1983 in video gaming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Notable events of 1983 in video gaming. See also history of computer and video games.
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[edit] Events
- A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from $3.2 billion USD to $100 million USD.<ref name="nintendoland">Liedholm, Marcus and Mattias. The Famicom rules the world! – (1983–89). Nintendo Land. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong. After a brief trial, the judge determined that the rights to the original Kong had passed into the public domain. The case was dismissed, and MCA Universal paid $1.8 million USD in damages to Nintendo.<ref name="mcakong">GameSpy Staff (2003). 25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming / Universal Goes Ape. GameSpy.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Atari files suit against Coleco, claiming violation of Atari's patents on the Atari 2600 video game console. The previous year, Coleco released a peripheral device that made it possible for Atari 2600 game cartridges to be run on the Colecovision console.<ref name="ataricoleco">Atari and Coleco. New York Times (1983). Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Infogrames Entertainment SA is established by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet in Lyon, France.<ref name="infogrames">Atari – 1972–2004. Atari – Official Corporate Site. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Origin Systems is founded by Robert, Richard, and Owen K. Garriott and Chuck Bueche in Austin, Texas; Richard will become better known by the name of his fictional character, Lord British.<ref name="ultima3">GameSpot Staff (2000). 15 Most Influential Games of All Time / Ultima III: Exodus. GameSpot. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Interplay Productions is founded by Brian Fargo in southern California.<ref name="interplay">Ackerman, Kyle (2002). The Saga Behind the Sagas: Interplay and the Business of Gaming. Frictionless Insight. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Navarre Corporation is founded.<ref name="navarre">Navarre Corporation Completes $12.5 Million Private Placement. Navarre Corporation (2003). Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Amusement Developing Section 8 (later known as Sega-AM2), a research and development department of Sega, is established under the supervision of Yu Suzuki in Tokyo, Japan.<ref name="am2">SEGA-AM2 Co., LTD.. MobyGames. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- According to Nintendo, total video game sales for 1983 are $3.2 billion USD.<ref name="nintendoland" />
[edit] Notable releases
[edit] Arcade games
- Bally/Midway releases Spy Hunter, an action/racing game.<ref name="spyhunter">Spy Hunter. KLOV.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Cinematronics releases Advanced Microcomputer Systems's Dragon's Lair, the first laserdisc video game.<ref name="dragonslair">Dragon's Lair. KLOV.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Atari releases Star Wars, a vector graphics-based game based on the popular film franchise.<ref name="starwars">Star Wars. KLOV.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Konami releases Gyruss, one of the first arcade games with non-vector 3D graphics, in Japan. Centuri distributes the game in North America.<ref name="gyruss">Gyruss. KLOV.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Namco releases Mappy, Jr. Pac-Man, Pac & Pal, Phozon, Libble Rabble and Pole Position II.
[edit] Personal computer and console games
- Mattel Electronics publishes World Series Baseball by Don Daglow and Eddie Dombrower, the first video game to use multiple camera angles, for the Intellivision.<ref name="iwsb">Classic Gaming Expo - Don Daglow. Classic Gaming Expo (2005). Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Origin Systems publishes Ultima III: Exodus by Richard Garriott, better known as Lord British. Ultima III was the first computer role-playing game to feature tactical, turn-based combat, for the Apple II, Atari 800, Commodore 64, and IBM PC.<ref name="ultima3" />
- Electronic Arts publishes Dan Bunten's M.U.L.E., an influential multiplayer strategy game, for the Commodore 64.<ref name="mule">Underdogs. M.U.L.E.. Home of the Underdogs. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Electronic Arts publishes Bill Budge's Pinball Construction Set, the first example of the "builder" (or "construction set") computer and video game genre, for the Apple II, Atari 800, and IBM PC.<ref name="pcs">Cassidy, William (2002). Hall of Fame / Pinball Construction Set. GameSpy.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Bug-Byte releases Matthew Smith's Manic Miner, an influential early platform game, for the ZX Spectrum.<ref name="manicminer">Broad, Andrew (2006). Manic Miner/Jet Set Willy. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Ashby Computer Graphics, later known as Rare, releases its first video games, Jetpac and Atic Atac, for the ZX Spectrum under the brand name Ultimate: Play the Game.<ref name="rareware">GAMES / timeline. Welcome to Rare. Retrieved on April 3, 2006.</ref>
- Atari releases E.T., one of the most infamous commercial failures in video game history, for the Atari 2600. Many have seen the failure of E.T. as one of the major catalysts for the video game crash of this year.<ref name="et">Fragmaster. Game of the Week / E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. ClassicGaming.com. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
[edit] Hardware
- Sega releases the SC-3000 personal computer and the SG-1000 console in Japan.<ref name="sg1000">Sega SC-3000 / SG-1000. Obscure Pixels. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Nintendo releases the Family Computer console in Japan. Shortly after its release, complaints begin to surface about rampant system instability, prompting Nintendo to issue a product recall and to rerelease the machine with a new motherboard.<ref name="nintendoland" />
- Coleco releases the Adam home computer.<ref name="adam">Klein, Eric S.. Coleco Adam. Eric Klein's Vintage Computers. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
- Mattel Electronics releases the Aquarius home computer, originally designed by Radofin Electronics Far East.<ref name="aquarius">Player 3 Stage 3: Contender to the Throne. The Dot Eaters. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.</ref>
[edit] References
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