Editing Timeline of arcade video game history

{{Wikipedia}}
{{Decadebox}}

{{VG History|expandmenu=1}}

==Early history (1971–1977)==
;1971
* At [[Stanford University]], two students realise the [[PDP-11]]-based machine ''[[Galaxy Game]]''.  It is a clone of ''[[Spacewar!]]'', one of the earliest video games, developed in 1962.
* Syzygy Engineering, a precursor to [[Atari, Inc.]] launches ''[[Computer Space]]'', the first commercial video arcade game, also being a ''Spacewar!'' derivative.

;1972
 
* Atari, Inc. launches ''[[Pong]]'', the first commercially successful video game. It is also the first arcade [[Sports game|sports video game]].

; 1974

* Taito releases ''[[Speed Race]]'', which introduces [[scrolling]] sprite graphics,<ref name=Barton-197>Bill Loguidice & Matt Barton (2009), ''Vintage games: an insider look at the history of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the most influential games of all time'', p. 197, [[Focal Press]], {{ISBN|0-240-81146-1}}</ref> and features a [[racing wheel]] controller.<ref>{{KLOV game|id=9709|name=Speed Race}}</ref> Midway releases it as ''Racer'' in the United States.<ref name=Barton-197/>

;1975

* [[Midway Manufacturing]] releases ''[[Gun Fight]]'', an adaptation of Taito's ''[[Western Gun]]'' and the first arcade video game to use a [[microprocessor]], which the original incarnation did not use, allowing for improved graphics and smoother animation.<ref name="kohler19">{{Citation|author=Chris Kohler|year=2005|title=Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life|page=19|publisher=[[BradyGames]]|isbn=0-7440-0424-1|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=auMTAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=2011-03-27}}</ref>

;1976

* [[SEGA]] releases ''[[Moto-Cross]]'', which features [[haptic feedback]], causing the [[Motorcycle handlebar|handlebars]] to vibrate during collisions.<ref>Mark J. P. Wolf (2008), ''The video game explosion: a history from PONG to PlayStation and beyond'', p. 39, [[ABC-CLIO]], {{ISBN|0-313-33868-X}}</ref> [[Gremlin Industries|SEGA-Gremlin]] re-brands it as ''[[Fonz]]''.<ref name=Fonz>{{KLOV game|id=12812|name=Fonz}}</ref>
* Atari Inc. releases ''[[Night Driver]]'', an early example of a first-person perspective racing video game.
* Atari releases ''[[Breakout]]'', which inspires a number of [[Breakout clone|''Breakout'' clones]].
* Exidy releases ''[[Death Race]].''

;1977

* [[Cinematronics]] releases [[Space Wars]], the first vector graphics arcade game.

==Golden age (1978-1986)==
{{See also|Golden age of arcade video games|List of best-selling video games#Arcade|l2=List of best-selling arcade games}}

;1978

* [[Taito Corporation|Taito]] releases ''[[Space Invaders]]'', the first [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] arcade video game,<ref>{{Citation|author=Chris Kohler|year=2005|title=Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life|page=18|publisher=[[BradyGames]]|isbn=0-7440-0424-1|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=auMTAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=2011-03-27}}</ref> responsible for starting the [[golden age of video arcade games]]. It also sets the template for the [[shoot 'em up]] genre,<ref name="1UP-50">{{Cite web|title=Essential 50: Space Invaders|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-space-invaders|accessdate=2011-03-26}}</ref> and influences nearly every [[shooter game]] released since then.<ref name="1UP-10things">{{Cite web| url = http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3168373| title = Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Space Invaders| publisher = [[1UP.com]]| author = Edwards, Benj| accessdate = 2008-07-11}}</ref>

;1979

* [[Atari]] releases ''[[Lunar Lander]]'' and ''[[Asteroids (video game)|Asteroids]]'', a major hit in the [[United States]] and Atari's best selling game of all time.<ref name="atarisite">{{Cite web|url=http://www.atari.com/games/atari_classics |title=Mobile Games |publisher=Atari |date= |accessdate=2013-02-28}}</ref>
* [[Namco]] releases ''[[Galaxian]]'', which is in [[RGB]] colour.<ref>{{MOTG|7885|Galaxian}}</ref>

;1980

* Atari releases ''[[Battlezone]]'', a [[first-person shooter]] tank combat game.
* Namco releases ''[[Pac-Man]]'', its biggest-selling game. One of the most influential games, it had the first gaming [[mascot]] [[Character (arts)|character]], established the [[List of maze chase games|maze chase]] genre, opened gaming to female audiences,<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3122102 The Essential 50 - Pac-Man], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> and introduced [[power-up]]s<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3151392 Playing With Power: Great Ideas That Have Changed Gaming Forever], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> and [[cutscene]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2|title=Gaming's most important evolutions|publisher=}}</ref>
* [[Data East]] releases [[DECO Cassette System]], the first standardized [[Arcade system board|arcade platform]], for which many games were made.
* [[Williams Electronics]] release ''[[Defender]]'', a more challenging shoot-em-up space game with control configuration of five buttons and a joystick.

;1981

* Atari release ''[[Tempest]]'', the first color vector arcade game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.andysarcade.de/tempest.html|title=Tempest (Atari 1980)|publisher=Andy's Arcade|accessdate=2015-12-07}}</ref>
* [[Nintendo]] releases ''[[Donkey Kong]]'', which was one of the first [[platform game]]s. It was also the game that introduced [[Mario]] (named simply "Jumpman" at the time) to the video game world.
* [[Namco]] releases ''[[Galaga]]'', sequel to Galaxian.
* [[Konami]] releases ''[[Scramble]]'', the first side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling and multiple distinct levels.<ref name="lecture">[http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/classes/cmps080k/Winter07/lectures/shmups.pdf Game Genres: Shmups], Professor Jim Whitehead, January 29, 2007, Accessed June 17, 2008</ref>
* Konami releases ''[[Frogger]]'', a popular arcade [[action game]].

;1982

* [[Williams Electronics]] releases ''[[Joust]]''.
* Namco releases ''[[Pole Position]]'', one of the most popular racing games of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=pole-position-cockpit-model&page=detail&id=21234 |title=pole position [cockpit model&#93; [coin-op&#93; arcade video game, namco, ltd. (1982) |publisher=Arcade-history.com |date=2012-07-24 |accessdate=2013-02-28}}</ref> This is also Namco's first game to feature a 16-bit CPU making it the first 16-bit video game.

;1983

* [[Midway Games|Bally Midway]] releases ''[[Journey (1983)|Journey]]'', the first game with digitized sprites.
* ''[[Astron Belt]]'', the first [[laserdisc video game]], is released by SEGA.
* ''[[Dragon's Lair]]'', the first video game to use cel-animated video instead of computer generated graphics was advertised as the first truly 3D video game and as the meeting point of video games and animated films.
* Atari brings ''[[Star Wars (1983)|Star Wars]]'' to the arcades in the form of a 3D vector graphics simulation of [[Star Wars (film)|the movie's]] attack on the [[Death Star]] sequence and featuring digitized samples of voices from the movie.

;1984

* ''[[Marble Madness]]'' and ''[[Paperboy]]'' are released by [[Atari Games]].

;1985

* ''[[Gauntlet]]'' is released by [[Atari Games]]
* ''[[Gradius]]'' (''Nemesis'' in some countries) is released by [[Konami]].
* ''[[Space Harrier]]'' is released by [[SEGA]]
* ''[[Vs. Super Mario Bros.]]'', the arcade version of [[Super Mario Bros.]] originally on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] ([[Family Computer]] in Japan), is released into arcades.
* ''[[Tehkan World Cup]]'', the father of soccer games with an above view of the field, is released by [[Tehkan]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10057 |title=Tehkan World Cup - Videogame by Tehkan |publisher=Arcade-museum.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-28}}</ref> who also release its stablemate, ''[[Gridiron Fight]]''.
* ''Air Race'' was also planned to be released by Atari in 1985. Due to the high cost of the hardware, the game also was cancelled. If released, it would have been the first arcade racing game to use 3D polygon graphics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=air-race&page=detail&id=35309|title=Air Race pcb by Atari, Inc. (1985)|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYLCsmNKfE|title=Atari 1985 Air Race unreleased arcade game|first=|last=ScottithGames|date=22 December 2011|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref>
*''[[Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back]]'' is released and became Atari's last major vector-based arcade game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=deBFx7QAwsQC&pg=PA668&lpg=PA668&dq=Empire%20strikes%20back,%20atari's%20last%20vector%20game&source=bl&ots=IPxv4p2XZe&sig=GFb5-VA68zf81IhqMDDbxQBqrIA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=g5oiUrLxOo6lsASruIHADQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Empire%20strikes%20back,%20atari's%20last%20vector%20game&f=false|title=Encyclopedia of Video Games: M-Z|date=1 January 2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|via=Google Books}}</ref>

;1986
* Taito releases ''[[Bubble Bobble]]''.
* SEGA releases ''[[Out Run]]''.
* ''[[Chiller]]'' by Exidy is released and is an early example of blood and gore.<ref>{{Cite web|author=nathaaan90 |url=http://listverse.com/2010/05/11/15-firsts-in-video-game-history/ |title=15 Firsts In Video Game History |publisher=Listverse |date=2010-05-11 |accessdate=2013-02-28}}</ref>
*Top Gunner by Exidy is released and is the last commercial arcade video game to use vector-based(wireframe) graphics.
* Turbo Kourier is released by the Vivid Group and is the first coin-operated Virtual Reality arcade video game to use 3D Polygon Graphics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siggraph.org/s95/S95_V1/ENTRTAIN/MANDALA/MTK.HTL|title=Mandala Turbo Kourier Module|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=turbo-kourier&page=detail&id=29907|title=Turbo Kourier pcb by Vivid Group (1986)|publisher=}}</ref>

==Post-golden age (1987-present)==
;1987

* [[Technōs Japan]] releases ''[[Double Dragon]]''. It became a huge hit, paving the way for [[beat 'em up]] games.

;1988
* ''[[NARC (video game)|NARC]]'', by [[Midway Games|Williams]] is released and is the first commercially released game to use a 32-bit processor.
* [[Namco]] releases ''[[Assault (arcade game)|Assault]]'', which was the first game to make use of  massive sprite rotation as well as sprite scaling. It also released ''[[Splatterhouse]]'', which was the first game to get a parental advisory disclaimer.
* Namco introduces the [[Namco System 21|Namco System 21 "Polygonizer"]], the first [[arcade system board]] designed for [[3D computer graphics|3D polygonal graphics]]. The first game to use it is the [[racing video game]] ''[[Winning Run]]''.
* ''[[Top Landing]]'' by [[Taito]] is released and is the first coin-operated flight simulation to use 3D polygon graphics and runs on [[Taito]]'s Air System board.
* ''[[Tetris]]'' makes the jump from home to arcade as an Atari coin-op.

;1989
* ''[[Exterminator]]'' by [[Gottlieb]] is released and is the first video game to use fully digitized graphics in every element of the game. This was [[Gottlieb]]'s last video game. 
* ''[[Hard Drivin']]'', by Atari Games is released and is the second arcade driving game to have 3D polygonal graphics.
* ''[[S.T.U.N. Runner]]'' is released by ''[[Atari Games]]'' and is known for early use of high-speed 3-D Polygonal Graphics.

;1990
* ''[[Pit-Fighter]]'' is released by '[[Atari Games]]'' and is the first ever fighting game to use fully digitized graphics. Released two years before Midway's Mortal Kombat.
* ''[[Galaxian³]]'' is released by [[Namco]] as a video game Theme Park Attraction and is the first to feature 8-players. This game is a sequel to the Galaxian series and is known for combining pre-laserdisc background images and 3D Polygonal graphics. It was later released as an arcade cabinet to the public in 1994.
* ''[[NAM-1975]]'' is released by ''[[SNK]]'' and is the first game running on a Neo Geo hardware and became the standardized arcade platform throughout the 90s to the early 2000s. Many 2D fighting games like Fatal Fury, World Heroes, and Samurai Showdown ran on this hardware and was very popular in the arcades for its time.

;1991
* [[Capcom]] releases ''[[Street Fighter II]]'', revolutionizing competitive play in the arcade setting and setting the template for [[fighting game]]s.

;1992
* [[Midway Games]] releases ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'', which features blood and [[fatality (Mortal Kombat)|fatalities]].
* [[SEGA]] releases ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', SEGA's first 3D racer as well as SEGA's first polygonal 3D game.

;1993
* ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' is released, featuring high quality digitized graphics, and the most advanced sound system in arcades at the time, the [[Digital Compression System|DCS]] sound system which allowed for [[MP3]] style compression to all sounds.
* [[SEGA]] releases ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', the first 3D fighting game.

;1994
* ''[[Killer Instinct]]'' is released, the first arcade game with a [[hard disk]], up to that point the game with the highest quality graphics pre-rendered by a rendering program, featuring to this day the highest quality use of the movie background technique.
* [[Namco]] releases ''[[Tekken]]'', another fighting game.

;1995
* [[Midway Games]] releases ''[[Mortal Kombat 3]]'', which was part of the Mortal Kombat series.

;1996
* SNK releases ''[[Metal Slug]]'', a run and gun game widely known for its sense of humor, fluid hand-drawn animation, and fast-paced two-player action.

;1998
* Konami releases ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'', an arcade game with four arrow pads that the players used to "dance."  This game would create many sequels and spin-offs.
* ''[[Gauntlet Legends]]'' is released by [[Atari Games]] and it is the first game in the Gauntlet series to be produced in 3D and is the last Gauntlet game released by [[Atari Games]].

;1999
* ''[[Rush 2049]]'' is released, the last arcade game to bear the Atari Games logo.  Atari Games in Milpitas is renamed Midway Games West, and closes its coin-op product development division.
* ''[[Hydro Thunder]]'' is released by [[Midway Games]]'' a 3D speedboat racing game and was one of the first to run on QuickSilver II hardware,  a windows-based hardware setup which was less expensive to use. The game was one of [[Midway Games]] most successful arcade games to date.
* ''[[Derby Owners Club]]'' which was the first large-scale satellite arcade machine with [[smartcard]]s, which have become a staple in [[Amusement arcade|Japanese game centers]] since.

;2000
* ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes]] is released by [[Capcom]] and runs on SEGA's NAOMI hardware. This game combines 2D character sprites, background arenas and special effects are 3D polygon based.

;2001
* Namco releases ''[[Tekken 4]]'', the first talking game to feature almost all characters talking to one another.
* SEGA releases ''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'', the first arcade game with [[online]] features in Japan.

;2002
* ''[[Arctic Thunder]]'' : Special Edition is released and is the last arcade game by [[Midway Games]] and runs on a PC based Hardware Midway Graphite. It's arcade division was later shut down.
* SEGA launches ''[[World Club Champion Football]]'', which introduced [[trading cards]], which have become a staple in [[Amusement arcade|Japanese game centers]].

==See also==
* [[Arcade game]]
* [[Golden age of arcade video games]]
* [[List of best-selling video games#Arcade|List of best-selling arcade video games]]
* [[Video arcade]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.gaming-history.com Arcade Games history]

{{History of video games}}

[[Category:Arcade games| ]]
[[Category:Timelines of video games|Arcade History]]
[[Category:History of video games]]