Classic Video Game Release Dates

RGaba

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I'm hoping somebody can help point me in the right direction. We currently have an Android app and a website called Today in Geek History (don't worry iPhone's coming soon). We cover specific dates for facts ranging from technology, games, space, movies, etc.

We would now like to add to our database the release dates of as many of the top classic arcade games and consoles to show how everything has progressed over the years.

Does anybody know where I could get the actual release dates (month, date and year) for these types of games? In my searching, I've been able to find year or month and year, but no luck with dates.

ANY help would be very much appreciated!

Ron

If you would like to see our website to get an idea of what I'm talking about, you can see it at: http://geekhistory.jebsapps.com
 
Strafer, thanks for the quick reply! I took a lot and it looks like they only have the years too. If anybody has any other suggestions, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks!
 
According to Wikipedia (ha) . . .

Pac-Man (May 22, 1980) in Japan
Donkey Kong was July 1981
 
Also, some of the flyers have dates on them in small print at the bottom. This would only tell you when the flyer was printed though, and sometimes the flyers didn't come out until after the game was out.
 
Thanks JamBurglar. I'm wondering if I might have better luck trying to find out when the games were released on specific platforms, such as the Atari 2600, Intellivision, Nintendo, etc...

I really appreciate everybody's help. I'll check back often in case anybody finds any other games and dates.

Thanks again!
 
I'm not even sure if games had official release dates. It's possible, I just don't know.
 
You know, I heard from somebody I work with that back in the day, they would develop a machine and ship it out, one by one... so they were saying it may be very difficult to get an actual release date. Maybe I can find a date they debuted or something. Ugh, this is going to be difficult task to complete! LOL :)
 
It would be pretty hard to define a SPECIFIC date for the release of an arcade machine, as you are dealing with the logistics of shipping large items and "rolling them out" in a nationwide release. I am sure that there is one specific day when they started shipping a particular game out to distributors, but you must also remember that most games will go out to select locations "on test" for a while to see how they earn before being offered for sale. It would be MUCH easier to keep track of the release dates for games on home consoles, however, as they DO have specific on-sale dates.

Do me a favor, however. PLEASE for the love of GOD do NOT put "The first Halo was released on Xbox "classic" on this day in 1998" ...or whatever!

Lee
 
Yea, you could check out Wikipedia but it's accuracy is questionable. You might be able to contact company websites through email and get a response if they are still around. Other than that I can't imagine any other way to get exact dates. For the most part older games will generally be listed by release year and at best by month and year.

___________________
gumball machines
 
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Thanks again everyone! I think I might try emailing some of the manufacturers to see if they have any specific dates or anything.

I really appreciate all your time!
 
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