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1984 in video games

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1984 saw many sequels and prequels along with new titles such as 1942, Boulder Dash, Cobra Command, Jet Set Willy, Karate Champ, Kung-Fu Master, Yie Ar Kung-Fu and Punch-Out!! The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Pole Position in the United States, for the second year in a row, and Track & Field in the United Kingdom. The year's best-selling home system was Nintendo's Family Computer (Famicom), which was only sold in Japan at the time.

Financial performance

In the United States, home video game sales fall to ( adjusted for inflation).

Highest-grossing arcade games

Japan

In Japan, the following titles were the top-grossing arcade video games of each month on the Game Machine charts in 1984.

MonthTable arcade cabinetUpright/cockpit cabinetRefTitlePointsTitlePoints
{{dtsJanuary}}*Hyper Olympic* (*Track & Field*)*TX-1*
{{dtsFebruary}}*[10-Yard Fight](10-yard-fight)*
{{dtsMarch}}*Vs. Tennis*
{{dtsApril}}
{{dtsMay}}*Gaplus**Thunder Storm* (*Cobra Command*)
{{dtsJune}}*Vs. Baseball*
{{dtsJuly}}*Crowns Golf*
{{dtsAugust}}*Karate Champ*
{{dtsSeptember}}*Jan Oh* (*Jang-Oh*)*TX-1 V8*
{{dtsOctober}}*Night Gal*
{{dtsNovember}}*Jan Oh* (*Jang-Oh*)
{{dtsDecember}}*Night Gal**Super Don Quix-ote*

United Kingdom and United States

The following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1984 in the United Kingdom and United States.

RankUnited KingdomUnited StatesTitleManufacturer*RePlay*AMOA*Play Meter*ArcadeRoute/StreetVideoTitlePoints
1*Track & Field*Konami*Pole Position II**Pole Position**Dragon's Lair*
2colspan="2"*Pole Position**Track & Field*,
*Spy Hunter*,
*M.A.C.H. 3*,
*Punch-Out!!**Elevator Action*,
*Spy Hunter*,
*Pole Position II*,
*Punch-Out!!**Spy Hunter*,
*Ms. Pac-Man*,
*Track & Field*,
*Punch-Out!!**Pole Position*
3colspan="2"*Track & Field*
4colspan="2"*M.A.C.H. 3*
5colspan="2"*Spy Hunter*
6colspan="2"colspan="3"*Star Wars*
7colspan="2"colspan="3"*Space Ace*
8colspan="2"colspan="3"*Punch-Out!!*
9colspan="2"colspan="3"*Vs. Tennis*
10colspan="2"colspan="3"*Astron Belt*

Best-selling home systems

RankSystem(s)ManufacturerTypeGenerationSalesJapanWorldwide
1Family ComputerNintendoConsoleThird2,940,0002,940,000
2Commodore 64 (C64)CommodoreComputer[8-bit](8-bit)last=Reimerfirst=Jeremydate=2005-12-15title=Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figuresurl=https://arstechnica.com/features/2005/12/total-share/url-status=liveaccess-date=2021-11-27website=Ars Technicalanguage=en-usarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607023023/http://arstechnica.com:80/features/2005/12/total-share/archive-date=June 7, 2012}}
3IBM Personal Computer (PC)IBMComputer8-bit / [16-bit](16-bit)2,000,000
4TI-99/4ATexas InstrumentsComputer16-bit1,000,000+
5Apple IIApple Inc.Computer8-bit1,000,000
6PC-88 / PC-98NECComputer8-bit / 16-bitlast1=Methefirst1=Davidlast2=Mitchellfirst2=Willlast3=Miyabefirst3=Junichirolast4=Toyamafirst4=Ryokodate=January 1998title=Overcoming a Standard Bearer: Challenges to NEC's Personal Computer in Japanurl=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5160396journal=Research Papers in Economics (RePEc)page=35via=ResearchGate}},000+
7MacApple Inc.Computer[16-bit](16-bit)370,000
8MSXASCII CorporationComputer8-bitdate=1985title=ElectronicsWeekurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMMpAQAAMAAJmagazine=ElectronicsWeekpublisher=McGraw-Hillvolume=58issue=13–23page=41quote=The home computer market in Japan consumed 1.1 million machines last year and is growing modestly in 1985, but it remains essentially a game market. (...) The two largest producers of home computers in Japan—NEC Corp., which claims a 40% market share, and Sharp Corp., which claims 20%—do not use the MSX (Microsoft Extended Basic) system that Microsoft Corp. developed and has licensed to 18 other Japanese companies. Total MSX sales last year are estimated at 350,000 units. But NEC's best-selling 8801-MII is used mostly by university students and small businesses for bookkeeping or document filing; MSX users are overwhelmingly 15 years of age or younger—game fanatics.}}350,000+
9AdamColecoComputer8-bit
10SG-1000SegaConsoleThirdlast1=Tanakafirst1=Tatsuourl=http://www.stat.go.jp/english/info/meetings/iaos/pdf/tanaka.pdf#page=2title=Network Externality and Necessary Software Statisticsdate=August 2001publisher=Statistics Bureau of Japanpage=2}}240,000+

Best-selling home video games in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home computer games of 1984, according to N.O.P. Market Research.

RankTitlePublisherGenrePlatform
1*Jet Set Willy*Software ProjectsPlatformZX Spectrum
2*Fighter Pilot*Digital IntegrationCombat flight sim
3*Manic Miner*Bug-Byte/Software ProjectsPlatform
4*Atic Atac*Ultimate Play the GameAction-adventure
5*Chequered Flag*PsionRacing
6*Hunchback*OceanPlatform
7*Sabre Wulf*Ultimate Play the GameAction-adventure
8*Night Gunner*Digital IntegrationShoot 'em up
9*Jetpac*Ultimate Play the Game
10*Manic Miner*Software ProjectsPlatformCommodore 64

Major awards

  • The fifth Arcade Awards are held, for games released during 1982–1983. Pole Position wins Coin-Op Game of the Year, Ms. Pac-Man and Lady Bug win console Videogames of the Year, Lode Runner wins Computer Game of the Year, and Qbert* wins dedicated Stand-Alone Game of the Year.
  • In the second Golden Joystick Awards (held in 1985) for best home computer games, Knight Lore takes Game of the Year.

Business

  • New companies: Accolade, Elite Systems, Gremlin Graphics, Kemco, New World Computing, Novagen, Ocean, Psygnosis, Sculptured Software
  • Defunct companies: Astrocade, Human Engineered Software, Imagine, Sirius, Starpath.
  • Hasbro, Inc. acquires Milton Bradley Company.
  • Management Sciences America acquires Edu-Ware Services.
  • Broderbund acquires 8-bit gaming competitor Synapse Software.
  • Atari shuts down the Atari Program Exchange, which sold notable "user written" games such as Eastern Front (1941) and Dandy.
  • Warner Communications sells the Atari, Inc. home video game and home computer intellectual properties, including the Atari logo and trademark, inventories of home video game and home computer hardware and software, as well as certain international subsidiaries to Tramel Technology, but retains the arcade games division, which becomes Atari Games. Tramel Technology is promptly renamed to Atari Corporation.
  • Sega and CSK merge to form Sega Enterprises Ltd.
  • Mattel sells its video game assets, including the M Network and Intellivision hardware and software intellectual property, to a group led by a former Mattel Electronics executive that becomes INTV Corporation. Mattel Electronics closes their game development offices in California and Taiwan. The games development office in France is sold to investors and renamed Nice Ideas.
  • The largest video game retailer in the world, GameStop was founded (then known as Babbage's) in Dallas, Texas.

Notable releases

Games

Arcade

  • February 17 - Nintendo launches the initial version of boxing game Punch-Out!!.
  • April – Namco releases Gaplus, the sequel to Galaga.
  • June – Atari releases "I, Robot", the first polygonal 3D game.
  • July – Data East releases Technōs Japan's Karate Champ, laying the foundations for the one-one-one fighting game genre.
  • July 20 – Namco releases action role-playing game The Tower of Druaga.
  • October – Namco releases Pac-Land and lays the foundations for horizontally-scrolling platform games.
  • November 1 – Namco releases Grobda, a spin-off from Xevious.
  • December – Namco releases Super Xevious and Dragon Buster, the latter of which is one of the first games to feature a life bar.
  • December – Capcom releases 1942.
  • December – Irem releases Kung-Fu Master and lays the foundations for the beat 'em up genre.
  • December – Atari Games releases Marble Madness, their first game written in the C programming language and to use a 68000-family microprocessor.
  • Bally/Midway releases Demolition Derby, which features a damage bar and the ability to join a game in progress.

Computer

  • January - Bullet-Proof Software releases The Black Onyx on the PC-8801, which helps popularize turn-based role-playing games in Japan.
  • June - Ultimate Play the Game releases Sabre Wulf on the ZX Spectrum.
  • September 20 – Elite, an influential wireframe 3D space trading game offering a then-unique open-ended design, is published by Acornsoft.
  • October – Nihon Falcom releases action role-playing game Dragon Slayer.
  • October - Automata UK releases Deus Ex Machina on the ZX Spectrum.
  • December – T&E Soft releases Hydlide, an early action role-playing game that features a health regeneration mechanic and anticipates elements of The Legend of Zelda and Ys series.
  • December 7 – Knight Lore by Ultimate Play the Game is released for the ZX Spectrum (and later ported to the BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC, MSX, and Famicom Disk System). It is the third title in the Sabreman series, but the first to use the isometric Filmation engine.
  • Broderbund releases The Ancient Art of War by Dave and Barry Murry. It is a real-time tactics game and a precursor to the real-time strategy genre.
  • Broderbund releases Karateka for the Apple II.
  • The Lords of Midnight, a strategy adventure game by Mike Singleton, is released.
  • Infocom releases The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Sorcerer, Cutthroats, and Seastalker.
  • First Star releases Boulder Dash, which inspired enough clones to create the rocks-and-diamonds genre.
  • Epyx releases Impossible Mission for the Commodore 64.
  • Electronic Arts releases Adventure Construction Set.
  • Sierra On-Line releases King's Quest I for the PCjr.
  • Synapse releases the Atari 8-bit game Dimension X, over 9 months after running magazine ads showing features that were not present in the final game.
  • Software Projects releases platform game Jet Set Willy on the ZX Spectrum.
  • First Star Software releases Spy vs. Spy for the Commodore 64.
  • Game Gems releases Flyer Fox for the ZX Spectrum and the Commodore 64.

Console

  • March 30 - Activision releases H.E.R.O. for the Atari 2600.
  • June 4 – Nintendo releases a conversion of their own Donkey Kong 3 for the Famicom.
  • October 5 - Nintendo releases Devil World on the Famicom in Japan.
  • December 17 – Nintendo releases Ice Climber and Balloon Fight for the Famicom.
  • Activision releases Pitfall II: Lost Caverns, one of the last major titles for the Atari 2600. Each cartridge contains a custom chip allowing improved visuals and 4-voice sound.

Hardware

  • January 24 – Apple Inc. announces the original, 128K, floppy disc-only, Macintosh 128K.
  • March – IBM releases the IBM PCjr in an attempt to enter the home computer market. It has improved sound and graphics over the original, business-oriented IBM PC, but is a commercial failure.
  • Atari, Inc. announces the Atari 7800, a next-gen console that's compatible with Atari 2600 cartridges, but capable of greatly improved visuals. It is shelved until 1986 due to the sale of the company and legal issues.
  • Discontinued systems: Atari 5200, Magnavox Odyssey², Vectrex

References

References

  1. (1990). "Video Games: Past, Present and Future; An Industry Overview". [[Nintendo of America]].
  2. (15 January 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
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  7. (1 April 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  8. (15 April 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  9. (1 May 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  10. (15 May 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  11. (1 June 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  12. (15 June 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  13. (1 July 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  14. (15 July 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  15. (1 August 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  16. (15 August 1984). "Best Hit Games 25". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
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  26. (March 1987). "Top Hits of Last 5 Years".
  27. (September 8, 1984). "Nominees Announced For 1984 AMOA Awards".
  28. (1 November 1984). "Top 20 Performing Video Games of 1984".
  29. (January 1986). "Commando: Soldier of Fortune".
  30. (November 10, 1984). "Michael Jackson Sweeps AMOA Awards; 'Pole Position' Wins In Games Division".
  31. "昔(1970年代）のテレビゲームは何台売れた？".
  32. Mace, Scott. (2 April 1984). "Speaker at conference predicts software shakeout". [[InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.]].
  33. (January 1998). "Overcoming a Standard Bearer: Challenges to NEC's Personal Computer in Japan". Research Papers in Economics (RePEc).
  34. (1990). "The Computer Industry Almanac 1991". Pearson P T R.
  35. (1985). "ElectronicsWeek". [[McGraw-Hill]].
  36. Adams, Jane Meredith. (1985-01-03). "Adam Just Couldn't Deliver on Promises". The Boston Globe.
  37. (August 2001). "Network Externality and Necessary Software Statistics". [[Statistics Bureau of Japan]].
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  39. 1984 Arcade Awards – ''Electronic Games'' January 1984, pages 68–81.
  40. "A History of WCI Games / Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings".
  41. "A History of Tramel Technology / Atari".
  42. "M Network Titles for Computers". Intellivision Productions.
  43. "Where Are They Now?".
  44. Kurt Kalata & Robert Greene. "Hydlide". Hardcore Gaming 101.
  45. Hague, James. (March 1997). "Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers". Dadgum Games.
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