This is not meant to be a comprehensive resource of historical events, rather, it’s just a place to compile events in geek history which are personally important. Perhaps some poeple will find it interesting or useful, so I decided to share it.
Unless otherwise specified, the main sources are the following:
- Wikipedia
- Andrew Hiscock’s This Week in Video Game History at BitMob
I probably missed stuff here and there. If you have suggestions, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do.
2004 and beyond
pre-2004
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | ||
| 2003 Dec 18 | LotR: The Return of the King | |
| 2003 Dec 8 | Battlestar Galactica Mini-Series (prequel to 2004 TV series) |
|
| 2003 Nov 5 | The Matrix Revolutions | |
| 2003 Aug 1 | Warmachine: Prime | [source: Amazon] |
| 2003 Jul 19 | Teen Titans animation | |
| 2003 Jul 1 | Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne | |
| 2003 Jun 26 | Star Wars Galaxies | [source: BitMob] |
| 2003 Jun 25 | Data East (DECO) goes bankrupt | [source: BitMob] |
| 2003 May 28 | The 3DO Company files for bankruptcy | [source: BitMob] |
| 2003 May 15 | The Matrix Reloaded | |
| 2003 Apr 7 | [fiction] 鉄腕アトム (Tetsuwan Atomu, Astroboy) created | [source: Japan Times] |
| 2002 | ||
| 2002 Dec 18 | LotR: Two Towers | |
| 2002 Jul 3 | Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos | |
| 2002 May 16 | Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones | |
| 2002 Apr 24 | G4TV | [source: BitMob] |
| 2002 Mar 22 | Friendster launched | |
| 2001 | ||
| 2001 Dec 19 | LotR: Fellowship of the Ring | |
| 2001 Nov 17 | Justice League animation | |
| 2001 Nov 15 | XBOX | |
| 2001 Sep | ラブ★コン (Love★Com, Love*Com, Lovely Complex) manga | |
| 2001 Jul 11 | Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | [source: BitMob] |
| 2001 Jun 11 | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie | [source: BitMob] |
| 2001 May 11 | Douglas Adams dies | [source: BitMob] |
| 2001 Mar 21 | Game Boy Advance | |
| 2001 Jan 15 | Wikipedia | |
| 2000 | ||
| 2000 Dec | Privateer Press founded | [source: Privateer Press] |
| 2000 Jun 29 | Diablo II | [source: BitMob] |
| 2000 Jun 22 | Deus Ex | |
| 2000 Jun 19 | Microsoft aquires Bungie | [source: BitMob] |
| 2000 May 24 | Looking Glass Studios closes | [source: BitMob] |
| 2000 May 23 | Daikatana | [source: BitMob] |
| 2000 May 4 | I Love You virus | [source: Wired] |
| 2000 Mar 4 | PlayStation 2 | |
| 2000 | ||
| 1999 Jul 3 | Billy Mitchell perfect Pac-Man game | [source: BitMob] |
| 1999 Jun 12 | Counter-Strike mod | [source: BitMob] |
| 1999 May 19 | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace | |
| 1999 Apr 13 | Jack Thompson’s 1st videogame lawsuit | [source: BitMob] |
| 1999 Mar 31 | The Matrix | |
| 1999 Mar 16 | Everquest | |
| 1999 | ||
| 1998 Nov 30 | Starcraft: Brood War | |
| 1998 Nov 18 | Penny-Arcade first strip | [source: Penny Arcade] |
| 1998 Oct 21 | Game Boy Color | |
| 1998 Sep 4 | Google incorporated | |
| 1998 May 22 | Unreal | [source: BitMob] |
| 1998 May 4 | PvP (Player vs Player) first strip | [source: PvP] |
| 1998 Apr 14 | Netflix | [source: BitMob] |
| 1998 Mar 31 | Starcraft | |
| 1998 | ||
| 1997 Sep 13 | The New Batman Adventures | |
| 1997 Sep 2 | Patent US5662332: Trading card game method of play | [source: esp@cenet] |
| 1997 Jul 12 | もののけ姫 (Mononoke-hime, Princess Mononoke) | |
| 1997 Jun 30 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | |
| 1997 Jun 20 | Final Fantasy Tactics | [source: BitMob] |
| 1997 Apr 27 | Duke Nukem Forever announced | [source: BitMob] |
| 1997 2Q? | Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition | |
| 1997 | Akumajō Dracula X: Gekka no Yasōkyoku | |
| 1996 Jun 23 | Nintendo 64 | |
| 1996 Jun 22 | Quake | [source: BitMob] |
| 1996 May 1 | Gamespot | [source: BitMob] |
| 1996 Apr 14 | JenniCam | [source: BitMob] |
| 1996 Feb 27 | ポケットモンスター (Pocket Monster, Pokemon) | |
| 1996 | たまごっち (Tamagochi) | |
| 1995 Dec 31 | Calvin and Hobbes ends | |
| 1995 Oct 4 | Neon Genesis Evangelion | |
| 1995 May 26 | Bill Gates’s “Internet Tidal Wave” memo |
[source: BitMob] |
| 1995 May 11 | The Saturnday Hoax | SEGA Saturn suddenly released earlier. [source: BitMob] |
| 1995 Apr 7 | Gundam Wing | |
| 1995 | Die Siedler von Catan (Settlers of Catan) | |
| 1994 Dec 3 | PlayStation | |
| 1994 Jul 29 | Videogames Rating Broad proposed to US Congress | [source: Wired] |
| 1994 Apr 29 | Commodore declares bankruptcy | [source: BitMob] |
| 1994 Apr 18 | Super Metroid | [source: BitMob] |
| 1994 Feb | Super Street Fighter II Turbo | |
| 1994 | ||
| 1993 Sep 10 | Super Street Fighter II | |
| 1993 Aug 5 | Magic: The Gathering Alpha | |
| 1993 May 28 | Super Mario Bros. US film | [source: BitMob] |
| 1993 | ||
| 1992 Sep 7 | Batman: The Animated Series | |
| 1992 Aug | Wild C.A.T.s #1 | |
| 1992 Jun | Spawn #1 | |
| 1992 May 21 | Game Genie | [source: BitMob] |
| 1992 Apr | Street Fighter II CE | |
| 1992 Feb 12 | X-Men arcade | |
| 1992 Feb | Image Comics | |
| 1992 | ||
| 1991 Oct | X-Men #1 | |
| 1991 Jul | Wizard Magazine | |
| 1991 Mar | Street Fighter II | |
| 1991 | ||
| 1990 Nov 21 | スーパーファミコン (Super Famicom) | |
| 1990 Apr 15 | Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson | |
| 1990 Mar 30 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie | |
| 1990 | ||
| 1989 Jun 14 | Tetris by Nintendo | [source: BitMob] |
| 1989 Jun 5 | Populous | [source: BitMob] |
| 1989 May 17 | Tetris by Tengen | [source: BitMob] |
| 1989 May 12 | TMNT NES | [source: BitMob] |
| 1989 Apr 26 | Game Freak | creator of Pokemon [source: BitMob] |
| 1989 Apr 21 | ゲームボーイ (Game Boy) | [source: BitMob] |
| 1989 Feb 9 | 手塚 治虫 (Tezuka Osamu) RIP | |
| 1989 | ||
| 1988 Oct 29 | メガドライブ (SEGA Megadrive/Genesis) | |
| 1988 Oct 23 | Super Mario Bros. 3 | |
| 1988 Jun 22 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | |
| 1988 | ||
| 1987 Dec 28 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animation | |
| 1987 Sep 21 | Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light | |
| 1987 Sep 21 | Spiral Zone | |
| 1987 | G.I. Joe: The Movie | [source: IMBD] |
| 1986 Sep 8 | SilverHawks | |
| 1986 Aug 8 | The Transformers: The Movie | |
| 1986 May 27 | Dragon Quest | [source: BitMob] |
| 1986 Apr 7 | The Centurions | |
| 1986 Feb | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns | |
| 1986 | ||
| 1985 Nov 18 | Calvin and Hobbes | |
| 1985 Oct | Intel 80386 | |
| 1985 Sep 16 | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animation series | |
| 1985 Sep 13 | スーパーマリオブラザーズ (Super Mario Brothers) | |
| 1985 Sep 9 | She-Ra: Princess of Power | |
| 1985 Jun 7 | Goonies | |
| 1985 Mar | Robotech | |
| 1985 Jan 23 | Thundercats | |
| 1985 | ||
| 1984 Sep 17 | The Transformers | |
| 1984 Sep 10 | G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra mini-series | |
| 1984 Sep 10 | Voltron: Defender of the Universe | |
| 1984 Jun 6 | Tetris by Alexey Pajitnov | [source: BitMob] |
| 1984 May | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 | |
| 1984 Apr 21 | Duck Hunt | [source: BitMob] |
| 1984 Apr 15 | 超時空騎団サザンクロス (Chōjikū Kidan Sazan Kurosu, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross) |
this was converted to the Second Robotech War by Harmony Gold USA |
| 1984 Mar 4 | 風の谷のナウシカ(Kaze no Tani no Naushika, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind) |
|
| 1984 Mar 2 | 宇 宙刑事シャイダー (Uchū Keiji Shaida, Space Sheriff Shaider) |
|
| 1984 Feb 4 | 超 電子バイオマン (Chōdenshi Baioman, Super-Electronic Bioman) |
|
| 1984 Jan | Transformers toy line | |
| 1984 | ||
| 1983 Oct 2 | 機甲創世記モスピーダ (Kikō Sōseiki Mosupīda, Genesis Climber MOSPEADA) |
this was converted to the Third Robotech War by Harmony Gold USA |
| 1983 Sep 12 | G.I. Joe mini-series | |
| 1983 Sep 5 | He-Man and the Masters of the Universe | |
| 1983 Jul 15 | Sega SG-1000 Famicom |
Famicom launch titles: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior, and Popeye [source: BitMob] |
| 1983 Jun 9 | Activision goes public | [source: BitMob] |
| 1983 May 25 | Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi | |
| 1983 | ||
| 1982 Oct 3 | 超時空要塞マクロス (Chōjikū Yōsai Makurosu, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross) |
this was converted to the First Robotech War by Harmony Gold USA |
| 1982 Jul 9 | Tron movie and arcade game | [source: BitMob] |
| 1982 May 28 | Electronic Arts (EA) founded | [source: BitMob] |
| 1982 Mar 3 | 機甲艦隊ダイラガーXV (Kikō Kantai Dairagā Fifutīn, Armored Fleet Dairugger XV) |
this will be converted into Vehicle Voltron by World Events Productions |
| 1982 | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 3 3⁄4 inch line | |
| 1981 Jun 9 | Natalie Hershlag born | |
| 1981 Jun 2 | Donkey Kong | Mario’s first appearance [source: BitMob] |
| 1981 Mar 4 | 百獣王ゴライオン (Hyakujūō Goraion, King of the Beasts GoLion) |
this was converted into Lion Force Voltron by World Events Productions |
| 1981 | ||
| 1980 Oct 1 | Astro Boy animation (1980) | |
| 1980 Jun 17 | Atari registers Asteroids and Lunar Lander with the U.S. Copyright Office |
industry first [source: BitMob] |
| 1980 May 22 | Pac-Man | [source: BitMob] |
| 1980 May 21 | Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back | |
| 1980 Apr 28 | Game & Watch | first title was “Ball” [source: BitMob] |
| 1980 Jan 27 | Galactica 1980 | |
| 1980 | ||
| 1979 Jun 22 | Infocom | [source: BitMob] |
| 1979 May 30 | CAPCOM | [source: BitMob] |
| 1979 Apr 7 | Mobile Suit Gundam | |
| 1979 | AD&D: Dungeon Master’s Guide | |
| 1978 Sep 17 | Battlestar Galactica | |
| 1978 Jun 5 | Space Invaders | [source: BitMob] |
| 1978 Apr 1 | 闘将ダイモス (Tosho Daimos) | |
| 1978 | AD&D: Player’s Handbook Intel 8086 |
|
| 1977 Jun 5 | Apple II | [source: BitMob] |
| 1977 Jun 4 | 超電磁マシーン ボルテスＶ (Chōdenji Mashīn Borutesu Faibu, Voltes V) |
|
| 1977 May 25 | Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope | |
| 1977 | AD&D: Monster Manual | |
| 1976 Apr 20 | 株式会社データイースト (Dēta Īsuto Kabushikigaisha, Data East, DECO) founded |
Made Burger Time, Captain America and the Avengers, etc, and several pinball games |
| 1976 | ||
| 1975 Apr 4 | Microsoft founded | |
| 1975 | ||
| 1974 Oct | The Incredible Hulk #180 | Wolverine’s first appearance |
| 1974 | Dungeons & Dragons | |
| 1973 Jul 26 | 龍爭虎鬥 Hong Kong (Enter the Dragon) | |
| 1973 Jul 20 | Bruce Lee RIP | |
| 1973 May 18 | 株式会社ハドソン(kabushiki-gaisha Hadoson, Hudson Soft Company, Limited |
Bomberman, Balloon Fight, Excite Bike, Ice Climber, Lode Runner, Adventure Island [source: BitMob] |
| 1973 | ||
| 1972 Dec 30 | 猛龍過江 (Way of the Dragon) | |
| 1972 Jun 27 | Atari | [source: BitMob] |
| 1972 | ||
| 1971 Jun 9 | Rob Pardo | lead designer of World of Warcraft [source: BitMob] |
| 1971 Apr 16 | サンソフト, サン電子株式会社 (San Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha, Sunsoft) |
NES game developer [source: BitMob] |
| 1970 | ||
| 1967 Jun 25 | CES | [source: Wired] |
| 1965 Apr 19 | Moore’s Law | [source: Wired] |
| 1963 Sep | The X-Men #1 | |
| 1963 Jul 16 | Phoebe Cates | |
| 1963 Jun 26 | Richard Garfield | Magic: The Gathering |
| 1962 Aug | Amazing Fantasy #15 | Spider-Man’s first appearance |
| 1961 Jul 4 | Richard Garriott | Ultima, NCSoft (founder) [source: BitMob] |
| 1961 Jun 16 | Masaya Matsuura | PaRappa the Rapper [source: BitMob] |
| 1960 Jul 12 | Etch a Sketch | [source: Wired] |
| 1960 | ||
| 1958 Jul 5 | Bill Watterson | Calvin and Hobbes |
| 1958 Jun 10 | Yu Suzuki | Space Harrier, Out Run, After Burner, Virtua Fighter, Virtua Cop, Shenmue [source: BitMob] |
| 1955 Oct 20 | The Return of the King book | |
| 1955 Jun 1 | Namco | [source: BitMob] |
| 1954 Jul 29 | The Fellowship of the Ring book | |
| 1952 Jun 25 | Klaus Teuber | Die Siedler von Catan (Settlers of Catan) |
| 1952 May 7 | Integrated Circuit | [source: Wired] |
| 1952 Apr | 鉄腕アトム (Tetsuwan Atomu, Astroboy) manga |
|
| 1950 Jul 5 | Bandai | Gundam |
| 1950 | ||
| 1947 Jul 8 | Roswell UFO incident | [source: Wired] |
| 1945 | Mattel | Barbie, Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe |
| 1944 May 14 | George Lucas | Star Wars [source: BitMob] |
| 1943 Jan 7 | Nikola Tesla RIP | |
| 1940 Nov 27 | Lee Jun-fan (Bruce Lee) | |
| 1940 | ||
| 1939 May | Detective Comics #27 | Batman’s first appearance |
| 1930 | ||
| 1928 Nov 3 | 手塚 治虫 (Tezuka Osamu) | |
| 1920 | ||
| 1912 Jun 23 | Alan Turing | [source: BitMob] |
| 1900 | ||
| 1871 May 30 | “Improvements in Bagatelles” patent by Montegue Redgrave |
paved the way pinball machines [source: BitMob] |
| 1856 Jul 10 | Nikola Tesla | induction motor, Tesla coil, AC, radio, arc light, VTOL [source: Wired] |
| 1800 | ||
| 1550 Jul 7 | chocolate | [source: Wired] |
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