- July 30
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Crystal video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. (Total sales over its lifetime: 4 million units.) [401] [458.20] [476.30] [1425.53]
- (month unknown)
- Midway closes its coin-op division. [388.26]
- Sony temporarily discontinues the US$299 price of the PlayStation 2, introducing a package of the PlayStation 2 and video game Gran Turismo 3 for US$329. [1137.30]
- August 8
- Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. A home video game system with four controllers is played. A new video game system is purchased, the Okama Gamesphere, likely a reference to the upcoming Nintendo GameCube. The game "Thirst for Blood" is played on the system. [1103]
- August 11
- Nintendo releases the Mario Kart: Super Circuit video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [291.20] [388.66] [401] [411] [458.40]
- At Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Classic Gaming Expo 2001 is held, over two days. [297.27] [389.10]
- August 13
- Sega cuts the price of the Dreamcast game system in the US from US$99.99 to US$79.99. [296.38] [388.26]
- August
- EA Sports releases the Madden NFL 2002 video game for the PlayStation in the US. [739.18] [740.86]
- Virtua Fighter 4 video game released to arcades, with use of memory card. [1482.37]
- A study at the Tohoku University of video game playing finds that game playing stimulates only the vision and movement parts of the brain, contributing nothing to the areas that control behavior, memory, emotion, and learning. [597]
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- August 17
- Microsoft Canada announces it will launch the Xbox in Canada on November 8, for CDN$459.99 (about US$298). [597]
- August 21
- Capcom releases the Resident Evil Code: Veronica X video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [304.142] [739.18] [834.17]
- August 22
- Nintendo announces it is delaying the release of the GameCube in North America from November 5 to November 18, to increase the quantity of systems available at launch from 500,000 to 700,000. [597]
- September 10
- Nintendo releases the Advance Wars video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [304.132] [388.66] [401]
- September 14
- In Japan, Nintendo launches the GameCube video game system. It features 405 MHz "Gekko" processor based on a 256-bit IBM Power PC, and 43 MB RAM. Size is 6 x 6 x 4.3 inches; price is 25,000 yen. Code name during development was Dolphin. (133,719 units sell in the first week.) [291.21] [296.38] [298.38,40] [361.46] [377.62] [378.59] [388.20] [597] [815.60]
- Nintendo releases the Luigi's Mansion video game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.150] [298.40]
- Nintendo releases the Wave Race: Blue Storm video game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.25,156] [298.40]
- Sega releases the Super Monkey Ball video game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.158] [298.40]
- September
- In Japan, Capcom and Nintendo announce six games in the Biohazard (Resident Evil) series will be released for the GameCube: a remake of the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Resident Evil 4. [741.18]
- Sony releases an updated version of the PlayStation 2. [330.22]
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden NFL 2002 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [739.18]
- Shipments of the PlayStation 2 worldwide to date: 20 million. [742.20] [812.58]
- Sony reduces the price of the PlayStation 2 in Japan to 35,000 yen. [597]
- September 25
- Enix releases the Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [298.51]
- September 26
- Sony CEA releases the Ico video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [296.60] [479.98] [739.18]
- September
- Sony drops the price of the PlayStation 2 in England from 299 pounds to 199 pounds (about US$292). [741.18]
- September (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Madden NFL 2002 for the PlayStation 2. [630.83] [747.27]
- Unit shipments of the GameCube in Japan during the month: 1.3 million. [360.34]
- (month unknown)
- Shipments of Final Fantasy VII video game worldwide to date: about 9 million. [630.62]
- Sony announces it will release limited edition colored PlayStation 2 systems during the holidays in Japan and North America. Colors will be white, red, yellow, astral blue, and silver. [742.20]
- October 9
- The Fox television network in the US airs the Undeclared program, showing someone using a PlayStation 2. [630.50]
- October 10
- Microsoft confirms reports that it will ship the Xbox with an 8 GB hard drive, not 10 GB as it had earlier announced. [597]
- October 12
- In Chiba City, Japan, the 11th annual Tokyo Game Show is held, over three days. Microsoft shows the Xbox video game system, for the first time in Japan. Sega shows Virtua Fighter 4 for the PlayStation 2. [297.50] [304.36] [742.18]
- October 15
- Capcom releases the Super Street Fighter II: Turbo Revival video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [401] [458.29]
- October
- Capcom releases the Mega Man Battle Network video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [296.60] [297.56] [460.72]
- Sony announces it has shipped 7 million PlayStation 2 systems in North America. [630.30]
- Sony invests US$124 million in Square for 18.6 percent of the company. [630.34] [742.20]
- Activision releases the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 video game for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and GameCube in the US. This is the first PlayStation 2 game to support online play, via modem and GameSpy.com. [296.60] [297.56] [298.205] [625.50] [741.26] [745.17]
- Activision releases the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 video game for the GameCube in the US. [298.205]
- Konami releases the Castlevania Chronicles video game for the PlayStation in the US. [296.56,60] [297.56]
- October 17
- Microsoft announces that the Xbox video game system will go on sale in Europe on March 14, for 479 euros. [597]
- Capcom releases the Devil May Cry video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [296.60,172] [297.56,68] [740.26]
- October 18
- Sony celebrates the first anniversary of the PlayStation 2 in the US. with a private party in the St. Regis Hotel in Century City, California. Shipments of the system in the US to date are 8.6 million, with total sales of 5 million. [304.45] [630.62]
- October 22
- Take 2 Interactive releases the Grand Theft Auto III video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. (About 11 million copies are sold in seven months. Total sales over its lifetime: 15 million units.) [296.60] [297.56,95] [298.44,106] [455.61] [570.77] [597] [625.52] [644.188] [739.18] [740.26] [1147.30] [1275.120] [1370.78]
- October 23
- Sony CEA announces it will release a Linux-enabled version of its PlayStation 2 video game system outside of Japan. [597]
- October 26
- Nintendo releases the Pikmin video game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.56,152] [298.76]
- October 29
- SNK of Japan shuts down the company. The company was best known for its NeoGeo arcade and home games. [304.56] [460.50] [630.50]
- October 30
- In Los Angeles, California, Nintendo hosts a Hollywood party to celebrate the opening of Cube Clubs nationwide. The locations allow players to try out GameCube games prior to the launch of the system. [597] (October 3 [304.44])
- October 31
- Sony releases the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [296.60,141] [628.51]
- October (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Devil May Cry for the PlayStation 2. [630.83] [812.16]
- Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Pachi-Slot Ju-Oh for the PlayStation 2. [630.83] [812.16]
- Top selling video game in the United Kingdom for the month: Grand Theft Auto 3 by Take 2 for the PlayStation 2. [812.16]
- (month unknown)
- At the Tokyo Motor Show, Sony shows the Gran Turismo Concept video game. The game is like a sequel to Gran Turismo 3, but with five new tracks and twenty new cars. [812.9]
- Sony releases the Sony PSone LCD Monitor for the PSone video game system in Japan. [741.20]
- Sega produces the final Dreamcast video game system. [551.30]
- November 1
- Enix releases the Dragon Warrior VII video game for the PlayStation in the US. [296.60,106] [297.56] [298] [741.26] [742.26]
- November 6
- The first issue of Official Xbox Magazine is published in the US. [851.X5] [1129.12]
- November 13
- Konami releases the Metal Gear Solid 2 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. (1.8 million copies are sold in the first two weeks.) [296.60,119] [297.56] [298.44,76] [345.50] [597] [628.40] [992.26]
- November 15
- Microsoft launches the Xbox game system in North America. Price is US$299. The system features four controller ports, one controller, 8 GB hard drive, 733 MHz Intel main processor, 250 MHz NVidia XGP graphics processor, 64 MB RAM, 3D audio support, Ethernet port, broadband Internet connection. Games come on dual-layer DVD-ROM discs that can store 9 GB of data. The system can also play DVD movies, requiring an optional remote control device. (500,000 units are sold in the first seven days; 1.5 million in the first month.) [296.56] [297.24,74a] [298.40,156,216] [345.36] [389.86] [468.25] [597] [751.71] [781.22] [815.60] [1126.4] [1129.12] [1151.68]
- At 12:01 AM in New York's Time Square, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates signs and sells the first Xbox, to Edward Glucksman. [320.30]
- Microsoft releases the Project Gotham Racing video game for the Xbox in the US. [296.60] [297.56,120] [298.76,164] [1151.73]
- Tecmo releases the Dead or Alive 3 video game for the Xbox in the US. [296.104] [297.56,112] [298.76,166] [598.123] [1151.73]
- Microsoft releases the Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee video game for the Xbox in the US. [296.60] [297.56,110] [298.76,170]
- Microsoft releases the Halo video game for the Xbox in the US. [296.60] [297.56,184] [298.76,172] [1151.73]
- Nintendo releases the Golden Sun video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [291.17] [297.128] [298.76] [401] [444.41]
- November
- Sega releases the Sonic the Hedgehog video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [296.60] [297.56]
- Electronic Arts releases the SSX Tricky video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [296.60] [297.56] [298.76] [740.26] [741.26] [742.26]
- Koei releases the Dynasty Warriors 3 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [297.56] [298.76,130] [470.63]
- Interplay releases the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [297.56,76] [298.76] [741.26]
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden NFL 2002 video game for the Xbox and Game Boy Advance in the US. [297.56] [298.76]
- Take 2 releases the Grand Theft Auto 3 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the UK. [634.13]
- THQ and Sega announce an exclusive deal for THQ to port Sega titles to the Game Boy Advance. [331.30]
- Bleem, maker of the Bleemcast video game emulator, closes. [320.30]
- Nintendo files a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Organization, for a combination cell phone and handheld videogame. [1188.52.4]
- November 18
- Nintendo releases the GameCube video game system in the US. It features four controller ports, one controller, 485 MHz IBM Gekko main processor, 162 MHz ATI Technologies "Flipper" graphics processor, 40 MB RAM, DVD-based proprietary disc drive. Games come on 3-inch optical discs holding up to 1.5 GB. Price is US$199.95. (Over 500,000 are sold in the first week in the US, the biggest game machine launch in the country to date.) [291.8] [296.38] [297.24] [298.40,188,216] [345.36] [387.17] [458.35] [597] [751.71] [815.60] [1390.51]
- Nintendo releases the Luigi's Mansion video game for the GameCube in the US. [296.60] [297.25,56,150] [298.196] [401] [1077.33]
- LucasArts releases the Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader video game for the GameCube in the US. [297.56] [298.202] [1077.33]
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden NFL 2002 video game for the GameCube in the US. [297.56] [298.204] [401]
- Electronic Arts releases the SSX Tricky video game for the GameCube in the US. [297.56] [298.76202] [401]
- Nintendo releases the Wario Land 4 video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [297.132] [298.76] [411]
- November 21
- Sega drops the price of the Dreamcast in the US from US$79.95 to US$49.95. [320.30] [345.44] [551.30] [597]
- Nintendo releases the Super Smash Bros. Melee video game for the GameCube in Japan. [297.156] [298.38]
- November 23
- Sega ships the final Dreamcast systems to North American retailers. [551.30]
- November
- Konami Computer Entertainment Japan releases the Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty video game for the PlayStation 2 in Japan and the US. [297.91] [298.60] [740.26] [741.26] [742.26]
- November 28
- Sony CEA releases the PSone LCD Monitor for the PSone video game system in the US. The US$129 screen plugs into the back of the system. The 5-inch wide display has resolution of 320x240, and includes stereo speakers. [597] [741.20]
- November (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Metal Gear Solid 2 for the PlayStation 2. [628.70] [815.16]
- (month unknown)
- Sony releases special edition PlayStation 2 systems in Japan, to celebrate shipping 20 million systems worldwide. The units are colored red, gray, blue, white, or yellow. Cost is about twice the price of a regular black system. All are sold out from Sony's Web site in five minutes. [630.31]
- December 2
- The Fox Television Network airs the Malcolm in the Middle TV show. A character mentions the Nintendo Entertainment System and Double Dragon 4 video game. [921]
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A bowling alley shows three video arcade machines, including Pong and Nuke Canada. [917]
- December 3
- Nintendo releases the Super Smash Bros. Melee video game for the GameCube in the US. (Total sales over its lifetime: 5.5 million copies.) [296.60] [297.25,56,156] [298.76190] [386.27] [1114]
- Nintendo releases the Pikmin video game for the GameCube in the US. [297.25,56,152] [298.76,200] [386.125] [401] [453.15]
- December 5
- The US Federal Trade Commission issues a statement saying the games industry has "made substantial progress in ending the marketing of violent content to children". [1029.28]
- Capcom releases the Mega Man X6 video game for the PlayStation in the US. [296.60] [297.56,128] [630.34] [739.18] [741.26] [742.26]
- December 11
- Sony CEA releases the Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [296.90] [297.56] [298.76,92] [304.72] [630.34] [740.26] [741.26] [742.26]
- December 14
- Panasonic releases the SLGC-10 video game system in Japan. The system, also known as "Q", is a special GameCube which can play audio/video CD/DVD discs. Price is 39,800 yen (about US$305). [304.56] [307] [386.22]
- In Australia, the government bans the sale of Grand Theft Auto III in the country. The Office of Film and Literature Classification refused to rate the game due to its graphic violence. [551.30] [597]
- Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advance system with Orange or Black cases in Japan. They also include improved brighter display screens. [472.96]
- Capcom releases the Resident Evil Gaiden video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [322.55] [834.17]
- December
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Advance 2 video game for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. [298.150] [304.72] [386.21]
- Rockstar releases the Max Payne video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the US. [296.60] [297.56] [298.76,174] [304.110] [431.125] [740.26] [742.26]
- December 18
- Square Electronic Arts releases the Final Fantasy X video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [298.76] [304.86] [321.20] [741.26] [742.26] (December 20 [869.19])
- December 24
- THQ releases the Tetris Worlds game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [296.60] [297.56] [401]
- December (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Grand Theft Auto III for the PlayStation 2. [308] [633.72] [636.74] [743.21]
- Year
- Best selling video game for the year in the US: Grand Theft Auto III. Nearly 2 million copies sold since its release in October. [321.30] [597]
- Losses to game industry to software piracy worldwide: about US$1.9 billion. [321.32]
- Retail sales of video game systems and games in the U.S. during the year: US$9.4 billion. [597]
- Unit sales of the Game Boy Advance in the US during the year: 4.8 million. [346.46]
- Unit sales of the Xbox video game system during the year: 1.5 million. [360.20] [597]
- Unit sales of the GameCube video game system during the year: 1.3 million. [360.20]
- Unit sales of the PlayStation 2 video game system during the year: 8 million. [360.20]
- Unit sales of all video game systems (console and handheld) worldwide during the year: 43 million. [597] [752.54]
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