Timeline of computer and video games

· releases the Amiga CD32 multimedia home console

Hollenshead

· releases the Doom video game

· is acquired by the Carlyle Group

Microprose Inc. (subsidiary of 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

1992

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

· 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

1991

Fujitsu

· releases the FM Towns Marty home console

id Software

· is established in Mesquite, Texas

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

1990

Camerica

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

Eidos Interactive

· is established

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

1980s

1989

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

· releases the Lynx handheld console

Hasbro, Inc.

· acquires assets of bankrupt Coleco Industries, Inc.

Mattel, Inc.

· releases the Power Glove controller for the NES home console

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

· releases the Game Boy (GB) (by Gunpei Yokoi) handheld console

· Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen lawsuit: Nintendo sues Tengen over the Tetris video game copyrights. Tengen loses and recalls all its Tetris games.

· Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen lawsuit: Nintendo sues Tengen over production of unlicensed Nintendo games. Nintendo loses

· Nintendo v. Camerica Ltd. lawsuit: Nintendo sues Camerica over patent violations of the Game Genie for the NES console. Camerica wins the suit.

Sega Corporation

· releases the Genesis home console

Tengen

· releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game

1988

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· establishes the Tengen division

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

new companies:

· KOEI Co., Ltd.

defunct companies:

· Coleco Industries Inc.

1987

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the XE Game System (XEGS) home console

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.

defunct companies:

·

1986

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

· releases the Atari 7800 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

Taito Corp.

· releases the Bubble Bobble arcade game

· releases the Arkanoid arcade game

new companies:

· :Majesco Sales Inc., Ubi Soft Entertainment

1985

Alex Pajitnov

· creates the Tetris video game

Atari (owned by Infogrames Entertainment SA, in 2000)

· releases the Gauntlet arcade game (by Ed Logg)

· releases the Amiga 1000 home console

INTV Corp.

· releases the INTV III home console

· 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:

·

defunct companies:

· Astrocade Inc.

1983

Acornsoft

· releases the Elite video game

· releases the Spy Hunter arcade game

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Colecovision home console

· releases the Adam home console/computer

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

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

defunct companies:

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

1982

Acorn

· releases the BBC Micro home computer

Astrocade Inc. (formerly Astrovision)

· releases the Astrocade console

· releases the Tron arcade game before the movie

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Gemini home console

· releases the VIC-20 home console

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

· 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

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.

defunct companies:

·

1981

Astrovision Inc.

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

· releases the Gorf arcade game

Coleco Industries, Inc.

· releases the Total Control 4 home console

Konami Corporation

· creates the Frogger video game

· 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

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 Zork video game for the Apple II computer

· releases the Akalabeth video game for the Apple Iie computer

· 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

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

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

· 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

· 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

· releases the Bally Home Library Computer home console

· 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

· 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

· releases the Odyssey home console

· is renamed from Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.

1971

· 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

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

1964

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

1957

1956

1955