In the early history of video games , 1971 marked the beginning of the video game industry with the release of the first commercial arcade video games , Computer Space and then Galaxy Game . The video game industry emerged from the arcade game industry, which at the time was dominated by electro-mechanical games (EM games), a type of arcade game that was popularized years earlier by Periscope (1965) from Namco and Sega .[ 1] [ 2]
The year's highest-grossing electronic game is Kasco 's EM arcade racing game Indy 500 (Speedway) , for the second year in a row. The year's best-selling video game is Computer Space , the first arcade video game. The year's best-selling handheld game is Nintendo 's electro‑mechanical FPS game Kōsenjū Custom (Beam Gun Custom ), the second year in a row for Nintendo's Kōsenjū (Beam Gun ) series.
Financial performance [ ]
The following table lists the annual revenue generated by the electronic games industry this year, including video games and electro‑mechanical games .
Industry
Products
Market
Annual revenue (est. )
Ref
Nominal
Inflation
Electro‑mechanical games
Japan
$334,000,000
$2,600,000,000
Arcade games
$601,000,000
$4,700,000,000
Arcade
Electro‑mechanical games
Worldwide
$600,000,000
$4,700,000,000
[ 3]
Arcade games
United States
$203,000,000
$1,580,000,000
[ 4] [ 5]
Arcade video games
United States
$1,000,000
$7,800,000
[ 6]
Electro‑mechanical games
Worldwide
$634,000,000
$4,900,000,000
Arcade
Electro‑mechanical games
Worldwide
$600,000,000
$4,700,000,000
[ 3]
Japan
$300,000,000
$2,300,000,000
[ 7]
United States
$202,000,000
$1,600,000,000
Handheld
Electro‑mechanical games
Japan
$34,000,000
$260,000,000
Electronic games
Worldwide
$635,000,000
$4,900,000,000
[ 3]
Highest-grossing games [ ]
The following titles were the highest-grossing electronic games worldwide in 1971, including electro‑mechanical games (EM games) and video games (VG) across arcade and handheld markets. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.
No.
Title
Company
Release
Gross revenue (est. )[ 2]
Genre
Platform
Type
Nominal
Inflation
1
Indy 500
Kasco
1968
$64,000,000
$500,000,000
Racing
Arcade
EM
2
Sky Fighter
Taito
1970
$49,000,000
$380,000,000
FPS
3
Kōsenjū Custom
Nintendo
1971
$42,000,000
$330,000,000
FPS
Handheld
4
Periscope
Namco / Sega
1965
$17,000,000
$130,000,000
FPS
Arcade
5
Untouchable
Kasco
1971
$16,000,000
$120,000,000
Driving
6
Zero Fighter
Namco
1968
$14,000,000
$110,000,000
FPS
7
Kōsenjū SP
Nintendo
1970
$13,000,000
$100,000,000
FPS
Handheld
8
Olympia
Sega / Taito
1964
$12,000,000
$93,000,000
Pachislot
Arcade
9
Basketball
Sega / Taito
1966
$11,000,000
$85,000,000
Sports
10
Crazy 15
Komaya
1965
$10,000,000
$78,000,000
Bingo
Highest-grossing arcade games [ ]
The following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games this year. This section has separate lists for electro‑mechanical games (excluding pinball), pinball (a type of electro-mechanical game), and video games .
Electro-mechanical games [ ]
No.
Title
Company
Date [ 8] [ 9]
Cabinet sales (est. )[ 8] [ n 1]
Revenue (est. )[ 2]
Genre
Annual
Cume
Ref
Gross
Ref
1
Indy 500
Kasco
1968
1,000
25,000
$64,000,000
Racing
—
Speedway
Chicago Coin
1969
1,000
9,000
[ 13] [ 14]
$20,000,000
[ 15]
Indy 500
Kasco
1968
—
3,000+
[ 16] [ 17]
$18,000,000
[ 18]
Grand Prix
Sega
1969
—
5,000+
[ 19] [ 20]
$10,000,000
[ 21] [ 22]
Racer
Namco
1970
—
5,000
$10,000,000
[ 2]
Champion License
Taito
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Grand Prix
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Drive Master
Chicago Coin
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
2
Sky Fighter
Taito
1970
5,000+
6,000+
$49,000,000
FPS
—
Sky Fighter II
Taito
1971
3,000
3,000
[ 23]
$36,000,000
[ 24]
Sky Fighter
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
[ 23]
$8,000,000
Sonic Fighter
Allied
1971-01
1,000+
1,000+
[ 25] [ 26]
$3,000,000
[ 27] [ 25]
Sky Battle
Chicago Coin
1971-10
1,000+
1,000+
[ 28] [ 29]
$2,000,000
[ 27] [ 30]
3
Periscope
Namco / Sega
1965
—
9,300+
$18,000,000
FPS
—
Periscope
Sega
1966
—
5,000
[ 31]
$9,000,000
[ 2]
Namco
1965
—
1,000+
[ 32]
$2,000,000
Sea Raider
Midway
1969
—
1,000+
[ 33]
$2,000,000
Periscope
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Sea Devil
Midway
1970-09
—
1,000+
[ 34]
$2,000,000
Submarine Patrol
Alca / Mayfield
1967
—
300+
$1,000,000
4
Untouchable
Kasco
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 35] [ 36]
$16,000,000
[ 18]
Driving
5
Zero Fighter
Namco
1968
1,000+
2,000+
$14,000,000
FPS
—
Zero-sen
Namco
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 37] [ 38]
$12,000,000
[ 39] [ 24]
Zero Fighter
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
6
Olympia
Sega / Taito
1964
3,000+
5,000+
$12,000,000
Pachislot
—
Olympia Mark II
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 40]
$3,000,000
[ 41]
Olympia Mark III
Taito
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$3,000,000
New Olympia
Taito
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$2,000,000
Sega
1969
—
1,000+
[ 40]
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Olympia Star
Sega / Taito
1964
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
7
Basketball
Sega / Taito
1966
1,000+
5,000+
$11,000,000
Sports
—
Basketball
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 42]
$3,000,000
[ 41]
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Basketball 901
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Basketball 902
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Basketball
Midway
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
8
Crazy 15
Komaya
1965
—
6,000
$10,000,000
Bingo
—
Crazy 15 Mark III
Komaya
1970
—
3,000
[ 43]
$5,000,000
[ 44] [ 24]
Crazy 15
Komaya
1965
—
3,000
$5,000,000
9
Jet Rocket
Sega
1970-07
1,000+
4,000+
$9,000,000
FPS
—
Night Bomber
Chicago Coin
1971-01
1,000+
1,000+
[ 45] [ 46]
$3,000,000
[ 47] [ 48]
Jet Rocket
Sega
1970-07
—
1,000+
[ 8]
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Flotilla
Williams
1970-12
—
1,000+
[ 8]
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Target Zero
Bally
1970-12
—
1,000+
[ 8]
$2,000,000
10
Safari Gun
Kasco
1970
—
4,000+
$8,000,000
FPS
—
Big Hunting
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
[ 49]
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Hunting Buggy
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Hunting Land
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
[ 50]
$2,000,000
Safari Gun
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
[ 49]
$2,000,000
11
Air Fighter
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
[ 51]
$8,000,000
[ 52]
FPS
12
Baseball / Base Ball
Namco/Komaya
1969
—
4,000+
$7,000,000
Sports
—
Baseball / Base Ball
Komaya
1969
—
3,000
[ 43]
$5,000,000
[ 44] [ 24]
Base Ball
Namco
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 53]
13
Docking Apollo
Namco
1969
1,000+
3,000+
$6,000,000
Lander
—
Apollo-14
Chicago Coin
1971-04
1,000+
1,000+
[ 54]
$2,000,000
[ 55]
Docking Apollo
Namco
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Space Docking
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
[ 54]
$2,000,000
[ 56]
14
Combat Gun / Combat
Kasco / Namco
1966
—
3,000+
$6,000,000
FPS
—
Combat Gun / Combat
Kasco
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 57] [ 2]
Combat Gun
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
New Combat Gun
Namco
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
15
Minisoccer
Sega
1968
—
3,000+
$6,000,000
Sports
—
Mini-Futbol
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Minisoccer
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
[ 58]
$2,000,000
[ 58]
Soccer
Sega
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
16
Rabbit / Tag Game
Kasco
1966
—
3,000+
$6,000,000
Catcher
—
Rabbit Game
Kasco
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Tag Game
Kasco
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Western Tag Game
Kasco
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
17
Red Gun / Marine Gun
Kasco
1963
—
3,000+
$6,000,000
Shooter
—
Red Gun
Kasco
1963
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 57] [ 2]
Marine Gun
Kasco
1964
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Birdie Gun
Kasco
1965
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
18
Super Road 7
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
[ 59]
$6,000,000
[ 60]
Racing
19
Attack
Sega
1970
1,000+
2,000+
$5,000,000
Driving
—
Attack II
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$3,000,000
[ 61]
Attack
Sega
1970
—
1,000+
[ 35]
$2,000,000
20
Derby Day
Sega
1969
1,000+
2,000+
$5,000,000
Racing
—
Jockey Club
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 35]
$3,000,000
[ 62]
Derby Day
Sega
1969
—
1,000+
[ 35]
$2,000,000
21
Missile
Sega
1969
—
2,656+
$6,000,000
FPS
—
Missile
Sega
1969
—
2,000+
[ 8]
$4,000,000
[ 2]
S.A.M.I.
Midway
1970‑03
—
356
[ 63]
$1,000,000
Super Missile
Alca
1970-01
—
300+
[ 64]
$1,000,000
22
Rapid Fire
Taito
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 35]
$4,000,000
FPS
23
Rat Patrol
Taito
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$4,000,000
24
Hoi Hoi Test
Tokyo[ n 2]
1963
—
4,000+
$4,000,000
Rhythm
—
30 Test
Namco
1970
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
[ 53]
Hoi Hoi Test
Tokyo
1963
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Alice Mirror Game
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Nervous Breakdown
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
25
Helicopter
Sega
1968
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
Flight
—
Eagle Go!
Namco
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Helicopter
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
26
Jungle Gun
Sega
1961
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
Shooter
—
Jungle Gun
Sega
1961
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
27
Mini Drive
Kasco
1958
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
Racing
—
Mini Drive MA
Kasco
1961
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Mini Drive
Kasco
1958
—
1,000+
[ 65]
$2,000,000
[ 65]
28
Model Car Racing
Sega
1965
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
Racing
—
Model Car Racing Kit
Sega
1965
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Model Car Racing
Sega
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
29
Night / Cycle Rider
Sega/Taito
1970
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
Racing
—
Night Rider
Sega
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Cycle Rider
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
30
Skill Diga
Sega
1965
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
Crane
—
Super Skill Diga
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Skill Diga
Sega
1965
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
31
Ultra Gun
Namco / Kasco
1967
—
2,000+
$4,000,000
FPS
—
Ultra Gun
Namco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 57] [ 2]
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
32
Astrodata
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$3,000,000
[ 62]
Card
33
Dive Bomber
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 66]
$3,000,000
[ 62]
FPS
34
Monte Carlo
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 66]
$3,000,000
[ 62]
Racing
35
Crown Crane
Taito
1965
—
3,000+
$3,000,000
Crane
—
Crown 602
Taito
1965
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Crown 603
Taito
1966
—
1,000+
[ 65]
$1,000,000
[ 65]
Crown 605
Taito
1966
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
36
Crane Pick
Tokyo
1959
—
1,300+
$3,000,000
Driving
—
Car-Shed
Tokyo
1963
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Crane Pick
Tokyo
1959
—
300
$1,000,000
37
Auto Viewer
Taito
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$2,000,000
Viewer
38
Drag Races
Allied
1971-06
1,000+
1,000+
[ 67]
$2,000,000
[ 68]
Racing
39
Jack & the Beanstalk
Kasco
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$2,000,000
Misc
40
Spiral Ball
Namco
1971
1,000+
1,000+
[ 35]
$2,000,000
[ 53]
Pachinko
41
Computer Quiz
Nutting
1967
—
4,400
[ 69]
$2,000,000
[ 2]
Quiz
42
I.Q. Computer
Nutting
1967
—
3,600
[ 69]
$2,000,000
43
Boozometer
Sega / Taito
1968
—
2,000+
$2,000,000
Wire
—
Boozometer
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
[ 2]
Taito
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
44
Apollo Ball
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Medal
45
Skill Ball
Sega
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
46
Aquamatic Gun
Namco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
FPS
47
Balloon Popping
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
48
Battle of the Bulge
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
49
Combat
Sega
1969
—
1,000+
[ 20]
$2,000,000
[ 70]
50
Duck Hunt
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
51
Ghost Gun
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
52
Gum Deru Gun
Namco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
53
Rifle Competition
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
54
Rifleman
Sega
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
55
Sea Hunt
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
56
Space Adventure
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
57
Undersea Fortress
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
58
Western Duel
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
59
Bazooka Cannon
Namco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Shooter
60
Challenger
Namco
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
61
Cannon Ball
Taito
1960s
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
62
Gun Fight
Sega
1969
—
1,000+
[ 71]
$2,000,000
[ 21] [ 22]
63
Invaders
Midway
1970-10
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
64
Super Sonic Bomber
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
65
Crazy Ball
Taito
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Catcher
66
Space Ball
Kasco
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
67
Crown Soccer
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Sports
68
Cycle Race
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Racing
69
Drivemobile
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
70
Motorcycle
Chicago Coin
1970-10
—
1,000+
[ 72]
$2,000,000
[ 72]
71
Osomatsu-kun
Namco
1966
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
72
Dodgem Crazy
Sega
1970
—
1,000+
[ 73]
$2,000,000
[ 61] [ 22]
Driving
73
Roadway Ride
Namco
1963
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
74
Hockey Game
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Hockey
75
MotoPolo
Sega
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
76
Jumbo
Sega
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Action
77
Magic Card
Taito
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Pachinko
78
Sky Diving
Namco
1969
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Flight
79
Stunt Car
Sega
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
Breaker
80
Big Strike Bowling
Taito
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$1,000,000
Bowling
81
Road Runner
Bally
1971-08
1,000+
1,000+
[ 74]
$1,000,000
[ 75] [ 76]
Racing
82
Target UFO
Alca
1971-10
1,000+
1,000+
[ 77]
$1,000,000
[ 67]
FPS
83
Jungle Drums
Williams
1971-11
750
750
[ 78]
$1,000,000
[ 78]
84
Arrow Vending
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Shooting
Cork Vending
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Automatic Unlucky
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Fortune
Cineretta
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Viewer
Stereo Viewer
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Colorette
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Medal
Starlet
Namco
1970
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
[ 53]
Spin Roulette
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Control Test
Sega
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Wire
Crown Space Man
Taito
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Tokaido Drive
Sega
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Double Skill
Taito
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Coin
Fantasy
Taito
1969
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Ball drop
Fire Carnival
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Misc
Fortress of Navarone
Namco
1966
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Lucky Balloon
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Golden Arm
Taito
1969
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Shuffle Game
Namco
1969
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
[ 53]
Silencer
Namco
1968
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Intelligence Computer
Taito
1969
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Quiz
MiniCom
Namco
1970
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
[ 53]
Janken Machine
Namco
1965
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Janken
Jump Ball
Kasco
1967
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Skeeball
Skee Ball
PTC
1947
—
1,000+
[ 67]
$1,000,000
Match Bowler
Chicago Coin
1952
—
1,000+
[ 67]
$1,000,000
Bowling
Punching Bag
Sega
1962
—
1,000+
[ 65]
$1,000,000
[ 65]
Boxing
Rifle Range
Midway
1963
—
1,000+
[ 67]
$1,000,000
Shooter
Sportsman
Taito
1966
—
1,000+
$1,000,000
Sports
Pinball [ ]
Rank
Title
Company
Release[ 79]
Cabinet sales (est. )[ 79] [ 8] [ n 1]
Gross revenue (est. )[ 2]
Annual
Cume
Gross
Ref
1
Dipsy Doodle
Williams
1970-12
3,703
4,703
$9,000,000
[ 80]
2
Jackpot
Williams
1971-04
5,147
5,147
$8,000,000
3
Aces & Kings
Williams
1970-06
—
4,153
$6,000,000
4
Stardust
Williams
1971-08
5,000
5,000
$5,000,000
[ 80]
5
Four Million B.C.
Bally
1971-05
3,550
3,550
$5,000,000
6
Playball
Gottlieb
1971-04
3,076
3,076
$5,000,000
7
Doodle Bug
Williams / Sega
1971-03
3,006
3,006
$5,000,000
—
Doodle Bug
Williams
1971-03
2,006
2,006
$3,000,000
[ 80]
Sega
1971
1,000
1,000
$2,000,000
[ 81]
8
Firecracker
Bally
1971-02
2,800
2,800
$5,000,000
[ 80]
9
Klondike
Williams
1971-08
3,302
3,302
$4,000,000
[ 80]
10
2001
Gottlieb
1971-01
2,200
2,200
$4,000,000
11
Big Valley
Bally
1970-05
—
2,500
$4,000,000
12
Straight Flush
Williams
1970-10
—
2,352
$4,000,000
13
Baseball
Gottlieb
1970-06
—
2,350
$4,000,000
14
Sheriff
Gottlieb
1971-09
2,900
2,900
$3,000,000
[ 80]
15
Card King
Gottlieb
1971-08
2,340
2,340
$3,000,000
16
4 Square
Gottlieb
1971-06
2,200
2,200
$3,000,000
17
Star Trek
Gottlieb
1971-03
1,450
1,450
$3,000,000
18
Galaxie
Gottlieb
1971-01
1,279
1,279
$3,000,000
19
Carnival
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$3,000,000
[ 82]
20
Sapporo
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$3,000,000
[ 82]
21
Jive Time
Williams
1970-04
—
2,100
$3,000,000
22
Aquarius
Gottlieb
1970-10
—
2,025
$3,000,000
23
Psychedelic
Gottlieb
1970-08
—
1,800
$3,000,000
24
The 4 Horsemen
Gottlieb
1950-09
—
1,800
$3,000,000
[ 67]
25
Card Trix
Gottlieb
1970-04
—
1,750
$3,000,000
26
Winner
Williams
1971-08
2,100
2,100
$2,000,000
[ 80]
27
Expressway
Bally
1971-08
1,555
1,555
$2,000,000
28
Roller Coaster
Gottlieb
1971-06
1,550
1,550
$2,000,000
29
Yukon
Williams
1971-08
1,430
1,430
$2,000,000
—
Yukon Special
Williams
1971-10
700
700
$1,000,000
Yukon
Williams
1971-08
730
730
$1,000,000
30
Gold Rush
Williams
1971-04
1,156
1,156
$2,000,000
31
Now
Gottlieb
1971-03
1,125
1,125
$2,000,000
32
Winner
Sega
1971
1,000+
1,000+
$2,000,000
[ 82]
33
Vampire
Bally
1971-01
799
799
$2,000,000
[ 80]
34
4 Queens
Bally
1970-12
256
1,256
$2,000,000
35
Snow Derby
Gottlieb
1970-12
50
1,050
$2,000,000
36
Play Land
Namco
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
37
Punch
Kasco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
38
Ronin
Namco
1970
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
39
Thunder-Bird
Taito
1967
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
40
Wasshoi Game
Kasco
1968
—
1,000+
$2,000,000
41
Drop-A-Card
Gottlieb
1971-11
2,000
2,000
$1,000,000
[ 80]
42
Mariner
Bally
1971-11
2,000
2,000
$1,000,000
43
Lawman
Gottlieb
1971-10
1,750
1,750
$1,000,000
44
Sea Ray
Bally
1971-09
1,300
1,300
$1,000,000
45
Orbit
Gottlieb
1971-12
1,000
1,000
$1,000,000
46
Zodiac
Williams
1971-08
704
704
$1,000,000
47
Home Run
Gottlieb
1971-05
580
580
$1,000,000
48
Skyrocket
Bally
1971-05
545
545
$1,000,000
49
Dimension
Gottlieb
1971-01
490
490
$1,000,000
50
Extra Inning
Gottlieb
1971-05
350
350
$1,000,000
51
King Tut
Bally
1969-12
—
800
$1,000,000
52
Astro
Gottlieb
1971-10
500
500
$400,000
53
Bristol Hills
Gottlieb
1971-01
110
110
$200,000
54
Challenger
Gottlieb
1971-03
110
110
$200,000
55
Honey
Williams
1971-12
170
170
$100,000
56
Swinger
Williams
1971-10
87
87
$100,000
57
Spanish Eyes
Williams
1971-11
85
85
$100,000
[ 83]
58
Olympic Hockey
Williams
1971-06
82
82
$100,000
[ 80]
Video games [ ]
Best-selling handheld games [ ]
Title
Manufacturer
Year
Unit sales
Revenue (est. )
Ref
Type
Genre
Annual
Cume
Kōsenjū Custom / Beam Gun Custom
Nintendo
1971
1,000,000
1,000,000
$42,000,000
[ 87] [ 88] [ 89]
EM
FPS
Kōsenjū SP / Beam Gun SP
Nintendo
1970
300,000
1,000,000
$13,000,000
[ 89] [ 90]
Notes [ ]
↑ 1.0 1.1 In Japan, between 500,000–700,000 arcade machines were on location by 1973.[ 10] By 1972, Japan's largest arcade game manufacturer was Sega , followed by Taito and then Namco .[ 11] Each arcade game from Kasco typically shipped about 1,000 units in a year.[ 12] Each arcade game from Sega, Taito, Namco and Kasco is thus estimated to have sold at least 1,000 units.
↑ 東京中機 , Tokyo Chūki
References [ ]
↑ "EDITORIAL: Staple Games vs Novelties" (PDF) . Cash Box . 1971-05-22. p. 44.
↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 "1971 Amusement Machine Route Survey" (PDF) . Cash Box . October 16, 1971. p. MOA 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-12-02.
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Games for Society, Business, and War: Towards a Theory of Gaming . Elsevier. 1975. p. 216. pinball machines are given as almost $ 600,000,000 for the year 1971
↑ Annual Survey of Manufactures: 1970-1971 . U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. September 1973. p. 83.
↑ U.S. Commodity Exports and Imports as Related to Output: 1971 and 1970 . U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1974. p. 140.
↑ 6.0 6.1 Donovan, Tristan (April 20, 2010). Replay: The History of Video Games . Yellow Ant. pp. 14–26 (21). ISBN 978-0-9565072-0-4 .
↑ 情報メディア白書 [Information Media White Paper ]. Dentsu Institute . 2010. p. 293. 産業興行収入市場規模営業収入営業収入全体ビデオゲームアーケードゲーム中短波 FM (Box office revenue, Market size, Operating revenue, Total operating revenue, Video games, Arcade games, Medium and shortwave FM) ... 1965 755 152 713 1,090 4,843 1966 758 174 752 1,266 5,760 1967 789 214 788 1,530 6,793 1968 820 254 792 1,736 7,843 1969 838 323 0 848 2,206 9,305 1970 825 398 13 921 2,691 10,802 1971 793 430 17 1,010 2,893 12,649 1972 770 482 1,100 3,333 14,828 1973 927 580 235 24 1,187 4,018 17,344 1974 1,171 628 46 1,258 4,442 19,171 1975 1,308 683 52 1,314 4,856 21,555 1976 1,457 790 65 1,915 5,809 25,714 1977 1,524 892 83 2,091 6,512 34,784 1978 1,605 1,006 97 2,141 7,362 37,058 1979 1,582 1,164 115 2,191 8,326 39,255 1980 1,659 1,263 131 2,714 8,687 41,008 1981 1,633 1,347 143 2,816 9,284 42,625 1982 1,695 2,780 4,500 1,391 180 2,877 9,967 44,611 1983 1,863 3,860 4,570 1,450 237 2,926 10,713 46,915
↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 1970
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-08-18.pdf#page=48
↑ Smith, Alexander (19 November 2019). They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Vol. I: 1971–1982 . CRC Press. pp. 176–7. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2 .
↑ https://www.cesa.or.jp/genealogy/nakafuji/nakafuji01.html
↑ https://shmuplations.com/kasco/
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-12-25.pdf#page=164
↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2023/05/1969-indy-500-m-type-500-m-by-kansai.html
↑ https://retrocdn.net/images/3/30/CashBox_US_1970-11-21.pdf#page=57
↑ "Kasco and the Electro-Mechanical Golden Age: Former Kansai Seisakusho Staff Interview" (キャスコの時代 ~元・関西製作所スタッフインタビュー~) . Classic Videogame Station Odyssey . 2001. Archived from the original on 22 June 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2021 . (Translation )
↑ https://www.pinrepair.com/arcade/k500.htm
↑ 18.0 18.1 "Kasco no Jidai ~ Moto Kansai Seisakusho Staff Interview ~ (Kasco and the Electro-Mechanical Golden Age ~Former Kansai Seisakusho Staff Interview~)" (キャスコの時代 ~元・関西製作所スタッフインタビュー~) . Classic Videogame Station Odyssey (in Japanese). 2001. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2021 .
↑ 1975
↑ 20.0 20.1 https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4d/CashBox_US_1970-09-26.pdf#page=52
↑ 21.0 21.1 https://retrocdn.net/images/3/30/CashBox_US_1970-11-21.pdf#page=57
↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/CB-1969-11-29.pdf#page=69
↑ 23.0 23.1 Smith, Alexander (19 November 2019). They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Vol. I: 1971-1982 . CRC Press. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2 .
↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 https://shmuplations.com/nishikado/
↑ 25.0 25.1 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-03-06.pdf
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-06-26.pdf#page=43
↑ 27.0 27.1 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-11-06.pdf#page=49
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-11-27.pdf#page=56
↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2023/05/1970-sky-fighter-by-taito.html
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-06-02.pdf#page=50
↑ https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/historical-interlude-the-history-of-coin-op-part-6-a-technological-revolution/
↑ https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-3-number-1-january-1977/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%203%2C%20Number%201%20-%20January%201977/page/n10
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/CB-1969-12-06.pdf#page=73
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-12-05.pdf#page=54
↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2022/02/exploring-arcade-in-aiyoku-no-wana-aka.html
↑ https://bcaweb.bai.ne.jp/miyooo/MINI%20DRIVE&UNTOUCHABLE.html
↑ https://www.yomogi2017.xyz/entry/2020/06/14/173449
↑ https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/bnours/nours/vol45/pdf/45_03_11.pdf
↑ https://bcaweb.bai.ne.jp/miyooo/ZERO%20IN&ZERO-SEN.html
↑ 40.0 40.1 https://blog.goo.ne.jp/nazox2016/e/d2691f40123ae387fedcc2b567659706
↑ 41.0 41.1 Price List (PDF) . Sega . 1972-09-01. p. 13.
↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/02/1966-basketball-by-sega.html
↑ 43.0 43.1 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2022/04/1970-15-2nd-version-crazy-15-by-komaya.html
↑ 44.0 44.1 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2022/04/1970-15-2nd-version-crazy-15-by-komaya.html
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-02-06.pdf#page=51
↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/01/1970-jet-rocket-by-sega.html
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-02-06.pdf#page=51
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-01-27.pdf#page=48
↑ 49.0 49.1 https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2023/05/exploring-this-japanese-arcade-from.html
↑ https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2023/05/expo-70-exploring-iconic-gameland.html
↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2023/10/1970-air-fighter-by-kansai-seiki-kasco.html
↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2023/10/1970-air-fighter-by-kansai-seiki-kasco.html
↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/07/price-list-from-nakamura-seisakusho.html
↑ 54.0 54.1 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2023/05/1970-space-docking-by-taito.html
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-10-09.pdf#page=40
↑ https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2023/05/exploring-this-japanese-arcade-from.html
↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/02/1963-red-gun-by-kansai-seiki.html
↑ 58.0 58.1 https://www.sega.jp/history/arcade/product/11534/
↑ Smith, Alexander (19 November 2019). They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Vol. I: 1971-1982 . CRC Press . p. 194. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2 .
↑ https://shmuplations.com/nishikado/
↑ 61.0 61.1 Price List (PDF) . Sega . 1977-05-01. p. 7.
↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 62.3 Price List (PDF) . Sega . 1972-09-01. p. 6.
↑ "KLOV Arcade Serial Numbers" . Killer List of Videogames . 2014. Retrieved 2023-12-09 .
↑ Meades, Alan (2022-10-25). "3: Coin-Op Entrepreneurialism" . Arcade Britannia: A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade . The MIT Press . pp. 67–94. ISBN 978-0-262-37234-3 .
↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 65.3 65.4 65.5 https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2022/12/exploring-arcade-in-wanpaku-bangaichi.html
↑ 66.0 66.1 Smith, Alexander (19 November 2019). They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Vol. I: 1971–1982 . CRC Press. pp. 268–9. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2 .
↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 67.3 67.4 67.5 "The Nation's Top Arcade Games" . RePlay . March 1976.
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-05-13.pdf#page=49
↑ 69.0 69.1 Donovan, Tristan (April 20, 2010). Replay: The History of Video Games . Yellow Ant. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-9565072-0-4 .
↑ https://retrocdn.net/images/4/45/CashBox_US_1971-11-06.pdf#page=50
↑ https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4d/CashBox_US_1970-09-26.pdf#page=55
↑ 72.0 72.1 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-05-01.pdf
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-08-04.pdf#page=54
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-04-01.pdf#page=49
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-08-10.pdf#page=52
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-11-13.pdf#page=64
↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-10-30.pdf#page=57
↑ 78.0 78.1 https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1335
↑ 79.0 79.1 Internet Pinball Database
↑ 80.00 80.01 80.02 80.03 80.04 80.05 80.06 80.07 80.08 80.09 https://books.google.com/books?id=lFVFAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA725
↑ Price List (PDF) . Sega . 1977-05-01. p. 16.
↑ 82.0 82.1 82.2 Price List (PDF) . Sega . 1972-09-01. p. 5.
↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2265
↑ Baer, Ralph H. (2005). Videogames: In the Beginning . Rolenta Press. pp. 10–3. ISBN 978-0-9643848-1-1 .
↑ Pitts, Bill (October 29, 1997). "The Galaxy Game" . Stanford University. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
↑ https://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/03/galaxy-game.html
↑ http://blog.beforemario.com/2011/02/light-gun-games-kousenjuu-sp-and.html
↑ Kohler, Chris (2004). Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life . Indianapolis, IN: BradyGames. pp. 30–1. ISBN 978-0-7440-0424-3 .
↑ 89.0 89.1 https://darkzero.co.uk/game-articles/the-history-of-nintendo/
↑ https://wecmuseum.org/index.php?title=Beam_Gun
External links [ ]