1988 in video games

Last updated

List of years in video games
+...

1988 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Dragon Quest III , Super Contra , Super Mario Bros. 2 , Mega Man 2 , Double Dragon II: The Revenge , and Super Mario Bros. 3 , along with new titles such as Assault , Altered Beast , Capcom Bowling , Ninja Gaiden , RoboCop , Winning Run and Chase H.Q.

Contents

The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were After Burner and After Burner II in Japan, Double Dragon in the United States, Operation Wolf in the United Kingdom, and RoboCop in Hong Kong. The year's bestselling home system was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) for the fifth year in a row, while the year's best-selling home video games were Dragon Quest III in Japan and Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt in the United States.

Events

Financial performance

Highest-grossing arcade games

Japan

In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1988, according to the annual Gamest and Game Machine charts.

Rank Gamest [1] Game Machine [2]
TitleManufacturerTitleTypePoints
1 After Burner Sega After Burner / After Burner II Cockpit cabinet 3624
2 World Stadium Namco Operation Wolf Upright cabinet 3569
3 Gradius II Konami Final Lap Deluxe / Standard 3568
4 Out Run Sega Kyukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra) Conversion kit 3192
5 Final Lap Namco World Stadium Conversion kit3105
6 R-Type Irem R-Type Conversion kit3074
7 Super Hang-On Sega Out Run Deluxe cabinet 2921
8 Street Fighter Capcom Hi Sho Zame (Flying Shark)Conversion kit2109
9 Kyukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra) Toaplan Galaga '88 Conversion kit1990
10 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 Taito Gradius II Conversion kit1939

Hong Kong and United States

In Hong Kong and the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1988.

Rank Hong Kong United States
Bondeal [3] Play Meter AMOA [4] [5]
Dedicated cabinet Conversion kit
1 RoboCop Double Dragon [6] Double Dragon Shinobi
2 Chequered Flag Un­known Out Run ,
After Burner ,
Operation Wolf ,
Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja
Twin Eagle ,
Heavy Barrel ,
Capcom Bowling ,
Time Soldiers
3 Devastators
4 P.O.W.
5 Vindicators
6 Sky Soldiers Un­known
7 Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja
8 Blasteroids
9 Vigilante
10 Xybots

United Kingdom

Operation Wolf was the top-earning arcade game of 1988 in the United Kingdom. [7] [8] The following titles were the top-grossing games on the monthly arcade charts in 1988.

MonthTitleManufacturerGenreRef
January Operation Wolf Taito Light gun shooter [9]
February [10]
March [11]
AprilUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
MayUn­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
June Street Fighter Capcom Fighting [12]
1988 Operation Wolf [7]

Best-selling home systems

RankSystem(s)ManufacturerTypeGenerationSales
Japan USA EU Worldwide
1 Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom Nintendo Console 8-bit 1,590,000 [13] 7,000,000 [14] Un­known8,590,000+
2 Mark III / Master System Sega Console8-bit240,000 [15] 1,000,000 [16] 195,000 [17] [18] 1,435,000+
3 Commodore 64 Commodore Computer 8-bit 1,250,000 [19]
4 IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) IBM Computer 16-bit Un­known1,229,000 [20] Un­known1,229,000+
5 Mac Apple Inc. Computer16-bit900,000 [19]
6 PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 NEC Console 16-bit 830,000 [13] 830,000
7 NEC UltraLite / PC-88 / PC-98 NECComputer8-bit / 16-bit700,000 [21] [22] 95,000+ [23] Un­known795,000+
8 Mega Drive / Genesis SegaConsole16-bit400,000 [15] 400,000
9 Amiga CommodoreComputer16-bit400,000 [19]
10 Compaq IBM PC compatible Compaq Computer8-bit / 16-bitUn­known365,000+ [23] Un­known365,000+

Best-selling home video games

Japan

The following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1988 in Japan, according to the annual Family Computer Magazine (Famimaga) charts. [24]

RankTitlePlatformDeveloperPublisherGenre(s)Sales
1 Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... Famicom Chunsoft Enix Role-playing 3,800,000 [25]
2 Super Mario Bros. 3 Famicom Nintendo R&D4 Nintendo Platform Un­known
3 Pro Yakyū: Family Stadium '87 Famicom Namco Namco Sports (baseball)< 1,300,000 [26]
4 Kyūkyoku Harikiri Stadium Famicom Taito Taito Sports (baseball)Un­known
5 Captain Tsubasa (Tecmo Cup Soccer Game) Famicom Tecmo Tecmo Sports (association football)< 700,000 [27]
6 Momotaro Densetsu Famicom Hudson Soft Hudson Soft Role-playing Un­known
7 Dragon Ball: Daimaō Fukkatsu Famicom TOSE Bandai Role-playing / card battle < 530,000 [28]
8 Saint Seiya: Ōgon Densetsu Famicom TOSE Bandai Action role-playing Un­known
9 Final Fantasy Famicom Squaresoft Squaresoft Role-playing < 520,000 [29]
10 Gegege no Kitaro: Youkai Daimakyou (Ninja Kid)Famicom TOSE Bandai Platform Un­known

United Kingdom and United States

In the United States, the NES Action Set bundled with Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt was the best-selling toy of 1988. [30] The same year, Super Mario Bros. 2 became one of the best-selling cartridges of all time, [31] Super Mario Bros. 2 and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link were the top-selling cartridges during the holiday season, [32] and The Legend of Zelda and Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! each crossed 2 million sales between 1987 and 1988. [33]

The following titles were the top-selling home video games of each month in the United Kingdom and United States during 1988.

Month United Kingdom United States
All systems ZX Spectrum Weeks 1-2Weeks 3-4PlatformRef
JanuaryUn­known Out Run [10] Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! [34] Top Gun [35] NES
FebruaryUn­known Platoon [11] [36] Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! [37] [35]
MarchUn­known Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! [38] The Legend of Zelda [39]
AprilUn­knownWe Are the Champions [40] Ice Hockey [39] [41]
May Steve Davis Snooker [42] Target: Renegade [43] Ice Hockey The Legend of Zelda NES [44]
June Target: Renegade (ZX Spectrum) [45] Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! [46] The Legend of Zelda [47] NES
July Football Manager 2 [48] The Legend of Zelda [47] Double Dragon [49]
August Football Manager 2 [50] European Five-a-Side [50] R.B.I. Baseball [49] Double Dragon [51]
September Bomb Jack [52] Football Manager 2 [52] Double Dragon NES [53]
October Daley Thompson's Olympic Challenge [54] Bomb Jack [54] Super Mario Bros. 2 NES [55]
November Last Ninja 2 [56] [57]
December Operation Wolf [58] RoboCop [59] [60] [61]
1988 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt NES [30]

Top-rated games

Major awards

Japan

Award2nd Gamest Awards
(December 1988) [62]
3rd Famitsu Best Hit Game Awards
(February 1989) [63]
3rd Famimaga Game Awards
(February 1989) [64]
Arcade Console Famicom
Game of the Year Gradius II Dragon Quest III (Famicom)
Critics' Choice Awards Dragon Spirit (PC Engine)
Sangokushi (Famicom)
Nobunaga no Yabō: Zenkokuban (Famicom)
Family Circuit (Famicom)
Captain Tsubasa (Famicom)
Chô Wakusei Senki Metafight (Famicom)
Rockman (Famicom)
Best Arcade Conversion R-Type (PC Engine)
Best Playability Super Mario Bros. 3
Best Scenario / Story Final Fantasy (Famicom)
Best Graphics Forgotten Worlds Alien Crush (PC Engine)
Best Music / Sound The Ninja Warriors Galaga '88 (PC Engine) Dragon Quest III
Special Award After Burner II
Original / Frontier Spirit / Spotlight Syvalion No-Ri-Ko (PC Engine CD-ROM²) Captain Tsubasa
Best Character / Character Design Bravoman ( Bravoman ) Dragon Quest III (Famicom) Super Mario Bros. 3
Best Game Company Namco
Best Action Game Super Mario Bros. 3 (Famicom)
Best Shooter / Shoot 'Em Up Gradius II / Ultimate Tiger Gradius II (Famicom)
Best RPG Dragon Quest III (Famicom)
Best Action RPG Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished (Sega Mark III)
Best Adventure Game Famicom Detective Club (Famicom)
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom (Famicom)
Famicom Detective Club
Best Simulation / Strategy Game Famicom Wars (Famicom)
Best Sports Game World Stadium Pro Yakyū: Family Stadium '87
Best Puzzle Game Tetris (Famicom)
Best Value for Money Dragon Quest III
Best Ending Gradius II
Best Performance Ninja Ryūkenden (Ninja Gaiden)
Best Commercial Famicom Wars (Famicom)

United Kingdom

Award Sinclair User Awards
(December 1988) [65]
6th Golden Joystick Awards
(April 1989) [66]
Arcade 8-bit computer 16-bit computer Console
Game of the Year Operation Wolf Speedball Thunder Blade (Master System)
Best Arcade / Coin-Op Conversion Operation Wolf
Best Graphics Armalyte Rocket Ranger
Best VGM / Soundtrack Bionic Commando International Karate +
Best Original Game Dynamite Düx
Best Software House Ocean Software Mirrorsoft
Best ProgammerJohn Phillips The Bitmap Brothers
Best Shooter / Shoot 'Em Up Galaxy Force
Best Beat 'Em Up Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja
Best Adventure Game Corruption Fish!
Best Simulation Game MicroProse Soccer Falcon
Best Racing Game Power Drift

United States

Award Computer Gaming World
(November 1988) [67]
Electronic Gaming Monthly
(1989) [68]
Computer Entertainer Awards of Excellence
(January 1989) [69]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment
(February 1989) [70]
Master System NES Console Console Computer ConsoleComputer
Game of the Year Double Dragon (NES) Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Phantasy Star (SMS)
Zaxxon 3D
(Master System)
Superstar Ice Hockey
Entertainment
Program of the Year
Rocket Ranger (AMI)
Wizardry IV (APL2)
Bubble Ghost (GS)
Captain Blood (ST)
Pool of Radiance (C64)
Battlehawks 1942 (IBM PC)
The Colony (Mac)
Arcade Conversion Out Run Arkanoid Rampage (Master System) Arkanoid (NES)
Best Graphics Rocky Side Pocket Phantasy Star (SMS) King's Quest IV Side Pocket (NES) Rocket Ranger
Sound / Soundtrack
Original / Innovative Jaws Blaster Master (NES) Monopoly (Master System) Battle Chess
Action / Arcade-Style Space Harrier R.C. Pro-Am Contra (NES) Chop N' Drop Blaster Master (NES) Skate or Die!
Shooter / Target GameMissile Defense 3-D Hogan's Alley
Best Adventure Game
/ Fantasy
The Legend of Zelda Manhunter: New York The Legend of Zelda
(NES)
Neuromancer
Best Strategy Game Decisive Battles Monopoly (NES) The Fool's Errand
Best Simulation
/ Simulator
P51 Mustang Flight Sim
PT-109 (Mac)
Test Drive
Best Sports Game Great Volleyball Pro Wrestling Bases Loaded (NES) Ice Hockey (NES)
Great Basketball (SMS)
Star Rank Boxing (APL2)
Fast Break (C64)
Jack Nicklaus Golf (PC)
Bases Loaded (NES) Super Bowl Sunday
Best Action-Strategy Monopoly Raid on Bungeling Bay Tetris
Designer of the Year Ezra Sidran
Best Educational Mixed-Up Mother Goose
Most Humorous Shufflepuck Café (Mac)

Retrospective Awards

PublicationGame of the YearDeveloperGenrePlatformReference
GameRadar Mega Man 2 Capcom Platformer NES [71]
PopularMechanics Super Mario Bros 3 Nintendo Platformer NES [72]
TheGuardian Super Mario Bros 3 Nintendo Platformer NES [73]
TheGamer Super Mario Bros 3 Nintendo Platformer NES [74]
PasteMagazine Super Mario Bros 2 Nintendo Platformer NES [75]
WhatCulture Wasteland Interplay Role-Playing PC [76]
GameRant Super Mario Bros 3 Nintendo Platformer NES [77]
Nintendojo Zelda II: Adventure of Link Nintendo Action Adventure NES [78]
ScreenRant Super Mario Bros 3 Nintendo Platformer NES [79]
TVOverMind Super Mario Bros 3 Nintendo Platformer NES [80]
Yahoo Exile Superior Software Action Adventure BBC Micro [81]

Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame

The following 1988 video game releases entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40. [82]

TitleScore (out of 40)DeveloperPublisherGenrePlatform
Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... (Dragon Warrior III)38 Chunsoft Enix RPG Family Computer (Famicom)
Final Fantasy II 35 Squaresoft Squaresoft
Super Mario Bros. 3 35 Nintendo EAD Nintendo Platform

Business

Notable releases

Arcade

Home

Hardware

Sega Mega Drive Sega-Mega-Drive-JP-Mk1-Console-Set.jpg
Sega Mega Drive

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Super Mario Bros. 3</i> 1988 video game

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a 1988 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was released for home consoles in Japan on October 23, 1988, in North America on February 12, 1990, and in Europe on August 29, 1991. It was developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, led by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka.

<i>Super Mario Bros. 2</i> 1988 video game

Super Mario Bros. 2 is a 1988 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

<i>The Legend of Zelda</i> (video game) 1986 video game

The Legend of Zelda, originally released in Japan as The Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu, is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first game of The Legend of Zelda series, it is set in the fantasy land of Hyrule and centers on an elf-like boy named Link, who aims to collect the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom in order to rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon. The player controls Link from a top-down perspective and navigates throughout the overworld and dungeons, collecting weapons, defeating enemies and uncovering secrets along the way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo VS. System</span> Arcade cabinet series

The Nintendo VS. System is an arcade system that was developed and produced by Nintendo. It is based on most of the same hardware as the Family Computer (Famicom), later released as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). As Nintendo was planning to release the NES in North America, they were aware of the video game crash of 1983 and its effects on the home console market. By March 1984 the arcade industry recovered enough for a plan to introduce NES titles there, with the VS. System later being a presentation to players who did not yet own the console. It became the first version of the Famicom hardware to debut in North America.

<i>Kung-Fu Master</i> (video game) 1984 video game

Kung-Fu Master, known as Spartan X in Japan, is a 1984 beat 'em up game developed and published by Irem for arcades. It was distributed by Data East in North America. Designed by Takashi Nishiyama, the game was based on Hong Kong martial arts films. It is a loose adaptation of the Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao film Wheels on Meals (1984), called Spartan X in Japan, with the protagonist Thomas named after Jackie Chan's character in the film. The game is also heavily inspired by the Bruce Lee film Game of Death (1972), which was the basis for the game's concept. Nishiyama, who had previously designed the side-scrolling shooter Moon Patrol (1982), combined fighting elements with a shoot 'em up gameplay rhythm. Irem and Data East exported the game to the West without the Spartan X license.

Tengen Inc. was an American video game publisher and developer that was created by the arcade game manufacturer Atari Games for publishing computer and console games. It had a Japanese subsidiary named Tengen Ltd..

1992 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Dragon Quest V, Final Fantasy V, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, and Super Mario Kart, along with new titles such as Art of Fighting, Lethal Enforcers, Mortal Kombat and Virtua Racing.

1991 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Street Fighter II, Final Fantasy IV, Super Castlevania IV, Mega Man 4, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, along with new titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Battletoads, Lemmings, Sunset Riders, Duke Nukem, Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, and Streets of Rage. The year's highest-grossing video game worldwide was Capcom's arcade fighting game Street Fighter II. The year's best-selling system was the Game Boy for the second year in a row, while the year's best-selling home video game was Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog, which was also the year's top video game rental in the United States.

1990 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Dr. Mario, Dragon Quest IV, Final Fantasy III, Phantasy Star II, and Super Mario World, along with new titles such as Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light and Magic Sword. The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Final Fight in Japan and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the United States. The year's best‑selling system was the Game Boy, while the year's best-selling home video game was Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

1989 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Phantasy Star II, Super Mario Land, Super Monaco GP, along with new titles such as Big Run, Bonk's Adventure, Final Fight, Golden Axe, Strider, Hard Drivin' and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The year also saw the release of the Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 in North America, and the Game Boy worldwide along with Tetris and Super Mario Land.

1987 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Dragon Quest II, Final Lap, and Zelda II, along with new titles such as After Burner, Contra, Double Dragon, Final Fantasy, Mega Man, Metal Gear, Operation Wolf, Phantasy Star, Shinobi, Street Fighter and The Last Ninja. The Legend of Zelda was also introduced outside of Japan.

1986 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Super Mario Bros. 2, along with new titles such as Arkanoid, Bubble Bobble, Castlevania, Dragon Quest, Ikari Warriors, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Out Run and R.B.I. Baseball. The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Hang-On in Japan, Hang-On and Gauntlet in the United States, and Nemesis (Gradius) in London. The year's best‑selling home system was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) for the third year in a row, while the year's best-selling home video games in Western markets were Super Mario Bros. in the United States and Yie Ar Kung-Fu in the United Kingdom.

1985 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Super Mario Bros. and Kung Fu, along with new titles such as Commando, Duck Hunt, Gauntlet, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Gradius, Hang-On, Space Harrier, Tetris and The Way of the Exploding Fist. The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Hang-On and Karate Champ in the United States, and Commando in the United Kingdom. The year's best‑selling home system was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) for a consecutive year, while the year's best‑selling home video game was Super Mario Bros.

<i>Mr. Do!</i> 1982 video game

Mr. Do! is a 1982 maze video game developed by Universal. It is the first arcade video game to be released as a conversion kit for other cabinets; Taito published the conversion kit in Japan. The game was inspired by Namco's Dig Dug released earlier in 1982. Mr. Do! was a commercial success in Japan and North America, selling 30,000 arcade units in the US, and it was followed by several arcade sequels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Nintendo Entertainment System</span>

The history of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) spans the 1982 development of the Family Computer, to the 1985 launch of the NES, to Nintendo's rise to global dominance based upon this platform throughout the late 1980s. The Family Computer or Famicom was developed in 1982 and launched in 1983 in Japan. Following the North American video game crash of 1983, the Famicom was adapted into the NES which was launched in North America in 1985. Transitioning the company from its arcade game history into this combined global 8-bit home video game console platform, the Famicom and NES continued to aggressively compete with next-generation 16-bit consoles, including the Sega Genesis. The platform was succeeded by the Super Famicom in 1990 and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, but its support and production continued until 1995. Interest in the NES has been renewed by collectors and emulators, including Nintendo's own Virtual Console platform.

<i>Family Stadium</i> Video game series

Family Stadium, also known as Pro Yakyū: Family Stadium and Famista, is a series of baseball sports video games initially developed and released by Namco in Japan, and later developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The first entry in the series, Pro Baseball: Family Stadium, was released for the Nintendo Family Computer in 1986 and later in North America as R.B.I. Baseball, with the series being released on numerous home consoles, the latest being Pro Yakyuu Famista 2020 in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch. The series is considered a precursor to Namco's own World Stadium series of baseball games, released for arcades, PlayStation, and GameCube. The series has been a commercial success since, with over 15 million copies being sold as of 2016.

<i>Metroid</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Metroid is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first installment in the Metroid series, it was originally released in Japan for the Family Computer Disk System in August 1986. North America received a release in August 1987 on the Nintendo Entertainment System in the Game Pak ROM cartridge format, with the European release following in January 1988. Set on the planet Zebes, the story follows Samus Aran as she attempts to retrieve the parasitic Metroid organisms that were stolen by Space Pirates, who plan to replicate the Metroids by exposing them to beta rays and then use them as biological weapons to destroy Samus and all who oppose them.

<i>Winning Run</i> 1988 video game

Winning Run is a first-person arcade racing simulation game developed and published by Namco in late December 1988 in Japan, before releasing internationally the following year. The player pilots a Formula One racer, with the objective being to complete each race in first place, all while avoiding opponents and other obstacles, such as flood-hit tunnels, pits and steep chambers. It was the first game to run on the Namco System 21 arcade hardware, capable of 3D shaded polygons.

The 1980s was the second decade in the industry's history. It was a decade of highs and lows for video games. The decade began amidst a boom in the arcade video game business with the golden age of arcade video games, the Atari 2600's dominance of the home console market during the second generation of video game consoles, and the rising influence of home computers. However, an oversatuation of low quality games led to an implosion of the video game market that nearly destroyed the industry in North America. Most investors believed video games to be a fad that had since passed, up until Nintendo's success with its Nintendo Entertainment System revived interest in game consoles and led to a recovery of the home video game industry. In the remaining years of the decade, Sega ignites a console war with Nintendo, developers that had been affected by the crash experimented with PC games, and Nintendo released the Game Boy, which would become the best-selling handheld gaming device for the next two decades. Other consoles released in the decade included the Intellivision, ColecoVision, TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Genesis.

<i>Pro Baseball: Family Stadium</i> 1986 baseball video game

Pro Baseball: Family Stadium, released as Pro Yakyū: Family Stadium in Japan and R.B.I. Baseball in North America, is a 1986 baseball video game developed and published by Namco for the Family Computer. In North America, it was published by Tengen as R.B.I. Baseball for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was also released in arcades through the Nintendo VS. System. It is the first game in the Family Stadium and R.B.I. Baseball franchises. The game was a critical and commercial success in Japan and North America.

References

  1. "第2回ゲーメスト大賞 〜 年間ヒットゲームベスト100" [2nd Gamest Awards – Best 100 Hit Games of the Year]. Gamest (in Japanese). Vol. 29 (February 1989). December 27, 1988. pp. 25–41 (41). alternate url
  2. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '88 / "Game of the Year '88" By Game Machine" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 348. Amusement Press, Inc. January 15, 1989. pp. 10–1, 26.
  3. "The World's Largest Arcade". ACE . No. 20 (May 1989). April 6, 1989. p. 23.
  4. "AMOA Awards Nominees". Cash Box . Cash Box Pub. Co. September 10, 1988. p. 27.
  5. "Coin Machine: AMOA Jukebox, Games & Cig Vending Awards Winners". Cash Box . November 26, 1988. p. 30.
  6. "1988". Play Meter . Vol. 20, no. 13. December 1994. p. 80.
  7. 1 2 Carroll, Martyn (April 2016). "Operation Wolf". Retro Gamer . No. 153. pp. 34–41.
  8. "Reviews: Operation Wolf". Computer and Video Games . No. 86 (December 1988). November 1988. pp. 20–5.
  9. "Street Life". Your Sinclair . No. 27 (March 1988). February 1988. pp. 22–3.
  10. 1 2 "Street Life". Your Sinclair . No. 28 (April 1988). March 10, 1988. pp. 22–3.
  11. 1 2 "Street Life". Your Sinclair . No. 29 (May 1988). April 13, 1988. pp. 38–9.
  12. "Top Five Dedicated Games". Sinclair User . No. 77 (August 1988). July 18, 1988.
  13. 1 2 小川 (Ogawa), 純生 (Sumio) (December 14, 2010). "テレビゲーム機の変遷 —ファミコン、スーパーファミコン、プレステ、プレステ2、Wiiまで—" [Recent Developments in Video Game Technology in Japan — Famicom, Super Famicom, Play Station, Play Station 2 and Wii —](PDF). 経営論集 (Keiei Ronshū) (in Japanese) (77) (published March 2011): 1–17 (2). ISSN   0286-6439. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2021 via Toyo University Academic Information Repository (Toyo University).
  14. Penenberg, Adam L. (April 17, 1994). "Games Designer Faces Crucial Tests On Videos' Content". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Tanaka, Tatsuo (August 2001). Network Externality and Necessary Software Statistics (PDF). Statistics Bureau of Japan. p. 2.
  16. "Holiday Gift Guide: Fantasy Games Remain Popular With Young Video Fans". Aiken Standard . December 1, 1988. p. 21. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  17. "Europe: consoles contre micros" [Europe: consoles against microphones]. Tilt (in French). p. 23.
  18. "Las Vegas, un coup de joystick dans le sable" [Las Vegas, a joystick in the sand]. Tilt (in French). No. 52. March 1988. pp. 18–23 (19).
  19. 1 2 3 Reimer, Jeremy (December 15, 2005). "Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures". Ars Technica . Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  20. The Bandito (September 1989). "Roomers: Number Crunching". Amazing Computing for the Commodore Amiga. Vol. 4, no. 9. pp. 67-70 (69-70).
  21. Dedrick, Jason; Kraemer, Kenneth L. (August 20, 1998). Asia's Computer Challenge: Threat or Opportunity for the United States and the World?. Oxford University Press. p. 83. ISBN   978-0-19-028398-8.
  22. Japan Electronics Almanac. Dempa Publications. 1990. p. 145. The domestic shipment value of personal computers in fiscal 1988 totaled ¥649 billion (up 23 percent over fiscal 1987); the domestic shipment volume was 1,375,000 (up 14 percent over 1987). The value of domestic shipments has recorded annual growth. Conversely, the volume of domestic shipments of personal computers stabilized at the 1,200,000-nit mark for four years beginning in fiscal 1984. However, this volume began to increase rapidly in fiscal 1988.
  23. 1 2 "Amid industry pessiminism, micro sales rose". Computerworld . Vol. 24, no. 2. IDG Enterprise. January 8, 1990. p. 34. ISSN   0010-4841.
  24. "グーム売上ベスト10" [Best 10 Game Sales]. Family Computer Magazine (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. February 12, 1989. p. 116.
  25. Fujii, Daiji (June 10, 2005). "The Birth of "Final Fantasy": Square Corporation". 岡山大学経済学会雑誌 (Okayama Economic Review). 37 (1). Okayama University: 63–88 (67–71). ISSN   0386-3069 via Okayama University Scientific Achievement Repository.
  26. "Japan Platinum Game Chart". The Magic Box. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  27. "Game Search". Game Data Library. Famitsu . Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  28. "Dragon Ball Video Game Data". Dragon Ball 30th Anniversary: Super History Book. Shueisha. 2016. p. 216. ISBN   978-4-08-792505-0.
  29. "日々是遊戯:もっとも売れたのはどれ? 歴代「FF」シリーズの出荷本数をまとめてみました". ITmedia Gamez. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  30. 1 2 "Tops in Toyland". U.S. News & World Report . Vol. 106. U.S. News Publishing Corporation. 1989. p. 80. Best-selling toys of 1988 (...) 1. Action set (Nintendo)
  31. "Game Boy Cartridges: Super Mario Land". TV Guide . Vol. 37, no. 48–52. 1989. p. 32. Last year, "Super Mario Bros. 2" became one of the best selling cartridges of all time.
  32. Schultz, Sean (December 3, 1988). "Nintendo Power Set tops list for Santa". Green Bay Press-Gazette . p. 13. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  33. Lindner, Richard (1990). Video Games: Past, Present and Future; An Industry Overview. United States: Nintendo of America.
  34. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer . Vol. 6, no. 11. February 1988. p. 1.
  35. 1 2 "U.S.A. TOP 10: 2月5日" [U.S.A. Top 10: February 5]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 4. February 19, 1988. p. 16.
  36. "Street Life". Your Sinclair . No. 30 (June 1988). May 12, 1988. pp. 40–1.
  37. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 6, no. 12. March 1988. p. 1.
  38. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 1. April 1988. p. 1.
  39. 1 2 "U.S.A. TOP 10: 4月15日" [U.S.A. Top 10: April 15]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 9. April 9, 1988. p. 10.
  40. "Street Life". Your Sinclair . No. 31 (July 1988). June 14, 1988. pp. 50–1.
  41. "U.S.A. TOP 10: 4月28日" [U.S.A. Top 10: April 28]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 10. May 20, 1988. p. 10.
  42. "All Formats Combined Chart". Computer and Video Games. No. 81 (July 1988). EMAP. June 15, 1988. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  43. "Street Life". Your Sinclair . No. 32 (August 1988). July 12, 1988. pp. 22–3.
  44. "U.S.A. TOP 10: 6月3日" [U.S.A. Top 10: June 3]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 12. June 17, 1988. p. 10.
  45. "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 82 (August 1988). July 15, 1988. pp. 9, 11.
  46. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 4. July 1988. p. 1.
  47. 1 2 "U.S.A. TOP 10: 7月15日" [U.S.A. Top 10: July 15]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 15. July 29, 1988. p. 10.
  48. "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 83 (September 1988). August 16, 1988. pp. 9, 11.
  49. 1 2 "U.S.A. TOP 10: 8月19日" [U.S.A. Top 10: August 19]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 17. September 2, 1988. p. 10.
  50. 1 2 "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 84 (October 1988). September 16, 1988. pp. 9, 11.
  51. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 6. September 1988. p. 1.
  52. 1 2 "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 85 (November 1988). October 15, 1988. pp. 11, 15.
  53. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 7. October 1988. p. 1.
  54. 1 2 "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 86 (December 1988). November 1988. p. 12.
  55. "U.S.A. TOP 10: 10月28日" [U.S.A. Top 10: October 28]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 22. November 11, 1988. p. 10.
  56. "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 87 (January 1989). December 16, 1988. pp. 9, 19.
  57. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 9. December 1988. p. 1.
  58. Cundy, Matt (December 25, 2007). "Every Christmas Top 10 from the last 20 years". GamesRadar . p. 11. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  59. "Charts". Computer and Video Games . No. 88 (February 1989). January 1989. pp. 9, 12.
  60. "Top Ten Videogames" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 10. January 1989. p. 1.
  61. "U.S.A. TOP 10: 1月20日" [U.S.A. Top 10: January 20]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1989, no. 3. February 3, 1989. p. 14.
  62. "第2回ゲーメスト大賞" [2nd Gamest Awards]. Gamest (in Japanese). Vol. 29 (February 1989). December 27, 1988. pp. 25–41. alternate url
  63. "'88 ベストヒットゲーム大賞" ['88 Best Hit Game Awards]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1989, no. 3. February 3, 1989. pp. 6–9.
  64. "1988 ファミマガゲーム大賞" [1988 Famimaga Game Awards]. Family Computer Magazine (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. February 12, 1989. pp. 116–7.
  65. "Coin-Ops: SU Awards '88". Sinclair User . No. 82 (January 1989). December 18, 1988. pp. 98–9.
  66. "Golden Joystick Awards 1989". Computer and Video Games . No. 92 (June 1989). Future Publishing. May 16, 1989. pp. 62–3.
  67. Kunkel, Bill; Worley, Joyce; Katz, Arnie (November 1988). "Video Gaming World" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. pp. 54, 56.
  68. "The 1989 "Player's Choice" Awards" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 1989 Buyer's Guide. 1989. pp. 18–20.
  69. "1988 Awards of Excellence Announced!" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 10. January 1989. p. 3.
  70. Katz, Arnie (February 1989). "The Year's Best Video And Computer Games: Our Editors Pick The Outstanding Cartridges And Disks Of 1988". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment . No. 2. pp. 56–68.
  71. published, Edge StaffContributions from Josh West (January 12, 2024). "The 50 best games of the '80s, ranked". gamesradar. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  72. "The Best Video Game the Year You Were Born". Popular Mechanics. November 30, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  73. Stuart, Keith (May 27, 2021). "The 15 greatest video games of the 80s – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  74. Grudge, Chris (August 13, 2024). "10 Best '80s Games, Ranked". TheGamer. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  75. "The 25 Best Nintendo Games of the 1980s - Paste". web.archive.org. September 19, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  76. Butler, Tom (November 10, 2014). "20 Greatest Video Games Of The 80s". WhatCulture.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  77. Heath, David (March 16, 2024). "Best Nintendo Game From Every Year In The 80s". Game Rant. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  78. Staff, Nintendojo (April 30, 2012). "The Top 20 Games of 1985-1990 - Page 3 of 5". Nintendojo. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  79. Gass, Zach (September 4, 2021). "10 Definitive Games Of The 1980s, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  80. Coulson, David (October 6, 2021). "The Best Video Games By Year In The 1980s - TVovermind" . Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  81. "The 50 best games of the '80s". www.yahoo.com. July 15, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  82. "週刊ファミ通クロスレビュープラチナ殿堂入りソフト一覧" [Weekly Famitsu Cross Review Platinum Hall of Fame Software List]. Geimin (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  83. "New Software Game: It Comes From Soviet". The New York Times . January 29, 1988.