1981 in video gaming

1981
1981 in games

Notable events of 1981 in video gaming. See also history of computer and video games.

[edit] Events

November -
- The British video game magazine Computer and Video Games (C&VG) starts.
- Game & Watch - released in Sweden.

Arnie Katz and Bill Kunkel found Electronic Games, the first magazine on video games and generally recognized as the beginning of video game journalism.

Bosconian was the first arcade game to have a continue feature.

Midway releases the Gorf arcade game
Sega releases the Frogger video game, which was developed by Konami
Namco releases New Rally-X, Warp and Warp, Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man and Bosconian, which is the first game to have a continue feature.
Nelsonic releases the Space Attacker watch LCD game
Nintendo releases Shigeru Miyamoto's Donkey Kong arcade game
Williams Electronics releases Eugene Jarvis's Stargate arcade game
IBM and Microsoft include the game DONKEY.BAS with the IBM PC, arguably the first IBM PC compatible game.
Ultima and Wizardry are released, starting two of the most successful lines of CRPGs

Astrovision Inc. distributes the Bally Computer System after buying the rights from Bally/Midway
Acorn Computers Ltd releases the BBC Micro home computer, which brought the game Elite to prominence
Coleco Industries releases the Total Control 4 home console
Commodore Business Machines releases the Commodore VIC-20 home computer
SEGA test markets the SG-1000 home console in Japan
Sinclair Research releases the ZX81 home computer, the first widely available 'domestic' computer to play games in the UK. Shortly, J.K. Greye Software publishes 3D Monster Maze written by Malcolm Evans – the first computer game featuring real-time 3D graphics without using specialized vector graphics hardware