1981 In Video Gaming
Fueled by the previous year's release of the colorful and appealing ''Pac-Man'', the audience for arcade games in 1981 became much wider. ''Pac-Man'' influenced maze games began appearing in arcades and on home systems. ''Pac-Man'' was again the year's highest-grossing video game for the second year in a row. Nintendo released the arcade game ''Donkey Kong'', which defined the platformer genre. Other arcade hits released in 1981 include '' Defender'', ''Scramble'', ''Frogger'', and ''Galaga''. The year's best-selling home system was Nintendo's Game & Watch, for the second year in a row. Financial performance * The arcade video game market in the US generates $4.8 billion in revenue. * The home video game market in the US generates $1 billion in sales revenue, with Atari remaining the market leader. * The home video game market in Europe is worth $200 million. Highest-grossing arcade games The year's highest-grossing video game was ''Pac-Man'' with in arcade game revenue, thre ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Pac-Man
originally called ''Puck Man'' in Japan, is a 1980 maze action video game developed and released by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. The player controls Pac-Man, who must eat all the dots inside an enclosed maze while avoiding four colored ghosts. Eating large flashing dots called "Power Pellets" causes the ghosts to temporarily turn blue, allowing Pac-Man to eat them for bonus points. Game development began in early 1979, directed by Toru Iwatani with a nine-man team. Iwatani wanted to create a game that could appeal to women as well as men, because most video games of the time had themes of war or sports. Although the inspiration for the Pac-Man character was the image of a pizza with a slice removed, Iwatani has said he also rounded out the Japanese character for mouth, kuchi ( ja, 口). The in-game characters were made to be cute and colorful to appeal to younger p ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Arcade Game
An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade video games, Pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games or merchandisers. Types Broadly, arcade games are nearly always considered games of skill, with only some elements of games of chance. Games that are solely games of chance, like slot machines and pachinko, often are categorized legally as gambling devices and, due to restrictions, may not be made available to minors or without appropriate oversight in many jurisdictions. Arcade video games Arcade video games were first introduced in the early 1970s, with ''Pong'' as the first commercially successful game. Arcade video games use electronic or computerized circuitry to take input from the player and translate that to an electronic display such as a monitor or telev ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Namco
was a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, and Shanghai Namco in mainland China. Namco was founded by Masaya Nakamura (businessman), Masaya Nakamura on June 1, 1955, as beginning as an operator of coin-operated amusement rides. After reorganizing to Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. in 1959, a partnership with Walt Disney Productions provided the company with the resources to expand its operations. In the 1960s, it manufactured Electro-mechanical game, electro-mechanical arcade games such as the 1965 hit ''Periscope (arcade game), Periscope''. It entered the video game industry after acquiring the struggling Japanese division of Atari, Inc., Atari in 1974, distributing games such as ''Breakout (video game), Breakout'' in Japan. The company renamed itself Namco ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sports Video Game
A sports video game is a video game that simulates the practice of sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, track and field, extreme sports, and combat sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport (such as ''FIFA'', ''Pro Evolution Soccer'' and ''Madden NFL''), whilst others emphasize strategy and sport management (such as ''Football Manager'' and ''Out of the Park Baseball''). Some, such as ''Need for Speed'', ''Arch Rivals'' and '' Punch-Out!!'', satirize the sport for comic effect. This genre has been popular throughout the history of video games and is competitive, just like real-world sports. A number of game series feature the names and characteristics of real teams and players, and are updated annually to reflect real-world changes. The sports genre is one of the oldest genres in gaming history. Game design Sports games involve physical and tactical challenges, and test the player's precision and accuracy. Most sports games ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Data East
, also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game, pinball and electronic engineering company. The company was in operation from 1976 to 2003, and released 150 video game titles. Its main headquarters were located in Suginami, Tokyo. The American subsidiary, Data East USA, was headquartered in San Jose, California. History Data East was founded on April 20, 1976, by Tokai University alumnus Tetsuo Fukuda. Data East developed and released in July 1977 its first arcade game ''Jack Lot'', a medal game based on Blackjack for business use. This was followed in January 1978 by ''Super Break'' which was its first actual video game. More than 15 arcade games were released by Data East in the 1970s. Data East established its U.S. division in June 1979, after its chief competitors Sega and Taito had already established a market presence. In 1980, Data East published '' Astro Fighter'' which became its first major arcade game title. While making games, Data East released a series ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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DECO Cassette System
240px, DECO Cassette System loading screen The DECO Cassette System was introduced by Data East in October 1980. It was the first standardised arcade system that allowed arcade owners to change games. Developed in 1979, it was released in Japan in 1980 and then North America in 1981. The arcade owner would buy a base cabinet, while the games were stored on standard audio cassette tapes. The arcade owner would insert the cassette and a key module into the cabinet. When the machine was powered on, the program from the tape would be copied into the cabinet's RAM chips; this process took about two to three minutes. Afterwards, the game could be played freely until the machine was powered off. Game list In bold characters are the video games that were also released in dedicated arcade cabinets. * 01: '' Highway Chase'' (also known as ''Mad Alien'') * 02: '' Sengoku Ninja Tai'' (also known as ''Ninja'') * 03: ''Manhattan'' * 04: '' Terranean'' * 05: '' Missile Sprinter'' * 06: '' Neb ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mahjong Video Game
A Mahjong video game is a video game that is based on one of the many ways to play mahjong. The majority of mahjong video games are developed and released in Japan and use the rules for Japanese Mahjong, although several have also been made for American Mahjong and several Chinese versions of mahjong. Many mahjong video games, especially among those released in Western territories, do not depict the actual game of mahjong but rather mahjong solitaire. Most commercial games released in this genre are created by Japanese developers for domestic release. Game makers have created dozens of mahjong titles for arcades and home consoles, but none have ever been officially released outside Asia. Some operating systems have included a Mahjong game, such as Solaris, Windows (''Mahjong Titans''), OS/2, and AmigaOS. Game types Japanese computer mahjong games typically challenge serious players, such as Athena's ''Pro Mahjong Kiwame'' series. For example, many Japanese video arcades feature ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sanritsu
Sanritsu Denki is a Japanese video game publisher and developer. SIMS Co., Ltd. was established on June 12, 1991, as a joint venture of Sanritsu and Sega Enterprises, Ltd. It was responsible for games such as: *''Appoooh'' (Arcade) (1984) *''Bank Panic'' (Arcade) (1984) *''Out Run'' (Arcade) (1986) *'' Bomber Raid'' (Master System) (1988) *'' Assault City'' (Master System) (1990) *''Peepar Time'' (Famicom) (1990) *'' Slap Shot'' (Master System) (1990) *'' Slaughter Sport'' (Mega Drive) (1990) *''Fantasy Zone'' (Game Gear) (1991) *''Gain Ground'' (Mega Drive, Master System) (1991) See also *List of Sanritsu/SIMS games The list of games by Sanritsu/SIMS includes, unless otherwise noted: Arcade *'' Bank Panic'' (バンクパニック) (1983) *''Change Leon'' (???) (1982) *'' Combat Hawk'' (1987) *'' Dr. Micro'' (1983) *'' Dream Shopper'' (1982) *''Get Bass: Seg ... External links * Sanritsu/SIMSat the Game Developer Research Institute wiki Video game companies of Japan V ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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List Of Sanritsu/SIMS Games
The list of games by Sanritsu/SIMS includes, unless otherwise noted: Arcade *''Bank Panic'' (バンクパニック) (1983) *''Change Leon'' (???) (1982) *'' Combat Hawk'' (1987) *'' Dr. Micro'' (1983) *'' Dream Shopper'' (1982) *''Get Bass: Sega Bass Fishing'' (ゲットバス ソフト単品) / ''Sega Bass Fishing'' (1998) *'' Janputer'' (1981) *'' Jantotsu Super'' (1983) *'' Kikiipatsu Mayumi-chan'' (1988) *'' Mahjong Kyou Jidai'' (1986) *'' Maximum Speed'' (2003) *''Mermaid'' / ''Yachtsman'' (1982) *'' Quiz Ah! Megami Sama: Tatakau Tsubasa Totomo Ni'' (クイズ ああっ女神さまっ ~闘う翼とともに~ 通常版) (2000) *'' Quiz Jump'' (1983) *'' Red Selector'' (1982) *'' Ron 2-nin Mahjong'' (1980) *'' Ron 2-nin Mahjong 2'' (1980) *'' Roppyakuken'' (1983) *'' Rougien'' (1982) *'' Sega Marine Fishing'' (セガマリンフィッシング) (1999) *''Space War'' (Clone of ''Space Invaders'') (1978) *'' Sports Shooting USA'' (2003) *''Triple Punch'' (1982) *'' Van-Van C ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Platformer
A platform game (often simplified as platformer and sometimes called a jump 'n' run game) is a sub-genre of action video games in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels that consist of uneven terrain and suspended platforms of varying height that require jumping and climbing to traverse. Other acrobatic maneuvers may factor into the gameplay, such as swinging from vines or grappling hooks, jumping off walls, air dashing, gliding through the air, being shot from cannons, or bouncing from springboards or trampolines. Games where jumping is automated completely, such as 3D games in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, fall outside of the genre. The genre started with the 1980 arcade video game, ''Space Panic'', which includes ladders, but not jumping. ''Donkey Kong'', released in 1981, established a template for what were initially called "climbing games." ''Donkey Kong'' inspired many clones a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |