Timeline of video games

Table of contents

1 2000s 1.1 2003 1.2 2002 1.3 2001 1.4 2000 2 1990s 2.5 1999 2.6 1998 2.7 1997 2.8 1996 2.9 1995 2.10 1994 2.11 1993 2.12 1992 2.13 1991 2.14 1990 3 1980s 3.15 1989 3.16 1988 3.17 1987 3.18 1986 3.19 1985 3.20 1984 3.21 1983 3.22 1982 3.23 1981 3.24 1980 4 1970s 4.25 1979 4.26 1978 4.27 1977 4.28 1976 4.29 1975 4.30 1974 4.31 1973 4.32 1972 4.33 1971 4.34 1970 5 1960s 5.35 1969 5.36 1968 5.37 1967 5.38 1966 5.39 1965 5.40 1964 5.41 1963 5.42 1962 5.43 1961 5.44 1960 6 1950s 6.45 1959 6.46 1958 7 Before The Video Game Era 7.47 1957 7.48 1956 7.49 1955 7.50 1954 7.51 1953 7.52 1952 7.53 1951 7.54 1950 7.55 1945 7.56 1940 7.57 1938 7.58 1935 7.59 1933 7.60 1932 7.61 1931 7.62 1923 7.63 1922 7.64 1918 7.65 1917 7.66 1911 7.67 1910 7.68 1891 7.69 1889 7.70 1871 7.71 1865 7.72 1860 8 pLinks 9 eLinks

2000s

Acquisitions:

Microsoft Corporation

Connectix Corp.

Take 2 Interactive

TDK Mediactive, Inc.

Bankrupt/Defunct:

3DO Company

Established/Renamed/Merged:

Atari Inc. (formerly Infogrames, Inc. a subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA)

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (formerly Square Co., Ltd. and Enix Corporation)

Events:

money.cnn.com

reports that video games are now a $10 billion dollar industry

AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)

hosts the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games

inducts Yu Suzuki of Sega to the AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

· hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Games Awards for video game publication

· hosts the 6th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies

E3 2003 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

· The 9th annual expo is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center

· The 6th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)

hosts the 5th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)

GDC (Game Developers Conference)

hosts the 3rd annual Game Developers Choice Awards

Reuters, Associated Press::

Reported in late 2003 that Nintendo Co. Ltd. brought shares from Japanese toy and animation conglomerate Bandai Co. Ltd. making Nintendo one of Bandai's top 10 shareholders.

GameSpot.com::

Reported in late 2003 in a news story, a rebuttal regarding two statements from Nintendo and Bandai execs denying a potential Nintendo takeover of Bandai. According to the story, Nintendo is working with a Japanese banking firm that has Bandai and Nintendo as their corporate clients to try to take over Bandai.

Dreamworks Studios, Tecmo::

Released a press release on October 1st, 2003 that a movie adaptation of the video game Fatal Frame has been fast-tracked. Details on the movie was released during the 2003 Tokyo Game Show, it was stated that writer/producer John Rogers has signed onto the project as its producer. It was stated that the Fatal Frame movie is a major priority for Dreamworks Studios and that Speilberg himself has a first-hand role with the project. The press release can be found here: [1]

Hardware:

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) handheld console which is an enhanced version of the Game Boy Advance.

Nokia Corporation

N-Gage multimedia handheld console. A hybrid of a handheld video game console and a mobile phone.

Lawsuits:

Wizards of the Coast, Nintendo, Pokemon U.S.A The Pokemon Company

In mid to late 2003, Wizards of the Coast filed a lawsuit against Nintendo, Pokemon U.S.A., The Pokemon Company, and other Nintendo affilates of breach of contract and other charges related to the Pokemon trading card game that WotC lost rights to create and distribute them in early 2003. It was reported that several WotC employees who were involved with the Pokemon trading card game was enticed and bribed to work with Nintendo and they disclosed secret information regarding the Pokemon trading card game to Nintendo that they signed a NDA with WotC not to disclose. WotC is claiming that Nintendo is using patented techniques and manufacturing techniques that was disclosed by the former WotC employees who joined Nintendo. The result of this lawsuit is currently pending.

Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive Software, Wal-Mart, Sony Computer Entertainment America, families of Aaron Hamel and Kimberly Bede.

In late 2003, on November 11th, 2003, it was announced in an Associated Press news article that can be found here: [1] that the families of two victims who were shot by two teenagers who stated to investigators that they took rifles out of a locked room and shot at tractor trailer rigs, similar to Grand Theft Auto 3 filed a $246 million lawsuit against Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive Software, and retailer Wal-Mart, and marketer Sony Computer Entertainment America. Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two are requesting a judge to dismiss the lawsuit stating in U.S. District Court on October 29th, 2003 that the "ideas and concepts as well as the "purported psychological effects" on the Buckners are protected by the First Amendment's free-speech clause." The lawyer of the victims dismissed that and is trying to get the lawsuit moved into a state court and taken under consideration of the Tennessee's consumer protection act. The results of this lawsuit is currently pending.

Acquisitions:

Activision

Luxoflux Corporation

Gray Matter Interactive Studios

Shaba Games LLC

Z-Axis Ltd.

Empire Interactive PLC

eJay AG (renamed eJay Entertainment GmbH)

Infogrames Entertainment SA

Eden Studios

Shiny Entertainment

Microsoft Corporation

Rare Ltd.

PCCW (Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan Co., Ltd)

Jaleco USA merges with VR1 Entertainment (renamed Jaleco Entertainment)

Sony Corporation

Aiwa Corporation

Vivendi Universal

Massive Entertainment

Bankrupt/Defunct:

Encore Software, Inc. (assets acquired by Navarre Corporation)

Established/Renamed:

.400 Software Studios

Firefly Games

Tiwak (formerly Yeti Interactive)

Events:

AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)

· hosts the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games

· inducts Will Wright of Maxis to the AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

· 5th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies

· 10 of 21 awards go to video games

· awards Ian Livingstone the BAFTA Interactive Special Award

E3 2002 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

· The 8th annual expo

· The 5th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Eidos Interactive

selects dutch model Jill De Jong as the new digitized Lara Croft character

G4 Media, LLC (subsidiary of Comcast Corporation)

launches the G4 cable television video game network channel

Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)

hosts the 4th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)

GDC (Game Developers Conference)

hosts the 2nd annual Game Developers Choice Awards

Sega Corporation

· establishes the Sega Mobile division to develop, produce, and distribute video games for cellulars and PDAs

· establishes the Sega.com Business Solutions division to service video game developers and publishers

Rockstar Games

·Moral panic involving Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Acquisitions:

Activision

Treyarch Invention LLC

PCCW (Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan Co., Ltd.)

VR1 Entertainment

Established/Renamed/Merged:

Sierra Entertainment, Inc. (formerly Sierra On-Line)

Events/News:

AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)

hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games

inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies

15 of 21 awards go to video games

E3 2001 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

· The 7th annual expo

· The 4th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)

hosts the 3rd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)

GDC (Game Developers Conference)

hosts the 1st annual Game Developers Choice Awards

Midway Games, Inc.

will no longer manufacture arcade games

Reuters

· reports that the Sega Dreamcast console has an estimated 800,000 online users playing its various online games already by midyear

· reports that Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sega are cooperating to allow online users for the Playstation 2 and Dreamcast consoles to play each other via the 1st ever cross-console network

Sony

cooperates with AOL to incorporate internet features with the Playstation 2 console; which include a browser, email, and instant messaging capabilities

Sega Corporation

· will no longer develop home consoles, in order to focus on game development

· 2nd annual Sega Dreamcast Championships (featuring the Crazy Taxi 2 video game)

· 1st place: Lindsay Gall ($15,000 & Jamaica resort trip)

· 2nd place: Michael Pirring ($10,000)

· 3rd place: Roger Mogle ($5,000)

Lawsuits:

Sega of America Inc. v. Kmart Corporation

Sega sues Kmart over an unpaid debt of over $2 million dollars

Uri Geller vs Nintendo

Uri Geller sues Nintendo over his resemblance to a Pokemon character. The suit is dismissed.

Hardware:

Game Park Inc.

GP32 (Game Park 32) wireless-multiplayer multimedia handheld console

Indrema

L600 Entertainment System multimedia home console

Microsoft Corporation

Xbox home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

GameCube home console

Game Boy Advance (GBA) backwards-compatible handheld console

Panasonic

Q multimedia console

Significant Software:

Infogrames Entertainment SA

Atari Anniversary Edition collection for the Dreamcast console and PC

Nikkei News

reports that the video game Phantasy Star Online (for Sega Dreamcast) has had 300,000 worldwide users login already by midyear

Acquisitions:

Electronic Arts Inc.

DreamWorks Interactive, LLC

Infogrames, Inc.

Hasbro Interactive, Inc. (including the Game.com division and the rights to the Atari [Corporation] label)

Paradigm Entertainment, Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Bungie Software Products Corp.

nVidia Corporation

3Dfx Interactive, Inc.

Sony Corporation

Verant Interactive, Inc.

THQ Inc.

Volition

Ubi Soft Entertainment, Inc.

Red Storm Entertainment, Inc.

Bankrupt/Defunct:

SNK

Established/Renamed:

21-6 Productions

Sega Rosso

Smilebit

Yeti Interactive

Events:

Reuters

reports that the Sony Playstation 2 console will export controls by Trade Ministry of Japan since the PS2 is sophisticated enough for military application

NPD Group, Inc.

reports that Electronic Arts ranks 1st in third-party video game publishing in the USA, ahead of Infogrames Entertainment SA

AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)

· hosts the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games

· inducts Hironobu Sakaguchi of Square Enix to the AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

· hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Awards for multimedia technologies

· 7 of 20 awards go to video games

· awards David Bowie in part for his contributions to the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul (for PC)

E3 2000 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

· The 6th annual expo

· The 3rd annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)

hosts the 2nd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)

Mattel, Inc.

sells Learning Co to Gores Technology Group

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· sells its 100,000,000th Game Boy handheld console

· spends over $80 million issuing gloves to over a 1,000,000 children after numerous reports of serious hand injuries from the controllers while playing certain stages of Mario Party (for N64)

Midway / Williams

announces to cease the Atari Games (Corp) label

Sega Corporation

· Sega.com, Inc. launches SegaNet, the 1st online console gaming network

· 1st annual Sega Dreamcast Championships (featuring the Sonic Adventure video game)

· all the internal consumer research & development divisions become individual developer companies

Hardware:

Bandai Co. Ltd.

Wonderswan Color handheld in Japan

Sega Corporation

Naomi 2 arcade console

Sony Corporation

Playstation 2 (PS2) home console

Toymax

Activision TV Games controller/console

Lawsuits:

Nintendo of America, Sega America, Electronic Arts, Inc v. Yahoo, Inc.

The lawsuit is over piracy negligence and profiting from counterfeit videogame products sold on Yahoo Auctions. The lawsuit is fully dropped in 2001 in order to cooperate against piracy.

Significant Software:

Electronic Arts Inc.

Ultima Online video game has over 150,000 online users by the end of february

Sega Corporation

ChuChu Rocket video game, the 1st online console game

NFL 2K1 video game, the 1st online console sports game

Phantasy Star Online video game, the 1st online console RPG game

Acquisitions:

Activision

Elsinore Multimedia

Expert Software

Neversoft Entertainment

Infogrames Entertainment SA

Accolade

Gremlin Interactive (renamed Infogrames Sheffield House)

GT Interactive Software (GTIS)

Ozisoft

Take 2 Interactive

TalonSoft

Established/Renamed:

3d6 Games, Inc.

7FX

7 Studios

Bam! Entertainment, Inc.

Bohemia Interactive Studio

Liquid Entertainment

Events:

AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)

· hosts the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games

· inducts Sid Meier of Firaxis to the AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Awards

Billy Mitchell

scores a perfect 3,333,360 points on the Pac-Man arcade game

E3 1999 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

· The 5th annual expo

· The 2nd annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Gama Network (a division of CMP Media LLC, owned by United Business Media)

hosts the 1st annual Independent Games Festival (IGF)

Hardware:

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Game Boy Light (GBL) handheld console in Japan only

Sega Corporation

Dreamcast internet-ready 128-bit home console

SNK

Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC) handheld

Tiger Electronics (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

Game.com Pocket Pro handheld

Lawsuits:

Nintendo vs Bung Enterprises Ltd.

Nintendo sues Bung over patent infringement

Sony Corporation v. Bleem LLC

Significant Software:

Bleem

releases the Bleem emulator for Playstation for an IBM-compatible PC

Connectix Corporation

releases the Virtual Game Station emulator for Playstation for a Macintosh

Acquisitions:

Activision

CD Contact Data

Head Game Publishing

Eidos Interactive

Crystal Dynamics

Electronic Arts Inc.

Virgin Studio

Westwood Studios, Inc.

Hasbro, Inc.

Atari Corporation (acq. from JTS Corp.)

Microprose

Tiger Electronics

Bankrupt/Defunct:

JTS Corp (Atari Corporation)

Established/Renamed:

BreakAway Games, Ltd.

Elixir Studios Ltd.

Lego Media (est. by Lego Group)

Metro3D, Inc.

Rockstar Games

WildTangent, Inc.

Events:

AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences)

hosts the 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for video games

inducts Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo to the AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Interactive Awards

E3 1998 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

The 4th annual expo

The 1st annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Game One channel (subsidiary of Canalplus)

Infogrames Entertainment SA and Canal+ launch the Game One television channel

Hardware:

Bandai Co. Ltd

Wonderswan handheld in Japan

Majesco Sales Inc.

Genesis 3 home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Game Boy Color (GBC) handheld console

Camera & Printer accessories for the Game Boy handheld console

Sega Corporation

Naomi arcade console

Dreamcast home console

SNK

Neo Geo Pocket (NGP) handheld

Significant Software:

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Pokemon video game (for Game Boy)

Acquisitions:

Activision <<< CentreSoft Ltd. (+) Raven Software

Electronic Arts Inc. <<< Maxis

Bankrupt/Defunct:

Gametek

Established/Renamed/Merged:

2015 Inc.

4D Rulers Software, Inc.

4HEAD Studios

Bungie Studios West (by Bungie Software Products Corp.)

Conspiracy Entertainment Corporation

Crave Entertainment, Inc.

Human Head Studios, Inc

Illusion Softworks, a.s.

Irem Software Engineering Inc.

Irrational Games LLC

Mythic Entertainment (formerly Interworld Productions)

THQ (formerly Toy Head-Quarters, Inc)

Warthog PLC

Events:

E3 1997 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) the 3rd annual expo

Gunpei Yokoi (1941-1997) dies after a double car accident

Hardware:

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

NES 2 compact home console (+) SNES 2 compact home console

Sony Corporation

Playstation development software for PC

Tiger Electronics

Game.com

Lawsuits:

Nintendo v. Games City

Nintendo sues Games City for selling the Game Doctor and Doctor V64 backup devices for the SNES and N64 consoles. Nintendo wins the suit.

Nintendo v. Prima Publishing

Nintendo sues Prima over copyrights to map of the N64 video game GoldenEye 007. Nintendo loses the suit

Acquisitions:

Blizzard Entertainment (division of Vivendi Universal Games)

Blizzard North

Eidos

Core Design

Infogrames Entertainment SA

Ocean Software Ltd.

Midway Games, Inc. (subsidiary of WMS Industries, formerly known as Williams Electronics)

Atari Games Corp from Warner Communications Inc. (AOL Time Warner in 2000)

Bankrupt/Defunct:

Technos Japan Corporation, originator of the Nekketsu Kouha Kunio Kun series and Double Dragon series (assets acquired by Atlus Corporation)

Established/Renamed/Merged:

Atari Corporation merges with JTS Corp

Black Isle Studios (a division by Interplay)

Game Park Inc.

Microprose Inc. (formerly Spectrum Holobyte)

Overworks, Ltd.

Red Storm Entertainment, Inc.

Zed Two Limited

Events:

DigiPen Institute of Technology

receives accreditation and is the first school in north america to offer college degrees in video game development, with support from Nintendo

E3 1996 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

The 2nd annual expo

Gunpei Yokoi

ends his own employment at Nintendo

Hardware:

Bandai Co. Ltd.

Tamagotchi virtual pet handheld

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Nintendo 64 (N64) 64-bit console

Game Boy Pocket (GBP) handheld console (30% smaller version of the previous Game Boy handheld console)

Sega Corporation

Net Link modem for the Sega Saturn home console

SNK

Neo Geo CDZ in Japan only

Namco

Alpine Racer arcade game, including a new type of user interface

Lawsuits:

Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Computer & Entertainment, Inc.

Significant Software:

Sony Corporation

Crash Bandicoot video game

Tomb Raider video game (released for the Sega Saturn console)

Established/Renamed/Merged:

Frog City Software, Inc.

Interworld Productions

Talonsoft

Events:

E3 1995 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

The 1st annual expo

Hardware:

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Game Boy Play-It-Loud (GBPIL) color/clear versions of Game Boy

Virtual Boy (by Gunpei Yokoi) 32-bit console

Satellaview BS-X accessory for the Famicom console in Japan only

Sega Corporation

Sega Saturn home console

Lawsuits:

Nintendo vs Samsung Electronics

Nintendo sues Samsung for promoting software piracy. The suit is settled.

Nintendo of America, Inc. v. NTDEC

Aiwa

· releases the CSD-GLM Mega Drive multimedia home console in Japan only

Apogee

· establishes the 3D Realms Entertainment division

Bandai Co. Ltd.

· releases the Playdia multimedia home console

Blizzard Entertainment (division of Vivendi Universal Games)

· is renamed from Silicon & Synapse

ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board)

· is established by the ESA (Entertainment Software Association, formerly IDSA, Interactive Digital Software Association)

NEC

· releases the PC-FX multimedia home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Super Game Boy adapter for the SNES home console

· releases the Donkey Kong Country video game

· Alpex Computer Corp. vs Nintendo lawsuit: Alpex sues Nintendo over patent infringements. Nintendo loses the case.

· Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Dragon Pacific Intern

Sega Corporation

· introduces the cable tv Sega Channel in cooperation with Time Warner (AOL Time Warner); The subscription service provides Genesis games via cable box to customers

· releases the 32X adapter for the Genesis home console

· releases the Nomad handheld console

· releases the Sega Saturn home console

· releases the Daytona USA arcade game

SNK

· releases the Neo Geo CD home console

Sony Corporation

· releases the Playstation (PS) home console

William Higinbotham (1910-1994)

· The inventor of the video game dies at 84

new companies:

·

defunct companies:

· Commodore

Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Jaguar home console

Broderbund

· releases the Myst video game

Commodore

· releases the Amiga CD32 multimedia home console

Hollenshead

· releases the Doom video game

Magnavox

· is acquired by the Carlyle Group

Microprose Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment, in 2000)

· is acquired by the Spectrum Holobyte

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Star Fox video game (the 1st game to use the Super FX Chip)

Panasonic

· releases the 3DO home console

Pioneer

· releases the Laseractive multimedia home console

Sega Corporation

· releases the Virtua Fighter (by Yu Suzuki) arcade game, which is later displayed at the Smithsonian Institution

· releases the Night Trap video game for the Sega CD console

Tandy

· releases the Video Information System (VIS) multimedia internet home console

new companies:

· nVidia Corporation, 3DO Company, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., Croteam Ltd.

defunct companies:

·

Atari Games Corp.

· Atari Games Corp. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.

JVC

· releases the Wondermega console

Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

· releases the Mortal Kombat arcade game

Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)

· releases the CD-I multimedia home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.

Sega Corporation

· releases the Sega CD home console

· releases the Virtua Racing arcade game

· releases the Game Gear handheld console

Taito Corporation

· creates the Wowow home console (unreleased)

TTI (Turbo Technologies Inc.)

· releases the Turboduo home console

new companies:

· Wow Entertainment Inc. (AM1)

defunct companies:

·

Fujitsu

· releases the FM Towns Marty home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· New York State vs Nintendo lawsuit: the state attorney general sues Nintendo over the monopoly of the video game industry. Nintendo loses the suit and offers customers a $5 rebate on Nintendo games

Sega

· releases the Sonic The Hedgehog (by Yuji Naka) video game

new companies:

· Vicarious Visions, Inc, id Software, Bungie Software, Silicon & Synapse

defunct companies:

·

Camerica

· releases the Game Genie adapter in Canada (1991 in the USA)

NEC

· releases the TurboExpress handheld console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Super Mario 3 video game

· releases the SNES (Super Nintendo/Super Famicom) 16-bit console

· Nintendo vs Color Dreams lawsuit: Nintendo sues Color Dreams over unlicensed production of Nintendo video games

SNK

· releases the Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES) home console

Sega

· releases the R-360 arcade game, the first 3D - 360° gameplay

THQ Inc.

· Toy Head-Quarters merges with Trinity Acquisition Corporation

new companies:

· Eidos Interactive, Team17 Software Limited, Natsume Inc.

defunct companies:

·

1989

Acquisitions:

Hasbro, Inc.

Coleco Industries, Inc.

Established/Renamed/Merged:

Trinity Acquisition Corporation

Hardware:

Atari Inc. (subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

Lynx handheld console

Mattel, Inc.

Power Glove controller for the NES home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

Game Boy (GB) (by Gunpei Yokoi) handheld console

Sega Corporation

Genesis home console

Lawsuits:

Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen

Nintendo sues Tengen over the Tetris video game copyrights. Tengen loses and recalls all its Tetris games.

Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen

Nintendo sues Tengen over production of unlicensed Nintendo games. Nintendo loses

Nintendo v. Camerica Ltd.

Nintendo sues Camerica over patent violations of the Game Genie for the NES console. Camerica wins the suit.

Significant Software:

Maxis

releases SimCity

Tengen

releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game

Activision

· is renamed to Mediagenic

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Nintendo Power magazine

· Nintendo vs Camerica Ltd. lawsuit: Nintendo sues Camerica over the clone production of an Advantage joystick controller for the NES console

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari Games Corp (owned by Midway / Williams, in 1996) establishes the Tengen division

new companies:

· KOEI Co., Ltd., Visual Concepts

defunct companies:

· Coleco Industries Inc.

Activision

· acquires Infocom

Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the XE Game System (XEGS) home console

Electronic Arts Inc.

· acquires Batteries Included

Konami Corporation

· releases the Castlevania video game

NEC

· releases the Turbografx-16 console

Taito Corporation

· releases the Double Dragon arcade game

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· Nintendo of America, Inc. vs Blockbuster Entertainment lawsuit: Nintendo sues Blockbuster for photocopying complete NES manuals for its rental games. Nintendo wins the suit, and Blockbuster includes original manuals with its rentals.

· Nintendo of America, Inc. vs Blockbuster Entertainment lawsuit:

new companies:

· Acclaim Entertainment, Inc., Maxis, Gametek Inc., Apogee Software, Ltd., Empire Interactive PLC

defunct companies:

·

Activision

· acquires Gamestar Software

Atari Corporation (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Atari 7800 backwards-compatible home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Metroid video game

· releases the Famicom Disk Drive System home console in Japan only

· releases the Legend Of Zelda (by Shigeru Miyamoto) video game

Sega Corporation

· releases the Sega Master System (SMS) home console

· releases the Outrun arcade game

Sharp

· releases the Twin Famicom home console

Sinclair Research Ltd.

· is acquired by the British Government

Taito Corporation

· releases the Bubble Bobble arcade game

· releases the Arkanoid arcade game

new companies:

· :Majesco Sales Inc., Ubi Soft Entertainment, Inc., Bethesda Softworks Inc.

defunct companies:

·

Alex Pajitnov

· creates the Tetris video game

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Gauntlet arcade game (by Ed Logg)

Commodore

· releases the Amiga 1000 home computer

INTV Corp.

· releases the INTV III home console

Namco

· creates the Xevious arcade game

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Super Mario Bros video game

· releases the Robotic Operating Buddy (ROB) robot and video game for the NES home console

Sears (Tele-Games)

· releases the Dina home console

new companies:

· Titus Interactive, Westwood Studios, Inc.

defunct companies:

· RDI Systems

Square Enix

· Square Co. Ltd. is established

Activision

· releases the Pitfall video game (by David Crane)

Hasbro, Inc.

· acquires Milton Bradley Company

Milton Bradley Company

· distributes the Vectrex home console

RDI Systems

· releases the Halcyon laser-disc home console

· releases the Thayer's Quest arcade game

Sega Corporation

· Sega Enterprises and CSK merge to form Sega Enterprises Ltd.

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· sells Atari, Inc. (to be renamed Atari Corporation)

· creates an entirely new division Atari Games Corp

new companies:

· Kemco

defunct companies:

· Astrocade Inc.

Acornsoft

· releases the Elite video game

Bally/Midway

· releases the Spy Hunter arcade game

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Colecovision home console

· releases the Adam home console/computer

Commodore

· releases the Commodore 64 (C-64) home computer

Electronic Arts

· releases the One-On-One arcade game

Gottlieb

· releases the Mad Planets arcade game

Magicom (formerly Starcom)

· creates the Space Ace laser-disc arcade game (Cinematronics manufactures & markets it)

Mattel, Inc.

· releases the Aquarius home console

· releases the Intellivision II home console

Mystique

· releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Famicom (NES) home console in Japan (1985 in the US)

· MCA vs Nintendo lawsuit: MCA sues Nintendo over the title resemblance of the Donkey Kong video game to the King Kong movie. MCA loses the case

Starcade

· the video game tv game show

Starcom (later Magicom)

· creates the Dragon's Lair laser-disc arcade game (Cinematronics manufactures & markets it)

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Star Wars arcade game

· Atari, Inc. v. Coleco

Williams Electronics

· releases the Blaster arcade game

new companies:

· Infogrames Entertainment SA, Interplay Entertainment Corp., Navarre Corporation, AM2, Origin Systems, Inc.

defunct companies:

· (Video game crash of 1983: Console and home video game sales plummet)

Acorn

· releases the BBC Micro home computer, which brought the game Elite to prominence

Astrocade Inc. (formerly Astrovision)

· releases the Astrocade console

Bally/Midway

· releases the Tron arcade game before the movie

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Gemini home console

Commodore

· releases the VIC-20 home computer

Emerson

· releases the Arcadia 2001 home console

Entrex

· releases the Adventure Vision home console

GCE (General Consumer Electronics)

· releases the Vectrex home console

Gottlieb

· releases the Q-Bert arcade game

Milton Bradley Company

· releases the Microvision home console

Namco

· releases the Pole Position racing arcade game

· releases the Dig Dug arcade game (licenses it to Atari)

Sega Corporation

· releases the Zaxxon arcade game

Sinclair Research

· releases the ZX Spectrum home computer, at the time the most common gaming computer in the UK

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Quantum arcade game

· releases the Atari 5200 home console

Williams Electronics

· releases the Joust arcade game

· releases the Robotron: 2084 arcade game

new companies:

· Electronic Arts Inc., Lucasfilm Games, MicroProse Software, Inc.

defunct companies:

·

Astrovision Inc.

· distributes the Bally Computer System after buying the rights from Bally/Midway

Bally/Midway

· releases the Gorf arcade game

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Total Control 4 home console

Konami Corporation

· creates the Frogger video game

Namco

· releases the Galaga arcade game

Nelsonic

· releases the Space Attacker watch LCD game

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Donkey Kong arcade game (by Shigeru Miyamoto)

Sega Corporation

· test markets the SG-1000 home console

Sinclair Research

· releases the ZX81 home computer (the first widely available 'domestic' computer to play games in the UK)

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Centipede arcade game (by Ed Logg & Dona Bailey)

· releases the Warlords arcade game

· releases the Tempest color vector arcade game

Williams Electronics

· releases the Stargate arcade game

new companies:

·

defunct companies:

· APF Electronics Inc.

Apple

· releases the Akalabeth video game (for the Apple Iie computer)

Namco

· releases the Pac-Man arcade game (by Toru Iwatani)

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Radarscope arcade game

· releases the Game & Watch handheld LCD game (by Gunpei Yokoi)

Sinclair Research

· releases the ZX80 home computer (the first 'domestic' computer to play games in the UK)

Stern Electronics (a subsidiary of Universal Research Laboratories)

· releases the Berzerk arcade game

Texas Instruments

· releases the TI-99/4 home console

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari, Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Missile Command arcade game

· releases the Battlezone arcade game (it is later enhanced for the US Army for military training)

Williams Electronics

· releases the Defender arcade game

new companies:

· Mindscape, Inc., Sierra On-line

defunct companies:

·

Bally

· releases the Videocade & Computer System home console

Cinematronics

· releases the Warrior arcade game

Mattel, Inc.

· releases the Intellivision console

Milton Bradley Company

· releases the Microvision handheld

Sega Corporation

· releases the Monaco GP arcade game

Texas Instruments

· releases the Gamevision home console

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· creates the Cosmos handheld (unreleased)

· releases the Adventure arcade game

· releases the Lunar Lander arcade game

· releases the Asteroids arcade game (by Ed Logg & Lyle Rains)

new companies:

· Activision, Capcom Inc., Infocom, Strategic Simulations, Inc

APF Electronics Inc.

· releases the MP-1000 home console

Bally/Midway

· releases the Bally Professional Arcade home console

Cinematronics

· releases the Space Wars vector arcade game

Entreprex

· releases the Apollo 2001 home console

Konami Corporation

· releases the Block Game arcade game

Magnavox

· releases the Odyssey 2 (G7000 Videopac) home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Color TV Game 15 home console

· releases the Computer Othello arcade game

Taito Corporation

· releases the Space Invaders arcade game

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari Inc. (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· introduces the trackball controller on the arcade game Football

· releases the Pinball Game System home console

new companies:

· SNK

Bally/Midway

· releases the Bally Home Library Computer home console

Namco

· is renamed from Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Color TV Game 4 home console

· releases the Color TV Game 6 home console

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· Atari, Inc. releases the Atari 2600 home console (originally named Video Computer System VCS)

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Telstar home console

Exidy

· releases the controversial Death Race arcade game

Fairchild Camera & Instrument Corp.

· releases the Video Entertainment System (Channel F) home cartridge console

Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

· releases the Sea Wolf arcade game

Radolfin

· releases the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System home console

RCA

· releases the Studio II home console

Warner Communications Inc. (owned by AOL Time Warner, in 2000)

· acquires Atari

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Pong home console

Magnavox

· releases the Odyssey 4000 home console

Microsoft Corporation

· is established

Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

· releases the Gunfight arcade game, the 1st to use a microprocessor

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Gran Trak arcade racing game featuring a steering wheel

Exidy company

· is established

Kee Games

· releases the Tank arcade game

Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)

· acquires Magnavox (Philips Consumer Electronics)

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Got'Cha arcade game

Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

· releases the Winner arcade game

Williams Electronics

· releases the Paddle-Ball arcade game

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· company is established

· releases the Pong arcade game (by Al Alcorn)

Hunt The Wumpus video game

· is developed by Gregory Yob while at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Magnavox

· releases the Odyssey home console

Namco

· is renamed from Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.

Magnavox

· signs a preliminary license agreement with Sanders Associates

Nutting Associates

· introduces the 1st ever arcade game Computer Space

Oregon Trail video game

· is in development by Don Rawitsch

RCA

· cancels a license agreement with Sanders Associates

Konami Corporation

· is established

Ralph Baer

· patents A Television Gaming Apparatus and Method

Sanders Associates

· funds Ralph Baer to develop an interactive television game; He develops the primative video game 'Chase' in 2 months time.

Sega Corporation

· Rosen Enterprises, Inc. merges with Sega

1963

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· is renamed from Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd.

Panasonic

· is established by Matsushita Co.

Spacewar video game

· is presented at the MIT Science Open House

Spacewar video game

· The second ever video game is invented by Steve Russell, with assistance from Peter Samson, Dan Edwards, Alan Kotok, & J. Graetz

Sega Corporation

· is incorporated

Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

· is established

Tennis For Two video game

· is exhibited for visitors to the Brookhaven National Laboratories, for its second and last season before its dismantling.

William Higinbotham & Robert Dvorak

· develop in 3 weeks an unpatented video game called Tennis For Two on an analog computer connected to an oscilloscope as a screen, at the Brookhaven National Laboratories in New York. The game is exhibited for visitors to play with using 2 bulky controllers each equipped with a knob for trajectory and a button for firing the ball over the net.

Before The Video Game Era

1957

1956

1955

Namco

· is established as Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.

Sega Corporation

· Rosen Enterprises, Inc. is established

Taito Corporation

· is established

Sega Corporation

· is renamed from Standard Games to Service Games Of Japan

1951

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· changes Marufuku Co. Ltd. to Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd.

Ralph Baer

· The future founder of the video game industry, first conceives the idea of an interactive television while employed by Loral Electronics in Bronx, New York.

Sega Corporation

· moves from Honolulu to Tokyo

Bandai Co., Ltd.

· is established in Tokyo

1945

Mattel, Inc.

· is established

Sega Corporation

· is established as Standard Games

Ralph Baer

· The future founder of the video game industry moves to the USA.

TDK Corporation

· is established

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· is established as Yamauchi Nintendo & Co.

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· is established as the Connecticut Leather Company

Bally Corporation

· is established

Lego Group ("leg godt" ~ "play well")

· The future parent of the Lego Interactive division is established in Billund, Denmark

D. Gottlieb & Co.

· is established

Hasbro, Inc.

· is established as Hassenfeld Brothers in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ralph Baer

· the future founder of the video game industry (& the handheld electronic game Simon) is born in Germany.

Panasonic

· parent company is established as Matsushita Electric Devices Manufacturing Works

Magnavox

· is renamed from the Commercial Wireless & Development Company

Magnavox

· is established as the Commercial Wireless & Development Company

Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)

· is established

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· Fusajiro Yamauchi establishes the foundation of the future company in Japan

Nokia Corporation

· is renamed to Nokia Ab

Nokia Corporation

· is established in Tampere, Finland.

Milton Bradley Company

· is established in Springfield, Massachusetts.

1983 Video Game Crash

AIAS Hall Of Fame

BAFTA Interactive Awards

Independent Games Festival

Game Developers Choice Awards

AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards

Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3

Tennis For Two (1958) The First Video Game (requires Realplayer) U.S. Department Of Energy Website

Video Game Time Line Project Video Game Settings

Video Game Music Archive

Video Game Museum Game Screenshots & Platform Specs

Game Market Watch Video Game News

Computer Games Magazine Video Game News

ESRB Entertainment Software Rating Board

AIAS Hall of Fame

Game Critics Awards

Independent Games Festival

Game Developers Choice Awards

AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards