1977 in video gaming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Notable events of 1977 in video gaming. See also history of computer and video games.
Contents |
[edit] Events
- Agnes Kim opens the first Electronics Boutique, a kiosk at the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania selling transistor radios and calculators.[1]
- Atari opens the first Pizza Time Theater (later Chuck E. Cheese's), a combination video arcade/pizzeria conceived by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. In June, Bushnell purchaes the rights to Pizza Time Theater back from Atari for $500,000 USD.[2]
- Sega acquires Gremlin Industries, a major developer of coin-operated "wall games."[3]
- Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd. formally changes its name to Namco (which it has employed as a brand name since 1971), and establishes Namco Enterprises Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong, its first subsidiary based outside of Japan.[4]
[edit] Notable releases
[edit] Video game consoles
- Atari develops the Game Brain (model C-700), a dedicated console and the first Atari system to utilize cartridges. Only a handful of Game Brain prototypes are produced, and none are released commercially.[5]
- Coleco releases a number of new models of the Telstar console: the Telstar Alpha, the Telstar Colormatic, the Telstar Regent, the Telstar Ranger, the Telstar Galaxy, and the Telstar Combat. Most of these systems feature only minor variations on the original Telstar model, such as new controller types (for example, the Ranger featured a light gun, while the Galaxy included joysticks).[5]
- Nintendo releases the Color TV Game 6 dedicated console, featuring six variations of Light Tennis (a PONG clone). Nintendo's partner, Mitsubishi, produces most of the system's hardware components.[6]
- Bally releases the Bally Home Library Computer video game console through mail order retailer JS&A National Sales Group. Delays in production of the system, however, mean that none of the units will actually ship until the following year.[7]
- In January, RCA Corporation releases the Studio II video game console.[8]
- In October, Atari releases the Video Computer System (later known as the Atari 2600) video game console alongside nine launch titles.[9]
[edit] Games
- Cinematronics releases Larry Rosenthal's Space Wars, the first vector graphics arcade game.[10]
- Mattel releases Missile Attack, the first handheld electronic game to feature an light-emitting diode (LED) display.[11]
- Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling, the future founders of Infocom, develop the first version of Zork on a PDP-10 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Laboratory for Computer Science.[12]
- While studying for a Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, Kelton Flinn begins developing a text-based aerial combat game called Air, an early precursor to 1987's Air Warrior, the first massively multiplayer online game.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Fischer, John (2002). Famous Philadelphians – Nine Richest Philadelphians. About.com – Greater Philadelphia / South Jersey. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Thomas, Donald A. Jr (2005). –1977–. ICWhen.com. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Gremlin Industries Incorporated. Wall Games (2004). Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Namco History (English summary). NAMCO WonderPage (2001). Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Martin (2003). Museum of Home Video Gaming. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Color TV Game 6. Nintendo Database. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Squire, Lance F. (2005). The Bally/Astrocade FAQ version h2.8. Lance F. Squire Homepage. Retrieved on February 19, 2006.
- ^ Miller, Michael (2005). A History of Home Video Game Consoles > First Generation: 1972–1977. InformIT. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Atari 2600 History. AtariAge (2006). Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Hunter, William (2005). Player 2 Stage 1: The Coin Eaters. The Dot Eaters. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Hunter, William (2005). Timescape. The Dot Eaters. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ History of Infocom. Infocom – The Master Storytellers. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
- ^ Koster, Raph (2002). Online World Timeline. Raph Koster's Website. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
