References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2012 September 27.

1997

January 1

• Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [808]

January 12

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Ouside the "Noiseland Arcade", a sign is displayed above a live gorilla: "Friday Meet Donkey Kong in Person". The gorilla throws a barrel at a man, knocking him down. [834]

January (month)

• Top selling video game in the USA during the month: Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. [874.D10] [1074.36]
• Top selling Super NES video game in the USA during the month: Donkey Kong Country 2. [874.D10]

February 10

• Nintendo releases the Mario Kart 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [298.38] [401] [458.41] [871.38] [1159.89]

February

• Acclaim releases the Turok: Dinosaur Hunter video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.91] (April [1161.81])

February (month)

• Top selling video game in the US for the month: Mario Kart 64 for the Nintendo 64. [794.28]

March

• Nintendo drops the price of the Nintendo 64 in the United States to US$149. [674.45]
• Electronic Arts agrees to produce six Nintendo 64 sports titles by Christmas 1998. [352.73]

March 26

• Nintendo releases the Blast Corps video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1102.113] [1159.96]

March 28

• Buena Vista Pictures releases the film The Sixth Man to theaters in the USA. A character is told to forget girls and "stick to Nintendo". [932]

March 31

• Unit sales of Nintendo Game Boy game systems over the past twelve months: about 7 million. [271.D4]
• Unit sales of Nintendo 64 game systems in North America to date: 2.5 million. [271.D4]

April 1

• Midway releases the Doom 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [401] [411]

April

• In Seattle, Washington, USA, the Nintendo 64 Developers Conference is held, over two days. [1158.105]
• Nintendo releases the Game Boy Pocket portable game system in multiple case colors in the USA. [271.D4] [453.44] [1161.81]
  
  
• Nintendo releases the Mario Kart video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28]

May

• Nintendo releases the Game & Watch Gallery for the Game Boy in the USA. [1161.81]
• Catapult ends the Xband modem service for the Super NES in the USA. [1161.81]

(month unknown)

• Unit sales of the Nintendo 64 in North America to date: 2.6 million. 2.7 million have been sold in the rest of the world. [355.72]

June

• Natsume releases the Harvest Moon video game for the Super NES in the US. [1420.75]
• Nintendo releases the Rumble Pak for the controller of the Nintendo 64 video game system. [453.44] [1161.81]

June 19

• The Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Atlanta, Georgia, over three days. Total attendance is 37,100. Nintendo unveils the Banjo-Kazooie video game. [462.195] [591.16] [674.45] [1028.38]

June 23

• The United States Supreme Court refuses to review the case of Alpex vs. Nintendo of America, letting stand the verdict that Nintendo had not infringed on a patent owned by Alpex. [597]

(month unknown)

• Nintendo releases the Super Famicom Jr. in Japan. The unit is a redesigned Super Famicom. [1091.94]

July

• Nintendo releases the Star Fox 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$69.95, including a Rumble Pak that allows the game to make the controller vibrate. The game was developed at Nintendo by Shigeru Miyamoto. [352.73] [401] [690.12] [1158.57]
• Konami releases the International Superstar Soccer 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.92]

August

• Nintendo releases the GoldenEye 007 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. (Over its lifetime, 8 million copies are sold, making this the best-selling video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA.) [298.38] [421.38] [566.92] [746.157] [1147.116] [1159.89] [1161.81] (July [411])
• Nintendo releases the Tetrisphere video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1159.95]

(month unknown)

• In Tokyo, Japan, the Spaceworld video game show is held. 240,000 attend the show. Nintendo demonstrates a new Zelda video game for the Nintendo 64. Nintendo premieres the Yoshi's Story video game for the Nintendo 64. [390.4,34]

September

• Treasure releases the Mischief Makers video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [573.94]

October 4

• Gunpei Yokoi, inventor and toy maker, dies. He designed Nintendo's Game & Watch handheld games, Game Boy, and Game Boy Pocket. [1161.81]

October

• Nintendo releases a redesigned smaller Super NES, model SNS-101, in the USA. Number of internal chips is reduced from eleven to five, there is no eject lever, no LED power light, no RF switch, no RF modulator, no expansion port, no s-video output. [1160.104] [1161.81] [1420.75]

November 21

• Nintendo releases the Diddy Kong Racing video game for the Nintendo 64. [531.7] [1391.60] [1396.30] (October 31 [411])

December

• Nintendo releases the GoldenEye video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28]

1998

January 21

• Capcom releases the Resident Evil 2 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [577.102]

January (month)

• Top-selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: Goldeneye 007. [1407.22]
• Top-selling Nintendo 64 video game in the UK for the month: Goldeneye 007. [1407.22]
• Top-selling Nintendo 64 video game in Japan for the month: Ten Eighty. [1407.22]

February 15

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. On a desert island, one character tells another to "draw up plans for a coconut radio and if possible a coconut Nintendo system". [839]

February 28

• Nintendo releases the Yoshi's Story video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [390.17] [411] [1160.104] [1396.30]

February (month)

• Top-selling Nintendo 64 video game in the US for the month: 1080 Snowboarding. [1261.116]

March

• Nintendo announces the Game Boy Color handheld video game system. Specifications: 2.1 MHz 8-bit Z80 processor, 32 kB RAM, 2.3-inch 166x144 pixel TFT screen, 56 colors out of 32,000 palette, 4-channel FM stereo sound, two AA batteries power the system for about 10 hours. [1093.34,58] (4 or 8 MHz processor [1151.46])

March 27

• Nintendo introduces the Pocket Pikachi pedometer in Japan. [1262.33] [1407.5]

March (month)

• Top-selling Nintendo 64 video game in the US for the month: 1080 Snowboarding. [1261.116]

April 10

• Nintendo releases the Yoshi's Story video game for the Nintendo 64 in the UK. [1407.24]

April

• Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [1407.6]

April (month)

• Top-selling video game in the US for the month: 1080 Snowboarding for the Nintendo 64. [1262.36]

May

• The Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Total attandance of the show is 41,300. Nintendo unveils the Pokémon video games. [546.28] [595.140] [674.45] [811.8] [1028.38]
• At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences holds its first annual awards ceremony.
  • Shigeru Miyamoto is indicted into the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the video game industry.
  • Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering: GoldenEye 007.
  • Console Action Game of the Year: GoldenEye 007.
  • Console Game of the Year: GoldenEye 007.
  • Interactive Title of the Year: GoldenEye 007.
  • Console Racing Game of the Year: Diddy Kong Racing.
  • Best Sports Game of the Year: ISS 64.
  • Best Fighting Game of the Year: WCW vs. NWO: World Tour.
  • Adventure Game of the Year: Final Fantasy VII.
  • Role-Playing Game of the Year: Final Fantasy VII.
  • Sports Game of the Year: International Superstar Soccer.
  • Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music: Parappa the Rapper.
  • Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design: Parappa the Rapper.
  [435.100] [1161.81] [1262.28]

May (month)

• Top-selling Nintendo 64 video game in the US for the month: 1080 Snowboarding. [1262.36]

June 1

• Nintendo releases the Game Boy Camera in the US. Price is US$49.95. [422.38] [453.44] [978.84] [1161.81]
• Nintendo releases the Game Boy Printer in the US. Price is US$59.95. [422.38] [453.44] [1161.81]

June

• Nintendo drops the price of the Nintendo 64 in the US to US$129. [674.45]
• Nintendo releases the Pokémon Stadium video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [1407.12]
• Nintendo releases the F-Zero X video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [1407.14]

June 24

• Midway releases the Mortal Kombat 4 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [545.74] [808]

June 29

• Nintendo releases the Banjo-Kazooie video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [423.22] [545.74] [1372.98] [1396.30] (May 31 [411] [1102.113])

June (month)

• Top selling Nintendo 64 video game for the month in the USA: Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.. [1400.33]

(month unknown)

• Nintendo releases the F-Zero X video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. [304.127]
• Unit shipments of the Nintendo 64 video game system to date: 16 million. [366.206]

July

• Nintendo releases the Banjo-Kazooie video game for the Nintendo 64 in the UK. [1407.16]

July 31

• MCA/Universal Pictures releases the film BASEketball to theaters in the USA and Canada. A character says "You still hangin' out, playin' Nintendo?". [930]

July (month)

• Top-selling Game Boy video game in Japan for the month: GB Let's & Go!! All-Star Battle MAX. [1262.38]

August

• Nintendo releases the World Class Track Meet video game with the Power Pad controller in the USA. [1161.78]
• Nintendo launches Pokémon in Topeka, Kansas. Ten Volkswagen Beetles decorated like the Pikachu character travel throughout the country. [595.141]
• Nintendo launches the www.pokemon.com web site. [595.141]

August 26

• Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. Video game dialog: "Where is the Nintendo?" "We don't have a Nintendo. We got a ColecoVision plugged into the black and white TV." [1244]

August (month)

• Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: WWF War Zone. [474.58] [991.46]

September 10

• Acclaim Entertainment releases the Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II video games for the Game Boy in Japan. [808]

September

• The European Computer Trade Show names Goldeneye 007 for the Nintendo 64 the Console Game of the Year. [674.46]

September 30

• Nintendo releases the Pokémon Red version and Pokémon Blue version games for the Game Boy in the US. (Total combined sales are 23 million units.) [546.34] [595.141] [1372.98] [1425.52] (September 1 [401]) (May 1999 [554.17])

September (month)

• Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: GoldenEye 007. [474.58] [1296.36]

October 21

• In Japan, Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color portable video game system. It features 2.1 MHz processor, and 32 kB RAM. It can display 10, 32, or 56 colors simultaneously from a palette of 32,000. Size is 3 x 5.25 x 1 inches; weight is 6.7 ounces. (155,774 units sell in the first week.) [298.40] [474.50] [545.26] [1340.15]

October (month)

• Top selling Nintendo 64 video game in the USA for the month: WCW/NWO Revenge. [961.33]

(month unknown)

• Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX video game for the Game Boy Color in the US. [304.138]
• The 1999 Guiness Book of Records lists Super Mario Bros. 3 as Best-Selling Video Game. [235.10]
• Nintendo and LucasArts sign a five-year agreement for three new Star Wars video games on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. [961.32]
• Nintendo releases the Expansion Pak for the Mintendo 64. It provides an extra 4 MB of memory for the game system. Price is US$29.95. [961.33]

November

• T-HQ releases the WCW/NWO Revenge video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28]
• Nintendo releases the Pokémon Pikachu handheld electronic pet. It can record walking steps. [546.34] [595.141]

November 21

• Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$59.95. [298.38] [304.150] [367.94] [1372.99] (November 23 [483.69] [546.28,62] [1438.44]) (November 25 [991.240])

November 22

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A child mispronounces "superintendant" as "Super Nintendo". [877]

November 23

• Nintendo releases the Game Boy Color handheld video game system in the US. Price is US$79.95. [453.44] [483.69] [546.28] [685.133] [1262.38]

November

• Nintendo releases the Tetris DX video game for the Game Boy Color. [474.92]

November (month)

• Top selling video game in the USA for the month: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. [1093.36]

December 1

• Nintendo releases the Bomberman 64 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the USA. [1396.30]

December 9

• LucasArts releases the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron video game for the Nintendo 64 in the US. Price is US$49.99. [304.54] [643.116] [991.240]

December 10

• Acclaim releases the Turok 2: Seeds of Evil video game for the Nintendo 64. [1372.99]

December 11

• Warner Bros. Pictures releases the Jack Frost film to theaters in the USA. A character says he has packed "batteries for the Game Boy". [1068]

December

• Infogrames releases the V-Rally 99 video game for the Nintendo 64 in the United Kingdom. [393.28]

December 18

• Nintendo releases the Mario Party video game for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. [474.52]

December (month)

• Top selling video game in the USA for the month: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. [1397.32]

Year

• Top selling video game in the US for the year: GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64. Total sales: 1.6 million copies. [820.30]
• Sales of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color in the USA during the year: 2.43 million. [1100.34]

Other web pages of interest:

This Day in History

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Last updated: 2012 September 27.
Copyright © 2002-2012 Ken Polsson (email: mario@vidgame.info).
URL: http://vidgame.info/nintendo/
Link to Ken P's home page.