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| + | | prev = 1978 |
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| + | | next = 1980 |
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| − | * [[Microvision]], a hand-held game console by [[Milton Bradley Company]] |
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| + | }} |
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| + | ===Business=== |
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| − | == Notable Game Releases == |
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| + | * New companies: |
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| − | * [[Atari]] releases [[Asteroids]] for [[arcade]] and [[Atari 2600]] |
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| + | ** [[Activision]] |
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| − | * [[Space Invaders]], the classic arcade game is released for [[Atari 2600]] |
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| + | ** [[Capcom]] |
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| + | ** [[Infocom]] |
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| + | ** [[Strategic Simulations]] |
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| + | ** [[Edu-Ware Services]] |
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| + | * The [[Video gaming in the United States|US arcade game market]]'s revenues increase to $1.5 billion in 1979<ref name=replaymag>http://web.archive.org/web/20071222225649/http://www.replaymag.com/history.htm</ref> (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1500000000|1979|r=0}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}). |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Notable releases== |
| + | ===Games=== |
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| − | * [[Capcom]] was founded as Japan Capsule Computers |
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| + | ;Arcade |
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| + | * June: [[Namco]] releases ''[[Bomb Bee]]'', the sequel to ''[[Gee Bee]]''. |
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| + | * October: [[Namco]] releases ''[[Galaxian]]'', the first true color arcade game, in full [[RGB color model|RGB color]].<ref name="klovgalaxian">{{KLOV|7885|Galaxian}}</ref> It also introduces [[level]]s and [[boss]] encounters, and is the first game to have all of its graphics in [[RGB]] colour,<ref name="klovgalaxian"/> popularizing graphics in [[RGB color model|RGB colour]]. It has aliens periodically making [[kamikaze]]-like dives at the player's [[starship|ship]],<ref name="klovgalaxian"/> giving the enemies their own individual personalities.<ref name="joystick1_10">{{Cite journal|title=Arcade Games|journal=Joystick|date=September 1982|volume=1|issue=1|page=10}}</ref> |
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| + | * November, [[Nintendo]] releases ''[[Sheriff]]'', a [[Run & gun video games|run & gun]] [[multi-directional shooter video games|multi-directional shooter]] with [[Dual analog control|dual-stick]] controls (one [[joystick]] for movement and one for aiming) and many enemies shooting many bullets, influencing dual-stick shooters like ''[[Robotron 2084]]'', ''[[Ikari Warriors]]'' and ''[[Geometry Wars]]''.<ref name="1up.com">[http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3181467 Where Were They Then: The First Games of Nintendo, Konami, and More (Nintendo)], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> It was designed by [[Genyo Takeda]], with assistance from [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], his first work on a video game. |
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| + | * November: [[Namco]] releases ''[[Cutie Q]]'', the second sequel to ''Gee Bee''. |
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| + | * November: [[Atari]] releases ''[[Asteroids]]'', a major hit in the [[United States]] and Atari's best selling game of all time.<ref name="atarisite">http://www.atari.com/games/atari_classics</ref> |
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| + | * December: Nintendo releases ''[[Radar Scope]]'', featuring a [[2.5D|pseudo-3D]], [[Third person (video games)|third-person]] perspective, imitated years later by shooters such as [[Konami]]'s ''[[Juno First]]'' and [[Activision]]'s ''[[Beamrider]]''.<ref name="1up.com"/> [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] makes his game design debut with ''[[Radar Scope]]'',<ref>{{ArcadeHistory|2155|Radar Scope}}</ref> which introduces a [[2.5D|three-dimensional]] [[Third person (video games)|third-person perspective]].<ref name="1up.com"/> |
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| + | * [[Konami]] releases ''Space King'', a ''[[Space Invaders]]'' [[Video game clone|clone]] that featured the exact graphics and characters of the original ''Space Invaders''. [[Nintendo]] releases another clone with the exact graphics of the original ''Space Invaders'', called ''[[Space Fever]]''. |
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| + | * [[SEGA]] releases the ''[[Monaco GP]]'' arcade game. |
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| + | * [[Cinematronics]] releases the ''[[Warrior]]'' arcade game. |
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| + | * [[Atari]] releases the ''[[Lunar Lander]]'' and Ed Logg & Lyle Rains' ''[[Asteroids]]'' arcade games. |
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| + | ;Computer |
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| − | {{stub}} |
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| + | * [[Richard Garriott]] creates ''[[Akalabeth]]'', a computer role-playing game for the Apple IIe. It launches Garriott's career and is a precursor to his highly successful [[Ultima (series)|''Ultima'' series]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | * [[Richard Bartle]] and [[Roy Trubshaw]] create what is commonly recognized as the first playable [[MUD]], [[MUD1]]. (Note: Many say that this happened in [[1978 in video gaming|1978]], though Bartle has stated [[1979 in video gaming|1979]].) |
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| + | * October - [[subLOGIC]] releases ''[[Flight Simulator]]'' for the [[Apple II]]. It is later released by [[Microsoft Corporation]] ([[1982 in video gaming|1982]]). |
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| + | |||
| + | ===Hardware=== |
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| + | ;Arcade |
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| + | * October, the [[Namco Galaxian]] [[arcade system board]] is released, supporting [[sprite]]s, [[Tile engine|tilemaps]], and [[scrolling]]. It is widely adopted during the [[golden age of arcade video games]].<ref>https://github.com/mamedev/mame/tree/master/src/mame/drivers/galaxian.c</ref> It used specialized [[Graphics card|graphics hardware]] supporting RGB color, multi-colored [[sprite]]s, and [[Tile engine|tilemap]] backgrounds,<ref name=video>https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/video/galaxian.c</ref> distinguishing it from the [[Taito 8080]] [[monochrome]] [[framebuffer]] system of ''[[Space Invaders]]''.<ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oK3D4i5ldKgC&pg=PA173</ref> Namco Galaxian also introduced a sprite [[Framebuffer|line buffer]] system, later adopted by arcade system boards such as the [[Namco Pac-Man]], [[Midway Games|Midway]]'s ''[[Tron]]'' hardware,<ref>http://www.vasulka.org/archive/Writings/VideogameImpact.pdf#page=25</ref> and [[SEGA Z80]]. The Galaxian hardware was widely used by other game companies during the arcade golden age,<ref>https://github.com/mamedev/mame/tree/master/src/mame/drivers/galaxian.c</ref> including [[Centuri]], [[Gremlin Industries|Gremlin]], [[Irem]], [[Konami]], [[Midway Games|Midway]], [[Nichibutsu]], [[SEGA]], [[Taito Corporation|Taito]], and bootleg manufacturers.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20140103070737/http://mamedev.org/source/src/mame/drivers/galdrvr.c.html</ref> |
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| + | |||
| + | ;Console |
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| + | * [[Mattel]] test markets the [[Intellivision]] console in Fresno, California. It is released throughout the [[United States]] in [[1980 in video gaming|1980]]. |
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| + | * [[Milton Bradley]] Company releases the [[Microvision]] handheld |
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| + | * [[Texas Instruments]] releases the [[TI-99/4]] home computer |
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| + | * [[Warner Communications]]' Atari creates the [[Cosmos]] handheld, but this was ultimately never released to the public. |
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| + | |||
| + | ==References== |
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| + | {{Reflist}} |
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| + | |||
| + | ==Video game releases== |
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| + | {{ReleasesQueryYear|1979}} |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | {{HardwareReleasesQueryYear|1979}} |
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Latest revision as of 17:52, 2 June 2019
Business[ | ]
- New companies:
- Activision
- Capcom
- Infocom
- Strategic Simulations
- Edu-Ware Services
- The US arcade game market's revenues increase to $1.5 billion in 1979[1] (equivalent to $4.89 billion in 2024).
Notable releases[ | ]
Games[ | ]
- Arcade
- June: Namco releases Bomb Bee, the sequel to Gee Bee.
- October: Namco releases Galaxian, the first true color arcade game, in full RGB color.[2] It also introduces levels and boss encounters, and is the first game to have all of its graphics in RGB colour,[2] popularizing graphics in RGB colour. It has aliens periodically making kamikaze-like dives at the player's ship,[2] giving the enemies their own individual personalities.[3]
- November, Nintendo releases Sheriff, a run & gun multi-directional shooter with dual-stick controls (one joystick for movement and one for aiming) and many enemies shooting many bullets, influencing dual-stick shooters like Robotron 2084, Ikari Warriors and Geometry Wars.[4] It was designed by Genyo Takeda, with assistance from Shigeru Miyamoto, his first work on a video game.
- November: Namco releases Cutie Q, the second sequel to Gee Bee.
- November: Atari releases Asteroids, a major hit in the United States and Atari's best selling game of all time.[5]
- December: Nintendo releases Radar Scope, featuring a pseudo-3D, third-person perspective, imitated years later by shooters such as Konami's Juno First and Activision's Beamrider.[4] Shigeru Miyamoto makes his game design debut with Radar Scope,[6] which introduces a three-dimensional third-person perspective.[4]
- Konami releases Space King, a Space Invaders clone that featured the exact graphics and characters of the original Space Invaders. Nintendo releases another clone with the exact graphics of the original Space Invaders, called Space Fever.
- SEGA releases the Monaco GP arcade game.
- Cinematronics releases the Warrior arcade game.
- Atari releases the Lunar Lander and Ed Logg & Lyle Rains' Asteroids arcade games.
- Computer
- Richard Garriott creates Akalabeth, a computer role-playing game for the Apple IIe. It launches Garriott's career and is a precursor to his highly successful Ultima series.
- Richard Bartle and Roy Trubshaw create what is commonly recognized as the first playable MUD, MUD1. (Note: Many say that this happened in 1978, though Bartle has stated 1979.)
- October - subLOGIC releases Flight Simulator for the Apple II. It is later released by Microsoft Corporation (1982).
Hardware[ | ]
- Arcade
- October, the Namco Galaxian arcade system board is released, supporting sprites, tilemaps, and scrolling. It is widely adopted during the golden age of arcade video games.[7] It used specialized graphics hardware supporting RGB color, multi-colored sprites, and tilemap backgrounds,[8] distinguishing it from the Taito 8080 monochrome framebuffer system of Space Invaders.[9] Namco Galaxian also introduced a sprite line buffer system, later adopted by arcade system boards such as the Namco Pac-Man, Midway's Tron hardware,[10] and SEGA Z80. The Galaxian hardware was widely used by other game companies during the arcade golden age,[11] including Centuri, Gremlin, Irem, Konami, Midway, Nichibutsu, SEGA, Taito, and bootleg manufacturers.[12]
- Console
- Mattel test markets the Intellivision console in Fresno, California. It is released throughout the United States in 1980.
- Milton Bradley Company releases the Microvision handheld
- Texas Instruments releases the TI-99/4 home computer
- Warner Communications' Atari creates the Cosmos handheld, but this was ultimately never released to the public.
References[ | ]
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20071222225649/http://www.replaymag.com/history.htm
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Galaxian at Museum of the Game
- ↑ "Arcade Games". Joystick 1 (1): 10. September 1982.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Where Were They Then: The First Games of Nintendo, Konami, and More (Nintendo), 1UP
- ↑ http://www.atari.com/games/atari_classics
- ↑ Radar Scope at the Gaming-History database
- ↑ https://github.com/mamedev/mame/tree/master/src/mame/drivers/galaxian.c
- ↑ https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/video/galaxian.c
- ↑ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oK3D4i5ldKgC&pg=PA173
- ↑ http://www.vasulka.org/archive/Writings/VideogameImpact.pdf#page=25
- ↑ https://github.com/mamedev/mame/tree/master/src/mame/drivers/galaxian.c
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20140103070737/http://mamedev.org/source/src/mame/drivers/galdrvr.c.html
Video game releases[ | ]
Hardware releases[ | ]
| Name | Release Date | Category | Region(s) |
| Atari 400 | 1979 | Home Computer | North America |
| Atari 800 | 1979 | Home Computer | North America |
| Color TV-Game Block Breaker | 1979 | Dedicated Console | Japan |
| Microvision | 1979 | Handheld | Europe |
| Microvision | 1979 | Handheld | North America |