Video Games 1981 - 80s Part II

Channel:

Retroconsole

Subscribers:

4,019

Published on March 11, 2019 8:28:56 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG0oDKG5LdU

Game:

Donkey Kong (1981)

Duration: 10:48

901 views

22

Video Games 1981: Intro

Vote for Your Favorite Video Games in 1981: https://retroconsole.xyz/history-of-video-games/video-games-1981/

Timex releases the Sinclair Research ZX81 in the UK, which is significantly less expensive than other computers on the market. Texas Instruments releases the TI-99/4A, an update to 1979’s TI-99/4. IBM Personal Computer is released for USD$1,565, with 16K RAM, no disk drives, and 4-color CGA graphics. Astrovision distributes the Bally Computer System after buying the rights from Bally/Midway. Acorn Computers Ltd releases the BBC Micro home computer. Commodore Business Machines releases the Commodore VIC-20 home computer. In addition, NEC releases the PC-8801 home computer in Japan.

Games Presented in Video

Donkey Kong (Arcade By Nintendo)
Galaga (Arcade By Namco / Midway)
Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade By Namco / Midway)
Frogger (Arcade By Konami / Sega Gremlin)
Wizard of Wor (Arcade By Midway)
Ultima (Apple 2 By California Pacific)
Wizardry (Apple 2 By Sir-Tech)
Scramble (Arcade By Konami / Stern)
Defender (Arcade By Williams / Taito)
Missile Command (Atari 2600)
Jump Bug (Arcade By Sega / Rock-Ola)
Tempest (Arcade By Atari)
Lady Bug (Arcade By Universal)
Bosconian (Arcade By Namco / Midway)
Battle of Atlantis (Arcade By Karateco)
Fantasy (Arcade By SNK / Rock-Ola)
Super Cobra (Arcade By Konami)
Vanguard (Arcade By TOSE / SNK)
Venture (Arcade By Exidy)
Castle Wolfenstein (Apple 2 By Muse Software)
Eastern Front 1941 (Atari 800 By Chris Crawford)
Kaboom (Atari 2600 By Activision)
KC Munchkin (Magnavox Odyssey 2)
Crossfire (Apple 2 By Sierra On-Line)
The Adventures of Robby Roto (Arcade By Midway)
Astrosmash (intellivision By John Sohl)
Alien Invasion (Fairchild Channel F)
Caverns Of Mars (Atari 800 By Greg Christensen)
K-Razy Shootout (Atari 8 Bit By K-Byte)
Turbo (Arcade By Sega)

Music Used in Video

*Streets of Rage 2 Main Theme
*Streets of Rage 1 Main Theme
*Streets of Rage 3 Good Ending
*Streets of Rage 2 Alien Power

Vote for Your Favorite Video Games in 1981: https://retroconsole.xyz/history-of-video-games/video-games-1981/

Consoles in 1981

Coleco Industries releases the Total Control 4 home console. Sega test markets the SG-1000 home console in Japan.

Arcade Video Games in 1981

Konami releases Scramble, the first side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling and multiple distinct levels. Williams Electronics releases Defender. Nintendo releases Donkey Kong, which introduces the characters of Donkey Kong and Mario, and sets the template for the platformer genre. It is also one of the first video games with an integral storyline. Namco releases Galaga, the sequel to Galaxian which becomes more popular than the original. Konami releases Frogger. However, Frogger is distributed in North America by Sega-Gremlin.

Other Arcade Video Games 1981

Sega releases Turbo, a racing video game for the VCO Object that features a third-person perspective, rear-view racer format. Williams Electronics releases Stargate, the sequel to Defender. Namco releases Bosconian, the first game to have a continue feature. Jump Bug, the first scrolling platformer, developed by Hoei/Coreland and Alpha Denshi. However, it was distributed in North America by Rock-Ola under license from Sega. Midway releases Gorf and Wizard of Wor. Taito releases twin-stick shooter Space Dungeon. Atari releases Tempest.

Computer Games in 1981

Ultima is released, starting one of the most successful computer role-playing game franchises. Wizardry is released, starting another successful computer role-playing game franchises. IBM and Microsoft include the game DONKEY.BAS with the IBM PC, arguably the first IBM PC compatible game. Muse Software releases Castle Wolfenstein. The Atari Program Exchange publishes Caverns of Mars, a vertically scrolling shooter for the Atari 8-bit family, and wargame Eastern Front (1941). APX also sells the source code to Eastern Front. Epyx releases turn-based monster game Crush, Crumble and Chomp!. BudgeCo releases Raster Blaster, an Apple II pinball game that’s the precursor to Pinball Construction Set. Infocom releases Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz.

Gaming innovations

First IBM PC compatible game: DONKEY.BAS
First side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling and multiple distinct levels
Donkey Kong sets the template for the platformer genre
Bosconian was the first game to have a continue feature
Jump Bug was the first scrolling platformer

Vote for Your Favorite Video Games in 1981: https://retroconsole.xyz/history-of-video-games/video-games-1981/

Other Statistics