1974
-
- Nintendo releases the Wild Gunman video game to arcades. [1494.11]
1977
-
- In Japan, Nintendo unveils the Color TV Game 6 video game system. It plays six versions of paddle and ball games. Price is 9800 yen. (One million units sell over its lifetime. The sequel, Color TV Game 15 (price 15,000 yen) also sells one million copies.) [124.27] [1391.36] [1505.416]
1978
- March
- Nintendo releases its first arcade game: Computer Othello. [865.128] [1460.xiii]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game 15 video game system in Japan. [1505.416]
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game Racing 112 video game system in Japan. It features 112 variations of car racing for one player with wheel or two players with paddles. Price is 12,500 yen. [1391.36] [1505.416]
1979
-
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game Block Breaker game in Japan. [1505.416]
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game Block Kuzushi video game system in Japan. It features 6 variations of paddle/ball/brick games. Price is 13,500 yen. [1391.36]
1980
- April
- Minoru Awakawa sets up Nintendo of America in New York. [1460.155]
- Nintendo releases the first Game & Watch handheld video game, Ball, in Japan. (Over the next 11 years, over 80 million Game & Watch devices will be sold.) [1444.178] [1494.11] [1505.155]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo of America releases the Radarscope arcade game. (1000 units are sold, leaving another 200 units unsold.) [1460.156]
- Nintendo releases the Computer TV Game, which incorporates a complete arcade board of the Computer Othello game. Price is 48,000 yen. [1391.37]
- November
- Nintendo releases the Radar Scope arcade video game in Japan. [1482.17] [1494.15] (1984 [396.16])
- December
- Nintendo of Japan begins exporting coin-operated video games to the United States. [273.102]
1981
-
- At Nintendo, Sigeru Miyamoto designs the Donkey Kong video game, based on films King Kong and Beauty and the Beast. The character "Mario", a construction worker, is created. [43.51] [124.49]
- Nintendo releases the Mickey Mouse video game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1391.17] [1444.191]
- Nintendo of America first tests Donkey Kong in the Spot Tavern and Goldies bars in the Seattle area of Washington USA. The game is considered a success. [124.49] [1494.31]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- July
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game in the USA. Originally designed to be Popeye trying to rescue Olive Oyl from Bluto, became Mario the carpenter, Pauline, and Donkey Kong. Created in Japan by Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunopei Yokoi. The first 2000 units are conversions of failed game Radar Scope. The character Mario was originally called Jumpman. (In the first year, 60,000 units are sold for US$180 million.) [44.TD7] [89.29] [672.148] [1343.186] [1460.211,352] [1494.31]
- July 16
- Nintendo unveils the second Widescreen Game & Watch, titled Octopus. [1395.15]
- (month unknown)
- The annual Amusement and Music Operators Association convention is held. Nintendo shows the Donkey Kong video game. [89.30,42]
1982
- April 27
- Sid Sheinberg, president of MCA and Universal, meets Arnold Greenberg, president and CEO of Coleco Industries, in Hollywood. Sheinberg says Donkey Kong violates copyright on movie title King Kong. [124.117] [1460.211]
- April 28
- Universal tells Nintendo of America and Coleco Industries to destroy all copies of Donkey Kong due to infringement of King Kong film. [1460.212]
- May 6
- Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln of Nintendo of America meet with Coleco Industries and Universal Studios over the Donkey Kong and King Kong infringement issue. [1460.212]
- May 21
- Minoru Awkawa and Howard Lincoln of Nintendo of America meet with Sid Sheinberg at Universal Studios, telling them of refusal to pay royalties for Donkey Kong. [1460.214]
- June
- MCA files a lawsuit against Nintendo claiming copyright infringement of Donkey Kong against the film King Kong. [124.122]
- June 29
- Universal Studios files lawsuit against Nintendo of America claiming Donkey Kong violates copyright to King Kong. [1460.215]
- Universal Studios announces licensing agreement with Coleco Industries for Donkey Kong. [1460.215]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Computer Mah-Jong Yakoman handheld video game in Japan. It features play versus computer, or play against another player with a second unit via a link cable. Price is 16,800 yen. [1391.37]
- Nintendo releases the Mickey and Donald video game & Watch handheld game. [1391.17]
- Nintendo releases the first Multi-Screen Game & Watch handheld video game, Oil Panic, in Japan. [1444.188]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Junior arcade game. (30,000 machines are sold.) [1460.352]
- Nintendo releases the Popeye arcade game. (20,000 machines are sold.) [1460.352]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Jr New Widescreen Game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1444.190]
- July
- Nintendo of America buys 27 acres of land in Redmond, Washington. [1494.36]
- November 15
- Atari signs an agreement with Nintendo for the world-wide license of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior video games for Atari home computers. [119.D5]
- December
- In the New York District Court, judge Robert Sweet rules in favor of Nintendo over MCA Universal in the case of copyright infringement of the film King Kong by the video game Donkey Kong. Judge Sweet grants a summary dismissal, as MCA did not own the rights to King Kong, and even if they did, the game is considered completely different from the movie. (The case is appealed to the US Supreme Court, but the ruling stands. Nintendo is awarded US$1.8 million.) [124.124]
- Year
- Revenue from sales of Donkey Kong arcade video games in the US during the year: US$180 million. [1494.36]
1983
- April 11
- Nintendo's Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln begin negotiations with Atari on the manufacture and distribution of a Nintendo-designed video game system. Nintendo demonstrates a prototype Family Computer running Donkey Kong and Popeye. [1395.50]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Mario's Bombs Away video game & Watch handheld video game. [460.53]
- Nintendo releases the first Tabletop Game & Watch handheld video game, in Japan. [1444.188]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong II Multi-Screen Game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1444.190]
- Nintendo releases the Mario's Bombs Away Panorama Game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1444.191]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong 3 arcade game. (5,000 machines are sold.) [1460.352]
- Nintendo releases the VS System of arcade games, with double screens for two-player face-off play. [1460.352]
- Nintendo releases the Punch-Out arcade game. [1460.355]
- July 15
- In Japan, Nintendo ships the Family Computer (Famicom) video game system. It features 1.79-MHz Ricoh 2A03 8-bit processor, 256x240 pixel graphics, 2 KB RAM, 5 sound channels, able to display 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 52 colors, two controllers, microphone in one keypad. Price is 14,800 yen. (500,000 units sell in the first two months. Nintendo soon recalls and replaces all units free of charge, due to some bad chips. In two years Nintendo will market this same technology as the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.) [124.35] [298.40] [449.66] [567.19] [1255.19] [1391.184] [1395.15] [1447.14] [1505.158] (July 13 [1494.63])
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game for the Family Computer in Japan. [298.40] [1255.19] [1505.158] (July 13 [1494.63])
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Jr. video game for the Family Computer in Japan. [298.40] [1505.158] (July 13 [1494.63])
- Nintendo releases the Popeye video game for the Family Computer in Japan. [298.40] [1505.158] (July 13 [1494.63])
- September 13
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game in arcades in Japan. [1494.65]
- Year
- During the year, Nintendo sells 1 million Family Computer systems in Japan. [1505.158] (500,000 [1494.65])
- Revenue from sales of Donkey Kong arcade video games in the US during the year: US$100 million. [1494.36]
1984
- January
- At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nintendo debuts the Advanced Video System (AVS) video game system, with keyboard, music keyboard, tape-storage, wireless controllers, and Zapper gun. Video game distributors are not interested in making any orders. [124.161]
- (month unknown)
- In Japan, certain game cartridges are discovered to cause Nintendo's Famicom game system to freeze. Nintendo recalls all system to be fixed. [124.35]
- June 8
- Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Gremlins to theaters in the USA. A small table top version of the Donkey Kong video game appears. [1035]
- June
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, Nintendo agains shows the Advanced Video System (AVS) video game system. Again, video game distributors are not interested in making any orders. [124.161]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Spitball Sparky SuperColor video game & Watch handheld game. It features an LCD screen with colorband overlays. Price is US$39.95. [15.65]
- Nintendo releases the Spitball Sparky SuperColor Game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1444.190]
1985
- January 5
- At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nintendo first shows the Family Computer from Japan with label Advanced Video System. The system is demonstrated with computer keyboard, music keyboard, and 25 games. No dealers take orders for the system. [527.24] [528.29] [1460.286]
- (month unknown)
- Twin Galaxies International announces its Achievement Award arcade video game winners for 1984. Best Video Game: Punch-Out by Nintendo; [104.12]
- May 20
- Nintendo of America counterclaims versus Universal Studios in court over Donkey Kong infringement suit of 1982. [1460.218]
- June
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois, Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It uses a 6502 processor, and generates images with 256x240 resolution in 16 colors. It includes two controllers, a Zapper light gun, and a Robotic Operating Buddy robot. Distributors show little interest in taking any orders. [12] [70] [88.8] [124.163] [317.68] [1460.288]
- July 29
- Judge Sweet orders Universal Studios to pay Nintendo of America $1.8 million in failed copyright infringement lawsuit over Donkey Kong. [1460.218]
- October 18
- Nintendo test releases the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the United States, in New York City. Special displays are set up in department, toy, and electronics stores. 50,000 of the available 100,000 units are sold by Christmas. The NES uses a 1.79MHz 6502 processor, and generates images with 256x240 resolution in 16 colors. The NES comes with the Robotic Operating Buddy and the Zapper light gun. Price is US$125. Seventeen game cartridges are available with the launch of the game system. (Total sales over the product's lifetime reach 36 million.) [70] [124.165] [429.20] [510.12] [597] [722.86] [865.127] [1192.73] [1413.45] [1447.95] [1460.xiv] [1494.77]
- October
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. (Total worldwide sales: 40.24 million, a record still held in January 2004.) [410.9] [412.24] [541.64] [871.38] [1413.49] [1494.1] (August [1159.90]) (March 1986 [1505.162])
- Nintendo releases the Baseball video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1131.68]
- Nintendo releases the 10-Yard Fight video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1157.18]
- Nintendo releases the Duck Hunt video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. The game uses the Zapper light gun controller. [1413.66]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo releases the Ice Climber video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [387.24]
- December 24
- During Nintendo's test-marketing of the Nintendo Entertainment System in New York, 90,000 units are sold in over 500 stores. [162.39] [1505.162]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo's Famicom game system in Japan for the year: 6.5 million. [190.1-8]
1986
- February
- Nintendo of America begins an intense marketing campaign of its Nintendo Entertainment System in Los Angeles, California. [124.169] [162.39] [429.21] [611.28] [865.127] [1447.95] [1460.xiv,298] [1494.78]
- February 21
- In Japan, Nintendo releases the Disk System for the Famicom. The system is a 128-kB disk drive to run software; disks can be rewritten with new games at special vending machines. Price of the Disk System is about US$100. [124.75] (1985 [1255.19])
- Nintendo releases the Legend of Zelda video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [868.116] [1444.8] (1985 [1255.19])
- May
- To date, Nintendo has sold 500,000 Disk Systems for the Famicom. [124.75]
- May 27
- In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest video game for the Famicom. The game was written by Yuji Horii. (1.5 million copies are sold.) [298.48] (February [124.69])
- June
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [609.9] [1413.50]
- Nintendo releases the Urban Champion video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [1413.55]
- Nintendo releases the Popeye video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [1417.80]
- The first issue of Famitsu magazine is released, in Japan. [1391.250]
- (month unknown)
- The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in Scandinavia. [124.413]
- Nintendo of America expands sales of the Nintendo Entertainment System to Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California. [1460.299] [1494.78]
- Capcom releases the Commando video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the 1942 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom signs an agreement with Nintendo to produce games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [715.93]
- Capcom signs an agreement with The Walt Disney Company to produce Disney games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [715.92]
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong 3 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.95]
- Sharp releases the Sharp Famicom Twin video game system in Japan. The unit is a combined Famicom and Disk System. [1091.94]
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros video game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. This is the first Game & Watch with horizontally scrolling levels. [1444.191]
- Nintendo releases the Balloon Fight Crystal Screen Game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1444.191]
- Nintendo releases the Climber Crystal Screen Game & Watch handheld video game in Japan. [1444.191]
- August 6
- Nintendo releases the Metroid video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [1444.8]
- September
- Konami releases the Akumajo Dracula video game for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. [1444.91]
- Worlds of Wonder begins nation-wide marketing of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US for Nintendo of America. Price is US$130 with 2 controllers and Super Mario Bros. video game. For US$150, the system includes the Zapper light gun and Duck Hunt video game. [164.S3.6] [429.21] [1494.78]
- (month unknown)
- Mattel begins selling the Nintendo Entertainment System in Canada. [1494.78]
- November
- Capcom releases the Ghosts 'n Goblins video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93] [1413.51]
- December 31
- To date, Nintendo has sold almost two million Disk Systems for the Famicom in Japan. [124.75]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System during the year: 3 million. [1460.311] [1494.83]
1987
- January
- Nintendo releases the Zelda II: The Adventure of Link video game for the Famicom in Japan. [868.116]
- January 26
- In Japan, Enix releases the Dragon Quest II video game for the Famicom. (About 2.3 million copies are sold.) [124.69] [298.48]
- February
- Konami releases the Gradius video game cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is based on the arcade game. [124.217]
- March
- Nintendo releases the Pro Wrestling video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1196.76] [1413.65]
- Nintendo releases the Soccer video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [1157.18]
- (month unknown)
- Nintendo begins publishing the Nintendo Fun Club News magazine; 12 pages, 2-colors. (This later becomes Nintendo Power.) [1413.58] [1460.361]
- May
- Data East releases the Burgertime video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is based on the arcade game. [514.28]
- Konami releases the Castlevania video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [514.28] [1159.91] [1413.62]
- SNK releases the Ikari Warriors video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [514.28] (1986 [595.26])
- (month unknown)
- At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, Acclaim Entertainment announces itself and three games to be available for the Nintendo Entertainment System: Star Voyager, 3D World Runner, and Tiger Heli. [1460.310]
- Midway releases the Spy Hunter video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [397.59]
- Capcom releases the Section Z video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Trojan video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Mattel agrees to distribute the Nintendo Entertainment System in Italy and the United Kingdom. [124.413]
- Nintendo releases the Mike Tyson's Punch-Out video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1460.355]
- Rainbow Arts releases The Great Giana Sisters for various computer systems. (Nintendo forces them to pull the game from the market, due to replicating the Super Mario Bros. video game except for the main characters.) [1494.81]
- All Night Nippon releases a special version of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. video game as a promotional give-away. All Night Nippon Mario Bros. has a black sky, and 1980s singers and disk jockeys for the bad guy sprites. [1494.81]
- Activision releases the Super Pitfall video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [545.49]
- Nintendo releases the Play Choice 10 line with 10 interchangeable boards, based on Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges. [1460.352]
- July
- Nintendo releases the Kid Icarus video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [1413.51]
- August
- Nintendo releases the Metroid video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [304.132] [429.22] [1192.73] [1413.57] (1986 [359.134] [779.25]) (1989 [1159.93] [1161.78])
- Acclaim releases its first cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Star Voyager. (Total sales: 100,000.) [124.220] [1460.310]
- August 22
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. This is the first NES game with a battery-powered save feature. [304.146] [561.11] [1413.61] [1438.40] (June 27 [1460.353]) (July [429.22] [591.96] [1159.90]) (1986 [406.33])
- September
- Nintendo begins including the Super Mario Bros. video game cartridge with the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [429.21]
- Broderbund releases the Raid on Bungling Bay video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1413.66]
- October
- Nintendo releases the Punch-Out!! video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. The game was previously released as Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, but the name changed when Nintendo's license to Mike Tyson's name expired. [304.144] [1135.116] [1413.56]
- Nintendo of America breaks its partnership with Worlds of Wonder for distribution of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [1460.312]
- November
- Konami releases The Goonies II video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [1159.100] [1413.51]
- December
- Konami releases the Metal Gear video game for the Famicom in Japan. [1262.127]
- Square releases the Final Fantasy video game for the Famicom in Japan. (Total sales over its lifetime: 1.3 million.) [556.98]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [420.68] [715.93] [1158.66] [1159.91] [1413.54] (1988 [460.72])
- December 31
- Unit sales to date of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems: about 4 million. [189.35]
- Year
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System game systems during the year: 3 million. [124.169] [312.39] (6 million [1494.83])
- Unit sales of cartridges (by Nintendo and licencees) for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US during the year: 15 million. [312.39]
- Market share of home video game systems in the US: Nintendo Entertainment System 70%. [164.S3.6]
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