Timeline of computer and video games
- Atari Inc. (formerly Infogrames Inc.)
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance SP (GBASP) handheld console
- Nokia introduces the N-Gage multimedia handheld console
- 3DO files bankruptcy
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards Battlefield 1942 for the PC as the Interactive Game Of The Year, in the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
- G4, the all-video-game TV network
- Nintendo releases the Phantasy Star Online internet video game for the GameCube home console
- Nintendo releases the Metroid Prime video game for the GameCube console
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards Halo: Combat Evolved for the Xbox console as the Interactive Game Of The Year, in the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
- Microsoft releases the Xbox home console
- Indrema releases the L600 Entertainment System multimedia home console
- Nintendo releases the GameCube home console
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance (GBA) handheld console
- Panasonic releases the Q multimedia console
- Uri Geller vs Nintendo lawsuit: Uri Geller sues Nintendo over his resemblance to a Pokemon character. The suit is dismissed.
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards Diablo II for the PC as the Interactive Game Of The Year, in the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
- Bandai releases the Wonderswan Color handheld in Japan
- Infogrames Inc. buys Hasbro Interactive Inc.
- Nintendo sells its 100,000,000th Game Boy handheld console
- Sega releases the Naomi 2 arcade console.
- SNK files bankruptcy
- Sony releases the Playstation 2 (PS2) home console
- Toymax releases the Activision TV Games controller/console
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards The Sims for the PC as the Interactive Game Of The Year, in the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
- Billy Mitchell gets a perfect score on the Pac-Man arcade game: 3,333,360
- Bleem releases the Bleem! emulator for Playstation for an IBM-compatible PC
- Connectix Corporation releases the Virtual Game Station emulator for Playstation for a Mac PC
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Light (GBL) handheld console in Japan only
- Tiger Electronics releases the Game.com Pocket Pro handheld
- SNK releases the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC) handheld
- Nintendo vs Bung Enterprises Ltd. lawsuit: Nintendo sues Bung over patent infringement
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the N64 console as the Interactive Game Of The Year, in the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
- Hasbro buys Atari
- Bandai releases the Wonderswan handheld in Japan
- Majesco releases the Genesis 3 home console
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color (GBC) handheld console
- Nintendo releases the Pokemon video game for the Game Boy handheld console
- Nintendo releases the Camera & Printer accessories for the Game Boy handheld console
- Sega releases the Naomi arcade console
- Sega releases the Dreamcast home console
- SNK releases the Neo Geo Pocket (NGP) handheld
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards GoldenEye 007 for the N64 console as the interactive game of the year, in the 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
- Gunpei Yokoi dies after 2 car accidents
- Gametek files bankruptcy
- Nintendo releases the NES 2 compact home console
- Nintendo releases the SNES 2 compact home console
- Nintendo vs Prima Publishing lawsuit: Nintendo sues Prima over copyrights to map of the N64 video game Goldeneye. Nintendo loses the suit
- Nintendo vs Games City lawsuit: Nintendo sues Games City for selling the Game Doctor and Doctor V64 backup devices for the SNES and N64 consoles. Nintendo wins the suit.
- Tiger releases the Game.com
- Sony releases the Playstation development software for [[PC]
- Bandai releases the Tamagotchi handheld virtual pet
- Eidos releases the Tomb raider video game
- Namco releases the Alpine Racer arcade game
- Gunpei Yokoi leaves Nintendo
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo 64 (N64) 64-bit console
- Sega releases the Netlink internet accessory for the Saturn console
- SNK releases the Neo Geo CDZ in Japan only
- Sony releases the Crash Bandicoot video game
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Pocket (GBP) handheld console (30% smaller version of the previous Game Boy handheld console)
- DigiPen Institute of Technology (in Vancouver) receives accreditation to offer college degrees in video game development, in cooperation with Nintendo
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Play It Loud (GBPIL) color/clear handheld consoles
- Nintendo releases the Virtual Boy (by Gunpei Yokoi) 32-bit console
- Nintendo releases the Satellaview BS-X accessory for the Famicom console in Japan only
- Nintendo vs Samsung Electronics lawsuit: Nintendo sues Samsung for promoting software piracy. The suit is settled.
- Aiwa releases the CSD-GLM Mega Drive multimedia home console in Japan only
- the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is established
- Bandai releases the Playdia multimedia home console
- Commodore files bankruptcy
- NEC releases the PC-FX multimedia home console
- Nintendo releases the Super Game Boy adapter for the SNES home console
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Country video game
- Sega releases the 32X adapter for the Genesis home console
- Sega releases the Nomad handheld console
- Sega releases the Saturn home console
- Sega releases the Daytona USA arcade game
- SNK releases the Neo Geo CD home console
- Sony releases the Playstation (PSX) home console
- Alpex Computer Corp. vs Nintendo lawsuit: Alpex sues Nintendo over patent infringements. Nintendo loses the case.
- 3DO company
- Hollenshead releases the Doom video game
- Atari releases the Jaguar home console
- Broderbund releases the Myst video game
- Commodore releases the Amiga CD32 multimedia home console
- Magnavox is sold to the Carlyle Group
- Nintendo 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 releases the Virtua Fighter arcade game
- Sega releases the Night Trap video game for the Sega CD console
- Tandy releases the Video Information System (VIS) multimedia internet home console
- JVC releases the Wondermega console
- Midway releases the Mortal Kombat arcade game
- Philips releases the CD-I multimedia home console
- Sega releases the Sega CD home console
- Sega releases the Virtua Racing arcade game
- Sega releases the Game Gear handheld console
- Turbo Technologies Inc. (TTI) releases the Turboduo home console
- Taito creates the Wowow home console (unreleased)
- Fujitsu releases the FM Towns Marty home console
- Sega releases the Sonic The Hedgehog video game
- New York State vs Nintendo lawsuit: the state attorney general sues Nintendo over the monopoly of the video game industry. Nintendo loses the suits and offers customers a $5 rebate on Nintendo games
- Camerica releases the Game Genie adapter in Canada (1991 in the US)
- NEC releases the TurboExpress handheld console
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario 3 video game
- Nintendo releases the SNES (Super Nintendo/Super Famicom) 16-bit console
- SNK releases the Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES) home console
- Nintendo vs Color Dreams lawsuit: Nintendo sues Color Dreams over unlicensed production of Nintendo video games
- Atari releases the Lynx handheld console
- Mattel releases the Power Glove controller for the NES home console
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy (GB) (by Gunpei Yokoi) handheld console
- Nintendo vs Tengen lawsuit: Nintendo sues Tengen over the Tetris video game copyrights. Tengen loses and recalls all its Tetris games.
- Nintendo vs Tengen lawsuit: Nintendo sues Tengen over production of unlicensed Nintendo games. Nintendo loses
- Nintendo vs Camerica Ltd. lawsuit: Nintendo sues Camerica over patent violations of the Game Genie for the NES console. Camerica wins the suit.
- Sega releases the Genesis home console
- Tengen releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game
- Atari establishes the Tengen division
- Coleco files bankruptcy
- Nintendo 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
- Atari releases the XE Game System (XEGS) home console
- Konami releases the Castlevania video game
- NEC releases the Turbografx-16 console
- Taito releases the Double Dragon arcade game
- Nintendo vs Blockbuster Inc. 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 vs Blockbuster Inc. lawsuit
- Atari releases the Atari 7800 home console
- Nintendo releases the Legend Of Zelda (by Shigeru Miyamoto) video game
- Nintendo releases the Metroid video game
- Nintendo releases the Famicom Disk Drive System home console in Japan only
- Sega releases the Sega Master System (SMS) home console
- Sega releases the Outrun arcade game
- Taito releases the Bubble Bobble arcade game
- Taito releases the Arkanoid arcade game
- Sharp releases the Twin Famicom home console
- Alex Pajitnov creates the Tetris video game
- Atari releases the Gauntlet arcade game (by Ed Logg)
- Commodore releases the Amiga 1000 home console
- INTV Corp. releases the INTV III home console
- Namco creates the Xevious arcade game
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game
- Nintendo releases the Robotic Operating Buddy (ROB) robot and video game for the NES home console
- RDI Systems files bankruptcy
- Sears Tele-Games releases the Dina home console
- Astrocade Inc. files bankruptcy
- Activision releases the Pitfall video game (by David Crane)
- Atari releases the I, Robot arcade game
- Warner Communications (AOL Time Warner) sells Atari
- Milton Bradley distributes the Vectrex home console
- RDI Systems releases the Halcyon laser-disc home console
- RDI Systems releases the Thayer's Quest arcade game
- Atari releases the Star Wars arcade game
- the Starcade video game tv game show
- Bally/Midway releases the Spy Hunter arcade game
- Magicom (formerly Starcom) creates (Cinematronics manufactures/markets) the Space Ace laser-disc arcade game
- Starcom creates (Cinematronics manufactures/markets) the Dragon's Lair laser-disc arcade game
- Coleco releases the Colecovision home console
- Coleco releases the Adam home console/computer
- Commodore releases the Commodore 64 (C-64) home console
- Electronic Arts releases the One-On-One arcade game
- Gottlieb releases the Mad Planets arcade game
- Mattel releases the Aquarius home console
- Mattel releases the Intellivsion II home console
- Mystique releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console
- Nintendo releases the Famicom (NES) home console in Japan (1985 in the US)
- Williams Electronics releases the Blaster arcade game
- 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
- Astrocade Inc. (formerly Astrovision) releases the Astrocade console
- Bally/Midway releases the Tron arcade game before the movie
- Atari releases the Quantum arcade game
- Namco (licenses it to Atari) releases the Dig Dug arcade game
- Atari releases the Atari 5200 home console
- Coleco releases the Gemini home console
- Commodore releases the VIC-20 home console
- Electronic Arts
- Emerson releases the Arcadia 2001 home console
- Entrex releases the Adventure Vision home console
- General Consumer Electronics (GCE) releases the Vectrex home console
- Gottlieb releases the QBert arcade game
- Midway releases the Ms. Pac-Man arcade game
- Milton Bradley releases the Microvision home console
- Namco releases the Pole Position racing arcade game
- Sega releases the Zaxxon arcade game
- Williams Electronics releases the Joust arcade game
- Williams Electronics releases the Robotron: 2084 arcade game
- Astrovision Inc. distributes the Bally Computer System after buying the rights from Bally/Midway
- Atari releases the Centipede arcade game (by Ed Logg & Dona Bailey)
- Atari releases the Warlords arcade game
- Atari releases the Tempest color vector arcade game
- Bally/Midway releases the Gorf arcade game
- Coleco releases the Total Control 4 home console
- Konami creates the Frogger video game
- Namco releases the Galaga arcade game
- Nelsonic releases the Space Attacker watch LCD game
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong arcade game (by Shigeru Miyamoto)
- Sega test markets the SG-1000 home console
- Texas Instruments releases the TI-99/4A home console
- Williams Electronics releases the Stargate arcade game
- Nintendo releases the Game & Watch handheld LCD game (by Gunpei Yokoi)
- Stern Electronics (a subsidiary of Universal Research Laboratories) releases the Berzerk arcade game
- Activision
- APF Electronics Inc. releases the Imagination Machine computer
- Apple releases the Zork video game for the Apple II computer
- Apple releases the Akalabeth video game for the Apple Iie computer
- Atari releases the Missile Command arcade game
- Atari releases the Battlezone arcade game (it is later enhanced for the US Army for military use)
- Namco releases the Pac-Man arcade game (by Toru Iwatani)
- Nintendo releases the Radarscope arcade game
- Texas Instruments releases the TI-99/4 home console
- Williams Electronics releases the Defender arcade game
- Atari releases the Adventure arcade game
- Atari creates the Cosmos handheld (unreleased)
- Atari releases the Lunar Lander arcade game
- Atari releases the Asteroids arcade game (by Ed Logg & Lyle Rains)
- Bally releases the Videocade & Computer System home console
- Capcom
- Cinematronics releases the Warrior arcade game
- Mattel releases the Intellivision console
- Milton Bradley releases the Microvision handheld
- Sega releases the Monaco GP arcade game
- Texas Instruments releases the Gamevision home console
- APF Electronics Inc. releases the MP-1000 home console
- Atari releases the Pinball Game System home console
- Atari releases the Football arcade game (the first to use a trackball controller)
- 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 releases the Block Game arcade game
- Magnavox releases the Odyssey 2 (G7000 Videopac) home console
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game 15 home console
- Nintendo releases the Computer Othello arcade game
- SNK
- Taito releases the Space Invaders arcade game
- Apple releases the Apple II personal computer
- Atari releases the Video Computer System (VCS) (Atari 2600) home console
- Bally/Midway releases the Bally Home Library Computer home console
- Namco (formerly Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.)
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game 4 home console
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game 6 home console
- Warner Communications (AOL Time Warner) buys Atari
- Atari releases the Breakout arcade game
- Apple company
- Coleco 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 releases the Sea Wolf arcade game
- Radolfin (german) releases the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System home console
- RCA releases the Studio II home console
- Atari releases the Pong home console
- Magnavox releases the Odyssey 4000 home console
- Microsoft
- Midway releases the Gunfight arcade game
- Exidy company
- Kee Games releases the Tank arcade game
- Philips acquires Magnavox (Philips Consumer Electronics)
- Atari releases the Gran Trak arcade racing game featuring a steering wheel
- Atari releases the Got'Cha arcade game
- Midway releases the Winner arcade game
- Williams Electronics releases the Paddle-Ball arcade game
- Atari
- Atari releases the Pong arcade game (by Al Alcorn)
- Magnavox releases the Odyssey home console
- Namco (formerly Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd.)
- Gregory Yob develops the Hunt The Wumpus video game while at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Don Rawitsch develops the Oregon Trail video game
- Nutting Associates releases the Computer Space arcade game
- Magnavox signs a preliminary license agreement with Sanders Associates
- RCA cancels a license agreement with Sanders Associates
- Konami Corporation
- Bill Harrison develops the a light gun at Sanders Associates
- Sanders Associates funds Ralph Baer to develop the Interactive Television Game
- the Spacewar video game is presented at the MIT Science Open House
- Panasonic is established by Matsushita Co.
[[1961]
- Steve Russell, Peter Samson, Dan Edwards, & J. Graetz develop the Spacewar videogame
- Sega Corporation (year of incorporation)
- Midway Home Entertainment Inc.
- Willy Higinbotham develops a pong video game on an oscilloscope (unpatented)
- Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd. (Namco)
- Taito Corp.
- Ralph Baer thinks of the Interactive TV while at Loral
- Mattel, Inc.
- Standard Games (Sega)
Before 1940
- Yamauchi Nintendo & Co.
- D. Gottlieb & Co.
- Matsushita Electric Devices Manufacturing Works (Panasonic)
- Magnavox (formerly Commercial Wireless & Development)
- Commercial Wireless & Development Company (Magnavox)
- Royal Philips Electronics
- Nokia Ab.