Video Game Sales Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
in: Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters, Video games by year

1980

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

1980 saw the video game industry rapidly expand with the release of a number of influential games. Namco's Pac-Man expanded the arcade market to new audiences, while the Atari VCS (Atari 2600) port of Space Invaders revived and expanded the home console market.

The year's highest-grossing video game worldwide was Taito's Space Invaders for the third year in a row, including the arcade original and Atari VCS port, becoming the first killer app and the first video game to sell over a million units. The year's best‑selling home system was Nintendo's handheld Game & Watch.

Financial performance[]

Japan overtakes the United States as the leading developer of arcade video games, with Japanese games accounting for the largest share of the worldwide industry.[1][2][3] In the United States, the Atari VCS leads the home video game market with a 44% share.[4]

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
(est.) 		Annual revenue (est.) Ref
Nominal Inflation
Electronic games United States 23,674,400+ $9,139,750,000 $34,000,000,000
Japan — $3,498,800,000 $13,000,000,000
Arcade games Worldwide 505,000+ $12,510,000,000 $46,000,000,000
Arcade Arcade games United States 490,000+ $7,500,000,000 $28,000,000,000 [5][6][7]
Japan — $3,400,000,000 $13,000,000,000 [8][9][10]
Arcade video games United Kingdom 15,000+ $1,100,000,000 $4,600,000,000 [11][12][13]
Australia — $110,000,000 $410,000,000 [11]
Other markets — $400,000,000 $1,500,000,000
Electro‑mechanical games Worldwide 150,000+ $2,500,000,000 $9,200,000,000
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games United States 150,000+ $1,500,000,000 $5,500,000,000 [7][14][5]
Japan — $1,000,000,000 $3,700,000,000 [15]
Video games Worldwide 24,164,400+ $11,753,550,000 $43,000,000,000
Arcade Arcade video games United States 340,000 $6,000,000,000 $22,000,000,000 [6][16]
Japan — $2,300,000,000 $8,500,000,000 [15]
United Kingdom 15,000 $1,100,000,000 $4,600,000,000 [17]
Australia — $110,000,000 $410,000,000 [11]
Other markets — $400,000,000 $1,500,000,000
Worldwide 355,000+ $9,910,000,000 $37,000,000,000
Console Video game consoles United States 2,200,000 $493,000,000 $1,800,000,000 [6][18]
United Kingdom 125,000+ $35,000,000 $130,000,000 [19][20]
Anglosphere 2,325,000+ $528,000,000 $2,000,000,000
Dedicated consoles United States 270,000 $18,000,000 $67,000,000
Cartridge consoles United States 1,650,000 $475,000,000 $1,800,000,000
United Kingdom 125,000 — — [20]
Console game cartridges United States 9,600,000 $141,400,000 $520,000,000 [21]
United Kingdom 500,000 $42,000,000 $160,000,000 [19][20]
Console market United States 11,800,000 $634,400,000 $2,300,000,000
United Kingdom 625,000 $77,000,000 $280,000,000 [19][20]
Anglosphere 12,425,000 $711,400,000 $2,600,000,000
Handheld Handheld games United States 11,207,000 $1,000,000,000 $3,700,000,000 [22][6]
Japan — $98,800,000 $370,000,000 [23]
Handheld LCD games United Kingdom — $28,000,000 $104,000,000 [19]
Handheld games Worldwide 11,207,000+ $1,126,800,000 $4,200,000,000
Computer Computer games United States 177,400 $5,350,000 $20,000,000
Video games United States 23,524,400 $7,639,750,000 $28,000,000,000
Japan — $2,398,800,000 $8,900,000,000
United Kingdom 640,000+ $1,205,000,000 $4,456,000,000
Electronic games Worldwide 24,314,400+ $14,353,550,000 $53,000,000,000

Highest-grossing games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing electronic games worldwide in 1980, 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 [24] Taito $2,900,000,000 $11,000,000,000 Shmup VG Multi-platform
2 Galaxian Namco $1,500,000,000 $5,500,000,000
3 Pac-Man Namco $1,000,000,000 $3,700,000,000 Maze VG Arcade
4 Asteroids Atari $900,000,000 $3,300,000,000 Shmup
5 Firepower Williams $360,000,000 $1,300,000,000 Pinball EM
6 Astro Fighter Data East / Sega $320,000,000 $1,200,000,000 Shmup VG
7 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu $300,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Platformer
8 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito $280,000,000 $1,000,000,000 Shmup
9 Monaco GP Sega $260,000,000 $960,000,000 Racing
10 Moon Cresta Nichibutsu $200,000,000 $740,000,000 Shmup
11 Missile Command Atari $110,000,000 $410,000,000
12 Gorgar Williams $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Pinball EM
Rip Off Cinematronics $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Shmup VG
Space Invaders Bally $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Pinball EM
Tail Gunner Cinematronics $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Shooter VG
16 Piccadilly Circus Konami $90,000,000 $300,000,000 Medal EM
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo $90,000,000 $300,000,000 Shooter VG
18 Atari Football Atari $83,000,000 $310,000,000 Sports VG Multi-platform
19 Cosmic Alien Universal $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Shmup VG Arcade
Dual Sega $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Action
Flash Williams $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Pinball EM
Space Wars Cinematronics $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Shooter VG
Star Fire Exidy $80,000,000 $300,000,000
Targ Exidy $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Maze

Highest-grossing arcade games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games worldwide in 1980, including video games and electro-mechanical 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 $2,400,000,000 $8,900,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
2 Galaxian Namco $1,500,000,000 $5,500,000,000
3 Pac-Man [25] Namco $1,000,000,000 $3,700,000,000 Maze
4 Asteroids Atari $900,000,000 $3,300,000,000 Shmup
5 Firepower Williams $360,000,000 $1,300,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
6 Astro Fighter Data East / Sega $320,000,000 $1,200,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
7 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu $300,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Platformer
8 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito $280,000,000 $1,000,000,000 Shmup
9 Monaco GP Sega $260,000,000 $960,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
10 Moon Cresta Nichibutsu $200,000,000 $740,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
11 Missile Command Atari $110,000,000 $410,000,000
12 Gorgar Williams $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
Rip Off Cinematronics $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Shmup Video Discrete
Space Invaders Bally $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
Tail Gunner Cinematronics $100,000,000 $370,000,000 Shooter Video Discrete
16 Piccadilly Circus Konami $90,000,000 $300,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo $90,000,000 $300,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit
18 Atari Football Atari $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Sports Video 8-bit
Cosmic Alien Universal $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Shmup
Dual Sega $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Action
Flash Williams $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
Space Wars Cinematronics $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Shooter Video Discrete
Star Fire Exidy $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit
Targ Exidy $80,000,000 $300,000,000 Maze
25 EVR Race Nintendo $67,000,000 $250,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical

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

Market Top game Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
Japan Pac-Man Namco 100,000[26] 100,000 $800,000,000 $3,000,000,000 [27] Maze
United States Asteroids Atari 46,565[28] 56,565[29] $900,000,000 $3,300,000,000 [30][31] Shmup
United Kingdom Space Invaders Taito — 85,000[13] $1,000,000,000 $3,700,000,000 [32]
Australia Space Invaders Taito — 3,000+[33] $110,000,000 $410,000,000 [34]
Other markets Space Invaders Taito — 150,000+[28] $400,000,000 $1,500,000,000 [35]

Japan[]

In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games in 1980. The list includes video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).

Rank Title[36][37] Company Rankings[36] Gross revenue (est.)[n 1] Genre Type
1 2 3 Points
1 Pac-Man Namco 62 46 17 295 $800,000,000 Maze VG
2 Galaxian Namco 44 25 18 200 $560,000,000 Shmup
3 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu 14 19 30 110 $300,000,000 Platform
4 Moon Cresta Nichibutsu 3 24 15 72 $200,000,000 Shmup
5 Monaco GP Sega 11 4 11 52 $160,000,000 Racing
6 Piccadilly Circus [38] Konami 5 8 1 32 $90,000,000 Medal EM
7 EVR Race Nintendo 5 4 1 24 $67,000,000
8 Rally-X Namco 1 6 3 18 $50,000,000 Driving VG
9 Harness Race Sega 4 1 3 17 $48,000,000 Medal EM
TV Poker[n 2] Sigma[n 3] 4 2 1 17 $48,000,000
11 Kunitori Gassen [38] Konami 4 1 2 16 $45,000,000
12 Heiankyo Alien Denki Onkyō 1 4 4 15 $42,000,000 Maze VG
13 Crane Sega 3 1 2 13 $36,000,000 Crane EM
14 PT Reach Mahjong Irem 4 0 0 12 $34,000,000 Medal
15 Pitch In Namco 0 1 5 7 $20,000,000 Sports
EVR Basketball Nintendo 1 2 0 7 $20,000,000 Medal
Black Jack Sega 1 2 0 7 $20,000,000
18 Super Speed Race Taito 0 2 2 6 $17,000,000 Racing VG
Astro Zone Taito 2 0 0 6 $17,000,000 Shooter
Janken Game Konami 1 1 1 6 $17,000,000 Medal EM
Faro / Faro II Sega 1 1 1 6 $17,000,000
The Derby Sigma[n 4] 2 0 0 6 $17,000,000
23 Space Invaders Taito 0 1 3 5 $14,000,000 Shmup VG
Sasuke vs. Commander SNK 0 0 5 5 $14,000,000 Shooter
TV Slot[n 5] Sigma[n 6] 1 0 2 5 $14,000,000 Medal EM
Kentucky Derby Universal 0 2 1 5 $14,000,000
Winners Circle[n 7] Sigma[n 8] 1 1 0 5 $14,000,000
Missile Command Sega 0 2 1 5 $14,000,000 Shmup VG
29 Space Firebird Nintendo 0 2 0 4 $11,000,000 Action VG
Shoot Away Namco 0 2 0 4 $11,000,000 FPS EM
King of Kings Universal 0 2 0 4 $11,000,000 Medal
32 Moon Alien Nichibutsu 1 0 0 3 $8,000,000 Shmup VG
Space Tactics Sega 1 0 0 3 $8,000,000 FPS
Space Panic Universal 0 0 3 3 $8,000,000 Platform
Radar Scope Nintendo 0 1 1 3 $8,000,000 TPS
Sekai Senryaku[n 9] Leijac 0 1 1 3 $8,000,000 Medal EM
Le Mans 24[n 10] Leijac 0 1 1 3 $8,000,000
Piccadilly Queen[n 11] Leijac 1 0 0 3 $8,000,000
Big & Small Universal 0 0 3 3 $8,000,000
The Great Ocean Cup Ketsu Shoji 1 0 0 3 $8,000,000
41 Tranquilizer Gun Sega 0 0 2 2 $6,000,000 Shooter VG
N-Sub Sega 0 0 2 2 $6,000,000 Shmup
Polaris Taito 0 1 0 2 $6,000,000
Clay Champ Namco 0 2 0 2 $6,000,000 FPS EM
Deep Scan Sega 0 0 2 2 $6,000,000 Shooter VG
Mogura Taiji TOGO 0 0 2 2 $6,000,000 Mole EM
The End Konami 0 1 0 2 $6,000,000 Shmup VG
New York New York Sigma[n 12] 0 1 0 2 $6,000,000
Super Star Universal 0 1 0 2 $6,000,000 Medal EM
Super Machine Universal 0 1 0 2 $6,000,000
51 Crazy Balloon Taito 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Maze VG
Phoenix Taito 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Shmup
Astro Fighter Data East 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000
Manhattan Data East 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Platform
Submarine Namco 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 FPS EM
Kero Kero Pakkun[n 13] Komaya 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Action
Dai Ressha Aoi[n 14] Kasco 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Sim
Punto Banko Sega 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Medal
Pachipot 100[n 15] Apollo[n 16] 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000
Asteroids Taito 0 0 1 1 $3,000,000 Shmup VG
Market 197 197 197 1,182 $3,400,000,000[8]
Video games 822 $2,300,000,000
EM games 360 $1,000,000,000

United States[]

In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1980. The list includes video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).

Rank Title[39][40] Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.)[41] Genre Type
Annual Cume Gross Ref
1 Asteroids Atari 46,565[28] 56,565[29] $900,000,000 [30][31] Shmup VG
2 Galaxian Namco 45,000[42] 45,000 $900,000,000 [43][44]
3 Space Invaders Taito 6,000[28] 72,000[42] $900,000,000 [45][44]
4 Firepower Williams 17,410 17,410[46] $360,000,000 [47] Pinball EM
5 Astro Fighter Sega — — $280,000,000 Shmup VG
6 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito 12,000 12,000[48] $280,000,000 [49][44]
7 Pac-Man Namco 20,000[50] 20,000 $160,000,000 [51][44] Maze
8 Gorgar Williams — 14,000[52] $100,000,000 Pinball EM
9 Space Invaders Bally 11,400 11,400[53] $100,000,000 Pinball EM
Rip Off Cinematronics — — $100,000,000 Shmup VG
11 Monaco GP Sega — — $100,000,000 Racing VG
12 Tail Gunner Cinematronics — — $100,000,000 Shooter
13 Missile Command Atari 18,549 18,549[29] $100,000,000 [29][44] Shmup
14 Flash Williams — 19,505[54] $80,000,000 Pinball EM
15 Atari Football Atari — 11,306[29] $80,000,000 Sports VG
16 Targ Exidy — — $80,000,000 Maze
17 Dual Sega — — $80,000,000 Action
18 Star Fire Exidy — — $80,000,000 Shooter
19 Space Wars Cinematronics — 10,000[55] $80,000,000
20 Cosmic Alien Universal 10,000 10,000[48] $80,000,000 [49] Shmup
21 Bandido (Sheriff) Nintendo — — $50,000,000 Shooter
22 Sprint II Atari — 8,200[29] $50,000,000 [44] Racing
23 Lunar Lander Atari — 4,830[29] $30,000,000 [44] Lander
24 Carnival Sega — — $30,000,000 Shmup
25 Moon Alien Nichibutsu — — $30,000,000
26 Meteor Stern 423[56] 8,362[56] $30,000,000 Pinball EM
27 Silverball Mania Stern 7,000 7,000[57] $30,000,000 [7]
28 Galaxy Stern 5,130[56] 5,130 $20,000,000
29 Stellar Wars Williams — 5,503[58] $18,000,000
30 Radar Scope Nintendo 1,000 1,000 $10,000,000 [59][60] TPS VG
Big Game Stern 2,713[56] 2,713 $10,000,000 Pinball EM

United Kingdom[]

Rank Title Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
1 Space Invaders Taito — 85,000[13] $1,000,000,000 $3,700,000,000 [32] Shmup
2 Astro Fighter Data East 4,000[2] 4,000 $40,000,000 $150,000,000 [61] Shmup
Sheriff Nintendo 4,000[2] 4,000 $40,000,000 $150,000,000 [61] Shooter
4 Space Intruders Subelectro — 2,500[61] $20,000,000 $67,000,000 [61] Shmup
5 Space Firebird Nintendo 200[2] 200 $2,000,000 $7,000,000 [61]
Arcade video games 15,000[12][13] 100,000[12] $1,100,000,000 $4,600,000,000

Best-selling home systems[]

Rank System(s) Manufacturer Type Generation Sales Ref
1 Game & Watch Nintendo Handheld 4-bit 2,750,000 [62]
2 Atari VCS (Atari 2600) Atari, Inc. Console Second 1,250,000 [63]
3 TRS-80 Tandy Computer 8-bit 290,000 [64]
4 Intellivision Mattel Console Second 200,000 [63][65]
5 Atari 400 / Atari 800 Atari, Inc. Computer 8-bit 200,000 [64]
6 Commodore PET Commodore Computer 8-bit 90,000
7 Apple II Apple Inc. Computer 8-bit 79,500 [66]
8 HP 9800 / HP series 80 Hewlett-Packard Computer 8-bit 11,300
9 North Star Horizon North Star Computer 8-bit 8,200
10 TI-99/4 TI Computer 8-bit 8,100
Annual sales
Video game consoles Console 2,200,000 [6]
Personal computers Computer 724,000 [64]

Best-selling home video games[]

The following titles were the best-selling home video games in 1980.

Rank Title Platform Company Sales (est.) Gross revenue (est.) Genre Ref
Nominal Inflation
1 Space Invaders Multi-platform Taito 1,448,655 $50,200,000 $190,000,000 Shmup
2 Vermin Game & Watch Nintendo 1,000,000 $60,000,000 $220,000,000 Action [62]
3 Fire (Fireman) Game & Watch Nintendo 1,000,000 $45,000,000 $170,000,000
4 Combat Atari VCS Atari 1,000,000 $20,000,000 $74,000,000 Shooter [63][67]
5 Breakout Atari VCS Atari 256,265 $6,000,000 $22,000,000 Block [68][69]
6 Ball (Toss-Up) Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 $13,000,000 $48,000,000 Action [62]
7 Flagman (Flag Man) Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 $11,000,000 $41,000,000
Judge Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 $11,000,000 $41,000,000
9 Atari Football Atari VCS Atari 248,502 $3,200,000 $12,000,000 Sports [68][69]
10 Bowling Atari VCS Atari 245,670 $5,600,000 $21,000,000

United States[]

In the United States, the following titles were the year's best-selling home video games, excluding dedicated handheld games.

Rank Title Platform(s) Developer Sales (est.) Revenue (est.) Genre Ref
1 Space Invaders Multi-platform Taito 1,448,655 $50,200,000 Shmup
— Space Invaders Atari VCS Taito 1,443,655 $50,000,000 Shmup [68][70][69]
Super Invader Apple II M. Hata 5,000 $200,000 Shmup
2 Combat Atari VCS Atari 1,000,000 $20,000,000 Shooter [63][67]
3 Breakout Atari VCS Atari 256,265 $6,000,000 Block [68][69]
4 Atari Football Atari VCS Atari 248,502 $3,200,000 Sports [68][69]
5 Bowling Atari VCS Atari 245,670 $5,600,000
6 Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack Intellivision Mattel 200,000 — Card [71][63][65]
7 Night Driver Atari VCS Atari 161,352 $4,300,000 Racing [68][69]
8 Air-Sea Battle Atari VCS Atari 160,093 $3,700,000 Shooter [68][69]
9 Circus Atari Atari VCS Atari 148,756 $4,000,000 Action [68][69]
10 Sea Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $4,000,000 Strategy [72][69]
11 Major League Baseball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports [73][69]
NFL Football Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports
Space Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Shmup [74][69]
Armor Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Shooter [72][69]
Auto Racing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Racing [73][69]
NBA Basketball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports [73][69]
Boxing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Boxing
U.S. Ski Team Skiing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports
19 Street Racer Atari VCS Atari 89,269 $1,200,000 Racing [68][69]
20 Video Olympics Atari VCS Atari 36,028 $800,000 Sports

Apple II[]

The following titles were the best-selling Apple II computer games in 1980. Points represent US software sales on Softalk charts.[75]

Rank Title Developer Points
[75] 		Sales (est.)
[n 17][75][76] 		Revenue (est.)
[n 18][77][78] 		Genre Ref
1 Flight Simulator SubLogic 312.55 16,000 $500,000 Flight sim [77]
2 Galaxian Namco 254.56 15,000 $500,000 Shmup
— Star Cruiser (Galaxian) Nasir Gebelli 157.34 10,000 $300,000 Shmup [79]
Alien Rain (Apple Galaxian) Tony Suzuki 97.22 5,000 $200,000 Shmup [80][78]
3 Wizard and the Princess On-Line Systems 247.90 10,000 $300,000 Adventure [76][81]
4 Bill Budge's Space Album Bill Budge 217.64 10,000 $300,000 Shmup
5 Sargon II Hayden Software 202.98 10,000 $300,000 Chess
6 Asteroids in Space Quality Software 194.14 10,000 $300,000 Shmup
7 Mystery House On-Line Systems 124.08 10,000 $300,000 Adventure [82]
8 Odyssey Synergistic 169.71 8,000 $200,000 RPG
9 Super Invader M. Hata / Taito 150.47 8,000 $200,000 Shmup [83][84][85]
10 Adventure Microsoft 143.49 7,000 $200,000 Adventure
11 Temple of Apshai Automated 138.91 7,000 $200,000 RPG [83][86][87]
12 Rescue at Rigel Automated 111.98 6,000 $200,000 RPG
13 Dogfight Bill Basham 108.88 5,000 $200,000 Shmup
14 Hellfire Warrior Automated 95.58 5,000 $200,000 RPG
15 Computer Quarterback SSI 85.08 4,000 $100,000 Sports
16 Morloc's Tower Automated 83.96 4,000 $100,000 Adventure
17 Cyber Strike Nasir Gebelli 82.16 4,000 $100,000 FPS
18 Wilderness Campaign Synergistic 73.63 4,000 $100,000 RPG
19 Akalabeth: World of Doom California Pacific 22.12 3,000 $100,000 RPG [88][84]
20 Hi-Res Football On-Line Systems 69.48 3,000 $90,000 Sports
21 Head On M. Hata / Sega 63.94 3,000 $90,000 Driving
22 Computer Bismarck SSI 60.61 3,000 $90,000 Strategy
23 Datestones of Ryn Automated 60.31 3,000 $90,000 RPG
24 Galactic Empire Broderbund 51.79 3,000 $90,000 Strategy
25 Planetoids (Asteroids) Adventure 50.89 3,000 $90,000 Shmup
26 Computer Ambush SSI 49.17 2,000 $60,000 Strategy
27 Bill Budge's Trilogy California Pacific 44.38 2,000 $60,000 Arcade
28 Galactic Revolution Broderbund 37.17 2,000 $60,000 Strategy
29 Gammon Gambler Personal Software 31.88 2,000 $60,000 Board
30 Scot Adams Adventures Adventure 31.25 2,000 $60,000 Adventure
31 Tuesday Night Football Shoestring 28.44 1,000 $30,000 Sports
32 Tranquility Base Stoneware 24.06 1,000 $30,000 Space
33 ABM MUSE 23.15 1,000 $30,000 Shmup
34 B-1 Nuclear Bomber Avalon Hill 21.02 1,000 $30,000
35 Galactic Trader Broderbund 20.24 1,000 $30,000
36 Cosmos Mission Astar International 19.99 1,000 $30,000
37 Midway Campaign Avalon Hill 17.43 900 $30,000
38 Ghost Town: Adventure #9 Adventure 17.26 900 $30,000
39 Apple Adventure Apple Computer 16.60 800 $20,000
40 Planet Miners Avalon Hill 15.67 800 $20,000
Annual 3,574.55 177,400 $5,350,000

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1,182 points[36] equivalent to $3.4 billion[8] = $2.8 million per point (est.)
  2. ↑ TV ポー カー TV Pōkā
  3. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  4. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  5. ↑ T V スロット TV Surotto
  6. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  7. ↑ ウイナーズ サーク ル Uināzu Sākuru
  8. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  9. ↑ 世界戦略WORLD WAR Sekai Senryaku World War, "World Strategy: World War"
  10. ↑ ル・マン24
  11. ↑ ���カデリークイーン
  12. ↑ シグマ Shiguma
  13. ↑ ケロケロパックン
  14. ↑ 大列車葵撃 Dai Ressha Aoi Geki, "Great Train Aoi Geki"
  15. ↑ パチポット100 Pachipotto 100
  16. ↑ アポロ Aporo
  17. ↑ 97.22 points equivalent to 5,000 units (Apple Galaxian in December 1980) = 50 units per point (est.)
  18. ↑ Average price: $30

References[]

  1. ↑ "Pinballs make a comeback — on microchip: The United States strives to displace Japan as the supplier of the most popular video games". The Sydney Morning Herald: p. 18. 23 April 1981. https://books.google.com/books?id=aMJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Meades, Alan (2022-10-25). "Copyright Defenders and the British Videogame Crash". Arcade Britannia: A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade. The MIT Press. pp. 145-68. ISBN 978-0-262-37234-3. https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/chapter-pdf/2086418/c004600_9780262372343.pdf.
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/details/coin-slot-location-1980-autumn/Coin%20Slot%20Location%20-%20Volume%201%20Issue%201%20-%20Autumn%201980/page/n50
  4. ↑ Lindner, Richard (1990). Video Games: Past, Present and Future; An Industry Overview. United States: Nintendo of America. https://archive.org/details/06Kahle001551.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Video game craze results in new arcades". St. Joseph Gazette: p. 7A. 27 July 1981. https://books.google.com/books?id=sfFeAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7article_id=1273,3898545.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Video Game Sales: 1972-1999. Gaming Alexandria (June 7, 2021).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Video games entice players of all types, ages". The Bryan Times: p. 19. 3 August 1981. https://books.google.com/books?id=n7BPAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA31&article_id=6404,3220185.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Star invaders: Space invaders turn on Japanese to delights in inter-galactic war". The Financial Post (Canada): p. S8. 6 October 1979. https://books.google.com/books?id=4GI_AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA52.
  9. ↑ Watkins, Ralph (1984). A Competitive Assessment of the U.S. Video Game Industry: Report on Investigation No. 332-160 Under Section 332(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. U.S. International Trade Commission. pp. 30-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=-38XdacYD6QC&pg=PA30.
  10. ↑ Koyama, Yusuke (2023-06-02). History of the Japanese Video Game Industry. Springer Nature. pp. 21-2, 62, 65. ISBN 978-981-99-1342-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=uITCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA65.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 See Highest-grossing arcade games section
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Video nightmare: games may harm children, some officials say". Park City Daily News: p. 3-C. 6 May 1983. https://books.google.com/books?id=EjUqAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA26&article_id=5092,1590036.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "After Pong". ACE (6): 29-32 (29). 4 February 1988. March 1988. https://archive.org/details/ACE_Issue_06_1988-03_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n28/mode/1up.
  14. ↑ See United States section
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 See Japan section
  16. ↑ Mark Stephen Pierce (Atari Games) (1998). "Coin-Op: The Life (Arcade Videogames)". Digital illusion: entertaining the future with high technology. ACM Press. p. 444. ISBN 0-201-84780-9. https://archive.org/details/digitalillusion00clar/page/444.
  17. ↑ See United Kingdom section
  18. ↑ "Billboard Debuts Vid Games Chart". Billboard: 3. 1982-09-11. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1982/BB-1982-09-11.pdf#page=3.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "Market size and market shares". Video Games: A Report on the Supply of Video Games in the UK. United Kingdom: Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC), H.M. Stationery Office. April 1995. pp. 66 to 68. ISBN 978-0-10-127812-6.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 "Technology: The games that aliens play". New Scientist (Reed Business Information) 88 (1232–1233): 782. 18 December 1980. ISSN 0262-4079. https://books.google.com/books?id=ainC3-wuz_kC&pg=PA782.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ Watkins, Ralph (1984). A Competitive Assessment of the U.S. Video Game Industry: Report on Investigation No. 332-160 Under Section 332(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. U.S. International Trade Commission. pp. 48-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=-38XdacYD6QC&pg=PA48.
  23. ↑ Focus Japan. Japan External Trade Organization. 1983. p. 5. https://books.google.com/books?id=-HsTG096xEkC. "Notable were the large number of electronic items using LSIs, such as the handheld LSI games, which had recorded sales of ¥24 billion (US$98.8 million) in 1980, ¥28 billion (US$115.3 million) in 1981 and ¥125 billion (US$514.7 million ) in 1982."
  24. ↑ Pellegrino, Charles R.; Stoff, Jesse A. (1983). Darwin's Universe: Origins and Crises in the History of Life. Van Nostrand Reinhold. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-442-27526-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=-qEhAAAAMAAJ. "In 1980, we Americans spent 2.9 billion dollars on one of the Space program's most celebrated spinoffs: Space Invaders."
  25. ↑ Kline, Stephen; Nick Dyer-Witheford, Greig de Peuter (2003). Digital play: the interaction of technology, culture, and marketing (Reprint ed.). Montréal, Quebec: McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 96. ISBN 0-7735-2591-2. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gw5V10iLEsUC&pg=PA96. Retrieved 25 February 2012. "The game produced one billion dollars in 1980 alone"
  26. ↑ Loguidice, Bill; Barton, Matt (21 August 2012). Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time. CRC Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-136-13758-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA181. "It was all Midway could do to keep up with the demand for the quarter-munching machines, churning out a hundred thousand of them in 1980 (three times that number were produced over the next seven years)."
  27. ↑ See Japan section
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 1979
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 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.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Forbes". Forbes 127: 102. 1981. https://books.google.com/books?id=6y68AAAAIAAJ&q=%22At+$2000+a+unit,+Atari+has+made+about+$140+million+from+that+game+alone%22. "At $2000 a unit, Atari has made about $140 million from that game alone."
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Kubey, Craig (1982). The Winners' Book of Video Games. New York: Warner Books. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-446-37115-5. https://archive.org/details/Winners_Book_of_Video_Games/page/n29.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Ten-Minute Rule Bill," The Times, 21 May 1981, p. 11
  33. ↑ "Hooked on Space Invaders". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 September 1980. https://books.google.com/books?id=vQFkAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&article_id=2831,2830780.
  34. ↑ "Pinballs make a comeback — on microchip: The United States strives to displace Japan as the supplier of the most popular video games". The Sydney Morning Herald: p. 18. 23 April 1981. https://books.google.com/books?id=aMJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA27.
  35. ↑ Andrews, Bea (November 1, 1981). "Video games: The quarters roll in...". The Day: p. C-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=YgMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18&article_id=1604,161760.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 "ベストスリー 本紙調査 (調査対象1980年) 〜 アーケードゲーム機 [Best Three Book Survey (Survey Target 1980) ~ Arcade Game Machines]". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (159): 2. 15 February 1981. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19810215p.pdf#page=2.
  37. ↑ ""Donkey Kong" No.1 Of '81 — Game Machine's Survey Of "The Year's Best Three AM Machines" —". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (182): 30. 15 February 1982. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19820215p.pdf#page=16.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 https://www.konami.com/corporate/ja/history/product.html
  39. ↑ "The Winners of '80". Play Meter 6 (21): 30. November 15, 1980. https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-6-number-21-november-15th-1980/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%206%2C%20Number%2021%20-%20November%2015th%201980/page/30.
  40. ↑ "1980 Jukebox/Games Route Survey". Cash Box: AMOA-28. November 1, 1980. https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c4/CashBox_US_1980-11-01.pdf#page=54.
  41. ↑ "Play Meter Survey Results: Videos sweep to big gains in 1980". Play Meter 6 (21): 24-30. November 15, 1980. https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-6-number-21-november-15th-1980/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%206%2C%20Number%2021%20-%20November%2015th%201980/page/24/mode/2up.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Stone, Andrea (December 1982). "The House That Pac Built: Midway Manufacturing is king of the coin-op hill and loving it!". Video Games (Pumpkin Press) 1 (3): 53-55 (54). https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Volume_1_Number_03_1982-12_Pumpkin_Press_US/page/n53.
  43. ↑ Midway Mfg. Co. v. Bandai-America, Inc., 546 F. Supp. 125. Casetext (July 22, 1982).
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.6 "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.
  45. ↑ Miller, Richard W. (1982). Study Guide for Irving M. Copi's Introduction to Logic, Sixth Edition. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-02-381180-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=HzIQAQAAIAAJ. "Space-Invaders-type game into which Americans stuffed over 4 billion quarters during 1980"
  46. ↑ Firepower. Internet Pinball Machine Database.
  47. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1980/CB-1980-12-06.pdf#page=42
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 KLOV Arcade Serial Numbers. Killer List of Videogames (2014).
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "His Space Invaders Get Used". The Hour: pp. 13-4. January 31, 1980. https://books.google.com/books?id=eJ40AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7.
  50. ↑ "Chomp! Chomp! This Video Game Gobbles Market: Pac-Man". The Pittsburgh Press (United States): p. H. 21 March 1982. https://books.google.com/books?id=FNgcAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA59&article_id=6291,1995071.
  51. ↑ "Pac-Man fiends flaunt their fever". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: p. 18. 3 April 1982. https://books.google.com/books?id=rNlaAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA22.
  52. ↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1062
  53. ↑ Bally 'Space Invaders'. Internet Pinball Machine Database.
  54. ↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=871
  55. ↑ Bloom, Steve (1982). Video Invaders. Arco Publishing. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-668-05520-8. https://archive.org/details/book_video_invaders/page/n38.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 Stern Production Numbers and More CCI Photos (1 May 2012). Archived from the original on 2012-05-04.
  57. ↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2156
  58. ↑ https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2372
  59. ↑ IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros. IGN (14 September 2010).
  60. ↑ "【任天堂「ファミコン」はこうして生まれた】 第6回：業務用ゲーム機の挫折をバネにファミコンの実現に挑む [How the Famicom Was Born – Part 6: Making the Famicom a Reality]" (in Japanese). Nikkei Electronics (Nikkei Business Publications). September 12, 1994. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006082447/trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20081001/1019315/.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 Durham, Tony. “Space-age pirates in a battle of wits.” Sunday Times, 16 March 1980, p. 63
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 Game & Watch
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 63.3 63.4 Greenberg, Jonathan (April 13, 1981). "Japanese invaders: Move over Asteroids and Defenders, the next adversary in the electronic video game wars may be even tougher to beat". Forbes 127 (8): 98, 102. https://jonathangreenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Japanese-Invaders-April-13-1981.pdf.
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 Reimer, Jeremy (2005-12-15). Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures. Ars Technica.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Bloom, Steve (1982). "The Next Step". Video Invaders. Arco Pub.. pp. 107-109 (108). ISBN 978-0-668-05518-5. https://www.digitpress.com/library/books/book_video_invaders.pdf#page=129.
  66. ↑ Pollack, Andrew (1981-08-13). "Big I.B.M.'s Little Computer" (in en-US). The New York Times 130 (45,039): p. D1. ISSN 0362-4331. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E8m13tZXIAQQbki.jpg.
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 https://books.google.com/books?id=Tk80AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA74
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 68.4 68.5 68.6 68.7 68.8 Cartridge Sales Since 1980. Atari Corp. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Atari_Sales.png. Via "The Agony & The Ecstasy". Once Upon Atari. No. 4. 23 minutes in.
  69. ↑ 69.00 69.01 69.02 69.03 69.04 69.05 69.06 69.07 69.08 69.09 69.10 69.11 69.12 69.13 69.14 "Software Report Card". Video Games Player (United States: Carnegie Publications) 1 (1): 62–3. September 1982. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Player_Vol_1_No_1_1982-09_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n61/mode/2up.
  70. ↑ "Technology: The games that aliens play". New Scientist (Reed Business Information) 88 (1232–1233): 782. 18 December 1980. ISSN 0262-4079. Archived from the original on 2021-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202182335/books.google.com/books?id=ainC3-wuz_kC&pg=PA782#v=onepage&q&f=false.
  71. ↑ Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack: Stats & Credits. Intellivision Lives! (CD PC/Mac), Intellivision Productions. 1998. https://youtu.be/dIublbI-QUU?t=2065.
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Action Network. Intellivision Lives! (CD PC/Mac). Intellivision Productions. 1998.
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 73.2 Sports Network. Intellivision Lives! (CD PC/Mac). Intellivision Productions. 1998.
  74. ↑ Space Action Network. Intellivision Lives! (CD PC/Mac). Intellivision Productions. 1998.
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 Softalk Magazine: Top 30 List Dataset.
  76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 "List of Top Sellers". Computer Gaming World 2 (5): 2. September–October 1982. http://pdf.textfiles.com/zines/CGW/1982_0910_issue6.pdf#page=4.
  77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 Everyone's Guide to Personal Computers. 1983. p. 172. https://books.google.com/books?id=w5JSNPOHexkC&q=%22Price+Range+:+%24+30%22. "Flight Simulator (...) Vendor: subLOGIC (...) Price Range: $30 to $35"
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 The Book of Apple Computer Software. 1981. p. 316. https://books.google.com/books?id=aupQAAAAMAAJ. "APPLE GALAXIAN (...) Sugg. Retail: $24.95"
  79. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=ZfNLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Star+Cruiser%22
  80. ↑ Apple Galaxian, that vital Japanese connection (October 15, 2023).
  81. ↑ Bowker's Complete Sourcebook of Personal Computing, 1985. R.R. Bowker Company. 1984. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-8352-1931-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=auC6AAAAIAAJ. "Wizard & Princess. Price info. (...) disk $29.95"
  82. ↑ Lynch, Dennis (May 26, 1989). "Sierra disks offer epic adventures". Chicago Tribune: p. 170. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90910838/chicago-tribune/. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 "List of Top Sellers". Computer Gaming World 2 (5): 2. September–October 1982. http://pdf.textfiles.com/zines/CGW/1982_0910_issue6.pdf#page=4.
  84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 Akalabeth Insert. California Pacific.
  85. ↑ Tommervik, Al, ed. (April 1981). "Super Invader is Readers' Choice". Softalk (North Hollywood, CA: Softalk Publishing Inc.) 1 (8): 13. https://archive.org/details/softalkv1n08apr1981/page/13.
  86. ↑ Paul Freiverger, "This Company Is Serious About Games", InfoWorld, 11 May 1981, p. 10
  87. ↑ "Upper Reaches of Apshai". PC Magazine: 163. November 1982. https://books.google.com/books?id=vy3cBZkjbZgC&pg=RA2-PA163.
  88. ↑ Maher, Jimmy (2011-12-20). California Pacific. The Digital Antiquarian.

External links[]

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

Fan Feed

More Video Game Sales Wiki