: about US$900 million. [167.D23]
1985
- January 5
- At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nintendo first shows the Family Computer from Japan with label Advanced Video System. The system is demonstrated with computer keyboard, music keyboard, and 25 games. No dealers take orders for the system. [527.24] [528.29] [1460.286]
- (month unknown)
- Bally Manufacturing announces it is dropping out of the coin-operated and videogames business. [73.14]
- February 5
- Warner Communications signs an agreement with Namco for Namco to acquire a controlling interest in the Atari Coin-Operated Games division of Atari Games, for about US$10 million. [124.240] [159.D4]
- March 1
- In Chicago, Illinois, the Amusement Showcase International show is held, over three days. [104.64] [368.14]
- (month unknown)
- Twin Galaxies International announces its Achievement Award arcade video game winners for 1984. Best Video Game: Punch-Out by Nintendo; Best Laserdisc Game: Space Ace by Cinematronics; Most Innovative Game: I, Robot by Atari; Best Visual-enhanced Game: I, Robot by Atari; Best Audio-enhanced Game: Spy Hunter by Bally; Manufacturer of the Year: Atari. [104.12]
- May
- Atari pays ECC for the rights to the 7800 video game system and its ten original launch titles. [1447.95]
- May 20
- Nintendo of America counterclaims versus Universal Studios in court over Donkey Kong infringement suit of 1982. [1460.218]
- June
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois, Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It uses a 6502 processor, and generates images with 256x240 resolution in 16 colors. It includes two controllers, a Zapper light gun, and a Robotic Operating Buddy robot. Distributors show little interest in taking any orders. [12] [70] [88.8] [124.163] [317.68] [1460.288]
- (month unknown)
- Atari releases the four-player Gauntlet arcade video game. [418.28] [1201.105]
- The Amusement Machine Show is held in Japan. Sega debuts the Space Harrier arcade game. [1340.69]
- INTV releases the INTV System III video game system. [1444.231]
- July 15
- James Vollandt plays Joust for over 67 hours on one coin, (with four 20-minute breaks) a world record for any arcade video game. His record high score is 107,216,700. [778.45] [866.142]
- July
- Sega releases the Hang-On video game in arcades in the US and Japan. [785.165] [1343.35]
- July 29
- Judge Sweet orders Universal Studios to pay Nintendo of America $1.8 million in failed copyright infringement lawsuit over Donkey Kong. [1460.218]
- October 18
- Nintendo test releases the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the United States, in New York City. Special displays are set up in department, toy, and electronics stores. 50,000 of the available 100,000 units are sold by Christmas. The NES uses a 1.79MHz 6502 processor, and generates images with 256x240 resolution in 16 colors. The NES comes with the Robotic Operating Buddy and the Zapper light gun. Price is US$125. Seventeen game cartridges are available with the launch of the game system. (Total sales over the product's lifetime reach 36 million.) [70] [124.165] [429.20] [510.12] [597] [722.86] [865.127] [1192.73] [1413.45] [1447.95] [1460.xiv] [1494.77]
- October
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. (Total worldwide sales: 40.24 million, a record still held in January 2004.) [410.9] [412.24] [541.64] [871.38] [1413.49] [1494.1] (August [1159.90]) (March 1986 [1505.162])
- Nintendo releases the Baseball video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1131.68]
- Nintendo releases the 10-Yard Fight video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1157.18]
- Nintendo releases the Duck Hunt video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. The game uses the Zapper light gun controller. [1413.66]
- October 20
- Sega releases the Sega Mark III video game system in Japan. [1340.15]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Ice Climber video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [387.24]
- December 24
- During Nintendo's test-marketing of the Nintendo Entertainment System in New York, 90,000 units are sold in over 500 stores. [162.39] [1505.162]
- December
- Atari introduces the Atari 2600 Jr., a slim version of the same hardware, for $50. [1395.53] [1447.95] (1984 [1362.25])
- Sega releases the Space Harrier video game in arcades in the US. [785.165] [1340.69] [1343.35]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo's Famicom game system in Japan for the year: 6.5 million. [190.1-8]
- Sales of video game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: about US$100 million. [164.S3.6] [167.D23] [173.C3] [312.39]
1986
- January
- At the Consumer Electronics Show, Atari relaunches the Atari 7800 ProSystem game system, compatible with the Atari 2600. [1395.53] [1447.95] (1987 [190.1-12])
- February
- Nintendo of America begins an intense marketing campaign of its Nintendo Entertainment System in Los Angeles, California. [124.169] [162.39] [429.21] [611.28] [865.127] [1447.95] [1460.xiv,298] [1494.78]
- February 21
- In Japan, Nintendo releases the Disk System for the Famicom. The system is a 128-kB disk drive to run software; disks can be rewritten with new games at special vending machines. Price of the Disk System is about US$100. [124.75] (1985 [1255.19])
- Nintendo releases the Legend of Zelda video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [868.116] [1444.8] (1985 [1255.19])
- May
- To date, Nintendo has sold 500,000 Disk Systems for the Famicom. [124.75]
- May 27
- In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest video game for the Famicom. The game was written by Yuji Horii. (1.5 million copies are sold.) [298.48] (February [124.69])
- June 11
- Paramount Pictures releases the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off to theaters in the USA. Arcade game Karate Champ appears. The sound effects of Pac-Man dying can be heard. [1123]
- June
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [609.9] [1413.50]
- The first issue of Famitsu magazine is released, in Japan. [1391.250]
- (month unknown)
- The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in Scandinavia. [124.413]
- Taito releases the Bubble Bobble arcade video game in the US. [786.7]
- Nintendo of America expands sales of the Nintendo Entertainment System to Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California. [1460.299] [1494.78]
- Capcom releases the Commando video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the 1942 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom signs an agreement with Nintendo to produce games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [715.93]
- Capcom signs an agreement with The Walt Disney Company to produce Disney games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [715.92]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong 3 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.95]
- Sharp releases the Sharp Famicom Twin video game system in Japan. The unit is a combined Famicom and Disk System. [1091.94]
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros video game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. This is the first Game & Watch with horizontally scrolling levels. [1444.191]
- August 6
- Nintendo releases the Metroid video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [1444.8]
- August
- Atari Games releases the Gauntlet II game to arcades in the USA. [1491.42]
- September
- Sega releases the Out Run video game in arcades in the US. [785.165]
- Konami releases the Akumajo Dracula video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [1444.91]
- Worlds of Wonder begins nation-wide marketing of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US for Nintendo of America. Price is US$130 with 2 controllers and Super Mario Bros. video game. For US$150, the system includes the Zapper light gun and Duck Hunt video game. [164.S3.6] [429.21] [1494.78]
- (month unknown)
- Mattel begins selling the Nintendo Entertainment System in Canada. [1494.78]
- October
- Sega Enterprises introduces the Sega Master System video game system in the US. [190.1-11] [1460.xiv,303]
- November
- Capcom releases the Ghosts 'n Goblins video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93] [1413.51]
- December 31
- To date, Nintendo has sold almost two million Disk Systems for the Famicom in Japan. [124.75]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System during the year: 3 million. [1460.311] [1494.83]
- Sales of video game systems and cartridges in the US during the year: US$450-500 million. [167.D23] [173.C3] (US$100 million [1505.108])
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