1985 in video games explained

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 bestselling home system was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) for the second year in a row, while the year's bestselling home video game was Super Mario Bros.

Financial performance

In the United States, annual home video game sales fell to (adjusted for inflation) in 1985.[1] Meanwhile, the arcade game industry began recovering in 1985.[2] [3]

Highest-grossing arcade games

Japan

In Japan, the following titles were the top-grossing arcade video games on the bi-weekly Game Machine charts in 1985.

MonthTable arcade cabinetUpright/cockpit arcade cabinet
TitlePointsTitlePoints
Spartan X (Kung-Fu Master)TX-1 V8[4] [5]
[6] [7]
Samurai Nipponichi[8] [9]
Return of the Invaders[10] [11]
I'm Sorry[12] [13]
Senjō no Ōkami (Commando)Wyvern F-0[14] [15]
Ping Pong KingTX-1 V8[16] [17]
Sandlot BaseballHang-On[18] [19]
[20] [21]
Exciting Hour[22] [23]
Choplifter[24] [25]
ASO: Armored Scrum Object[26] [27]

United Kingdom and United States

In the United Kingdom and United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1985.

RankUnited KingdomUnited States
Play MeterRePlay[28] AMOA[29] [30] [31]
TitleTypeArcadeRoute/StreetVideo
1Commando[32] Hang-On[33] Karate ChampDedicatedNintendo VS. SystemKarate ChampSpy Hunter
2Kung-Fu MasterDedicatedKung-Fu Master,
Karate Champ,
Pac-Land,
Pole Position II		English Mark Darts,
Crowns Golf,
Yie Ar Kung-Fu,
Kung-Fu Master		Kung-Fu Master,
Pole Position,
Trivia Master,
Karate Champ
3Commando
4Yie Ar Kung-FuConversion
5Hogan's AlleySystem
6ExcitebikeSystemcolspan="3" rowspan="3"
7Pole Position,
Spy Hunter		Dedicated
8

Best-selling home systems

RankSystem(s)ManufacturerTypeGenerationSales
JapanUSAUK[34] Worldwide
1Nintendo Entertainment System / FamicomNintendoConsoleThird6,500,000[35] 90,000[36] 6,590,000
2Commodore 64 (C64)CommodoreComputer8-bit1,000,0002,500,000[37]
3IBM Personal Computer (PC) / IBM PCjrIBMComputer8-bit / 16-bit1,400,000[38]
4Atari 2600AtariConsoleSecond1,000,000[39]
5Apple IIApple Inc.Computer8-bit900,000
6Commodore 128CommodoreComputer8-bit500,000
7NEC PC-88 / PC-98NECComputer8-bit / 16-bit,000[40] [41] ,000+
8ZX SpectrumSinclairComputer8-bit390,000+
9Sega SG-1000 / Mark III (Master System)SegaConsoleThird280,000[42] 280,000+
10Amstrad CPC / Amstrad PCWAmstradComputer8-bit250,000+

Best-selling home video games

Japan

The year's best-selling game was Super Mario Bros. for the Family Computer (Famicom), later known as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) outside Japan. The game sold copies and grossed more than (at the time, or adjusted for inflation) within several months.[43] It eventually sold cartridges by the end of 1985.[44]

Game Machine magazine reported that more than ten Famicom games released between 1983 and 1985 had each sold over cartridges in Japan by the end of 1985.[45] The Magic Box lists fourteen Famicom games released between 1983 and 1985 that crossed lifetime sales in Japan.[46] At least 11 of the following 14 Famicom million-sellers released between 1983 and 1985 crossed sales in Japan by the end of 1985.

Title(s)PublisherSales
Super Mario Bros.Nintendo3,000,000
4 Nin Uchi MahjongBaseballNintendo
ExcitebikeF1 Race
GolfKung Fu
MahjongMario Bros.
SoccerTennis
Kinnikuman: Muscle Tag MatchBandai
XeviousNamco
Lode RunnerHudson Soft

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1985, according to the annual Gallup software sales chart. The top ten titles were all home computer games.[47]

RankTitleDeveloperPublisherGenreSales
1The Way of the Exploding FistBeam SoftwareMelbourne HouseFighting500,000 (Europe)[48]
2Soft AidVariousQuicksilvaCompilationrowspan="9"
3EliteAcornsoftAcornsoftSpace trading
4GhostbustersActivisionActivisionAction
5Finders KeepersMastertronicMastertronicPlatformer
6Frank Bruno's Boxing Elite SystemsElite SystemsFighting (boxing)
7CommandoCapcomElite SystemsRun-and-gun shooter
8Formula 1 SimulatorSpirit SoftwareMastertronicRacing
9Daley Thompson's DecathlonOcean SoftwareOcean SoftwareSports (Olympics)
10Impossible MissionEpyxU.S. GoldPlatformer

Fighting games topped the UK software sales charts for two years in a row in the mid-1980s, with The Way of the Exploding Fist in 1985 and then the home computer conversions of Yie Ar Kung-Fu in 1986.[49]

United States

In the United States, the Software Publishers Association (SPA) began tracking home computer game sales in 1985. The following fourteen computer games received Gold Awards from the SPA for sales above 100,000 units in 1985 (but below the 250,000 units required for a Platinum Award).

Titles
Alphabet ZooChoplifter[50]
DeadlineF-15 Strike Eagle
Fraction FeverFrogger
GhostbustersKids on Keys
Lode RunnerMath Blaster!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy[51]
Zork IZork II
Zork III

Events

Major awards

Business

Notable releases

Games

Arcade

Computer

Console

Nintendo Entertainment System!SMS
Sega Master SystemIntIntellivision
PCPersonal ComputerG&WGame and WatchArcArcade
SGSG-10002600Atari 2600
Notable releases of the year 1985! Release ! Title [60] ! Consoles
NESJP

February 4

NA

October 18

Arcade: 1985

PC: October

Ice ClimberNES, Arc, PC
MarchExcitebike (NA Release)Arc
Arcade:JP

March 1

NA

April

EU

August

NES NA:

October 18

Hogan's AlleyNES, Arc
Arcade: EU

Q1 1985

NES:

JP

June 21

NA

October 18

PC:

December

Kung FuNES, Arc, PC
PC:April

NES:

December 19

ThexderPC, NES (Japan only)
NES:JP

April 9

NA

October 18

SoccerNES
April 23Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?PC
NES:JP

June 18

NA

October 18

Arcade:

1985

Wrecking CrewNES, Arc
September 9Battle CityNES (Japan only)
NES:JP

September 13

NA

October 18

Super Mario Bros.NES
September 16PC
October 18Wild GunmanNES (US release)
October 18TennisNES (NA release)
October 18Stack-UpNES
October 18PinballNES (NA release)
October 18GyromiteNES
October 18GolfNES (NA release), Arc (EU release)
October 18Excitebike (NA Release)NES
October 18Duck Hunt (NA release)NES
October 18Clu Clu LandNES, Arc
October 18BaseballNES
October 1810-Yard FightNES
October 27Dragon Slayer II: XanaduPC
NovemberPC
1985Racing Destruction SetPC
1985Roller CoasterPC
1985StarquakePC
1985Tau CetiPC
1985The Oregon TrailPC
1985MercenaryPC
1985Clues'o'PC

Hardware

Arcade
Computer
Console

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lindner . Richard . Video Games: Past, Present and Future; An Industry Overview . 1990 . . United States .
  2. Web site: Coin-Op history – 1975 to 1997 – from the pages of RePlay . RePlay . 1998 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/19980428063132/http://replaymag.com/history.htm . April 28, 1998 . April 21, 2021.
  3. Special Report: Tom Petit (Sega Enterprises) . RePlay . January 1991 . 16 . 4 . 80, 82 .
  4. 15 January 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 252. 27. ja.
  5. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 253. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 February 1985. 25. ja.
  6. 15 February 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 254. 23. ja.
  7. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 255. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 March 1985. 21. ja.
  8. 15 March 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 256. 21. ja.
  9. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 257. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 April 1985. 25. ja.
  10. 15 April 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 258. 19. ja.
  11. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 259. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 May 1985. 21. ja.
  12. 15 May 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 260. 21. ja.
  13. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 261. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 June 1985. 23. ja.
  14. 15 June 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 262. 25. ja.
  15. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 263. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 July 1985. 25. ja.
  16. 15 July 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 264. 29. ja.
  17. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 265. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 August 1985. 25. ja.
  18. 15 August 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 266. 21. ja.
  19. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 267. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 September 1985. 25. ja.
  20. 15 September 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 267. 21. ja.
  21. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 268. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 October 1985. 31. ja.
  22. 15 October 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 269. 25. ja.
  23. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 270. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 November 1985. 23. ja.
  24. 15 November 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 271. 21. ja.
  25. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. 272. Amusement Press, Inc.. 1 December 1985. 23. ja.
  26. 15 December 1985. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 273. 25. ja.
  27. 1 January 1986. Best Hit Games 25. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 274. 34. ja.
  28. 1985 Operator Survey: This Poll Says Go Gettum! . RePlay . November 1985 . 11 . 2 . 91-102 (93-4) .
  29. AMOA Expo '85: 1985 AMOA Award Nominees . RePlay . November 1985 . 11 . 2 . 62, 64, 66 .
  30. AMOA Expo '85: Award Winners . RePlay . December 1985 . 11 . 3 . 44 .
  31. Springsteen Sweeps JB Awards . . November 23, 1985 . 39 .
  32. Commando: Soldier of Fortune . . January 1986 . 1 . 54 .
  33. 1985 . . December 1994 . 20 . 13 . 74 .
  34. 6 February 1986. Sinclair retains clear market lead in 1985. Popular Computing Weekly. 5. 6.
  35. Book: Morrison, Mike. The Magic of Interactive Entertainment. 1994. Sams Publishing. 978-0-672-30456-9. 47. Despite the bleak picture in the home video game industry, Nintendo's Famicom system sold more than 6.5 million units in Japan in 1985..
  36. News: Pollack. Andrew. Video Games, Once Zapped, In Comeback. A1. yes. The New York Times. September 27, 1986 . September 27, 1986. November 2, 2015.
  37. Web site: Reimer. Jeremy. 2005-12-15. Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures. live. 2021-11-27. Ars Technica. en-us . https://web.archive.org/web/20120607023023/http://arstechnica.com:80/features/2005/12/total-share/ . June 7, 2012.
  38. Dixon. Bradford N.. May 1986. Pulse Train: Fine Times in Fort Worth. 80 Micro. 76. 21–2.
  39. Halfhill. Tom R.. April 1986. A Turning Point For Atari?. Compute!. 71. 30-41 (30-4).
  40. Methe. David. Mitchell. Will. Miyabe. Junichiro. Toyama. Ryoko. January 1998. Overcoming a Standard Bearer: Challenges to NEC's Personal Computer in Japan. Research Papers in Economics (RePEc). 35. ResearchGate.
  41. Book: Juliussen. Egil. The Computer Industry Almanac 1991. Juliussen. Karen. Pearson P T R. 1990. 978-0-13-155748-2. 10-47, 10-48.
  42. Book: Tanaka. Tatsuo. Network Externality and Necessary Software Statistics. August 2001. Statistics Bureau of Japan. 2.
  43. Japan Quarterly . Japan Quarterly . 1986 . 296 . Asahi Shinbun . Nevertheless, Nintendo can claim among its successes Japan's current game best seller, Super Mario Brothers. Introduced in September 1985, sales of the ¥4,900 game soared to copies in just four months, generating revenues of more than (about)..
  44. The Yoke . The Yoke . 1985 . 9–25 . Yokohama Association for International Communications and Exchanges . "Super Mario Brothers" is one of the family computer games which is enjoying huge popularity among the children of Japan. More than three million of these games have been sold..
  45. 15 January 1986. Overseas Readers Column: "Super Mario Bros." Boom Bringing Best Selling Book. Game Machine. Amusement Press, Inc.. 275. 24.
  46. Web site: Japan Platinum Chart Games . The Magic Box . 6 April 2021 . October 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121017061224/http://the-magicbox.com/Chart-JPPlatinum.shtml . dead .
  47. News Desk: Exploding Fist tops Gallup 1985 charts . . 20 March 1986 . 4 .
  48. September 1997. NG Alphas: Melbourne House. Next Generation. Imagine Media. 33. 116.
  49. Yie Ar tops charts for 1986 . . 12 February 1987 . 6 .
  50. Book: Petska-Juliussen . Karen . Juliussen . Egil . The Computer Industry Almanac 1990 . 1990 . Brady . 978-0-13-154122-1 . New York . 3.10–11 .
  51. Book: Petska-Juliussen . Karen . Juliussen . Egil . The Computer Industry Almanac 1990 . 1990 . Brady . 978-0-13-154122-1 . New York . 3.12–13 .
  52. Golden Joystick Awards. Computer and Video Games. May 1986. 55. 90. EMAP.
  53. Thank you from The Home of the Hits! . . 30 January 1986 . 7 .
  54. Game of the Year Awards . . February 1986 . 11 . 13–5 .
  55. [Retro Game Master|GameCenter CX]
  56. Web site: Lou's Pseudo 3d Page.
  57. Web site: The Disappearance of Yu Suzuki: Part 1 from 1UP.com . www.1up.com . 11 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113174154/http://www.1up.com/features/disappearance-suzuki-part-1?pager.offset=2 . 13 November 2013 . dead.
  58. Web site: The Disappearance of Yu Suzuki: Part 1 from 1UP.com . www.1up.com . 11 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113173854/http://www.1up.com/features/disappearance-suzuki-part-1?pager.offset=1 . 13 November 2013 . dead.
  59. Web site: Tehkan World Cup - Videogame by Tehkan . Arcade-museum.com . February 28, 2013.
  60. Web site: 2014-06-11. NES Games. Nintendo. https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf. dead. 2014-06-11. 2021-06-14.
  61. http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/974/974695p3.html IGN Presents the History of SEGA: World War
  62. Web site: Commodore User Magazine Issue 72. September 1989.

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