Video Games 1980

Video Games 1980: Mattel releases the Intellivision video game console. Sinclair Research releases the ZX80 home computer and Acorn Computers release the Atom, the first domestic computers to play games in the UK. Tandy releases the Tandy Color Computer.

Please scroll down to vote for your favorite video games of 1980. Thanks!

Video Games 1980: Game & Watch

Nintendo releases the Game & Watch series of LCD handheld electronic games by Gunpei Yokoi. Each Game & Watch features a single game to be played on an LCD screen in addition to a clock, an alarm, or both. Source

Arcade Games 1980

Namco releases Pac-Man (originally known as Puckman in Japan). It becomes the highest-grossing game of all time. It has the first gaming mascot character, established the maze chase genre, opened gaming to female audiences, introduced power-ups and featured cutscenes. Atari releases Missile Command. Nichibutsu releases the vertically-scrolling Crazy Climber, the first video game with a climbing mechanic and an objective of climbing to the top of the level. Stern Electronics releases Berzerk, with designer Alan McNeil’s signature on the monitor glass of each cabinet. Namco releases Rally-X, the first game with a bonus round. It also features multi-directional scrolling. Universal releases Space Panic, often cited as the first platform game, though the term was still several years in the future. Atari releases Battlezone (it is later enhanced for the US Army for military training—albeit relying on specialized vector graphics hardware). Cinematronics releases Star Castle.

Please scroll down to vote for your favorite video games of 1980. Thanks!

Computer and Console 1980

Atari’s port of Space Invaders becomes the 2600’s killer app, and the first console title to sell a million copies.

Infocom releases Zork I, the first Zork game and the first Infocom game. Rogue is written by Michael Toy, Glenn Wichman, and Ken Arnold, spawning the genre of roguelike games. Edu-Ware releases The Prisoner for the Apple II, loosely based upon the 1960s TV series of the same name. Strategic Simulations, Inc. releases its first game: Computer Bismarck for the TRS-80.

Gaming innovations

• First platform game: Space Panic by Universal
• First game with a bonus round: Rally-X by Namco
• Crazy Climber was the first video game with a climbing mechanic
• First gaming mascot character: Pac-Man by Namco

Composed By: Retroconsole xyz