VIDEO GAME HISTORY
1971 First arcade video game. Nutting Associates releases first arcade video game, Nolan Bushnell¡¦s Computer Space, based off Spacewar ¡Xpublic finds it too difficult to play doesn¡¦t sell well.
1972 Magnavox begins manufacturing Baer's TV game system, which it calls the Odyssey. Bushnell Leaves Nutting and starts up Atari withTed Dabney. Then, they create the hit arcade game Pong. Pong is a success. Magnavox sells the Odyssey successfully because it is the closest thing to a home version of Pong.
1975 Atari release home version of Pong.
1976 Cartridges make first appearance. Fairchild Camera & Instrument releases first programmable home game console (Video Entertainment System later renamed Channel F) that supports changing game using large cartridges.
1977
Atari releases Video Computer System (Atari 2600)¡Xits first programmable (cartridge-based)
game system for $249. Bally releases a programmable console called the Bally
Professional Arcade. With a retail price of $350, the system fails to catch
on.
1978
Bushnell leaves Atari. Nintendo releases arcade game. Trackball rolls iInto
arcades.
Atari releases the arcade game Football. The game features a revolutionary new
controller called the trackball. Midway imports game to beat. Atari enter into
computer market. Magnavox releases the Odyssey2, a programmable console that
has a built-in membrane keyboard. Cinematronics releases Space Wars, a game
similar to Bushnell's Computer Space. The game features vector (line-drawn)
graphics.
1979 Roy
Trubshaw and Richard Bartle develop first working multi-user dungeon (MUD) at
Essex University in Colchester. Atari develops the Cosmos, a handheld programmable
machine that features holograms within the graphics.Atari releases Lunar Lander,
its first vector graphics game. Milton Bradley Electronics releases the Microvision,
a handheld programmable unit that includes its own built-in LED screen.
1980 Atari creates Battlezone, the first three-dimensional first-person game that inspires US government to use for military training purposes. Namco releases Pac-Man, the most popular arcade game of all time amongst both men and women First virtual world. Williams releases Defender, featuring the game industry's first virtual world. Mattel Electronics introduces the Intellivision game console. The first serious competition for the VCS, the Intellivision has better graphics and a steeper price--$299. Mattel promises to release an optional peripheral that will upgrade the Intellivision console into a personal computer.
1981Atari and Intellivision
Programmers unite. Atari releases Tempest, a color-vector arcade game based
on still-unstable graphics technology. US arcades reach their highest revenues--$5
billion, with Americans spending more than 75,000 man-hours playing video games.
Electronic Games is founded by Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel and is the first magazine
entirely devoted to video games.
1982 Coleco Releases the Colecovision.Magnavox releases a game called K.C. Munchkin for the Odyssey2.Atari releases E.T. for the VCS, a game Howard Scott Warshaw programmed.General Consumer Electronics (GCE) releases the Vectrex, the first and only home console based on vector graphics technology. Midway creates Ms. Pac-Man in-house. It becomes the biggest arcade game in American history, with more than 115,000 units sold in the United States.
1983 Kesmai launches Islands of Kesmai and MegaWars I¡Xfirst ASCII text role-playing game. Cinematronics releases Rick Dyer's Dragon's Lair (animated by Don Bluth)¡Xfirst arcade game to feature laser-disc technology. Commodore releases the Commodore 64¡Xinexpensive, but powerful computer that outperforms any existing video game console. Video game industry begins to crumble a too many products on the shelves from a multitude of publishers many third-party companies go out of business, game prices drop, companies can¡¦t compete, lots of money lost .
1984 After acquiring GCE, Milton Bradley begins distributing the Vectrex. Coleco uses all of its resources to manufacture Adams.Mattel sells Intellivision.Atari introduces new products at the summer CES. Warner Communications dumps Atari.
1985
The first virtual reality environment using avatar¡Xvirtual icons¡Xbegin to
appear. Nintendo saves the video game industry with its release of the Nintendo
Entertainment System (NES).
1986
Nintendo releases the NES nationwide.Sega releases its Sega Master System (SMS)
after seeing Nintendo¡¦s success in the US.
1987 NEC releases "16-Bit" Console in Japan.
1988 Atari releases games for the NES.Tengen bypasses Nintendo "Lockout" chip.Coleco files for bankruptcy.
1989 NEC releases "16-Bit" Console and a $400 portable CD player. It is the first time that games can be stored on CDs. Nintendo introduces monochrome game boy.Sega releases 16-Bit Genesis. Atari releases Handheld Lynx.
1990 Nintendo releases Super Mario 3, the all-time best-selling video-game cartridge.NEC releases Handheld TurboGrafx-16.Commodore announces its CDTV (Commodore Dynamic Total Vision). CDTV is the first of several home interactive systems that stress education software as well as games.
1991 Nintendo releases the SNES. Sega introduces Sonic. Sony and Nintendo announce plans for Sony to develop a $700 CD player to work with the SNES. Capcom releases Street Fighter II and brings new life to arcades filled with walk-and-punch clones and shooters. Atari announces development of the Panther, a new 32-bit game system designed to compete against Sega and Nintendo.
1992
Sega releases the Sega CD.JVC introduces the Wondermega in Japan.Nintendo divorces
Sony and marries Philips 3DO, a new company started by Electronic Arts founder
Trip Hawkins.
1993 Panasonic releases 3DO Console.Atari launches Jaguar.New Systems from Nintendo and Sega. Senators Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut) and Herbert Kohl (Wisconsin) launch a Senate "investigation" into video game violence; threaten a ban on "violent" games like Mortal Kombat and Night Trap.
1994 The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is established to rate video games. Nintendo releases Super Metroid and begins a push to regain control of the 16-bit market.Sega releases 32-Bit Console. Nintendo releases Super Game Boy.
1995 Worlds Chart becomes the first avatar environment on the Internet.
1996 Microsoft interns Andres and Chris Kermse release Meridian 59, an experimental virtual world that quickly becomes a cult classic¡Xafter closing in 2000, unofficial versions of M59 continue in Germany, South Korea, and Russia.
1997 First commercial online virtual world. Electronic Arts launches Ultima Online (UO), a follow-up to its successful computer game that simulates galactic trading in deepest, darkest space.
1998 Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) reports that the home video game industry is flourishing at the expense of the arcade industry¡XAcclaim announces that it is exiting from the arcade industry on March 6.
1999 Verant Interactive, subsidiary of Sony, launches EverQuest¡Xmost popular virtual world in the US. First Classic Gaming Expo opens in Las Vegas .
2000 Microsoft releases Asheron¡¦s Call.
2001 First online console. Sega offers broadband Internet support with Dreamcast. First online-compatible console RPG. Sega¡¦s Phantasy Star Online supports thousands of gamers online from anywhere in the world. By summer, 18 virtual game worlds released, with another 40 in development.
2002 Electronic Arts launches Sims Online. Sony and Lucas Arts release Star Wars Galaxies. EverQuest becomes the world¡¦s most popular virtual reality game.
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