Video Game Sales Wiki
in: CS1 errors: unsupported parameter, CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja), Video games by year

1979

Sign in to edit
1970s 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980s 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
1990s 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999
2000s 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
2010s 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
2020s 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024

In 1979, the arcade golden age entered its peak years, setting new records for the arcade game industry. However, the home console market was still stagnating after the 1977 crash, which it would recover from with the Atari VCS port of Space Invaders in 1980.

The year's highest-grossing video game was Taito's arcade blockbuster Space Invaders for the second year in a row. In terms of unit sales, the year's best-selling electronic game is Atari's handheld LED game Touch Me. The year's best-selling home console was Nintendo's Color TV Block Kuzushi.

Financial performance[]

The following table lists the annual sales and revenue generated by the electronic games industry this year, including video games and electro‑mechanical games. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Industry Products Market Unit sales Annual revenue (est.) Ref
Nominal Inflation
Electronic games United States 20,956,700 $4,150,000,000 $18,000,000,000
Japan 988,000+ $3,431,000,000 $15,000,000,000
Handheld Handheld electronic games United States 15,000,000 $375,000,000 $1,600,000,000 [1]
Arcade games Worldwide 1,168,300+ $8,195,000,000 $36,000,000,000
Arcade Arcade games United States 306,700 $3,445,000,000 $15,000,000,000
Japan 488,000 $3,400,000,000 $15,000,000,000 [2][3][4]
Spain 100,000+ — — [5]
Arcade video games United Kingdom 80,600+ $720,000,000 $3,100,000,000 [6]
Sydney — $50,000,000 $220,000,000 [7]
Other markets 193,000+ $580,000,000 $2,500,000,000
Electro‑mechanical games Worldwide 216,000+ $3,000,000,000 $13,000,000,000
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games United States 200,000 $2,300,000,000 $10,000,000,000 [8]
Japan 16,000 $700,000,000 $3,000,000,000 [9]
Video games Worldwide 7,102,300+ $5,696,000,000 $25,000,000,000
Arcade Arcade video games Japan 472,000 $2,840,000,000 $12,000,000,000 [9][2][10]
United States 106,700 $1,145,000,000 $5,000,000,000 [1][11]
United Kingdom 80,600+ $720,000,000 $3,100,000,000 [6]
Spain 100,000+ — — [5]
Sydney — $50,000,000+ $220,000,000+ [7]
Other markets 193,000+ $580,000,000+ $2,500,000,000+
Worldwide 952,300+ $5,335,000,000 $23,000,000,000
Console Video game consoles United States 1,550,000 $233,000,000 $1,010,000,000 [1]
Worldwide 2,050,000 $264,000,000 $1,100,000,000
Dedicated consoles Japan 500,000 $31,000,000 $130,000,000 [12]
United States 800,000 $48,000,000 $160,000,000 [1]
Worldwide 1,300,000 $79,000,000 $340,000,000
Cartridge consoles United States 750,000 $185,000,000 $800,000,000 [1]
Console game cartridges United States 4,100,000 $53,900,000 $230,000,000 [11]
Console market United States 5,650,000 $330,000,000 $1,400,000,000 [1][13]
Worldwide 6,150,000 $361,000,000 $1,600,000,000
Video games Japan 972,000 $2,871,000,000 $12,000,000,000
United States 5,756,700 $1,475,000,000 $6,400,000,000
Electronic games Worldwide 22,318,300+ $8,931,000,000 $39,000,000,000

Electronic games[]

Highest-grossing games[]

Space Invaders was the top-grossing video game worldwide in 1979.[2] The following table lists the highest-grossing electronic games worldwide in 1979, including video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games) across arcades and homes. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Rank Title Company Worldwide revenue (est.) Genre Type Platform
Nominal Inflation
1 Space Invaders Taito $3,900,000,000 $17,000,000,000 Shmup VG Arcade
2 Galaxian Namco $250,000,000 $1,100,000,000
3 Monaco GP Sega $230,000,000 $1,000,000,000 Racing
4 IPM Invader [14][15] IPM (Irem) $200,000,000 $870,000,000 Shmup
5 Head On Sega $110,000,000 $480,000,000 Driving
6 Super Speed Race V Taito $68,000,000 $290,000,000 Racing VG
Piccadilly Circus Konami $68,000,000 $290,000,000 Medal EM
8 EVR Race Nintendo $48,000,000 $210,000,000 Medal EM
9 Air Hockey Brunswick $46,000,000 $200,000,000 Hockey
10 Harness Race Sega $36,000,000 $160,000,000 Medal
11 Kentucky Derby Universal $32,000,000 $140,000,000
12 Color TV Block Kuzushi Nintendo $31,000,000 $130,000,000 Block VG Console
13 Space Invaders Part II Taito $28,000,000 $120,000,000 Shmup VG Arcade
14 Space Chaser Taito $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Driving VG
Special Dual Sega $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Action
Space Stranger Hoei $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Shmup
Speed Race CL-5 Taito $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Racing
TV Poker[n 1] Sigma[n 2] $24,000,000 $104,000,000 Medal EM
19 Space Intruders Subelectro $23,000,000 $100,000,000 Shmup VG
20 Faro Sega $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Medal EM
Group Skill Diga Sega $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Crane
Heiankyo Alien Denki $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Maze VG
King of Kings Universal $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Medal EM
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Shooter VG
Electronic games $6,000,000,000 $29,000,000,000
Video games $5,000,000,000 $24,000,000,000
Electro-mechanical $750,000,000 $3,200,000,000
Handheld electronic $375,000,000 $1,600,000,000

Best-selling games[]

The following titles were the year's best-selling electronic games worldwide in terms of unit sales, including video games and LED games across arcade and home markets. See sections below for breakdown of sales estimates.

No. Title Company Unit sales (est.) Genre Platform Type
1 Touch Me Atari 745,664 Audio Handheld LED
2 Space Invaders Taito 632,000 Shmup Arcade VG
3 Color TV Block Kuzushi Nintendo 500,000 Block Console
4 Computer Perfection Lakeside 500,000 Audio Handheld LED
5 Combat Atari 450,000 Shooter Atari VCS VG
6 Galaxian Namco 50,000 Shmup Arcade
7 IPM Invader IPM (Irem) 50,000
8 Monaco GP Sega 20,000 Racing
9 Asteroids Atari 10,000 Shmup
Head On Sega 10,000 Driving
11 ChessMate Micro-Ware 10,000 Chess Computers
Super Invader Taito 10,000 Shmup Apple II
13 Temple of Apshai Automated 5,000 RPG Computers
14 Space Invaders Part II / Deluxe Taito 4,000 Shmup Arcade
Speed Race CL-5 Taito 4,000 Racing
16 Microchess Micro-Ware 4,000 Chess Computers
17 Heiankyo Alien Denki 3,000 Maze Arcade
Lunar Lander Atari / Sega 3,000 Space
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo 3,000 Shooter
Space Chaser Taito 3,000 Driving
Special Dual Sega 3,000 Action

Arcade games[]

Highest-grossing arcade games[]

The following table lists the highest-grossing arcade games worldwide in 1979, including both video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games). See sub-sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Rank Title Company Worldwide revenue (est.) Genre Type Generation
Nominal Inflation
1 Space Invaders Taito $3,900,000,000 $17,000,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
2 Galaxian Namco $250,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Video 8-bit
3 Monaco GP Sega $230,000,000 $1,000,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
4 IPM Invader [14][15] IPM (Irem) $200,000,000 $870,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
5 Head On Sega $110,000,000 $480,000,000 Driving
6 Piccadilly Circus Konami $68,000,000 $290,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
Super Speed Race V Taito $68,000,000 $290,000,000 Racing Video 8-bit
8 EVR Race Nintendo $48,000,000 $210,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
9 Air Hockey Brunswick $46,000,000 $200,000,000 Hockey
10 Harness Race Sega $36,000,000 $160,000,000 Medal
11 Kentucky Derby Universal $32,000,000 $140,000,000
12 Space Invaders Part II Taito $28,000,000 $120,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
13 Galaxy Wars Universal $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
Space Chaser Taito $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Driving
Special Dual Sega $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Action
Space Stranger Hoei $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Shmup
Speed Race CL-5 Taito $24,000,000 $100,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
TV Poker[n 3] Sigma[n 4] $24,000,000 $104,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
18 Space Intruders Subelectro $23,000,000 $100,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
19 Faro Sega $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
Group Skill Diga Sega $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Crane
Heiankyo Alien Denki $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Maze Video 8-bit
King of Kings Universal $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo $20,000,000 $87,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit

Best-selling arcade games[]

Space Invaders became the arcade game industry's all-time best-seller by 1979.[16] The following titles were the year's best-selling arcade games worldwide in terms of unit sales, including EM games and video games. See sections below for breakdown of sales estimates.

No. Title Company Release Unit sales (est.) Genre Type
1 Space Invaders Taito 1978 632,000 Shmup VG
2 Galaxian Namco 1979 50,000
IPM Invader IPM (Irem) 1979 50,000
4 Monaco GP Sega 1979 20,000 Racing
5 Asteroids Atari 1979 10,000 Shmup
Head On Sega 1979 10,000 Driving
7 Space Invaders Part II / Deluxe Taito 1979 4,000 Shmup
Speed Race CL-5 Taito 1978 4,000 Racing
9 Galaxy Wars Universal 1979 3,000 Shmup
Heiankyo Alien Denki 1979 3,000 Maze
Lunar Lander Atari / Sega 1979 3,000 Space
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo 1979 3,000 Shooter
Space Chaser Taito 1979 3,000 Driving
Special Dual Sega 1979 3,000 Action
15 Space Intruders Subelectro 1979 2,500 Shmup
16 Astro Fighter Data East 1979 2,000 Shmup VG
Field Goal Taito 1979 2,000 Sports
Lunar Rescue Taito 1979 2,000 Action
Mini Roulette Universal 1976 2,000 Medal EM
Space Stranger Hoei 1978 2,000 Shmup VG
The Driver Kasco 1978 2,000 Driving EM
The Super Car Fuji — 2,000 Medal
Udezumō Komaya — 2,000 Sports
24 Video Pinball Atari 1979 1,505 Pinball VG
25 Space Attack Sega 1979 1,100 Shmup

Arcade markets[]

The following table lists the year's top-grossing arcade game in various markets.

Title Company Genre Market Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.)
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
Space Invaders Taito Shmup Japan 300,000[10] 400,000[2] $1,700,000,000 $7,400,000,000 [4]
USA 55,000[17] 65,000[10] $890,000,000 $3,900,000,000 [18][10]
UK 78,000+[10] 85,000[2] $700,000,000 $3,000,000,000 [19]
Sydney Unknown 3,000[20] $50,000,000 $220,000,000 [21][22]
Other 193,000+[10] 197,000 $580,000,000 $2,500,000,000 [23]
Space Invaders Taito Shmup Worldwide 632,000 750,000[2] $3,900,000,000 $17,000,000,000 [10]

Japan[]

In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1979, according to the annual Game Machine chart. Taito's Space Invaders was the highest-grossing arcade game for a second year in a row. The list includes both video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).[24][25]

No. Title Co. Year Rankings[24] Cabinets (est.)[n 5][10] Revenue (est.)[n 6][n 7] Genre Type
1 2 3 Pt. Units Sales Pt. Gross
1 Space Invaders [4][2] Taito 1978 40 4 3 47 400,000 300,000 131 $1,700,000,000 Shmup VG
2 Galaxian [28] Namco 1979 9 13 9 31 50,000 50,000 62 $250,000,000
3 Monaco GP Sega 1979 9 11 8 28 20,000 20,000 57 $230,000,000 Racing
4 IPM Invader [14][15] IPM (Irem) 1979 — — — — 50,000 50,000 — $200,000,000 Shmup
5 Head On Sega 1979 0 11 2 13 10,000 10,000 24 $96,000,000 Driving
6 Piccadilly Circus Konami 1976 4 2 1 7 6,000 1,000 17 $68,000,000 Medal EM
7 Super Speed Race V Taito 1978 2 5 1 8 10,000 — 17 $68,000,000 Racing VG
8 EVR Race [29][30] Nintendo 1975 2 2 2 6 10,000 — 12 $48,000,000 Medal EM
9 Harness Race [31] Sega 1974 2 1 1 4 8,000 — 9 $36,000,000
10 Kentucky Derby [31] Universal 1975 2 1 0 3 2,000 — 8 $32,000,000
11 Speed Race CL-5 Taito 1978 0 1 4 5 4,000+ 4,000 6 $24,000,000 Racing VG
12 Space Chaser Taito 1979 0 2 2 4 3,000+ 3,000 6 $24,000,000 Driving
Special Dual Sega 1979 0 2 2 4 3,000+ 3,000 6 $24,000,000 Action
14 Space Stranger Hoei 1978 2 0 0 2 2,000+ 2,000 6 $24,000,000 Shmup
15 TV Poker[n 8] Sigma[n 9] 1978 1 1 1 3 2,000 — 6 $24,000,000 Medal EM
16 Heiankyo Alien Denki 1979 0 1 3 4 3,000+ 3,000 5 $20,000,000 Maze VG
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo 1979 0 1 3 4 3,000+ 3,000 5 $20,000,000 Shooter
18 Faro Sega 1974 1 1 0 2 2,000+ 1,000 5 $20,000,000 Medal EM
19 Group Skill Diga [31] Sega 1976 1 0 2 3 5,000 — 5 $20,000,000 Crane
20 King of Kings [31] Universal 1977 1 1 0 2 3,000 — 5 $20,000,000 Medal
21 Lunar Lander Sega 1979 0 0 4 4 3,000+ 3,000 4 $16,000,000 Space VG
22 Galaxy Wars Universal 1979 0 1 2 3 2,000+ 2,000 4 $16,000,000 Shmup VG
Astro Fighter Data East 1979 0 1 2 3 2,000+ 2,000 4 $16,000,000 Shmup
The Driver[n 10] Kasco 1978 0 1 2 3 2,000+ 2,000 4 $16,000,000 Driving EM
Space Invaders Part II Taito 1979 0 2 0 2 2,000+ 2,000 4 $16,000,000 Shmup VG
Udezumō[n 11] Komaya — 0 2 0 2 2,000+ 2,000 4 $16,000,000 Sports EM
27 The Super Car[n 12] Fuji[n 13] — 0 1 2 3 2,000 2,000 4 $16,000,000 Medal EM
28 EVR Basketball [31] Nintendo 1976 0 2 0 2 5,000 — 4 $16,000,000
29 TV 21 [31] Jatre 1976 0 2 0 2 3,000 — 4 $16,000,000
30 Lunar Rescue Taito 1979 0 1 1 2 2,000+ 2,000 3 $12,000,000 Action VG
31 Mini Roulette[n 14] Universal 1976 0 1 1 2 2,000 2,000 3 $12,000,000 Medal EM
32 Basketball Atari 1979 1 0 0 1 1,000+ 1,000 3 $12,000,000 Sports VG
33 Super Machine Universal — 1 0 0 1 1,000 1,000 3 $12,000,000 Medal EM
34 The Derby Sigma[n 15] 1975 1 0 0 1 1,000 — 3 $12,000,000
35 Field Goal Taito 1979 0 0 2 2 2,000+ 2,000 2 $8,000,000 Sports VG
36 Star Wars Taito 1979 0 1 0 1 1,000+ 1,000 2 $8,000,000 Shmup
Space Attack Sega 1979 0 1 0 1 1,000+ 1,000 2 $8,000,000 Shmup
Super Twin Hoei 1979 0 1 0 1 1,000+ 1,000 2 $8,000,000 Action
Head On Part II Sega 1979 0 1 0 1 1,000+ 1,000 2 $8,000,000 Driving
40 Ichiban Hoshi[n 16] Taiyō[n 17] — 0 1 0 1 1,000 1,000 2 $8,000,000 Medal EM
Rotary Duet[n 18] Kansai[n 19] — 0 1 0 1 1,000 1,000 2 $8,000,000
42 Western Gun [32] Taito 1975 0 1 0 1 2,000 — 2 $8,000,000 Shooter VG
43 Dai Ressha Aoi[n 20] Kasco — 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Sim EM
Head On N Nintendo 1979 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Driving VG
Invader[n 21] SNK — 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Shmup
Safari Rally SNK 1979 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Driving
Space Fever Nintendo 1979 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Shmup
Space Fighter Data East 1978 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000
Top Bowler Taito 1978 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Sports
50 Pierrot Konami — 0 0 1 1 1,000 1,000 1 $4,000,000 Medal EM
Pin Pon Pan[n 22] Daito[n 23] — 0 0 1 1 1,000 1,000 1 $4,000,000
52 Mogura Taiji [31] TOGO 1975 0 0 1 1 9,000 — 1 $4,000,000 Mole
53 Submarine [31] Namco 1978 0 0 1 1 5,000 — 1 $4,000,000 FPS
54 Color Bingo Taito 1975 0 0 1 1 2,000 — 1 $4,000,000 Medal
55 Black Emperor[n 24] Waipu[n 25] — 0 0 1 1 1,000 — 1 $4,000,000
Million Dice Bonanza 1977 0 0 1 1 1,000 — 1 $4,000,000
UFO'77 Bendo[n 26] — 0 0 1 1 1,000 — 1 $4,000,000
Total [4][33] 88 88 88 264 700,000+ 488,000 528 $3,400,000,000
Video games 63 61 54 178 583,000+ 472,000 365 $2,840,000,000
EM games 25 27 34 86 100,000+ 16,000 163 $560,000,000

United States[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1979 in the United States, including video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).[34][35][36]

Rank Title[34][35] Company Cabinet sales[1] Gross revenue (est.)[37][38][39] Genre Type
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
1 Space Invaders Taito 55,000[17] 66,000[40] $890,000,000 $3,900,000,000 [18][10] Shmup VG
2 Air Hockey Brunswick — 33,000[41] $46,000,000 $200,000,000 Hockey EM
3 Atari Football Atari 901[42] 11,306[42] $17,000,000 $74,000,000 Sports VG
4 Asteroids Atari 10,000[43][44] 10,000 $17,000,000 $74,000,000 [42] Shmup
5 Star Fire Exidy — — $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Shooter
6 Head On Sega — — $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Driving
7 Space Wars Cinematronics — 10,000[45] $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Shooter
8 Sprint 2 Atari — 8,200[46] $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Racing
9 Crash Exidy — – $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Maze
10 Super Breakout Atari — 4,805[42] $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Block
11 Star Hawk Cinematronics — — $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Shooter
12 Video Pinball Atari 1,505[42] 1,505 $15,000,000 $65,000,000 [42][47] Pinball
13 Night Driver Atari — 2,100[48] $15,000,000 $65,000,000 [47] Racing
14 Sprint 1 Atari — — $15,000,000 $65,000,000
15 Sea Wolf II Midway — 4,000[49] $15,000,000 $65,000,000 [47] Shooter
16 Baseball Atari 1,050[42] 1,050 $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Sports
17 Speed Freak Vectorbeam — — $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Racing
18 F-1 Namco — 4,078[50] $15,000,000 $65,000,000 Racing EM
19 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito 2,000 2,000[51] $12,000,000 $50,000,000 [52][53] Shmup VG
20 Sea Wolf Midway — 10,000[54] $10,000,000 $43,000,000 Shooter
21 Fire Truck Atari — — $1,000,000 $4,000,000 Racing
22 Super Bug Atari — 3,500[55] $1,000,000 $4,000,000
23 Basketball Atari — — — — Sports

United Kingdom[]

Rank Title Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
1 Space Invaders Taito 78,000+[10] 85,000[2] $700,000,000 $3,000,000,000 [19] Shmup
2 Space Intruders Subelectro 2,500[56] 2,500 $23,000,000 $100,000,000
3 Space Attack Sega / Alca 100+[57] 100+ $1,000,000 $4,000,000
Total 80,600+ 87,600+ $720,000,000 $3,100,000,000

Home market[]

Best-selling hardware[]

No. System Company Sales Gross revenue (est.) Type Generation Ref
1 Touch Me Atari 745,664 $8,900,000 Handheld LED [58][59]
2 Color TV Block Kuzushi Nintendo 500,000 $31,000,000 Console First [60]
3 Computer Perfection Lakeside 500,000 $15,000,000 Handheld LED [61][62]
4 Atari VCS Atari 450,000 $81,000,000 Console Second [63]
5 TRS-80 Tandy 200,000 — Computer 8-bit [64]
6 NEC PC-8001 NEC 150,000[65] $120,000,000 Computer 8-bit [66][67]
7 Atari 400 / 800 Atari 100,000 — Computer 8-bit [64]
8 Commodore PET Commodore 45,000
9 Apple II Apple 35,000
Annual sales 17,630,000 $639,000,000
Handheld electronic games 15,000,000 $375,000,000 Handheld [1]
Video game consoles 2,050,000 $264,000,000 Console
Personal computers 580,000 — Computer [64]

Best-selling software[]

Rank Title Platform Company Sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre Ref
1 Combat Atari VCS Atari 450,000 $9,000,000 Shooter [63][68]
2 Super Invader Apple II Taito 10,000 $400,000 Shmup [69][70][71]
3 ChessMate Computers Micro-Ware 10,000 $200,000 Chess [72][73]
4 Temple of Apshai Computers Automated 5,000 $200,000 RPG [74][75]
5 Microchess Computers Micro-Ware 4,000 $90,000 Chess [76][73][31]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ TV ポー カー TV Pōkā
  2. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  3. ↑ TV ポー カー TV Pōkā
  4. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  5. ↑ Number of arcades in Japan (70,000)[26] X top three distribution percentage in surveyed arcades[24] = number of arcade cabinets on location (est.)
    • 39,314 active medal games[27] / 46 rankings = 800+ units per ranking (est.)
  6. ↑ Earning points for rankings:
    • Rank #1 = 3 points
    • Rank #2 = 2 points
    • Rank #3 = 1 point
  7. ↑ In 1979, arcade games grossed an estimated $3.4 billion in Japan, including $1.7 billion for Space Invaders alone.[4] For other arcade games:
    • 397 points[24] equivalent to $1.7 billion[4] = $4 million per point (est.)
  8. ↑ TV ポー カー TV Pōkā
  9. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  10. ↑ ザ・ドライバー Za Doraibā
  11. ↑ 腕相撲, "Arm Wrestling"
  12. ↑ スーパーカー Sūpā Kā
  13. ↑ 富士電子工業 Fuji Denshi Kōgyō
  14. ↑ ミニ・ルーレット Mini Rūretto
  15. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  16. ↑ 一番星, "First Star"
  17. ↑ 太陽自動機 Taiyō Jidōki
  18. ↑ ロータリーデュェット Rotari Deyuetto
  19. ↑ 関西企業 Kansai Kigyō, "Kansai Enterprise"
  20. ↑ 大列車葵撃 Dai Ressha Aoi Geki, "Great Train Aoi Geki"
  21. ↑ インベーダー Inbēdā
  22. ↑ ピンポンパン
  23. ↑ 大登工業 Daito Kōgyō
  24. ↑ ブラック エンペラー Burakku Enperā
  25. ↑ ワイプ
  26. ↑ ベンドジャパン Bendo Japan

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Video Game Sales: 1972-1999". Gaming Alexandria. June 7, 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "After Pong". ACE. No. 6 (published March 1988). 4 February 1988. pp. 29-32 (29).
  3. ↑ "Can Asteroids Conquer Space Invaders?" (PDF). Electronic Games. 1 (1): 30-33 (31). 1981. Retrieved February 1, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Star invaders: Space invaders turn on Japanese to delights in inter-galactic war". The Financial Post. Canada. 6 October 1979. p. S8.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Morales, Eddie (Autumn 1982). "The tangle web of Spain's gaming machine industry". Coin Slot Location. Vol. 2, no. 4. United Kingdom. pp. 6–21.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 See United Kingdom section
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 See Space Invaders table in Highest-grossing arcade games section
  8. ↑ Citron, Alan (December 14, 1982). "The Rise And Fall Of Pinball". Pittsburgh Press. p. 13. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 See Japan section
  10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 1978
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1985. U.S. Government Printing Office. December 1984. p. 229.
  12. ↑ See Home market section
  13. ↑ Lindner, Richard (1990). Video Games: Past, Present and Future; An Industry Overview. United States: Nintendo of America.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Tsujimoto — Capcom's "Toy Maker" — Talks About Video Business & Video Philosophy" (PDF). RePlay. Vol. 11, no. 3. December 1985. pp. 85–90.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Koyama, Yusuke (2023-06-02). History of the Japanese Video Game Industry. Springer Nature. p. 21. ISBN 978-981-99-1342-8. The price of the first monochrome version of the table cabinet was 460,000 yen (580,000 yen for the color version released later), but in a single day, it generated 20,000–30,000 yen. In less than a month, game center can make their investment money back, and the rest will be all cash income.
  16. ↑ "1979: The Year in Review". Cash Box. Cash Box Pub. Co. 19 December 1979. p. 114.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sullivan, George (1983). "The First Big Hits". Screen Play: The Story of Video Games. F. Warne. p. 38-47 (40). ISBN 978-0-7232-6251-0.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Sullivan, George (1983). "The First Big Hits". Screen Play: The Story of Video Games. F. Warne. pp. 38–47 (40). ISBN 978-0-7232-6251-0.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Durham, Tony. “Space-age pirates in a battle of wits.” Sunday Times, 16 March 1980, p. 63
  20. ↑ "Hooked on Space Invaders". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 September 1980.
  21. ↑ "Invasion is over but space games battle on". The Age. Australia. 13 July 1982. p. 31.
  22. ↑ "Zap this pow-blip". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 January 1981. p. 21.
  23. ↑ "Fall Warehouse Clearance Sale". Play Meter. Vol. 5, no. 21. November 15, 1979. p. 128.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 "ベストスリー 本紙調査 (Best 3 Paper Survey)" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 136. Amusement Press, Inc. February 1980. p. 2.
  25. ↑ "調査対象5年間のベスト1" [Best 1 of the 5 Years Surveyed] (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 159. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 February 1981. p. 1.
  26. ↑ Koyama, Yusuke (2023-06-02). History of the Japanese Video Game Industry. Springer Nature. p. 62. ISBN 978-981-99-1342-8.
  27. ↑ Smith, Alexander (2019-11-19). They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Vol. I: 1971-1982. CRC Press. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2.
  28. ↑ "In the Matter of: Coin-Operated Audio-Visual Games And Components Thereof (Investigation No. 337-TA-87)". ITC Publication. United States International Trade Commission. June 25, 1981. p. 27.
  29. ↑ "本紙アンケー 〜 ト調査の結果" [Paper Questionnaire: Results of the Survey] (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 65. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 February 1977. pp. 2–3. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  30. ↑ Smith, Alexander (2019-11-19). They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Vol. I: 1971-1982. CRC Press. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 31.7 31.8 1977 and 1978
  32. ↑ 1976
  33. ↑ 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. 191. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "The Winners of '79: Top Videos". Play Meter. Vol. 5, no. 21. November 15, 1979. p. 24.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Video Games". RePlay. November 1979.
  36. ↑ "AMOA Expo 1979: '79 Route Survey" (PDF). Cash Box: AMOA-33. November 10, 1979.
  37. ↑ "1979". Play Meter. Vol. 20, no. 13. December 1994. p. 62.
  38. ↑ "Breakdown of Amusement Equipment". Play Meter. Vol. 5, no. 21. November 15, 1979. p. 20.
  39. ↑ "AMOA Expo 1979: '79 Route Survey" (PDF). Cash Box: AMOA-16. November 10, 1979.
  40. ↑ 1978
  41. ↑ Oh, the shape we're in (September 1979)
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 42.6 Product: Total Build (PDF). Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  43. ↑ The Marketing Information Guide, Volumes 8-9. 1979. p. 21. Now, with Asteroids production outdoing any other game in Coin-Ops ' history
  44. ↑ "Special Feature: Marketing the World's Hottest Game". RePlay. April 1979.
  45. ↑ Bloom, Steve (1982). Video Invaders. Arco Publishing. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-668-05520-8.
  46. ↑ Product: Total Build (PDF). Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 "What's new in games" (PDF). The Pizza Times. Vol. 2, no. 1. May 1980. p. 3.
  48. ↑ Product: Total Build (PDF). Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  49. ↑ Steven L. Kent (2000), The first quarter: a 25-year history of video games, BWD Press, p. 83, ISBN 0-9704755-0-0, retrieved 2011-04-09, Sea Wolf, which was another creation of Dave Nutting, did solid business, selling more than 10,000 machines. (A later color version sold an additional 4000 units.)
  50. ↑ Product: Total Build (PDF). Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  51. ↑ "KLOV Arcade Serial Numbers". Killer List of Videogames. 2014. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  52. ↑ "His Space Invaders Get Used". The Hour. January 31, 1980. pp. 13–4.
  53. ↑ "What's new in games" (PDF). The Pizza Times. Vol. 2, no. 1. May 1980. p. 3.
  54. ↑ Steven L. Kent (2000), The first quarter: a 25-year history of video games, BWD Press, p. 83, ISBN 0-9704755-0-0, retrieved 2011-04-09, Sea Wolf, which was another creation of Dave Nutting, did solid business, selling more than 10,000 machines. (A later color version sold an additional 4000 units.)
  55. ↑ Product: Total Build (PDF). Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  56. ↑ Durham, Tony. “Space-age pirates in a battle of wits.” Sunday Times, 16 March 1980, p. 63
  57. ↑ Meades, Alan (2022-10-25). "5: Pings, Pongs, and Pioneers". Arcade Britannia: A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade. The MIT Press. pp. 121–44. ISBN 978-0-262-37234-3.
  58. ↑ Goldberg, Marty (2012). Atari Inc. Business Is Fun. Carmel, NY: Syzygy Co. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-9855974-0-5.
  59. ↑ "Electronic games are today's way to play". Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Vol. 34, no. 11. November 1980. p. 40. ISSN 1528-9729.
  60. ↑ First generation of video games
  61. ↑ "Business Week, Issues 2610-2618". Business Week. No. 2610–2618. 1979. p. 52. Lakeside Games, a division of Leisure Dynamics Inc, is wringing its hands over the fact it has orders for 800,000 of its new Computer Perfection game (...) Computer Perfection game but will only be able to fulfill 500,000 shipments because of cutbacks in its chip allocations
  62. ↑ "Boardroom Reports, Volume 8". Boardroom Reports. Vol. 8. 1979. p. 18. Computer Perfection ($30), by Lakeside, is one of this year's hottest sellers.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Second generation of video games
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 Reimer, Jeremy (2005-12-15). "Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  65. ↑ West, Joel (January 1996). "Moderators of the Diffusion of Technological Innovation: Growth of the Japanese PC Industry" (PDF). Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations. University of California, Irvine. pp. 9–10. alternate url
  66. ↑ 日本電気社史編纂室 (2001-12-25). 日本電気株式会社百年史 (in Japanese). NEC. pp. 653–654.
  67. ↑ Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 33. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  68. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=Tk80AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA74
  69. ↑ "List of Top Sellers" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. Vol. 2, no. 5. September–October 1982. p. 2.
  70. ↑ "Akalabeth Insert" (PDF). California Pacific.
  71. ↑ Tommervik, Al, ed. (April 1981). "Super Invader is Readers' Choice". Softalk. Vol. 1, no. 8. North Hollywood, CA: Softalk Publishing Inc. p. 13 – via Internet Archive.
  72. ↑ "Oral History of Peter Jennings". Computer History Museum. February 1, 2005. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 https://books.google.com/books?id=y5c_AQAAIAAJ&dq=Microchess
  74. ↑ Paul Freiverger, "This Company Is Serious About Games", InfoWorld, 11 May 1981, p. 10
  75. ↑ "Upper Reaches of Apshai". PC Magazine. November 1982. p. 163.
  76. ↑ "Personal Software Introduces Backgammon & Checkers Programs". Intelligent Machines Journal. January 21, 1980. p. 10. Retrieved January 22, 2015.

External links[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.