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.

2004 July 15 Microsoft announces that Xbox Live has reached one million subscribers. [597] [645.57] July In Japan, Sony announces two new revamped models of the PSX video game and entertainment system. Price is the same as the original release. [645.57] Electronic Arts acquires Criterion Studios of England. [645.57] [780.62] (April [597]) July 21 The United Kingdom's high court rules that modified PlayStation 2 chips that circumvent copy protection violate Sony's intellectual property rights. The court rules that the individual selling the chips violated the European Union Copyright Directive. [597] July 27 Nokia releases the N-Gage QD handheld video game system in the US. It features bottom-mounted slot for MMC game cards, 1.6 x 1.9 inch 176x208 resolution color screen, 8-way game pad, Bluetooth connectivity, 104 MHz ARM processor, Symbian 6.0 operating system, no MP3 player, no radio, no USB port. Weight is 5 ounces; size is 4.7 x 2.7 x 0.9 inches; price is US$199. [557.22,28] [589.11] [597] [657.42] July (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: NCAA Football 2005 for the PlayStation 2. [598.32] [611.160] [746.148] Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Final Fantasy I & II Advance for the Game Boy Advance. [746.148] (month unknown) The one-millionth N-Gage video game system is sold. [603.C8] Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, launches a college devoted to video games, called Guildhall. [661.40] August THQ signs a multi-year multi-game deal with Pixar, to create titles based on the studio's upcoming films. [645.60] The Tokyo Game Show is held in Japan. Sony debuts a playable demo of the PlsyStation Portable handheld video game system. Sony shows a new smaller PlayStation 2 system with built-in broadband and 56K modem. The new system is one-third as thick as the current system, but excludes hard drive support and has no iLink port. [619.25] [645.60] [667.32] August 17 Sega releases the Astro Boy: Omega Factor video game for the Game Boy Advance in the USA. [569.C9] [570.34] [606.11] [645.72] [1149.62] August 18 Nintendo drops the price of the GameCube in Canada to CDN$139, including Metroid Prime. [571.C7] August 24 At the Hot Chips conference in California, Sony reveals some details of the processor used in the PlayStation Portable. It features 333 MHz speed, integrated graphics, 4 MB integrated memory, power consumption of 0.8-1.2 volts, based on MIPS R4000 chip design. [597] August 27 After 17 years in business, Acclaim Entertainment shuts down operations due to inability to secure financing. [667.38] August 30 Acclaim Entertainment files for Chapter 7 final bankuptcy, with debt over US$100 million. [604.B3] [614.36] [645.60] [667.38] (September [597]) August (month) Top selling video game in the US during the month: Madden NFL 2005 for the PlayStation 2. [611.160] [614.38] [669.120] (month unknown) At the Venice International Film Festival in Italy, Square Enix unveils the film Final Fantasy VII: Avent Children Special Edition. [614.27] Messiah Entertainment releases the Wireless NES Controllers for the Nintendo Entertainment System (and Wireless SNES Controllers for Super NES). The controller has a range of 30 feet, and can operate about 40 hours on AAA batteries. A single controller costs US$29.99. A limited edition set with two controllers, other goodies, and a metal "lunchbox" costs US$49.99. [667.50] Total shipments of all Game Boy systems to date worldwide: 170 million. [597] [660.30] September 1 Nokia announces it has shipped 1 million N-Game video game systems worldwide to date. [597] Nintendo drops the price of the Game Boy Advance SP in the US from US$99.99 to US$79.99. [597] [663.36] September 9 Nintendo releases the Pokémon Leaf Green and Pokémon Fire Red video games for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [562.40] [570.27] [572.94] [581.100] [590.22] [598.113] [645.126] [746.146] [1149.64] September 10 Screen Gems releases the film Resident Evil: Apocalypse in the USA. The film is based on the Resident Evil video game series, and contains references to several of the Resident Evil (Biohazard) games. [572.101] [598.36] [828.24] [902] September 14 Microsoft releases the Fable video game for the Xbox in the US. [570.27] [598.36] [645.73] [746.138] September 24 The Cartoon Network airs the TV show Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends in the USA. A Nintendo GameCube appears. [933] September (month) Top selling video game in the US for the month: Fable for the Xbox. [619.34] [669.120] (month unknown) Quote by Reginald Fils-Aime of Nintendo: "In the next 15 years just like the last 15, handheld gaming will be known by one name: Nintendo.". [619.32] Nintendo releases the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Bonus Set, with Nintendo GameCube, one controller, US$5 certificate to spend on another game, for US$99.99. [621.22] October 4 Midway releases the Mortal Kombat: Deception video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the US. [614.42] [645.75] [662.53] [730.162] [746.48,120] October 6 At the Bill Graham Auditorium in San Francisco, California, the World Cyber Games 2004 Grand Final championship games are held, over five days. 30,000 spectators watch about 700 gamers in teams from 59 countries compete. The Netherlands team wins the most points. The Korean team wins the most medals. [601.87] [645.62] [661.50a,113] [669.24] [1031.67 October 12 Nintendo releases the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door video game for the GameCube in the US. [562.36] [570.27] [598.113] [614.42] [667.160] [746.48] [871.38] October 13 Video game Halo 2 is illegally released to the Internet prior to official release, in PAL format with French text. [597] [669.22] October 15 Microsoft announces an Xbox bundle to be available October 31 in the US. The standard US$150 Xbox package will now include NCAA Football 2005 and Top Spin video games, and a two-month subscription to Xbox Live. [597] [664.52] October Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification bans the game Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude from being sold in the country. [620.34] [645.62] Sammy and Sega merge as Sega-Sammy Holdings. [565] Video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is illegally released to the Internet prior to official release. [669.22] October 26 Rockstar Games releases the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game for the Playstation 2 in the US and the United Kingdom. (677,000 are sold in the UK on the first day, setting a UK record. Worldwide sales in the first week are about 4.5 million copies. Total lifetime sales on PlayStation 2 and Xbox: 14 million.) [547.22] [553.26] [557.53] [570.27] [602.22] [614.42] [619.17] [645.62,78] [659.24] [662.53] [669.32] [670.24] [746.48,102] Tecmo releases the Dead or Alive Ultimate video game for the Xbox in the US. [573.30] [606.11] [645.75] [730.162] [746.48,92] October 27 Sony Computer Entertainment annouces the release date of the PlayStation Portable in Japan: December 12, for 19800 yen (about US$185), with 21 game titles available. [597] October 29 Take-Two Interactive Software releases the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game for the PlayStation 2 in the United Kingdom. First day sales: 501,000, a record. [1114] [1201.10] [1235] (month unknown) Electronic Gaming Monthly presents a list of the ten most important video games since the magazine started in 1989. Number 1 is Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [664.48] Nintendo releases a GameCube bundle in the US with Mario Kart: Double Dash!! video game for US$100. [664.53] November 1 Sony begins selling a smaller version of the PlayStation 2 video game system in the United States and Europe. Model SCPH-70000CB is 2.8 cm thick, includes a network adapter and DVD remote, but excludes hard drive support. Price in the United States is US$149.99. [597] [611.26] [619.26] [663.36,54] [667] November 2 Sony releases the Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US and Canada. [618.16] [619.44] [645.78] [667.54,150] November 3 Nintendo begins taking orders for the Nintendo DS on Internet shopping sites. After receiving two million orders during the day, most sites are closed to taking any further orders. [597] November 8 Nintendo releases the Mario Tennis video game for the GameCube in the US [619.44] [667.54] [871.38] November 9 Microsoft releases the Halo 2 video game for the Xbox in the US. Price is US$50 for standard version or US$55 for a deluxe edition. First day sales total 2.4 million units in North America, for US$125 million revenue. (3.3 million copies are sold in the first month.) [565.48] [578.34] [587.C8] [597] [598.113] [602.22] [619.38,44] [645.78] [654.11] [662.53] [667.54] [670.24] [697.125] [1114] [1227.51] Sony releases the Jak 3 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US and Canada. [618.16] [619.44] [645.79] [667.54,153] November 15 Nintendo releases the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes video game for the GameCube in the US. [562.36] [571.C7] [602.22] [614.39] [619.44] [645.79] [667.54] [779.25] November 16 Atari releases the Atari Anthology video game collection for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It includes 85 classic Atari arcade and 2600 games: Asteroids, Centipede, Tempest, Missile Command, Breakout, Yars' Revenge. [619.44] [663.78] [667.54] [698.86] November 17 Konami releases the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [602.22] [619.38,44] [662.53] [667.54] November 21 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A bowling alley has two arcade video games: Time Waster and Pong 85. [1046] Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS handheld video game system in the US and Canada. It features 3-inch diagonal screens, stereo speakers, microphone, IEEE 802.11 wireless communications with range about 30 feet. It includes built-in software PictoChat and a demo of Metroid Prime: Hunters. Size is 5.85 x 3.33 x 1.13 inches. Price in the US is US$149.99; price in Canada is CDN$199. This is the first Nintendo system to debut outside Japan. Eight launch titles are available. (500,000 units are sold in the first week; 1.2 million in the first month.) [597] [604.B3] [611.26] [616.C13] [617] [619.18] [620.77] [622.D8] [635.4] [645.63] [663.42] [666.77] [669.46] [673.24] [674.53] [962.20] [1116.46] The video game Spider-Man 2 is released for the Nintendo DS in the US. [617] [670.84] Nintendo releases the video game Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt for the Nintendo DS in the US. [670.84] The video game Madden NFL 2005 is released for the Nintendo DS in the US. [670.84] The video game Asphalt Urban GT is released for the Nintendo DS in the US. [670.82] The video game Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits is released for the Nintendo DS in the US. [670.82] The video game Ridge Racer DS is released for the Nintendo DS in the US. [670.82] The video game Feel the Magic: XY/XX is released for the Nintendo DS in the US. [617] [670.81] Nintendo releases the Super Mario 64 DS video game for the Nintendo DS in the US. [617] [645.126] [670.81] November 23 The American National Institute on Media and the Family releases its 9th MediaWise Video Game Report Card on the video-game industry's self-policing policies: ESRB Ratings Accuracy B-, Ratings Education C-, Retailers' Policy and Employee Training B, Retailers' Enforcement D, Screen time related to overweight F. [673] November 27 The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. A building with a sign "VIDEO GAMES / ARCADE" is destroyed by spaceship blasts. [867] Total sales of the Nintendo Game Boy Advance (including SP) during Thanksgiving week in the US: 800,000. [673.24] November 30 Square Enix releases the Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [645.80] [667.82] November (month) Top selling video game in the USA during the month: Halo 2 for the Xbox. [645] [671.108] Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Dragon Quest VIII for the PlayStation 2. [645] (month unknown) South Korea bans the game Ghost Recon 2 due to depiction of USA/North Korea conflict. [645.63] In San Francisco, California, the Metreon entertainment center unveils the first six inductees in the Walk of Game. Lifetime Achievement awards are given to Nolan Bushnell and Shigeru Miyamoto. Inductees in the Games/Characters category are Halo, Link, Mario, and Sonic the Hedgehog. [672.12] [673] [952.38] Electronic Gaming Monthly presents a list of the ten best video game machines since 1989. Number 1 is the Nintendo Entertainment System. [665.62] Total shipments of the PlayStation 2 worldwide to date: 80 million. [666.36] Atari releases the Atari Flashback Classic Game Console in the US. It includes two controllers and 20 built-in games previously released for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 systems. [667.47] [671.24] [685.53] England awards Peter Molyneux with Officer rank in the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the game industry. [666.74] Electronic Gaming Monthly presents a list of the ten best multiplayer video games since 1989. Number 1 is the Street Fighter II series. [666.77] December 2 Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS handheld video game system in Japan. (500,000 units are sold in the first four days.) [619.27] [620.79] [622.D8] [645.63] December 6 Auction sales begin for final assets of Acclaim Entertainment. [597] Nintendo releases the Mario Party 6 video game for the GameCube in the US. [645.117] [871.38] December 7 Nvidia announces it is making the graphics processor for Sony's next PlayStation video game system. The two companies have been working for two years to develop a graphics processor based on Sony technology and Nvidia's GeForce architecture. [597] [645.63] [654.7] December 12 Sony Computer Entertainment releases the PlayStation Portable in Japan. It features Memory Stick port, USB port, UMD drive, 4.3-inch 16:9 ratio 480x272 pixel display, Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, headphone jack, speaker. Batteries power the unit for about four hours. Price is 19800 yen (about US$185). (200,000 units sell out quickly.) [573.24] [620.76] [645.18] [664] [666.32] [669.52] [730.28] [1201.9] December 14 Spike TV holds its annual video game awards in California. Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Best Action Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Best Soundtrack: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Best Performance by a Human Male: Samuel L. Jackson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Best First-Person Action Game: Halo 2. Designer of the Year: Jason Jones and Bungie Studios (Halo 2). Best Performance by a Human Female: Brooke Burke in Need for Speed Underground 2. Best Driving Game: Burnout 3: Takedown. Best Song: "American Idiot" by Green Day in Madden NFL 2005. Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat: Deception. Hottest Video CyberVixen: Blood Rayne in Blood Rayne 2. Best Game Based on a Movie: The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. Best Sports Game: Madden NFL 2005. Best Military Game: Call of Duty: Finest Hour. Best New Technology: Nintendo DS. Best RPG: Fable. [622.D8] [663.76] December EA Sports concludes a contract with NFL and the Players Inc. players' association for exclusive rights to use teams, stadiums, and players in its video games for five years. The contract covers handheld and desktop computers, and video game systems. [645.20] [671.20] December 31 Total unit sales of the Final Fantasy game series to date: Japan 28.8 million, USA 18.2 million, Europe 8.7 million. [696.22] December (month) Top selling video game in the US during the month: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PlayStation 2. [682.56] [671.108] October-December Total sales of video games (hardware, software, accessories) in the USA during September to December: US$1.86 billion. [597] Year Total spending on video game in-game advertising for the year: US$34 million. [1036.27] Top selling video game in the US for the year: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PlayStation 2. [597] [682.62] [671.108] Total shipments of video game titles in the US during the year: 203 million. [692.12] Total hardware and software video game sales in the US during the year: US$9.9 billion. [597] [682.62] Total software video game sales in the US during the year: US$6.2 billion. [597] Market share of sales of videogame systems in the USA for the year: Sony 43 percent, Microsoft 19 percent, Nintendo 14 percent. [597]