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Timeline of video games
2000s 2003 Acquisitions: Microsoft Corporation Connectix Corp. 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 Hardware: Nintendo Co. Ltd. Game Boy Advance SP (GBASP) handheld console Nokia Corporation N-Gage multimedia handheld console 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. The result of this lawsuit is currently pending. 2002 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) 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 2001 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 2000 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 1990s 1999 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 1998 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) 1997 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 1996 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) 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) 1995 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 1994 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 1993 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: ⋅ 1992 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 Corp. ⋅ creates the Wowow home console (unreleased) TTI (Turbo Technologies Inc.) ⋅ releases the Turboduo home console new companies: ⋅ Wow Entertainment Inc. (AM1) defunct companies: ⋅ 1991 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: ⋅ 1990 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, Microprose Software, Inc., Team17 Software Limited, Natsume Inc. defunct companies: ⋅ 1980s 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: Tengen releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game 1988 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. 1987 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 Corp. ⋅ 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: ⋅ 1986 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 Corp. ⋅ 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: ⋅ 1985 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 1984 Activision ⋅ releases the Pitfall video game (by David Crane) Hasbro, Inc. ⋅ acquires Milton Bradley 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. 1983 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 defunct companies: ⋅ (Video game crash of 1983: Console and home video game sales plummet) 1982 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 ⋅ 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 defunct companies: ⋅ 1981 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. 1980 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: ⋅ Activision, Mindscape, Inc., Sierra On-line defunct companies: ⋅ 1970s 1979 Bally ⋅ releases the Videocade & Computer System home console Cinematronics ⋅ releases the Warrior arcade game Mattel, Inc. ⋅ releases the Intellivision console Milton Bradley ⋅ 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: ⋅ Capcom Inc. 1978 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 Corp. ⋅ 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 1977 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) 1976 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 1975 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 1974 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) 1973 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 1972 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. 1971 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 1970 RCA ⋅ cancels a license agreement with Sanders Associates 1960s 1969 Konami Corporation ⋅ is established 1968 Ralph Baer ⋅ patents A Television Gaming Apparatus and Method 1967 Sanders Associates ⋅ Bill Harrison develops the a light gun Tecmo, Inc. ⋅ is established 1966 Sanders Associates ⋅ funds Ralph Baer to develop an interactive television game; He develops the primative video game 'Chase' in 2 months time. 1965 Sega Corporation ⋅ Rosen Enterprises, Inc. merges with Sega 1963 Nintendo Co. Ltd. ⋅ is renamed from Nintendo Playing Card Co. Ltd. 1962 Panasonic ⋅ is established by Matsushita Co. Spacewar video game ⋅ is presented at the MIT Science Open House 1961 Spacewar! video game ⋅ The second ever video game is invented by Steve Russell, with assistance from Peter Samson, Dan Edwards, Alan Kotok, & J. Graetz 1960 Sega Corporation ⋅ is incorporated 1950s 1959 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. 1958 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 1955 Namco ⋅ is established as Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd. 1954 Sega Corporation ⋅ Rosen Enterprises, Inc. is established 1953 Taito Corp. ⋅ is established Sega Corporation ⋅ is renamed from Standard Games to Service Games Of Japan 1952 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 1950 Bandai Co., Ltd. ⋅ is established in Tokyo 1945 Mattel, Inc. ⋅ is established 1940 Sega Corporation ⋅ is established as Standard Games 1938 Ralph Baer ⋅ The future founder of the video game industry moves to the USA. 1935 TDK Corporation ⋅ is established 1933 Nintendo Co. Ltd. ⋅ is established as Yamauchi Nintendo & Co. 1932 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 1931 D. Gottlieb & Co. ⋅ is established 1923 Hasbro, Inc. ⋅ is established as Hassenfeld Brothers in Providence, Rhode Island. 1922 Ralph Baer ⋅ the future founder of the video game industry (& the handheld electronic game Simon) is born in Germany. 1918 Panasonic ⋅ parent company is established as Matsushita Electric Devices Manufacturing Works 1917 Magnavox ⋅ is renamed from the Commercial Wireless & Development Company 1911 Magnavox ⋅ is established as the Commercial Wireless & Development Company 1910 William A. Higinbotham ⋅ The future inventor of the video game is born 1891 Philips (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.) ⋅ is established 1889 Nintendo Co. Ltd. ⋅ Fusajiro Yamauchi establishes the foundation of the future company in Japan 1871 Nokia Corporation ⋅ is renamed to Nokia Ab 1865 Nokia Corporation ⋅ is established in Tampere, Finland. 1860 Milton Bradley Company ⋅ is established in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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