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2001 in video games

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2001 in video games

none

2001 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Madden NFL 2002, NBA Live 2002, NBA 2K2, WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It, Capcom vs. SNK 2, Crazy Taxi 2, Dead or Alive 3, Final Fantasy X, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Myst III: Exile, Silent Hill 2, Sonic Adventure 2, SSX Tricky, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tekken 4, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, and Virtua Fighter 4. New intellectual properties include Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Advance Wars, Animal Crossing, Burnout, Gothic, Black & White, Devil May Cry, Fatal Frame, Ghost Recon, Halo: Combat Evolved, Jak and Daxter, Max Payne, Oni, Onimusha: Warlords, Operation Flashpoint, Pikmin, Pro Evolution Soccer, Red Faction, Serious Sam, and Tropico.

Three major video game systems were released in 2001: the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance by Nintendo, and the Xbox by Microsoft. Sega, which had been a major competitor in the video game hardware market to this point, ended its involvement in the market after the failure of the Dreamcast.

The year 2001 is remembered for its influence on the video game industry with the release of many games recognized as classics. Many video games released in 2001 defined or redefined their respective genres, including hack and slash game Devil May Cry, first-person shooter game Halo: Combat Evolved, and open world action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto III, which is regarded as an industry-defining work.

The year has been retrospectively considered one of the best and most influential in video game history due to the release of numerous critically acclaimed, commercially successful and influential titles across all platforms and genres at the time. It was the peak year for the sixth generation of video game consoles, with the launch of the GameCube and Xbox, the latter focusing on online games (following SegaNet the previous year), and the Dreamcast's last year of production with Sega's exit from console manufacturing. Storytelling and mature themes also became a more mainstream trend.

The year's best-selling video game worldwide was Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal, the fourth year in a row for the Pokémon series (since 1998). The year's most critically acclaimed titles were Gran Turismo 3 and Final Fantasy X in Japan, and Halo and Grand Theft Auto III in the West.

Legend

Hardware releases

[[Game Boy Advance
[[GameCube

Nintendo released two consoles this year; the Game Boy Advance, the second & final entry in the Game Boy family (excluding revision models), and the GameCube, Nintendo's home console entry in the sixth generation of game consoles.

Microsoft entered the video game industry this year with the launch of the Xbox.

MonthDayConsole
March21Game Boy AdvanceJP
June11Game Boy AdvanceNA
22Game Boy AdvancePAL
September14GameCubeJP
November15Xbox
16Pokémon Mini
18GameCubeNA

Top-rated games

Major awards

GameRankings named Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty the Game of the Year for 2001, citing its position as the highest-rated title of the year with an aggregated score of 97% based on reviews from more than 50 gaming publications.

AwardsGame of the YearPlatform(s)Publisher(s)Genre
Electronic PlaygroundGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen world
GameRevolutionGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen world
British Academy Games AwardsGran Turismo 3 A-SpecPS2Polyphony DigitalRacing
British Academy Games AwardsHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPS
British Academy Games AwardsMax PayneWINRockstar GamesThird Person Shooter
D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the YearHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPS
Game Developers Choice AwardsGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen world
Golden Joystick AwardsGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen world
Japan Game AwardsFinal Fantasy XPS2SquareSoftRole-Playing
EGM MagazineHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPS
EurogamerGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen world
Game InformerMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyPS2KonamiStealth game
GameSpotGrand Theft Auto IIIPS2Rockstar GamesOpen world
IGNHalo Combat EvolvedXBBungieFPS

Critically acclaimed titles

''Famitsu'' Platinum Hall of Fame

In Japan, the following video game releases in 2001 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.

TitlePlatform(s)PublisherGenreScore (out of 40)
*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS2SonyRacing simulation39
*Final Fantasy X*PS2SquaresoftRole-playing39
*Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren GB2*GBCChunsoftRoguelike38
*Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*PS2KonamiStealth38
*Culdcept Second*DCMedia FactoryTurn-based strategy37
*Dai Rantō Smash Brothers DX* (*Super Smash Bros. Melee*)GCNNintendoFighting37
*Dōbutsu no Mori +* (*Animal Crossing*)GCNNintendoSocial simulation37
*Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 2* (*The Last Hope*)GBAEnixRoguelike36
*Madden NFL 2001*PS2Square EASports35
*Onimusha* (*Onimusha: Warlords*)PS2CapcomHack and slash35
*Kessen II*PS2KoeiReal-time tactics35
*Crazy Taxi 2*DCSegaDriving35
*Zeonic Front: Kidō Senshi Gundam 0079* (*Mobile Suit Gundam*)PS2BandaiStrategy35
*Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001*DC, PS2CapcomFighting35
*Magical Vacation*GBANintendoRole-playing35
*Battle Network Rockman EXE 2* (*Mega Man Battle Network 2*)GBACapcomTactical role-playing35

Metacritic and GameRankings

In the West, Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.

GamePublisherRelease datePlatform(s)MC scoreGR score
*Halo: Combat Evolved*Microsoft Game StudiosNovember 15, 2001XB97/10095.54%
*Grand Theft Auto III*Rockstar GamesOctober 22, 2001PS297/10095.19%
*Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*KonamiNovember 13, 2001PS296/10095.09%
*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*Sony Computer EntertainmentApril 28, 2001PS295/10094.54%
*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3*ActivisionOctober 30, 2001PS297/10093.43%
*Devil May Cry*CapcomAugust 23, 2001PS294/10092.6%
*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2*ActivisionJune 11, 2001GBA95/10089.88%
*Madden NFL 2002*EA SportsAugust 19, 2001PS294/10092.32%
*NBA 2K2*SegaOctober 24, 2001DC93/10092.82%
*Mario Kart: Super Circuit*NintendoJuly 21, 2001GBA93/10091.54%
*SSX Tricky*EA SportsNovember 5, 2001PS292/10092.49%
*Advance Wars*NintendoSeptember 10, 2001GBA92/10092.38%
*Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2*NintendoDecember 14, 2001GBAtitle=Best Video Games for 2002url=https://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/year/all/filtered?sort=desc&year_selected=2002website=Metacriticaccess-date=August 9, 2019}}title=Highest-Ranking Games of 2002 (with at least 10 reviews)url=https://www.gamerankings.com/browse.html?site=&cat=0&year=2002&numrev=1&sort=0&letter=&search=website=GameRankingsaccess-date=August 9, 2019}}
*The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages*NintendoFebruary 27, 2001GBC92.2%
*Final Fantasy X*SquareJuly 19, 2001PS292/10091.73%
*Super Smash Bros. Melee*NintendoNovember 21, 2001GCN92/10090.52%
*Conker's Bad Fur Day*RareMarch 5, 2001N6492/10089.28%
*NHL 2002*EA SportsSeptember 24, 2001PS292/10088.84%
*Pro Evolution Soccer*KonamiMarch 15, 2001PS291.69%
*The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons*NintendoFebruary 27, 2001GBC91.37%
*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3*ActivisionNovember 18, 2001GCN91/10091.12%
*IL-2 Sturmovik*[1C Company](1c-company)November 18, 2001WIN91/10090.65%
*Golden Sun*NintendoAugust 1, 2001GBA91/10089.1%
*Twisted Metal: Black*Sony Computer EntertainmentJune 18, 2001PS291/10088.52%
*Castlevania: Circle of the Moon*KonamiMarch 21, 2001GBA91/10088.11%
*Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil*NamcoMarch 22, 2001PS291/10084.76%
*Madden NFL 2002*EA SportsNovember 17, 2001GCN89/10090.39%
*Ico*Sony Computer EntertainmentSeptember 24, 2001PS290/10090.29%
*NCAA Football 2002*EA SportsJuly 23, 2001PS290/10090.25%
*Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy*Sony Computer EntertainmentDecember 3, 2001PS290/10090.22%
*Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader*LucasArtsNovember 18, 2001GCN90/10090.04%
*Black & White*Electronic ArtsMarch 30, 2001WIN90/10089.79%
*NFL 2K2*SegaSeptember 19, 2001DC90/10089.35%
*Civilization III*InfogramesOctober 30, 2001WIN90/10088.75%
*Madden NFL 2002*EA SportsOctober 31, 2001XB90/10088.72%
*Unreal Tournament*InfogramesMarch 13, 2001DC90/10087.8%
*Virtua Tennis 2*SegaOctober 24, 2001DC90/10087.22%
*Dance Dance Revolution*KonamiMarch 6, 2001PS190/10083.63%
*Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002*MicrosoftOctober 16, 2001WIN90/10082.44%
*Shenmue II*SegaSeptember 6, 2001DC89.63%
*Max Payne*Gathering of DevelopersJuly 23, 2001WIN89/10089.26%
*NASCAR Racing 4*Sierra EntertainmentFebruary 6, 2001WIN89/10088.5%
*NBA Street*EA SportsJune 19, 2001PS289/10086.92%
*Pikmin*NintendoOctober 26, 2001GCN89/10086.71%
*Final Fantasy Chronicles*SquareJune 29, 2001PS189/10086.7%
*NHL 2002*EA SportsDecember 10, 2001XB89/10086.33%
*Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies*NamcoSeptember 13, 2001PS289/10086.07%
*Max Payne*Rockstar GamesDecember 12, 2001XB89/10085.95%
*Silent Hill 2*KonamiSeptember 24, 2001PS289/10085.82%
*Sonic Adventure 2*SegaJune 23, 2001DC89/10083.26%
*Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal*Interplay EntertainmentJune 22, 2001WIN88/10088.73%
*Super Monkey Ball*SegaSeptember 14, 2001GCN87/10088.7%
*Red Faction*THQMay 22, 2001PS288/10088.32%
*Dark Age of Camelot*Vivendi Universal GamesOctober 10, 2001WIN88/10088.08%
*Return to Castle Wolfenstein*ActivisionNovember 19, 2001WIN88/10086.75%
*SSX Tricky*EA SportsDecember 10, 2001XB88/10086.6%
*Wario Land 4*NintendoAugust 21, 2001GBA88/10085.34%
*Madden NFL 2002*EA SportsAugust 13, 2001PS188/10085.08%
*Tribes 2*Sierra EntertainmentMarch 28, 2001WIN88/10084.85%
*Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis*NintendoJune 21, 2001GBA88/10083.62%

Financial performance

Best-selling home video games

RankTitlePlatform(s)PublisherSalesJapanUnited StatesCombined
1*Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal*GBCNintendo826,1253,127,6593,953,784
2*Final Fantasy X*PS2Squaresoft2,434,015date=September 23, 2002title=August sales dataurl=https://boards.fool.com/august-sales-data-17882669.aspxurl-status=liveaccess-date=2021-11-08website=The Motley Foolpublisher=The NPD Grouparchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108112839/https://boards.fool.com/august-sales-data-17882669.aspxarchive-date=November 8, 2021 }}3,180,647
3*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS2Sony1,656,9591,172,3222,829,281
4*Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*PS2Konami750,560date=November 28, 2001title=Metal Gear Solid 2 hits the 1.8 million markurl=http://archive.thegia.com/news/0111/n28b.htmlurl-status=liveaccess-date=2021-11-08website=Gaming Intelligence Agencyarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108034317/http://archive.thegia.com/news/0111/n28b.htmlarchive-date=November 8, 2021 }}2,550,560+
5*Madden NFL 2002*PS1, PS2EA Sports2,220,1122,220,112
6*The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages*GBCNintendo772,8581,248,1912,021,049
7*Grand Theft Auto III*PS2Rockstar1,965,8321,965,832
8*Super Mario Advance*GBANintendo777,899date=February 7, 2002title=NPD REPORTS ANNUAL 2001 U.S. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SALES SHATTER INDUSTRY RECORDurl=http://www.npd.com/dynamic/releases/press_020207.htmlocation=Port Washington, New Yorkpublisher=NPD Grouparchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814133238/http://www.npd.com/dynamic/releases/press_020207.htmarchive-date=August 14, 2004access-date=January 27, 2015}}1,950,222+
9*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*PS1, WINEA83,9541,628,7441,712,698
10*The Sims*WINEAauthor=Bradshawfirst=Lucyauthor-link=Lucy Bradshaw (game developer)date=January 31, 2002title=Markle Forum on Children and Mediaurl=https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf#page=14url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619191112/https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdfarchive-date=June 19, 2004access-date=8 November 2021publisher=New York Universitypage=14}}1,482,182
RankTitlePlatform(s)Sales revenueUSAEuropeCombinedInflation
1*Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal*GBC€221,000,000 ()$289,038,324$
2*Grand Theft Auto III*PS2€54,000,000 ()$146,940,325$
3*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*€92,000,000 ()$137,148,445$
4*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS2€64,000,000 ()$115,264,403$
5*Madden NFL 2002*PS1, PS2$110,000,000+$+
6*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3*€24,000,000 ()$102,000,000$
7*Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*PS2+$87,000,000+$+
8*The Sims*WIN$60,499,079€25,000,000 ()$82,499,079$
9*Super Mario Advance*GBA+€23,000,000 ()$56,000,000+$+
10*FIFA Football 2002*€52,000,000 ()$47,000,000+$+

Japan

RankTitlePlatformSalesSales revenueInflationRef
1*Final Fantasy X*PS22,434,015¥17,600,000,000+ (+)$+title=2001 Top 100 Japanese Console Game Charturl=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2001.shtmlurl-status=liveaccess-date=26 October 2021website=The Magic Boxarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040124041629/http://www.the-magicbox.com:80/Chart-BestSell2001.shtmlarchive-date=January 24, 2004 }}
2*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS21,656,959colspan="2"
3*Dragon Quest Monsters 2*GBC1,138,756colspan="2"title=Famitsū Gēmu Hakusho 2002publisher=Enterbrainyear=2002location=Tokyolanguage=jascript-title=ja:ファミ通ゲーム白書2002trans-title=Famitsu Game Whitebook 2002chapter=2001年ゲームソフト年間売上TOP300trans-chapter=2001 Game Software Annual Sales Top 300chapter-url=http://geimin.net/da/db/2001_ne_fa/index.phpurl-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627151515/http://geimin.net/da/db/2001_ne_fa/index.phparchive-date=June 27, 2015}}
4*Dragon Quest IV: Michibikareshi Monotachi*PS11,039,443colspan="2"
5*Onimusha* (*Onimusha: Warlords*)PS21,000,000+colspan="2"
6*Minna no Golf 3* (*Everybody's Golf 3*)PS2871,167colspan="2" rowspan="2"
7*Dai Rantō Smash Brothers DX* (*Smash Bros. Melee*)GCN838,237
8*Pocket Monsters: Gold / Silver / Crystal* (*Pokémon*)GBC826,125colspan="2"
9*Winning Eleven 5* (*Pro Evolution Soccer*)PS2789,515colspan="2"
10*Super Mario Advance*GBA777,899colspan="2"

United States

RankTitlePlatform(s)SalesRevenueInflationRef
1*Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal*GBC3,127,659$
2*Madden NFL 2002*PS2, PS12,220,112$
3*Grand Theft Auto III*PS21,965,832$
4*Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*PS21,800,000++$+
5*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3*PS2, PS11,693,037$
6*Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone*PS1, WIN1,628,744$
7*The Sims*WIN1,482,182$60,499,079$
8*The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages*GBC1,248,191$
9*Super Mario Advance*GBA1,172,323++$+
10*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS21,172,322$

PAL regions

RankTitlePlatform(s)PublisherGenreSales revenueInflation
1*Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal*GBCNintendoRole-playing€221,000,000 ()$
2*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*Electronic ArtsAction-adventure€92,000,000 ()$
3*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS2SonyRacing sim€64,000,000 ()$
4*Grand Theft Auto III*PS2Rockstar GamesAction-adventure€54,000,000 ()$
5*FIFA Football 2002*EA SportsSports€52,000,000 ()$
6*Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?*Eidos InteractiveQuiz€33,000,000 ()$
7*FIFA 2001*EA SportsSports€31,000,000 ()$
8*Final Fantasy IX*PS1SquaresoftRole-playing€30,000,000 ()$
9*Black & White*WINElectronic ArtsGod game€28,000,000 ()$
10*The Sims*WINElectronic ArtsLife simulation€25,000,000 ()$
RankTitlePlatformDeveloperPublisherGenre
1*Pokémon Crystal*GBCGame FreakNintendoRole-playing
2*Pokémon Gold*
3*Pokémon Silver*
4*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*PS1Argonaut GamesElectronic ArtsAction-adventure
5*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*GBCGriptonite GamesRole-playing
6*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS2Polyphony DigitalSonyRacing simulation
7*Gran Turismo 2*PS1
8*Pokémon Stadium 2*N64Nintendo EADNintendoTurn-based strategy
9*Super Mario Advance*GBANintendo R&D2Platformer
10*Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped*PS1Naughty DogSony

Highest-grossing arcade games in Japan

RankTitleDeveloperManufacturerTypeGenrePoints
1*Canvas Shot / Flash Shot / Chaopi*OmronOmronOtherPurikura8712
2*Derby Owners Club*Sega AM3SegaDedicatedSimulation3837
3*Battle Gear 2*TaitoTaitoDedicatedRacing2601
4*Tekken Tag Tournament*NamcoNamcoSoftwareFighting2568
5*Shakatto Tambourine* (*Samba de Amigo*)SegaSegaDedicatedRhythm2523
6*Time Crisis 2*NamcoNamcoDedicatedLight gun shooter2400
7*The King of Fighters 2000*SNKSNKSoftwareFighting2382
8*Virtua Striker 2 ver. 2000*Sega AM2SegaSoftwareSports2345
9*Street Snap EG*HitachiHitachiOtherPurikura2291
10*Kidō Senshi Gundam: Renpō vs. Zeon* (*Federation vs. Zeon)*CapcomBanprestoSoftwareThird-person shooter2280

Major events

DateEvent
January 29url=http://pc.ign.com/news/28701.htmltitle=Infogrames to Acquire Hasbro Interactivedate=December 6, 2000website=IGNarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119190727/http://pc.ign.com/news/28701.htmlarchive-date=November 19, 2001url-status=deadaccess-date=September 30, 2019}}
January 31Sega announced it would be departing from the console market and discontinuing the Dreamcast, and develop and publish games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.

Events

  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame.
  • British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) hosts the 4th annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards for multimedia technologies; 15 of 21 awards go to video games.
  • March 21 – The Game Boy Advance handheld is released by Nintendo. Also to back-up the GBA's identical graphics to the SNES an enhanced remake of Super Mario Bros. 2 was launched.
  • May 17–19 – 7th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3); the 4th annual Game Critics Awards For The Best Of E3
  • June 23 – Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates its 10th anniversary.
  • July – IEMA (Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association) hosts 2nd annual Executive Summit.
  • Gama Network hosts the 3rd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF).
  • Game Developers Conference hosts the 1st annual Game Developers Choice Awards.
  • Spring – Reuters reports that the Dreamcast console has an estimated 800,000 online users playing its various online games already by midyear.
  • Sony cooperates with AOL to incorporate Internet features with the PlayStation 2 console; which include a browser, email, and instant messaging capabilities.
  • August – 2nd annual Dreamcast Championships (featuring the Crazy Taxi 2 video game).
  • Nikkei News reports that the video game Phantasy Star Online (for Dreamcast) has had 300,000 worldwide users login already by midyear.
  • September 14 – Nintendo releases the GameCube and its launch titles Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
  • November 15 – The Microsoft Xbox is introduced.
  • November 18 – Nintendo releases the GameCube in North America with launch titles Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
  • November 23 – Game Park releases the GP32 wireless-multiplayer multimedia handheld console in South Korea.
  • December 5–9 – World Cyber Games 2001 are held in South Korea
  • December 31 – Jez San is awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours, becoming the first person awarded specifically for services to video games.
  • December – Panasonic releases the GameCube-based Q multimedia console.

Business

  • Defunct companies: Bullfrog Productions, Indrema, Dynamix, Sanctuary Woods, SNK.
  • After Dynamix (1984–2001) is closed as part of Sierra's restructuring under Vivendi Universal, several veterans of the studio found GarageGames.
  • Sega announces that it will no longer develop home consoles, to focus on game development. The Dreamcast is discontinued in May, but games including Sonic the Hedgehog will continue to be released.
  • Activision acquires Treyarch Invention LLC.
  • PCCW Japan (Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan Co., Ltd.) acquires VR1 Entertainment.
  • Long-time arcade developer Midway Games announces that it will no longer manufacture arcade games.
  • August – Loki Software declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy over internal financial troubles, before going defunct next January. In response Michael Simms of the Tux Games retailer and former Loki game tester founds Linux Game Publishing alongside ex-Loki employee Mike Philips on October 15 to keep games coming to Linux.
  • October – Infogrames announces to revive Atari as a sub-brand of Infogrames. Splashdown, MX Rider and TransWorld Surf were the first 3 games to receive this treatment.

Lawsuits

  • Sega of America Inc. v. Kmart Corporation; Sega sues Kmart over an unpaid debt of over US$2 million
  • Uri Geller v. Nintendo; Geller sues Nintendo over his resemblance to a Pokémon character. The suit is dismissed.

Notable releases

Release dateTitleComputer ReleasesConsole ReleasesHandheld Releases
January 4*RuneScape*WIN
January 10*Mega Man 64*N64
January 16*Mario Tennis*GBC
January 29*Oni*WINPS2
January 29*Phantasy Star Online*DC
January 30*Rayman 2: The Great Escape*PS2
January 31*Mega Man X5*PS1
February 5*Paper Mario*N64
February 6*Action Man: Search for Base X*GBC
February 6*Metal Walker*GBC
February 7*Clive Barker's Undying*WIN
February 16*Final Fantasy IX*PS1 (EU)
February 20*Scooby-Doo! Classic Creep Capers*GBC
February 23*Severance: Blade of Darkness*WIN
February 27*The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages*GBC (JP)
March 1*Lego Island 2 The Brickster's Revenge*WINPS1GBC, GBA
March 5*Conker's Bad Fur Day*N64
March 6*The Bouncer*PS2
March 9*Sonic Shuffle*DC
March 12*Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo*WIN
March 13*Onimusha: Warlords*PS2
March 13*Unreal Tournament*DC
March 14*Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage*N64
March 15*SpongeBob SquarePants: Legend of the Lost Spatula*GBC
March 20SummonerWIN
March 21*Daytona USA*DC
March 21*Tribes 2*WIN
March 21*Serious Sam: The First Encounter*WIN
March 22*Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil*PS2
March 23*Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising*WIN
March 25*Black & White*WIN
March 26*Pokémon Stadium 2*N64
March 26*The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror*GBC
March 26*Zone of the Enders*PS2
March 27*Rocket Power: Gettin' Air*GBC
March 27*Strikers 1945 II*PS1
March 30*Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine*GBC
March 30*Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo*N64 (EU)
April 6*Snoopy Tennis*GBC
April 8*Dr. Mario 64*N64
April 11*Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble*GBC
April 12*The Simpsons Wrestling*PS1
April 16*Illbleed*DC
April 16*Batman: Chaos in Gotham*GBC
April 19*Spider-Man*DC
April 23*Silpheed: The Lost Planet*PS2
April 30*The Adventures of Cookie & Cream*PS2
April 30*Mars Matrix: Hyper Solid Shooting*DC
May 7*Mario Party 3*N64
May 8*Myst III: Exile*WINPS2
May 14*Crazy Taxi*PS2
May 16*Giga Wing 2*DC
May 16*Project Justice*DC
May 18*Atlantis The Lost Empire: Trial by Fire*WIN
May 21*Cool Boarders*PS2
May 22*Red Faction*PS2
May 28*Crazy Taxi 2*DC
May 29*Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown*GBC
May 30*Bejeweled*WIN
May 30*Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six*GBC
May 30*Max Steel: Covert Missions*DC
June 11*Castlevania: Circle of the Moon*GBA
June 11*ChuChu Rocket!*GBA
June 11*Earthworm Jim*GBA
June 11*F-Zero: Maximum Velocity*GBA
June 11*Konami Krazy Racers*GBA
June 11*Rayman Advance*GBA
June 11*Super Mario Advance*GBA
June 14*Atlantis: The Lost Empire*PS1
June 18*Twisted Metal: Black*PS2
June 19*Sonic Adventure 2*DC
June 19StartopiaWIN
June 20*Time Crisis: Project Titan*PS1
June 21*Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal*WIN
June 22*Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis*WIN
June 27*Anachronox*WIN
June 27Anarchy OnlineWIN
June 29*Bomberman Tournament*GBA
June 29*Diablo II: Lord of Destruction*WIN
June 29*Final Fantasy Chronicles*PS1
July 1*Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword*GBC
July 6*Runaway: A Road Adventure*WIN
July 8*Dark Angel: Vampire Apocalypse*PS2
July 10*Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec*PS2
July 14*Mega Man Legends*WIN
July 16*Jurassic Park III: The DNA Factor*GBA
July 17*City Crisis*PS2
July 19*Final Fantasy X*PS2 (JP)
July 23*Extermination*PS2
July 23*Max Payne*WIN
July 28*Rune: Viking Warlord*PS2
July 30*Pokémon Crystal* (North America)GBC
July 30*Tweety and the Magic Gems*GBA
August 1*Golden Sun*GBA
August 1*Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower*WIN
August 7*WWF Betrayal*GBA
August 8*Shogun: Total War: Mongol Invasion*WIN
August 19*Madden NFL 2002*PS1, PS2
August 20*Armored Core 2: Another Age*PS2
August 21*Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura*WIN
August 27*Mario Kart: Super Circuit*GBA
August 27*Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2*PS2
August 28*ESPN Final Round Golf 2002*GBA
August 29*Alchemy*WIN
August 30*Klonoa: Empire of Dreams*GBA
September 6*Shenmue II*DC
September 10*Advance Wars*GBA
September 10*Jurassic Park III: Park Builder*GBA
September 10*Portal Runner*PS2
September 11*The World Is Not Enough*GBC
September 13*Heavy Metal: Geomatrix*DC
September 13*Ooga Booga*DC
September 15*Power Rangers Time Force*GBA
September 17*Arctic Thunder*PS2
September 18Red FactionWIN
September 21*SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge*PS1
September 24*Monster Rancher 3*PS2
September 24*Phantasy Star Online Version 2*DC
September 24Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth DrannorWIN
September 24*Silent Hill 2*PS2
September 24*SpyHunter*PS2
September 24*SpongeBob SquarePants: Operation Krabby Patty*WIN
September 25*X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse*GBA
September 26*Bass Strike*PS2
September 26*Dexter's Laboratory: Deesaster Strikes!*GBA
September 26*Final Fight One*GBA
September 26*Kessen II*PS2
September 30*Ico*PS2
October 1*NASCAR Thunder 2002*PS1, PS2, XB
October 1*Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase*GBA
October 1*Time Crisis II*PS2
October 1*Yanya Caballista: City Skater*PS2
October 2*Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge*GBA
October 3*Lego Bionicle*GBA
October 4*Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase*PS1
October 5*The Wild Thornberrys: Chimp Chase*GBA
October 8*Castlevania Chronicles*PS1
October 10*Dark Age of Camelot*WIN
October 12*Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney*GBA
October 15*Lady Sia*GBA
October 15*Batman: Vengeance*WINPS2, GCN, XBGBA
October 17*Devil May Cry*PS2
October 18*E.T.: Digital Companion*GBC
October 21*Stronghold*WIN
October 22*Grand Theft Auto III*PS2
October 24*Virtua Tennis 2*DC
October 28*Doom*GBA
October 28*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3*PS1, PS2, GCN
October 29*Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex*PS2, XB, GCN
October 29*Spyro: Season of Ice*GBA
October 30*Aliens versus Predator 2*WIN
October 30*Boxing Fever*GBA
October 30*Civilization III*WIN
October 30*Mega Man Xtreme 2*GBC
October 30*Monsters, Inc. Scream Team*WINPS1, PS2
October 30*Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival*GBA
October 31*Soul Reaver 2*PS2
October 31*Mega Man Battle Network*GBA
November 1*Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies*PS2
November 1*Burnout*PS2
November 1*Dragon Warrior VII*PS1
November 1*FIFA Football 2002*PS1, PS2
November 1*Nancy Drew: The Final Scene*WIN
November 3*Rocket Power: Dream Scheme*GBA
November 5*SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge*PS1GBA
November 5*SSX Tricky*PS2, GCN, XB
November 7*Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand*GBA
November 9*Project Gotham Racing*XB
November 11*Golden Sun*GBA
November 12*Empire Earth*WIN
November 12*Gradius Advance*GBA
November 12*Survivor*WIN
November 13*[007: Agent Under Fire](007-agent-under-fire)*PS2
November 13*Cubix - Robots for Everyone: Race 'N Robots*GBC
November 13*Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*PS2
November 13*Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon*WIN
November 14Frank Herbert's DuneWINPS2
November 14*Harvest Moon 3 GBC*GBC
November 14*Shrek*XB
November 15*Cel Damage*XB, PS2, GCN
November 15*Dead or Alive 3*XB
November 15*Halo: Combat Evolved*XB
November 15*Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion*GBA
November 15*Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee*XB
November 15Wizardry 8WIN
November 16Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneWINPS1GBC, GBA
November 16*Headhunter*DC
November 17*NHL Hitz 2002*GCN
November 17*Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader*GCN
November 18*Crazy Taxi*GCN
November 18*Super Monkey Ball*GCN
November 18*IL-2 Sturmovik*WIN
November 18*Luigi's Mansion *GCN
November 18*WWF Road to Wrestlemania*GBA
November 19Soul Reaver 2WIN
November 19*Wario Land 4*GBA
November 19*WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It*PS2
November 20*Frequency*PS2
November 20*Return to Castle Wolfenstein*WIN
November 20*Frogger: The Great Quest*PS2
November 21*Ecks vs. Sever*GBA
November 21*Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles*GBA
November 21*Super Smash Bros. Melee*GCN (JP)
November 22*Mr. Driller G*PS1 (JP)
November 23*Gothic*WIN
November 24*Frogger's Adventures: Temple of the Frog*GBA
November 25*Azurik: Rise of Perathia*XB
November 26*Jurassic Park III: Island Attack*GBA
November 26*Star Wars: Starfighter*XB
November 26*Twisted Metal: Small Brawl*PS1
November 27*Extreme-G 3*GCN
November 27*Lego Racers 2*GBA
November 28*Cruis'n Velocity*GBA
November 29*Rampage Puzzle Attack*GBA
November 30*Dokapon: Monster Hunter*GBA
December 1*Breath of Fire*GBA
December 1*M&M's Blast!*GBA
December 3*Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance*PS2
December 3*Pikmin*GCN
December 3*Super Smash Bros. Melee*GCN (NA)
December 3*Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy *PS2
December 4*Mega Man X6*PS1
December 5*American Bass Challenge*GBA
December 7*Cel Damage*GCN
December 7Magical VacationGBA
December 7*Evil Twin: Cyprien's Chronicles *PS2 (PAL & EU)
December 9*The Flintstones: Big Trouble in Bedrock*GBA
December 12*Mortal Kombat Advance*GBA
December 12*Shadow Hearts*PS2
December 17*Dark Rift* (North America)N64
December 18*Universal Studios Theme Parks Adventure*GCN
December 19Star Wars: Obi-WanXB
December 19*Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land*PS2
December 20*Final Fantasy X *PS2 (US)
December 20*Giants: Citizen Kabuto*PS2
December 21*Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut*XB
December 21*Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3*GBA

Deaths

  • January 12 - David Pridie, 30, developer on Unreal Tournament.
  • March 16 – Isao Okawa, 74, chairman of Sega.
  • May 3 - Doug Myers, 36, Audio and Visual production on Railroad Tycoon II.
  • September 21 - Andrew Bradfield, 35, creator of Laser Hawk

Notes

References

References

  1. Hu, Jim. "Video game sales set record in 2001".
  2. Watts, Jonathan. (2001-02-01). "Sega to end production of Dreamcast console".
  3. Kelly, Andy. (2021-09-30). "2001 Was The Best Year Ever For Video Games".
  4. Fillari, Alessandro. (2021-02-06). "Remembering 2001: The Biggest Games That Turn 20 This Year".
  5. Madsen, Hayes. (October 17, 2022). "21 years ago, Capcom changed action games forever".
  6. Figueiredo, Erick Duarte. (2022-10-02). "Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden: The Two Extremes of the Hack-and-Slash Genre".
  7. Carnley, Zackery Van. (2021-04-19). "How Halo Has Defined the Shooter Genre".
  8. Plant, Mike. "In the loop: how Halo defined a new decade of first-person shooters".
  9. Kelly, Andy. (2021-10-27). "Grand Theft Auto 3 Changed Video Games Forever".
  10. Gordon, Jeremy. (2021-10-22). "After 'Grand Theft Auto III,' Open-World Games Were Never (and Always) the Same".
  11. (September 30, 2021). "2001 Was The Best Year Ever For Video Games".
  12. "Remembering 2001: The Biggest Games That Turn 20 This Year".
  13. IGN Staff. (2001-11-14). "Pokemon Mini Hits the US".
  14. "Game Rankings - The Game Reviews Database - Best Games of 2001!".
  15. "the electric playground".
  16. "Best PS2 Games of 2001 - Game Revolution".
  17. "BAFTA Awards".
  18. "BAFTA Awards".
  19. "BAFTA Awards".
  20. "Awards Category Details".
  21. "Game Developers Choice Online Awards {{!}} Archive {{!}} 2nd Annual GDCA".
  22. (2009-09-14). "12 hot facts about the Golden Joystick Awards".
  23. "Japan Game Awards 2011".
  24. "EGM Awards {{!}} Award {{!}} VideoGameGeek".
  25. (2001-12-30). "Games of the Year 2001".
  26. Marchiafava, Jeff. "Check Out 25 Years Of Game Informer's GOTY Awards".
  27. "GameSpot Presents: The Best and Worst of 2001".
  28. (January 19, 2002). "Overall Game of the Year 2001 - Cube News at IGN".
  29. "週刊ファミ通クロスレビュープラチナ殿堂入りソフト一覧".
  30. "Best Video Games for 2001".
  31. "Highest-Ranking Games of 2001 (with at least 10 reviews)".
  32. "Best Video Games for 2002".
  33. "Highest-Ranking Games of 2002 (with at least 10 reviews)".
  34. (2004). "WIPO Guide on the Licensing of Copyright and Related Rights". [[World Intellectual Property Organization]] (WIPO).
  35. (September 23, 2002). "August sales data". [[The NPD Group]].
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  38. Bradshaw. (January 31, 2002). "Markle Forum on Children and Media". [[New York University]].
  39. (January 2005). "The Business of Culture: Strategic Perspectives on Entertainment and Media". [[Lawrence Erlbaum Associates]].
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  41. Nicholson, Zy. (September 2001). "Final Reality". Future Publishing.
  42. (2002). "Famitsū Gēmu Hakusho 2002". [[Enterbrain]].
  43. (February 2001). "First PlayStation 2 videogame to sell one million units".
  44. Nicholson, Zy. (September 2001). "Final Reality". Future Publishing.
  45. (7 February 2002). "Europäische Verkaufsawards". [[GameStar]].
  46. "Top 20 Console Games Ranked by Units Sold, 1998–2013". [[Australian Government]].
  47. (15 January 2002). ""Tekken TT", "DOC 2000" Top Game Charts". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
  48. (December 6, 2000). "Infogrames to Acquire Hasbro Interactive".
  49. "CNN.com - Game over for Sega's Dreamcast - January 31, 2001".
  50. I. G. N. Staff. (2001-02-03). "Sega Goes Third-Party, Nintendo Ties Announced".
  51. (June 8, 2012). "Attendance and Stats". IGN.
  52. "Summoner Review".
  53. (2022-07-06). "Startopia {{!}} Eurogamer.net".
  54. "Anarchy Online: The Shadowlands Review".
  55. "Red Faction Review".
  56. (2024-05-20). "Frank Herbert's Dune in November - IGN".
  57. I. G. N. Staff. (2001-12-15). "Wizardry 8".
  58. I. G. N. Staff. (2001-07-26). "Soul Reaver 2 to PC".
  59. Boulding, Aaron. (2002-01-03). "Star Wars: Obi-Wan".
  60. "David Pridie {{!}} Additional Crew".
  61. John Chartier. (May 18, 2001). "Sega's gaming gambit". CNN.
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