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1972

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In the early history of video games, 1972 saw the release of the first hit arcade video game (Pong), the first video game console (Magnavox Odyssey), and the first handheld electronic game (Electro Tic-Tac-Toe). The arcade game industry, however, is still dominated by electro‑mechanical games (EM games) at the time. In Japan, the largest EM arcade game manufacturer is Sega, followed by Taito and then Namco.[1]

The year's highest-grossing electronic game is Kasco's EM arcade racing game Indy 500 (Speedway), for the third year in a row. The year's highest-grossing video game is the arcade title Computer Space for the second year in a row. The year's best-selling home electronic game is the Magnavox Odyssey, the only game console on the market.

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 Units Annual revenue (est.) Ref
Nominal Inflation
Electronic games United States 1,092,000+ $278,500,000 $2,100,000,000
Arcade Arcade games Worldwide 1,553,000+ $733,000,000 $5,500,000,000
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games Japan 500,000+ $360,000,000 $2,700,000,000 [2][3][4]
United Kingdom 50,000+ $100,000,000 $750,000,000 [5]
Arcade games United States 1,003,000+ $273,000,000 $2,000,000,000 [6][7]
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games Worldwide 1,550,000+ $725,000,000 $5,400,000,000
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games Japan 500,000+ $360,000,000 $2,700,000,000 [4]
United States 1,000,000+ $265,000,000 $2,000,000,000 [8]
United Kingdom 50,000+ $100,000,000 $750,000,000 [5]
Video games United States 92,000+ $13,500,000 $100,000,000
Arcade Arcade video games United States 3,000+ $8,000,000 $60,000,000
Console Video game consoles United States 89,000 $5,500,000 $41,000,000 [9]
Electronic games Worldwide 1,642,000+ $738,500,000 $5,600,000,000

Highest-grossing games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing electronic games worldwide this year, including electro-mechanical games (EM games) and video games (VG) across arcade and home markets. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Rank Title Company Release Gross revenue (est.) Genre Platform Type
Nominal Inflation
1 Indy 500 Kasco 1968 $36,000,000 $270,000,000 Racing Arcade EM
2 Air Hockey Brunswick 1972‑06 $26,000,000 $200,000,000 Hockey
3 Basketball Sega / Taito 1966 $23,000,000 $170,000,000 Sports
4 Olympia Sega / Taito 1964 $13,000,000 $98,000,000 Pachislot
5 Honey Williams 1971-12 $12,000,000 $90,000,000 Pinball
6 Periscope Namco / Sega 1965 $11,000,000 $83,000,000 FPS
7 Crazy 15 Komaya 1965 $10,000,000 $75,000,000 Bingo
8 Spanish Eyes Williams / Sega 1971-11 $9,000,000 $68,000,000 Pinball
9 Fan-Tas-Tic Williams 1972-06 $8,000,000 $60,000,000 Pinball
Stardust Williams 1971-08 $8,000,000 $60,000,000
Untouchable Kasco 1971 $8,000,000 $60,000,000 Driving

Video games[]

Rank Title Company Release Gross revenue (est.) Genre Platform Generation
Nominal Inflation
1 Magnavox Odyssey Magnavox 1972-09 $5,500,000 $41,000,000 Sports Console First
2 Pong Atari 1972-11 $5,000,000 $38,000,000 Pong Arcade Discrete
3 Computer Space Syzygy 1971-08 $2,000,000 $15,000,000 Shooter
5 Shooting Gallery Nintendo 1972 $500,000 $4,000,000 FPS Console First
5 Pong Fun Games Fun Games 1972 $300,000 $2,000,000 Pong Arcade Discrete
Pub Pong LAI Games 1972 $300,000 $2,000,000
7 Barrel-Pong Hunter 1972 $100,000 $1,000,000
8 Galaxy Game Stanford 1971-11 $60,000 $500,000 Shooter

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[]

Rank Title Company Date
[10][11] 		Unit sales (est.)[12][10][n 1] Gross revenue (est.)[14] Genre
Annual Cume Gross Ref
1 Indy 500 Kasco 1968 1,000 26,000 $36,000,000 Racing
— Speedway Chicago Coin 1969 1,000[15] 10,000[16] $15,000,000 [17][14]
Grand Prix Sega 1969 — 5,000+[18] $7,000,000 [14]
Racer Namco 1970 — 5,000 $7,000,000
Indy 500 Kasco 1968 — 3,000+ $4,000,000
Champion License Taito 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Grand Prix Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Drive Master Chicago Coin 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
2 Air Hockey [19] Brunswick 1972‑06 6,000 6,000[20] $26,000,000 [19][21] Hockey
3 Basketball Sega / Taito 1966 5,000+ 9,000+ $23,000,000 Sports
— Crown Basketball Taito 1972 5,000+ 5,000+[18] $15,000,000 [22]
Basketball Sega 1966 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 [14]
Basketball 901 Taito 1967 1,000+ $2,000,000
Basketball 902 Taito 1967 1,000+ $2,000,000
Basketball Midway 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
4 Olympia Sega / Taito 1964 1,000+ 6,000+ $13,000,000 Pachislot
— Olympia Mark III Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[23] $3,000,000 [24]
Taito 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
Olympia Star Sega / Taito 1964 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
New Olympia Sega 1969 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 [14]
Taito 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
Olympia Mark II Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
5 Periscope Namco / Sega 1965 — 9,300+ $11,000,000 FPS
— Periscope Sega 1966 — 5,000[25] $7,000,000 [14]
Namco 1965 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Sea Raider Midway 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Periscope Taito 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Sea Devil Midway 1970-09 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Submarine Patrol Alca / Mayfield 1967 — 300+ $400,000
6 Crazy 15 Komaya 1965 — 6,000 $10,000,000 Bingo
— Crazy 15 Mark III Komaya 1970 — 3,000[26] $5,000,000 [14]
Crazy 15 Komaya 1965 — 3,000 $5,000,000
7 Untouchable Kasco 1971 — 1,000+ $8,000,000 [27] Driving
8 Skill Diga Sega 1965 1,000+ 3,000+ $7,000,000 Crane
— '72 Super Skill Diga Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [28]
Skill Diga Sega 1965 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 [14]
Super Skill Diga Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
9 Sky Fighter Taito 1970 — 6,000+ $7,000,000 FPS
— Sky Fighter II Taito 1971 — 3,000[29] $4,000,000 [14]
Sky Fighter Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Sonic Fighter Allied 1971-01 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Sky Battle Chicago Coin 1971-10 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
10 Baseball / Base Ball Namco/Komaya 1969 — 4,000+ $7,000,000 Sports
— Baseball / Base Ball Komaya 1969 — 3,000[30] $5,000,000
Base Ball Namco 1969 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
11 Zero Fighter Namco 1968 — 2,000+ $7,000,000 FPS
— Zero-sen Namco 1971 — 1,000+ $6,000,000 [31]
Zero Fighter Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
12 Killer Shark Sega 1972 2,000+ 2,000+ $6,000,000 FPS
— Killer Shark Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[32] $3,000,000 [32][28]
Sea Devil Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[33] $3,000,000 [33][34]
13 Safari Taito 1972 2,000+ 2,000+ $6,000,000 FPS
— Safari Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
Safari Rifle Range Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
14 Combat Gun / Combat Kasco 1966 1,000+ 4,000+ $6,000,000 FPS
— Combat Kasco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [14]
Combat Gun / Combat Kasco 1966 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Combat Gun Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
New Combat Gun Namco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
15 Minisoccer Sega 1968 — 3,000+ $6,000,000 Sports
— Mini-Futbol Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 [14]
Minisoccer Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
Soccer Sega 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
16 Mini Drive Kasco 1958 1,000+ 3,000+ $5,000,000 Racing
— New Mini Drive Kasco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[35] $3,000,000 [35]
Mini Drive MA Kasco 1961 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Mini Drive Kasco 1958 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
17 Missile Sega 1969 — 2,656+ $4,400,000 FPS
— Missile Sega 1969 — 2,000+ $3,000,000 [14]
S.A.M.I. Midway 1970‑03 — 356 $1,000,000
Super Missile Alca 1970-01 — 300+ $400,000
18 Monte Carlo Sega 1971 1,000+ 2,000+ $4,000,000 Racing
— Speed Runner Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [36]
Monte Carlo Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
19 Rat Patrol Taito 1971 1,000+ 2,000+ $4,000,000 FPS
— Desert Patrol Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
Rat Patrol Taito 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
20 Target UFO Alca / Sega 1971-10 1,000+ 2,000+ $4,000,000 FPS
— Target UFO Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [37]
Alca 1971-10 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [38]
21 Fun Karts Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $4,000,000 [39] Racing
22 Hoi Hoi Test Tokyo[n 2] 1963 — 4,000+ $4,000,000 Rhythm
— 30 Test Namco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [40]
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
23 Jet Rocket Sega 1970-07 — 4,000+ $4,000,000 FPS
— Jet Rocket Sega 1970-07 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Flotilla Williams 1970-12 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Night Bomber Chicago Coin 1971-01 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Target Zero Bally 1970-12 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
24 Safari Gun Kasco 1970 — 4,000+ $4,000,000 FPS
— Big Hunting Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Hunting Buggy Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Hunting Land Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Safari Gun Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
25 Duck Hunt Sega 1968 1,000+ 2,000+ $3,000,000 FPS
— Flying Ducks Kasco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[41] $2,000,000 [42]
Duck Hunt Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
26 Air Attack Sega 1972-01 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [28][43] FPS
27 Border Line Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [36]
28 Bow Gun Corner Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
29 Invaders Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [28]
30 Monster Gun Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[22] $3,000,000 [44]
31 Shooting System Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
32 Space Monster Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[1] $3,000,000 [1][45]
33 Target Bowling Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [22]
34 Sonar Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [28]
35 Western Hill Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
36 Air Car Namco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [46] Driving
37 Crazy Buggy Namco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
38 Go Back Go Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
39 Archery Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 Shooter
40 Bank Shot Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 Sports
41 Bingolet Namco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 Medal
42 Grand National Race Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[47] $3,000,000 [48] Racing
43 Sand Buggy Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[22] $3,000,000 [28]
44 Speed Skier Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
45 Fortune Computer Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [28] Card
46 Pro Bowler [36] Sega 1972 1,000+[22] 1,000+[49] $3,000,000 [49][28] Bowling
47 Tropicana Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 Pachinko
48 Computer Quiz Nutting 1967 — 4,400[50] $3,000,000 [14] Quiz
49 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+ $1,000,000
Crown 605 Taito 1966 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
50 Docking Apollo Namco 1969 — 3,000+ $3,000,000 Lander
— Space Docking Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Docking Apollo Namco 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Apollo-14 Chicago Coin 1971-04 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
51 Red Gun / Marine Gun Kasco 1963 — 3,000+ $3,000,000 Shooter
— Red Gun Kasco 1963 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Marine Gun Kasco 1964 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Birdie Gun Kasco 1965 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
52 Apple Tree Kasco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $2,000,000 Misc
53 Five Star Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $2,000,000 [48] Pachinko
54 Lunar Rescue Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $2,000,000 [28] Space
55 Matchlock Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+[22] $2,000,000 [28] FPS
56 Rotary Crown Taito 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $2,000,000 Slot
57 I.Q. Computer Nutting 1967 — 3,600[50] $2,000,000 [14] Quiz
58 Attack Sega 1970 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Driving
— Attack II Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [34]
Attack Sega 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
59 Boozometer Sega / Taito 1968 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Wire
— Boozometer Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Taito 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
60 Derby Day Sega 1969 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Racing
— Jockey Club Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [51]
Derby Day Sega 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
61 Helicopter Sega 1968 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Flight
— Eagle Go! Namco 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Helicopter Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
62 Jungle Gun Sega 1961 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Shooter
— Jungle Gun Sega 1961 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
63 Model Car Racing Sega 1965 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Racing
— Model Car Racing Kit Sega 1965 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Model Car Racing Sega 1966 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
64 Night / Cycle Rider Sega/Taito 1970 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 Racing
— Night Rider Sega 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Cycle Rider Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
65 Ultra Gun Namco / Kasco 1967 — 2,000+ $2,000,000 FPS
— Ultra Gun Namco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
66 Apollo Ball Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 Medal
67 Colorette Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
68 Skill Ball Sega 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
69 Starlet Namco 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
70 Spin Roulette Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
71 Astrodata Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 [52] Card
72 Big Strike Bowling Taito 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 Bowling
73 Crazy Ball Taito 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 Catcher
74 Space Ball Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
75 Crown Soccer Taito 1967 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 Sports
76 Magic Card Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 Pachinko
77 Spiral Ball Namco 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
78 MotoPolo Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000 Hockey
79 Hockey Game Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
80 Crane Pick Tokyo 1959 — 1,300+ $1,400,000 Driving
— Car-Shed Tokyo 1963 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [14]
Crane Pick Tokyo 1959 — 300 $400,000
81 Crack Shot Allied 1972-11 1,000+ 1,000+ $1,000,000 [53][38] FPS
82 Love Tester Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $1,000,000 [34] Dating
83 The Music Clown Kasco 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $1,000,000 [40] Music
84 Ambush Williams 1972-11 750 750 $1,000,000 [54] FPS
85 Stockade Williams 1972-07 602 602 $1,000,000 [55]
86 Air Fighter Kasco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 FPS
Aquamatic Gun Namco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Balloon Popping Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Battle of the Bulge Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Combat Sega 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Dive Bomber Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Ghost Gun Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Gum Deru Gun Namco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Rapid Fire Taito 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Rifle Competition Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Rifleman Sega 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Sea Hunt Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Space Adventure Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Undersea Fortress Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Western Duel Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
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
Auto Viewer Taito 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Viewer
Cineretta Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Stereo Viewer Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Bazooka Cannon Namco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Shooter
Challenger Namco 1966 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Cannon Ball Taito 1960s — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Gun Fight Sega 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Invaders Midway 1970-10 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Rifle Range Midway 1963 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [38]
Super Sonic Bomber Taito 1967 — 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
Cycle Race Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Racing
Drag Races Allied 1971-06 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [38]
Drivemobile Sega 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Motorcycle Chicago Coin 1970-10 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Osomatsu-kun Namco 1966 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Road Runner Bally 1971-08 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Roadway Ride Namco 1963 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Super Road 7 Taito 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Dodgem Crazy Sega 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Driving
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
Jack & the Beanstalk Kasco 1971 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Lucky Balloon Taito 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Shuffle Game Namco 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [56]
Silencer Namco 1968 — 1,000+ $1,000,000
Golden Arm Taito 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Prize
Intelligence Computer Taito 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Quiz
MiniCom Namco 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [57]
Janken Machine Namco 1965 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Janken
Jumbo Sega 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Action
Jump Ball Kasco 1967 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Skeeball
Skee Ball PTC 1947 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [38]
Match Bowler Chicago Coin 1952 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [38] Bowling
Punching Bag Sega 1962 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 [34] Boxing
Sky Diving Namco 1969 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Flight
Sportsman Taito 1966 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Sports
Stunt Car Sega 1970 — 1,000+ $1,000,000 Breaker

Pinball[]

Rank Title Company Release[58] Unit sales (est.)[58][10][n 1] Gross revenue (est.)[14]
Annual Cume Gross Ref
1 Honey Williams 1971-12 6,131 6,301 $12,000,000 [59]
2 Spanish Eyes Williams / Sega 1971-11 3,786 3,871 $9,000,000
— Spanish Eyes Williams 1971-11 2,786 2,871 $6,000,000 [60]
Sega 1972 1,000 1,000[60] $3,000,000 [34]
3 Fan-Tas-Tic Williams 1972-06 5,680 5,680 $8,000,000 [59]
4 Stardust Williams 1971-08 455 5,455 $8,000,000
5 Fireball Bally 1972-02 3,815 3,815 $7,000,000
6 Super Star Williams / Sega 1972-03 3,715 3,800 $7,000,000
— Super Star Williams 1972-03 2,838 2,923 $5,000,000 [59]
Sega 1972 877 877 $2,000,000 [61]
7 King Rock Gottlieb 1972-04 4,000 4,000 $6,000,000 [59]
8 Flying Carpet Gottlieb 1972-01 3,170 3,170 $6,000,000
9 Swinger Williams 1971-10 3,142 3,229 $6,000,000
10 Olympic Hockey Williams / Sega 1971-06 2,473 2,555 $6,000,000
— Olympic Hockey Williams 1971-06 1,519 1,601 $3,000,000 [59]
Sega 1972 954 954 $3,000,000 [61]
11 Orbit Gottlieb 1971-12 2,200 3,200 $6,000,000 [59]
12 Outer Space Gottlieb 1972-01 2,350 2,350 $5,000,000
13 Klondike Williams 1971-08 — 3,302 $5,000,000
14 Doodle Bug Williams / Sega 1971-03 — 3,006 $5,000,000
— Doodle Bug Williams 1971-03 — 2,006 $3,000,000 [14]
Sega 1971 — 1,000 $2,000,000
15 Jungle Gottlieb 1972-09 4,000 4,000 $4,000,000 [59]
16 Space Time Bally 1972-09 4,000 4,000 $4,000,000
17 Grand Slam Gottlieb 1972-07 3,600 3,600 $4,000,000
18 King Kool Gottlieb 1972-06 3,325 3,325 $4,000,000
19 Texas Ranger Gottlieb 1972-01 1,950 1,950 $4,000,000
20 Drop-A-Card Gottlieb 1971-11 600 2,600 $4,000,000
21 Sheriff Gottlieb 1971-09 — 2,900 $4,000,000
22 Card King Gottlieb 1971-08 — 2,340 $4,000,000
23 Travel Time Williams 1972-09 3,450 3,450 $3,000,000
24 Play Pool Gottlieb 1972-08 2,339 2,339 $3,000,000
25 Space Orbit Gottlieb 1972-04 2,105 2,105 $3,000,000
26 El Toro Bally 1972-04 2,065 2,065 $3,000,000
27 Line Drive Williams 1972-01 1,501 1,501 $3,000,000
28 Crazy Clock Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [61]
29 Explorer Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000 [61]
30 Robin Hood Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
31 Surfing Sega 1972 1,000+ 1,000+ $3,000,000
32 4 Square Gottlieb 1971-06 — 2,200 $3,000,000 [59]
33 Winner Williams 1971-08 — 2,100 $3,000,000
34 Mariner Bally 1971-11 — 2,000 $3,000,000
35 The 4 Horsemen Gottlieb 1950-09 — 1,800 $3,000,000 [38]
36 Lawman Gottlieb 1971-10 — 1,750 $3,000,000 [59]
37 Little Joe Bally 1972-08 2,080 2,080 $2,000,000
38 Big Star Williams 1972-05 1,130 1,130 $2,000,000
39 Granada Williams 1972-01 875 875 $2,000,000 [59]
40 Expressway Bally 1971-08 — 1,555 $2,000,000
41 Roller Coaster Gottlieb 1971-06 — 1,550 $2,000,000
42 Yukon Williams 1971-08 — 1,430 $2,000,000
— Yukon Special Williams 1971-10 — 700 $1,000,000 [59]
Yukon Williams 1971-08 — 730 $1,000,000
43 Sea Ray Bally 1971-09 — 1,300 $2,000,000 [59]
44 Carnival Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
45 Play Land Namco 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
46 Punch Kasco 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
47 Ronin Namco 1970 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
48 Sapporo Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
49 Thunder-Bird Taito 1967 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
50 Wasshoi Game Kasco 1968 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
51 Winner Sega 1971 — 1,000+ $2,000,000
52 Wild Life Gottlieb 1972-11 2,000 2,000 $1,000,000
53 Jungle Life Gottlieb 1972-12 1,000 1,000 $1,000,000
54 Twin Joker Bally 1972-06 1,000 1,000 $1,000,000
55 Pop-A-Card Gottlieb 1972-03 825 825 $1,000,000
56 World Series Gottlieb 1972-08 775 775 $1,000,000
57 Zodiac Williams 1971-08 — 704 $1,000,000
58 Astro Gottlieb 1971-10 — 500 $1,000,000
59 Fun-Fest Williams 1972-11 192 192 $100,000
60 Gulfstream Williams 1972-10 93 93 $100,000

Video games[]

No. Title Company Date
[10][11] 		Cabinet sales (est.)[12][10] Gross revenue (est.)[14] Genre
Annual Cume Gross Ref
1 Pong Atari 1972-11 2,000[62] 2,000 $5,000,000 [63][64] Pong
2 Computer Space Syzygy 1971-08 800 1,000[65] $2,000,000 [66][67] Shooter
3 Pong Fun Games Fun Games 1972 100+ 100+ $300,000 [63][64] Pong
Pub Pong LAI Games 1972 100+ 100+ $300,000
5 Barrel-Pong Hunter 1972 40[68] 40 $100,000
6 Galaxy Game Stanford 1971-11 1 2[69] $60,000 [69] Shooter
Annual 3,000+ 3,500+ $8,000,000

Best-selling home electronic games[]

No. Title Company Platform Generation Unit sales Revenue (est.) Genre Ref
1 Magnavox Odyssey Magnavox Console First 69,000 $5,500,000 — [9]
2 Shooting Gallery Nintendo Console First 20,000 $500,000 FPS [70][71][72]
3 Electro Tic-Tac-Toe Waco Handheld EM — — Strategy [73][74][75]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 In Japan, between 500,000–700,000 arcade machines were on location by 1973.[2] By 1972, Japan's largest arcade game manufacturer was Sega, followed by Taito and then Namco.[1] Each arcade game from Kasco typically shipped about 1,000 units in a year.[13] Each arcade game from Sega, Taito, Namco and Kasco is thus estimated to have sold at least 1,000 units.
  2. ↑ 東京中機 Tokyo Chūki

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://www.cesa.or.jp/genealogy/nakafuji/nakafuji01.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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. 176–7. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2.
  3. ↑ "Variegated Amusement Machines: Changing Almost Daily". Business Japan. Vol. 18, no. 7–12. Nihon Kogyo Shimbun. July 1973. p. 44. Supported by unprecedented economic prosperity, the Japanese leisure industry has been expanding at a high rate. (...) Of these types of leisure-related industries, businesses centered on amusement equipment have a long history, existing even before WWII. However, it was not until 1965 that this type of business became popular, and established the foundation for an industry. Today, the main related trade associations are the All Japan Amusement Association (Chairman; Akio Nakanishi) and the Japan Amusement Facility Association (Chairman: Kiichi Endo), which deal with large entertainment equipment for amusement parks. About 90 manufacturers and 500 operators belong to these associations in Japan. It is said that there are as many as 2,000 operators including small or medium sized companies, and many manufacturers are also operators. The machines now being operated in Japan include 500,000 small machines such as game, ride and prize machines, 70,000 juke boxes and 2,000 large entertainment machines. The industry now has a firm foundation for maintaining a business of ¥100,000 million per year. These machines are no longer novel since they are installed all over Japan. However, due to the improved quality of games and rides and to a supply of new types of amusement equipment, everyone—children and adults—can easily enjoy these types of amusements. Thus, the industry has established a firm foundation. There are many types of amusement machines, and a slight modification may make a machine entirely new. These machines can generally be classified into the following ten types:
    Rides (...)
    Vehicles (...)
    Games of skill—Game machines which are designed to test the skill of the operator in some way.
    Tests of strengh (...)
    Games of chance (...)
    Visual displays—Amusement machines which show pictures projected from slides or films.
    Mechanical displays—Machines that appeal by interesting shapes and movements.
    Intelligence facilities—Machines which supply logical information.
    Juke boxes (...)
    Shooting galleries—Machines for shooting at targets. The number of amusement machines produced thus far is 30,000-50,000. (...)
    Manufacturers are, of course, exerting efforts to develop machines which are popular, provide interesting games and contribute to larger sales. The type of machine which is now most popular is the game of skill, involving, for example, shooting to down enemy airplanes or passing other cars with a model car driven on a simulated highway. In the latter case, if it is impossible to pass, the car is blown into the air, flips over, and finally crashes on the highway. This action is accompanied by actual sounds, lights and impact effects.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 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
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Amusement Trade Fair - Colour". British Movietone. February 8, 1976. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  6. ↑ Annual Survey of Manufactures • 1973. U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. October 1975. p. 35.
  7. ↑ U.S. Commodity Exports and Imports as Related to Output: 1972 & 71. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1979. p. 180.
  8. ↑ To Authorize a Change in the Composition of the One-cent Coin: Hearing, Ninety-third Congress, Second Session, on H.R. 11841 ... March 27, 1974. United States Congress House Committee on Banking and Currency Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs (U.S. Government Printing Office). 1974. p. 137.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "How Many Units Were Sold? Playing the Numbers Game with Video Games". The History of How We Play. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 1970 and 1971
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-08-18.pdf#page=48
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Baer, Ralph H. (2005). Videogames: In the Beginning. Rolenta Press. pp. 10–3. ISBN 978-0-9643848-1-1.
  13. ↑ https://shmuplations.com/kasco/
  14. ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 14.20 14.21 14.22 14.23 14.24 14.25 14.26 "1972 Amusement Machine Route Survey" (PDF). Cash Box. 1972-09-16. p. 54. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-12-03.
  15. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-12-25.pdf#page=164
  16. ↑ "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)
  17. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-01-02.pdf#page=31
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 1975
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-09-09.pdf#page=46
  20. ↑ Oh, the shape we're in (September 1979)
  21. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-07-06-I.pdf#page=30
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2022/02/exploring-arcade-in-aiyoku-no-wana-aka.html
  23. ↑ https://blog.goo.ne.jp/nazox2016/e/d2691f40123ae387fedcc2b567659706
  24. ↑ Price List (PDF). Sega. 1972-09-01. p. 13.
  25. ↑ https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/historical-interlude-the-history-of-coin-op-part-6-a-technological-revolution/
  26. ↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2022/04/1970-15-2nd-version-crazy-15-by-komaya.html
  27. ↑ "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.
  28. ↑ 28.00 28.01 28.02 28.03 28.04 28.05 28.06 28.07 28.08 28.09 Price List (PDF). Sega. 1972-09-01. p. 6.
  29. ↑ 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. 192–5. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2.
  30. ↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2022/04/1970-15-2nd-version-crazy-15-by-komaya.html
  31. ↑ https://shmuplations.com/nishikado/
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 https://books.google.com/books?id=xT1jDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA11
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Killer Shark or Sea Devil. Anybody played one in last decade?
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 Price List (PDF). Sega. 1977-05-01. p. 7.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2022/05/mini-drive-15-year-version-by-kansai.html
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2022/07/exploring-arcades-in-few-japanese-tv.html
  37. ↑ https://thetastates.com/eremeka/eremekaDisplay.php?search=yes&nameSearch=Target+UFO
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 "The Nation's Top Arcade Games". RePlay. March 1976.
  39. ↑ Price List (PDF). Sega. 1973-01-01. p. 13.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/07/price-list-from-nakamura-seisakusho.html
  41. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-09-29.pdf#page=56
  42. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-03-15.pdf#page=52
  43. ↑ https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2023/05/exploring-this-japanese-arcade-from.html
  44. ↑ Price List (PDF). Sega. 1972-09-01. p. 9.
  45. ↑ Kevin Bowen. "The Gamespy Hall of Fame: Space Invaders". GameSpy. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  46. ↑ https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/bnours/nours/vol45/pdf/45_03_11.pdf
  47. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-08-04.pdf#page=54
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Price List (PDF). Sega. 1973-01-01. p. 6.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 https://bcaweb.bai.ne.jp/miyooo/ACM-index.html
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Donovan, Tristan (April 20, 2010). Replay: The History of Video Games. Yellow Ant. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-9565072-0-4.
  51. ↑ Price List (PDF). Sega. 1972-09-01. p. 6.
  52. ↑ Price List (PDF). Sega. 1972-09-01. p. 6.
  53. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-04-17.pdf#page=37
  54. ↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=6637
  55. ↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=6636
  56. ↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/07/price-list-from-nakamura-seisakusho.html
  57. ↑ https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/07/price-list-from-nakamura-seisakusho.html
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Internet Pinball Database
  59. ↑ 59.00 59.01 59.02 59.03 59.04 59.05 59.06 59.07 59.08 59.09 59.10 59.11 https://books.google.com/books?id=lFVFAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA725
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2265
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 Price List (PDF). Sega. 1972-09-01. p. 5.
  62. ↑ The Effects of Video Games on Children: The Myth Unmasked. 1998. p. 12.
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  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Kent, Steven (2001). "The King and Court". Ultimate History of Video Games. Three Rivers Press. p. 53. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4.
  65. ↑ https://technologizer.com/2011/12/11/computer-space-and-the-dawn-of-the-arcade-video-game/3/
  66. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-02-03.pdf#page=53
  67. ↑ Goldberg, Marty; Vendel, Curt (November 25, 2012). Atari Inc.: Business Is Fun. Syzygy Press. pp. 40–46. ISBN 978-0-9855974-0-5.
  68. ↑ https://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/syzygy.html
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 https://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/03/galaxy-game.html
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  71. ↑ https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/92331-first-home-console-light-gun
  72. ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/01/odyssey-35-years-later
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