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In 1977, the video game industry experienced stagnation in the United States due to the video game crash of 1977, though the industry was still growing in Japan at the same time. The year saw the release of sequels such as Super Speed Race and Datsun 280 ZZZAP as well as several new titles.

The year's highest-grossing arcade game worldwide was Namco's electro-mechanical (EM) racing game F-1, while the year's highest-grossing video game was Taito's arcade racing title Speed Race DX, the second year in a row for Speed Race. The year's best-selling home system was Nintendo's Color TV-Game 6, a console that was only sold in Japan.

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 Japan 6,250,000+ $899,000,000 $4,500,000,000 [1]
United States 9,050,000+ $725,190,000 $3,600,000,000
Arcade Arcade games Worldwide 50,000+ $1,261,390,000 $6,300,000,000
Arcade Arcade games Japan $780,000,000 $3,600,000,000 [2]
United States 50,000+ $481,390,000 $2,400,000,000 [3][4]
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games Worldwide $717,200,000 $3,600,000,000
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games Japan $570,000,000 $2,900,000,000 [5]
United States $147,200,000 $740,000,000 [4][3]
Video games Worldwide 8,300,000+ $929,190,000 $4,700,000,000
Arcade Arcade video games United States 50,000 $334,190,000 $1,700,000,000 [3][6]
Japan $220,000,000 $1,100,000,000 [5]
Worldwide 50,000+ $554,190,000 $2,800,000,000
Console Video game consoles United States 5,420,000 $305,000,000 $1,500,000,000 [3]
Worldwide 6,670,000 $361,000,000 $1,800,000,000
Dedicated consoles United States 4,870,000 $210,000,000 $1,100,000,000 [3]
Japan 1,250,000 $56,000,000+ $280,000,000+ [7][8][9]
Cartridge consoles United States 550,000 $95,000,000 $480,000,000 [3]
Video game cartridges United States 1,100,000 $14,000,000 $70,000,000 [3][6]
Console games United States 7,000,000 $319,000,000 $1,600,000,000 [10]
Worldwide 8,250,000 $375,000,000 $1,900,000,000
Video games United States 7,050,000 $653,190,000 $3,300,000,000
Japan 1,250,000+ $276,000,000 $1,400,000,000
Handheld Handheld electronic games Worldwide 7,000,000 $83,000,000 $420,000,000
Handheld Handheld electronic games Japan 5,000,000 $63,000,000 $320,000,000 [1]
United States 2,000,000 $20,000,000 $101,000,000 [3]
Electronic games Worldwide 15,300,000+ $1,729,390,000 $8,700,000,000

Highest-grossing games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing electronic games worldwide in 1977, including both video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games) across arcade and home platforms. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Rank Title Company Worldwide revenue (est.) Genre Type Platform
Nominal Inflation
1 F-1 Namco $93,000,000 $470,000,000 Racing EM Arcade
2 Speed Race DX Taito $64,000,000 $320,000,000 Racing VG
EVR Race Nintendo $64,000,000 $320,000,000 Medal EM
4 Breakout Atari $62,000,000 $310,000,000 Block VG
5 Western Gun Taito $36,000,000 $180,000,000 Shooter
6 Mogura Taiji TOGO $31,000,000 $160,000,000 Mole EM
7 Sea Wolf Midway $30,000,000 $150,000,000 Shooter VG
Sprint 2 Atari $30,000,000 $151,000,000 Racing
9 Scratch Universal $29,000,000 $146,000,000 Block
10 Shoot Away Namco $28,000,000 $140,000,000 FPS EM
EVR Basketball Nintendo $28,000,000 $140,000,000 Medal
Harness Race Sega $28,000,000 $140,000,000
13 Pachipot 100[n 1] Apollo[n 2] $24,000,000 $120,000,000 Medal EM Arcade
LeMans Atari $24,000,000 $120,000,000 Racing VG
15 Shooting Trainer Nintendo $22,000,000 $110,000,000 FPS EM
16 Color TV-Game 6 Nintendo $18,000,000 $91,000,000 Sports VG Console
17 Color TV-Game 15 Nintendo $17,000,000 $85,000,000 Sports VG Console
Piccadilly Circus Konami $17,000,000 $90,000,000 Medal EM Arcade
19 F-1 Mach Namco $15,000,000 $75,000,000 Racing EM Arcade
Death Race Exidy $15,000,000 $75,000,000 Racing Video

Highest-grossing arcade games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games worldwide in 1977, including both video games and electro-mechanical games.

Rank Title Company Worldwide revenue (est.) Genre Type Generation
Nominal Inflation
1 F-1 Namco $93,000,000 $470,000,000 Racing Electro-mechanical
2 Speed Race DX Taito $64,000,000 $320,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
EVR Race Nintendo $64,000,000 $320,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
4 Breakout Atari $62,000,000 $310,000,000 Block Video Discrete
5 Western Gun Taito $36,000,000 $180,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit
6 Mogura Taiji TOGO $31,000,000 $160,000,000 Mole Electro-mechanical
7 Sea Wolf Midway $30,000,000 $151,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit
Sprint 2 Atari $30,000,000 $151,000,000 Racing
9 Scratch Universal $29,000,000 $146,000,000 Block
10 Shoot Away Namco $28,000,000 $141,000,000 FPS Electro-mechanical
EVR Basketball Nintendo $28,000,000 $141,000,000 Medal
Harness Race Sega $28,000,000 $141,000,000
13 Pachipot 100[n 3] Apollo[n 4] $24,000,000 $120,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
LeMans Atari $24,000,000 $120,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
15 Shooting Trainer Nintendo $22,000,000 $110,000,000 FPS Electro-mechanical
16 Piccadilly Circus Konami $17,000,000 $85,000,000 Medal
17 F-1 Mach Namco $15,000,000 $75,000,000 Racing Electro-mechanical
Death Race Exidy $15,000,000 $75,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
19 Night Driver Atari $14,000,000 $70,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
20 Tornado Baseball Midway $12,000,000 $60,000,000 Sports Video 8-bit

Japan[]

In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1977. The list includes both video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).[11][12]

Rank Title Company Rankings[11] Gross revenue (est.)[n 5] Genre Type
1 2 3 Points
1 F-1 Namco 12 6 5 53 $81,000,000 Racing EM
2 Speed Race DX Taito 8 5 8 42 $64,000,000 Racing VG
EVR Race Nintendo 10 5 2 42 $64,000,000 Medal EM
4 Breakout Namco 3 6 4 25 $38,000,000 Block VG
5 Mogura Taiji TOGO 5 1 3 20 $31,000,000 Mole EM
6 Scratch Universal 2 5 3 19 $29,000,000 Block VG
7 Shoot Away Namco 4 3 0 18 $28,000,000 FPS EM
EVR Basketball Nintendo 2 4 4 18 $28,000,000 Medal
Harness Race Sega 4 2 2 18 $28,000,000
10 Pachipot 100[n 6] Apollo[n 7] 4 0 0 12 $18,000,000
11 Piccadilly Circus Konami 2 2 1 11 $17,000,000
12 F-1 Mach Namco 0 5 0 10 $15,000,000 Racing
13 Shooting Trainer Nintendo 1 2 1 8 $12,000,000 FPS
14 Black Jack Sega 0 3 1 7 $11,000,000 Medal EM
Circus Taito 0 2 3 7 $11,000,000 Block VG
16 Road Champion Taito 1 1 1 6 $10,000,000 Racing VG
Laser Clay Nintendo 2 0 0 6 $10,000,000 FPS EM
Faro Sega 2 0 0 6 $10,000,000 Medal
King of Kings Universal 1 1 1 6 $10,000,000
20 Cross Fire Taito 1 0 2 5 $8,000,000 FPS VG
Superbowl Sega 1 1 0 5 $8,000,000 Sports
22 Super High-Way Taito 0 2 0 4 $6,000,000 Racing VG
Super Star Universal 1 0 2 4 $6,000,000 Misc EM
Block Cut[n 8] Fuji[n 9] 0 2 0 4 $6,000,000
Million Dice Bonanza[n 10] 0 2 0 4 $6,000,000 Medal
Sprint 2 Namco 1 0 1 4 $6,000,000 Racing VG
27 Man T.T. Sega 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000 Racing VG
Super Speed Race Taito 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000
Dead Line Nintendo 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000 Misc EM
Baseball・2 Komaya 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000 Sports
VTR Race[n 11] Fuji[n 12] 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000 Medal
TV 21 Jatre 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000
The Derby Sigma[n 13] 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000
Electro Derby[n 14] Fuji[n 15] 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000
Gran Trak 10 Namco 1 0 0 3 $5,000,000 Racing VG
36 Road Race Sega 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Racing VG
Heli-Shooter Sega 0 0 2 2 $3,000,000 FPS EM
Group Skill Diga Sega 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Crane
Hop Step Jump Shōwa[n 16] 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Misc
Lucky Dice Taito 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Medal
UFO'77 Bendo[n 17] 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000
Burankuresu[n 18] Unknown 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000
Barricade II Taito 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Snake VG
Block Taito 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Block
Datsun 280 ZZZAP Taito 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000 Racing
Death Race Bonanza 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000
Super Bug Namco 0 1 0 2 $3,000,000
48 Western Gun Taito 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 Shooter VG
Heavyweight Champ Sega 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 Boxing
Sky Hawk Nintendo 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 FPS
Animal Touch Shōwa[n 19] 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 Misc EM
Kentucky Derby Universal 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 Medal
New Winter Book Universal 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000
Daytona 200 Konami 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000
Jack Lot Data East 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000
Great Race Leijac 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000
Night Driver Namco 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 Racing VG
Sea Wolf Taito 0 0 1 1 $2,000,000 Shooter
Arcade market 86 86 86 516 $780,000,000[2]
EM games 373 $570,000,000 EM
Video games 143 $220,000,000 VG

United States[]

In the United States, Play Meter magazine began publishing annual lists of top-grossing arcade games in 1977. The following titles were the highest-earning arcade games of the year on the annual Play Meter chart. The list includes both video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).[13]

Rank Title[13] Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre Type
Annual Cume Gross[14][15] Ref
1 Sea Wolf Midway 10,000[16] $28,000,000 Shooter VG
2 Sprint 2 Atari 8,200[17] $24,000,000 [18] Racing
3 Breakout Atari 1,000[19] 11,000[17] $24,000,000 [20] Block
4 LeMans Atari $24,000,000 Racing
5 Gun Fight Taito 8,600[21] $24,000,000 [18] Shooter
6 Night Driver Atari 2,100[17] $12,000,000 [18] Racing
7 Death Race Exidy $12,000,000
8 Tornado Baseball Midway $12,000,000 Sports
9 Datsun 280 ZZZAP Midway $12,000,000 Racing
10 Blockade Sega $12,000,000 Snake
Indy 4 Atari $12,000,000 Racing
12 F-1 Namco 1,200[17] 1,200 $12,000,000 [18] Racing EM
13 Stunt Cycle Atari $10,000,000 Racing VG
14 Boot Hill Taito $10,000,000 Shooter
15 Tank II Atari 1,000[22] $10,000,000 Racing
16 Daytona 500 Taito $10,000,000 Racing EM
17 Shooting Trainer Nintendo $10,000,000 FPS
18 Road Runner Midway $10,000,000 Shooter VG
19 Hit Me Ramtek $10,000,000 Card
20 Hustle Sega $10,000,000 Snake VG
Flying Fortress Electra $10,000,000 Shooter
Bazooka PSE $10,000,000
Junkyard Americoin $10,000,000 Crane EM
24 Plinker's Canyon Sega $10,000,000 FPS EM
Comotion Sega $10,000,000 Snake VG
Play Ball Sega $10,000,000 Wall EM
F-114 (Sky Fighter) Taito $10,000,000 FPS
28 Drag Race Atari 1,900 1,900[17] $4,000,000 [20] Racing VG
Demolition Derby Chicago Coin 11,200[22] $4,000,000
30 Sprint 8 Atari $3,000,000 Racing
Steep Chase Atari $3,000,000
Triple Hunt Atari 865 865[17] $3,000,000 [23] Shooter
Dominos Atari $3,000,000 Snake
Trap Shoot Chicago Coin $3,000,000 Shooter EM
Bigfoot Bonkers Meadows $3,000,000 Snake VG
Bombs Away Meadows $3,000,000 Shooter
Flim-Flam Meadows $3,000,000 Pong
Checkmate Midway $3,000,000 Snake
Amazing Maze Game Midway $3,000,000 Maze
21 Mirco Games $3,000,000 Card
Barricade Ramtek $3,000,000 Snake
Trivia Ramtek 1,100[22] $3,000,000 Quiz
Video Pool US Billiards $3,000,000 Sports
Arcade market 50,000+ $481,390,000
Video games 50,000[3] 175,000[3] $334,190,000[3] VG
Electro‑mechanical $147,200,000[4][3] EM

Home market[]

Best-selling systems[]

Rank System Company Sales Gross revenue (est.) Type Generation Ref
Nominal Inflation
1 Color TV-Game 6 Nintendo 500,000 $18,000,000 $91,000,000 Console First [24]
2 Atari VCS Atari 250,000 $45,000,000 $230,000,000 Console Second [25]
3 Color TV-Game 15 Nintendo 300,000 $17,000,000 $85,000,000 Console First [24]
4 TV Game System 10 Epoch 200,000 $12,000,000 $60,000,000
5 Fairchild Channel F Fairchild 150,000 $26,000,000 $130,000,000 Console Second [25]
6 TRS-80 Tandy 100,000 Computer 8-bit [26]
7 Electrotennis Epoch 50,000 $2,000,000 $10,000,000 Console First [24]
8 Takatoku TUG Takatoku 30,000 $5,000,000 $25,000,000
9 Sportstron Fuji Electric 25,000 $700,000 $3,500,000
10 Color TV Game Sharp 20,000 $720,000 $3,600,000
Home systems 6,820,000 $361,000,000 $1,800,000,000
Video game consoles 6,670,000 $361,000,000 $1,800,000,000 [27]
Personal computers 150,000 N/A N/A [26]

Best-selling games[]

Rank Title Company Sales Gross revenue (est.) Platform Type Ref
Nominal Inflation
1 Color TV-Game 6 Nintendo 500,000 $18,000,000 $100,000,000 Console Video [24]
2 Color TV-Game 15 Nintendo 300,000 $17,000,000 $85,000,000
3 Combat Atari 250,000 Atari VCS Video [25]
4 TV Game System 10 Epoch 200,000 $12,000,000 $60,000,000 Console Video [24]
5 Hockey Fairchild 150,000 $3,000,000 $20,000,000 Channel F Video [25][28]
Tennis Fairchild 150,000 $3,000,000 $20,000,000
7 Mattel Football Mattel 100,000 $2,500,000 $13,000,000 Handheld LED [29][30]
8 TV Tennis Electrotennis Epoch 50,000 $2,000,000 $10,000,000 Console Video [24]
9 Takatoku TUG Takatoku Toys 30,000 $5,000,000 $25,000,000
10 TV-Game Sportstron Fuji Electric 25,000 $700,000 $3,500,000
11 Color TV Game Sharp 20,000 $720,000 $3,600,000
12 Microchess Micro-Ware 1,000 $20,000 $100,000 KIM-1 Video [31][32]

Notes[]

  1. パチポット100 Pachipotto 100
  2. ��ポロ Aporo
  3. パチポット100 Pachipotto 100
  4. アポロ Aporo
  5. 516 points equivalent to ¥209.1 billion[2] = ¥410 million ($1.53 million) per point (est.)
  6. パチポット100 Pachipotto 100
  7. アポロ Aporo
  8. ブロック・カット Burokku Katto
  9. 富士電子工業 Fuji Denshi Kōgyō
  10. ボナンザ・エンタープライゼス Bonanza Entāpuraizesu
  11. VTR レース VTR Rēsu
  12. 富士電子工業 Fuji Denshi Kōgyō
  13. シグマ Shiguma
  14. エレクトロ・ダービー Erekutoro Dābī
  15. 富士電子工業 Fuji Denshi Kōgyō
  16. 昭和遊園 Shōwa Yūen
  17. ベンドジャパン Bendo Japan
  18. ブランクレス
  19. 昭和遊園 Shōwa Yūen

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 昔(1970年代)のテレビゲームは何台売れた? (How many old (1970s) video games sold?) (Japanese). Classic Videogame Station Odyssey (CVS Odyssey) (2014-01-09). Archived from the original on 2023-11-02.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 情報メディア白書 [Information Media White Paper]. Dentsu Institute. 2010. p. 293. https://books.google.com/books?id=fSFNAQAAIAAJ. "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) ... 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"
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Video Game Sales: 1972-1999. Gaming Alexandria (June 7, 2021).
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 ASM: 1980-81 Annual Survey of Manufactures. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. May 1984. p. 2-29. https://books.google.com/books?id=kGF-qvhS0QQC&pg=SA2-PA29.
  5. 5.0 5.1 See Japan section
  6. 6.0 6.1 Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1985. U.S. Government Printing Office. December 1984. pp. 229. https://books.google.com/books?id=iXFqAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA229.
  7. 昔(1970年代)のテレビゲームは何台売れた? (How many old (1970s) video games sold?) (Japanese). Classic Videogame Station Odyssey (CVS Odyssey) (2014-01-09). Archived from the original on 2023-11-02.
  8. See Home market section
  9. Home Electronic Games & Computers. 1979. p. 45. https://books.google.com/books?id=KnREAAAAIAAJ. "Japan
    *Home video games retail sales
    mil units
    1977   1.1
    1978   1.5
    Japan
    *Home video games sales
    mil US$
    1976   2.1
    1977   12.8
    1978   28.4"
  10. "75th Annual American Toy Fair Opens In New York". Sarasota Herald-Tribune: p. 5-D. 14 February 1978. https://books.google.com/books?id=1roqAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA34&article_id=4406,6045895.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "結果ベスト3". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (90): 2–3. 15 February 1978. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19780215p.pdf#page=2.
  12. "調査対象5年間のベスト1". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (159): 1. 15 February 1981. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19810215p.pdf.
  13. 13.0 13.1 "Top Arcade Games". Play Meter 3 (21): 25. November 1977. https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-3-number-21-november-1977/page/25.
  14. The Coin-Op Industry Year by Year: 1976-1977
  15. "Play Meter Poll Results". Play Meter 3 (21): 20-5. November 1977. https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-3-number-21-november-1977/page/20/mode/2up.
  16. Steven L. Kent (2000), The first quarter: a 25-year history of video games, BWD Press, p. 83, ISBN 0-9704755-0-0, https://books.google.com/books?id=ny-CAAAAMAAJ, 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.)"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Product: Total Build. Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130510143012/www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "What's new in games". The Pizza Times 2 (1): p. 3. May 1980. https://showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes-1980.pdf#page=3.
  19. 1976
  20. 20.0 20.1 Production Numbers. Atari Games (1999). Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved on 19 March 2012.
  21. 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. 262. ISBN 978-0-429-75261-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=Cxy_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT262.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 Baer, Ralph H. (2005). Videogames: In the Beginning. Rolenta Press. pp. 10–3. ISBN 978-0-9643848-1-1. https://archive.org/details/VideogamesInTheBeginningRalphH.Baer/page/n31/mode/2up.
  23. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-08-18.pdf#page=49
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 First generation of video games
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Second generation of video games
  26. 26.0 26.1 Reimer, Jeremy (2005-12-15). Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures. Ars Technica.
  27. See Financial performance section
  28. https://books.google.com/books?id=Tk80AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA74
  29. https://web.archive.org/web/20010803064542/www.forbes.com/2001/08/02/0802tentech.html
  30. https://books.google.com/books?id=oK3D4i5ldKgC&pg=PA86
  31. Oral History of Peter Jennings. Computer History Museum (February 1, 2005).
  32. https://books.google.com/books?id=y5c_AQAAIAAJ&dq=Microchess

External links[]

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