1995
- The Sega Saturn (SAT), Sega’s 32-bit game console is released in North America for a MSRP of $349.00. A bundle with VirtuaFighter is released as well for $399.00. Sega had 30,000 units ready to go for launch and the Saturn (SAT) released with 10 launch titles. Sega did a $50 million marketing campaign to promote the system. The Saturn (SAT) would sell only around 1.3 million units during its lifetime in North America resulting a commerical failure for Sega and sowing the seeds for what would come with the Saturn’s (SAT) successor, the Sega Dreamcast (DC).
- The first ever Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) begins in Los Angeles, CA. The show would run until May 13th. The show got its name from the Electronic Entertainment magazine. There were 350 exhibitors with 1300 games for on display for video game systems and computers. Total attendance for the 1995 E3 was 28,000 people. Sony enters the hardware market when they announced the PlayStation (PS1) console at their $4 million booth. Michael Jackson even made an appearance for them. The launch date of the PlayStation (PS1) as announced as September 9, with a retail price of $299.00. Also at the event, Atari announced a price cut to $149.00 for their Jaguar (JAG) system, and demos a Virtual Reality product for the system. SNK shows off what would be their last console to date, the NeoGeo CD (NGCD). It is priced at $500.00.
- The trade magazine GameWeek (which was called Video Game Advisor at the time) debuts.
2000
- At this Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Sega reduces the price of their Dreamcast (DC) by $50.00 making it $149.00. They also add in a free SegaNet subscription, for a limited time. This was likely due to it’s sales struggles and the impending arrival of the PlayStation 2 (PS2).
2004
- The 6th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) event is held over the period of 3 days. During the event the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards are held as well, honoring the best of E3.
- At E3 in Los Angeles, California, Nintendo reveals their newest portable system, the Nintendo DS (NDS). Features include an ARM 9 3D processor, ARM 7 2D processor, a pair of backlit 3-inch LCD screens, a DS compact card slot, a Game Boy Advance (GBA) cartridge slot, wireless abilities for up to 16-players, 802.11b wi-fi, a D-pad, seven face buttons and two shoulder buttons, a touch screen with a stylus, a standard headphone jack, and a built in microphone. Nintendo also mentions what later be called the Nintendo Wii when they announce their next console is tentatively called the Revolution.
- Also at E3 in Los Angeles, California, Sony Computer Entertainment unveils their first entry in the portable market, the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP). Features of the PSP include: a pair of 333 MHz MIPS R4000 processors, 32 MB main RAM, 4 MB embedded DRAM, a 4.3-inch diagonal 16:9 TFCT LCD backlit widescreen display with 480×272 pixel resolution 16 million colors capability, a disc drive for their proprietary 1.8 GB Universal Media Disc (UMD), a Memory Stick Pro Duo slot, a standard USB 2.0 slot, 802.11b wi-fi, D-pad controller, face and shoulder buttons, an analog joystick, headphone and microphone jacks, an IrDA infrared interface, stereo speakers, and a lithium-ion battery. The PSP’s size is 170 x 74 x 23mm and it weighed 260 grams. It is announced as releasing in December in Japan and March in the U.S. Sony also announced a price drop for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) in the U.S., going from $179.00 to $149.00.
- The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) hosts the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. During the event Square Enix’s Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series, is inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame.
2005
- Firmware version 1.51 is released by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in Japan.
- MapleStory is released by Wizet & Nexon for Microsoft Windows (PC) in North America.
2006
- Sony applies for a handheld related patent which is for handheld game system made from flexible polymers.
- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is released by EA Los Angeles and Electronic Arts for the Xbox 360 (360) in Europe.
2010
- 3D Dot Game Heoes is released by Atlus for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) in North America.
- Skate 3 is released by EA Black Box & Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) & Xbox 360 (360) in North America & Australia.
- Lost Planet 2 is released by Capcom for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) & Xbox 360 (360) in North America & Europe.
2012
- Street Fighter X Tekken is released by Dimps, QLOC, & Capcom for Microsoft Windows (PC).