- March
- Capcom releases the Mickey's Dangerous Chase video game for the Game Boy in the US. Price is US$29.95. [715.93] [1092.38]
- At the Wembley Conference Center in England, W Industry introduces two virtuality systems, a sit-down and a stand-up system. The Expality computer incorporates a 33 MHz Commodore Amiga 3000, two Texas Instruments TI34020 and two TI34082 graphics processors. A headset with LCD displays includes head movement tracking and quadrophonic sound. [517.26]
- When asked which computer company he fears the most, Apple Computer company president Michael Spindler replies "Nintendo". [124.6]
- March 28
- US District Court judge Fern Smith grants Nintendo's request for a preliminary injunction against Atari Games, in the lawsuits over Atari Games' compatible security chip for Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges. Atari Games is barred from selling or copying copywrited Nintendo programs for use in video game cartridges. Smith accuses Atari Games of lying to obtain Nintendo's 10NES security program from the Copyright Office, then lying that it had independently developed compatible code. [124.256] [186.D3]
- March 31
- Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy game systems over the past twelve months: about 8 million. [271.D4]
- April 10
- A Federal Trade Commission investigation of Nintendo is made public. The focus was on allegations of price-fixing. It is announced that Nintendo had signed a consent decree, agreeing to not fix prices or punish retailers who lower suggested prices. Nintendo agrees to mail out $5 coupons to buyers of Nintendo Entertainment Systems between June 1, 1988 and December 30, 1990, toward future Nintendo merchandise. [124.271] [187.D1]
- April 11
- US District Court Judge Fern Smith agrees to allow Tengen (part of Atari Games) to sell its game cartridges for the Nintendo Entertainment System, pending the outcome of an appeal. [124.259]
- April
- In the lawsuit of Nintendo versus Lewis Galoob, an appeal to the Ninth Circuit upholds the injunction preventing the sale of the Game Genie. [124.287]
- Sega of America test markets the Game Gear handheld video game system in New York and Los Angeles, USA. Price is $149.99. [1483.48]
- Unit shipments of Super Famicom game system in Japan to date: 2 million. [124.360]
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- Namco releases the Pac-Man video game for the Game Boy in the US. [609.9]
- April 27
- NCS releases the Shubibinman 2 video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.81]
- May
- Parker Brothers releases the Monopoly video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- Bandai releases The Rocketeer video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28] [1488.17]
- Toho releases the Times of Lore video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- Nintendo and Philips N.V. agree on a deal to allow Nintendo compact discs on Philips' CD-I machine, and Philips would supply CD-ROM drives for use with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. [124.378]
- LJN releases the Beetlejuice video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- Gametek releases the Family Feud video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- Mindscape releases the Flight of the Intruder video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [514.28]
- May 20
- NEC drops the price of the TurboGrafx-CD player from US$399 to $299. [1488.4]
- May 24
- TriStar Pictures releases the film Hudson Hawk to theaters in the USA. A character says "Will you play Nintendo with me?". A crime family in New Jersey is known as "the Mario Brothers". [931]
- May 31
- At the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois, Sony announces the Play Station video game system that can play Nintendo's new 16-bit game cartridges, as well as games on compact disk. The Play Station system is set to cost about US$400. [124.378] [189.36] [191.D1] [438.40] [1188.36] [1298.127]
- June 1
- At the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois, Nintendo announces the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES). The 16-bit system will use new game cartridges, and compact discs using a CD-ROM drive developed with Philips N.V. The system is to be available for sale in September. [124.381] [189.35] [191.D1] [326.69] [563.97] [674.37] [1188.36] [1298.127] [1488.4]
- Sega drops the price of the Genesis in the US from $189 to $149. [1488.4]
- June
- Sega of America test markets the Game Gear handheld video game system in Europe. Price is 99.99 UK pounds. [1483.48]
- June 23
- Sega Enterprises introduces the Sonic the Hedgehog video game for the Genesis and Game Gear video game systems in the US. The game was created by Haoto Oshima, Hirokazu Yashuhara, and Yuji Naka in 14 months. [194.S3.12] [304.138] [396.24] [779.38] [992.34] [1070.72] [1494.113] [1505.220]
- (month unknown)
- Total shipments of the Genesis game system in the US to date: 1 million. [124.356]
- Total shipments of the Nintendo Entertainment System game system in the US to date: 31.7 million. [124.356]
- The Nintendo Entertainment System is introduced to Hungary. [124.416]
- The Nintendo Game Boy is introduced to Hungary. [124.416]
- Capcom releases the Snow Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [715.93]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge for the Game Boy in the US. [715.93]
- In Tokyo, Japan, the Tokyo City Philharmonic orchestra performs a medly of classic 16-bit video game music for an audience. [547.44]
- Bandai releases the Dick Tracy video game for the Game Boy in the US. [563.68]
- Capcom releases the Who Framed Roger Rabbit video game for the Game Boy in the US. [563.52] [715.93]
- Konami releases The Simpsons arcade video game. [460.140]
- LJN releases the Wolverine video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [626.93]
- Atari releases a new version of the Lynx handheld video game system. Price is US$99. [685.133]
- NEC releases the PCE Duo video game system in Japan. [1091.93]
- The TV series Super Mario World debuts. (A total of 13 shows are aired.) [1391.176]
- Nintendo releases the last Game & Watch handheld video game, Mario The Juggler. A total of 60 different titles on 80 million devices were released since 1980. (Over the next 11 years, over 80 million Game & Watch devices will be sold.) [1444.189] [1494.105] [1505.155]
- Leland releases the Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp arcade game. [1460.226]
- July 5
- In San Francisco, California, US District Court Judge Fern Smith rules in favor of Lewis Galoob Toys over Nintendo, allowing the manufacture and sale of the Game Genie. Nintendo maintains that the product does infringe its copyrights, and plans to appeal the decision. [124.287] [192.33] (April [1460.391])
- July 12
- Compile releases the Spriggan video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.81]
- Columbia Pictures releases the film Boyz n the Hood to theaters in the USA. The game Duck Hunt is played on the Nintendo Entertainment System. [922]
- July
- Square releases the Final Fantasy IV video game for the Super Famicom in Japan. (Total sales over its lifetime: 1.8 million, including Final Fantasy II in the US.) [556.98]
- Sega of America ships the Time Traveler holographic video game to arcade centers. [13.8]
- Capcom releases The Little Mermaid video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [517.14] [563.38] [713.72] [715.93]
- Capcom releases the TaleSpin video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA. [517.14] [715.93]
- (month unknown)
- Unit sales of Genesis video game systems in the US to date: 1.5 million. [315.42]
- Unit sales of Nintendo Entertainment System video game systems in the US to date: 28 million. [315.42]
- August 13
- Nintendo releases the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) video game system in the US. It features 3.58MHz 16-bit 65c816 processor, 128kB RAM, 256-color graphics in 512x448 resolution. The 65c816 processor is a 16-bit version of the 6502 processor, but the new system cannot use game cartridges from the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Price is US$199.95, including two controllers and game Super Mario World. (Total North American sales over its lifetime: 22 million. Total games released for the system: 717.) [70] [193.D1] [453.40] [483.56,62] [972.94] [1161.79] [1420.61] [1440.38] [1494.126] (September [124.362] [674.37] [956.76] [1488.4]) (2.68MHz processor [972.94])
- August
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario World video game for the Super NES in the US. (Total sales: 20.61 million.) [304.150] [401] [410.9] [412.24] [453.40] [871.38] [1159.90] [1494.126]
- Konami releases the Gradius III video game for the Super NES in the USA. [531.9] [1159.98] [1420.61]
- Nintendo releases the F-Zero video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.91] [1420.63]
- Nintendo releases the SimCity video game for the Super NES in the US. Price is US$34.95. [391.56] [1159.93] [1420.61] (1996 [391.96])
- Nintendo releases the Pilotwings video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1420.63]
- August 23
- Hudson releases the 1941 video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.80]
- September 9
- Nintendo of America reports that the Super NES is now available nationwide in the USA. Price of US$199.95 includes Super Mario World. [1141.D4] [1460.432]
- September
- Atlus Software releases the Rockin' Kats video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [713.43]
- Capcom releases the Final Fight video game for the Super NES in the USA. [715.93] [1159.101] [1420.62]
- Capcom releases the U.N. Squadron video game for the Super NES in the US. [715.93] [1135.116]
- September 21
- NEC releases the NEC PC Engine Duo video game system in Japan. This combines the PC Engine with the CD-ROM2 in one case, and extra memory for the Super CD format. [1255.75,77]
- NEC releases the NEC PC Engine LT handheld console game system, with 4-inch screen, built-in speakers, and HuCard CD support. [1255.78]
- October 3
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. A character plays a Touch of Death martial arts video game in an arcade. [759]
- October
- Philips Electronics releases the CD-I multimedia system, using compact disks for games and other interactive applications. It features 16-bit processor, 1 MB RAM, 256-color video output. Price is US$1000. [124.376] [352.14]
- Virtuality releases the Dactyl Nightmare game in arcades in the USA. This is a 3-D virtual reality game for up to four players at once, at a cost of $1 per minute. [1505.252]
- October 17
- US Judge Sweet approves settlement of 50 state attorney generals and District of Columbia vs. Nintendo. Nintendo must mail $5 discount coupons on next NES game to purchasers of NES systems between June 1, 1988 and December 31, 1990. [1460.389]
- October 31
- Sega Enterprises sues Accolade, claiming that Accolade should pay royalties to Sega for creating Sega Genesis titles, and that Accolade's games mislead people into thinking they were produced for or licensed by Sega. [1460.383] (November [31.364])
- November 5
- Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles, California, officially declares the day Nintendo Fun Day. [638.6]
- Mayor Xavier Suarez of Miami, Florida, officially declares the day Nintendo Fun Day. [639.7]
- November 7
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. Two characters play a home video game on the television, with a single-button joystick. At a convenience store, a standalone arcade game is shown. [760]
- November 15
- Quest releases the Magical Chase video game for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.81]
- November
- Nintendo releases the Metroid II: Return of Samus video game for the Game Boy in the US. [451.9] [1159.93] (October [1192.73])
- The first issue of Sega Pro magazine is released, in the UK. [1391.252]
- Enix releases the ActRaiser video game for the Super NES in the US. [304.127] [1159.96] [1420.62]
- Nintendo releases the Super Tennis video game for the Super NES in the USA. [1159.101]
- Capcom releases the Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts video game for the Super NES in the US. [304.134] [715.93] [721.114b] [1159] [1420.62]
- Square Soft releases the Final Fantasy Adventure video game for the Game Boy in the USA. [1159.97]
- American Sammy releases the Vice: Project Doom video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [713.41]
- Nintendo releases the Kid Icarus of Myths and Monsters video game for the Game Boy in the USA. [1135.116]
- Unit shipments of Super Famicom game system in Japan to date: 4 million. [124.360]
- November 23
- Square releases the Final Fantasy II video game for the Super NES in the US. This is the same game as Final Fantasy IV in Japan. [401] [412.87] [556.98] [608.101] [637.9] [1159.89] [1420.63]
- December
- Sega launches the Mega-CD video game system in Japan, priced at 49,800 yen. [1444.69]
- Bulletproof releases the Faceball 2000 video game for the Game Boy in the USA. [1159.99]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man: Dr. Wiley's Revenge video game for the Game Boy in the US. [420.70]
- Konami releases the Super Castlevania IV video game for the Super NES in the USA. [304.146] [1159.95] [1420.63]
- December 26
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show. A character plays an arcade video game resembling Ms. Pac-Man. [761]
- December 31
- NEC releases the PC Engine Super CD-ROM2 for the PC Engine in Japan. [1255.72]
- Year
- Total shipments during the year of Nintendo game systems in the US: 30 million. [78.149]
- Total shipments during the year of Super Nintendo Entertainment System units: 3.4 million. [1460.447]
- Market share of US video game industry: Nintendo 70%, Sega 22%. [349.35]
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