The gaming market is really beginning to grow mature as it continues sailing past the 50 year marker. Over the decades many classic titles and releases have come and gone and each year their Anniversaries roll on by.
2023 is no different with several releases enjoying the marking of their debuts. Here we group key Anniversaries taking place throughout 2023:
What are your memories and thoughts of these key release Anniversary moments in gaming history?
50 Years Ago - Konami is Established
The house of Castlvania, Silent Hill, Bomberman and MGS was set up to manufacture arcade machines by Kagemasa Kozuki having previously services juke boxes. Half a century on, how important has Konami been to your hobby experience?
45 Years Ago - Space Invader Releases
The shooter became an arcade phenomenon when it launched in 1978. Alien forces descend on horizontal lines as players duck in and out of cover, blasting them down. By 1982 it had become the highest grossing videogame ever made cementing it as a classic that has carried through the years. Was this your first gaming epiphany?
40 Years Ago - The Industry Crashes
Market saturation is often cited as a reason for the videogame crash of 1983. The shock was so severe, lasting two years, that many companies went under and analysts wondered if the videogame market was ever going to be viable. It would last for two years when Nintendo would properly enter the arena. Do you remember the experience of being a gamer during the crash?
35 Years Ago - The Sega Mega Drive is Launched
Japan was the first market to see Sega's 16-Bit answer to the revived videgame market, the Mega Drive arrived with its sleeker black design and much better visuals adding a third button to the controller. The system would go on to be close to the hearts of an entire generation of gamers. What did the Mega Drive mean to you?
30 Years Ago - Samurai Shodown and Star Fox Launch
Yes, both franchises are now three decades old despite their respective companies offering little in way of celebration of the fact this year. The first a weapons based 2D fighter, the second one of the first 3D visual home console games - both classic games. What are your memories of first experiencing these franchises?
25 Years Ago - The Classic Wave
A nexus point for multiple generations, a host of classic games from 1998 enjoy their 25th Anniversary this year: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, F-Zero X, Metal Gear Solid, Marvel vs Capcom, Resident Evil 2, Banjo-Kazooie, Sonic Adventure, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Half-Life, StarCraft, Radiant Silvergun and Xenogears are just some of the titles released in that twelve month window. What did it feel like to be a gamer during this time to you?
20 Years Ago - Valve Releases Steam
Coming out of Beta, Steam launched as a platform to support their own titles, eventually beginning to launch partner games and expand until it became the PC platform giant that it is today. Did you experience the early days of Steam and are you a fan of it success?
15 Years Ago - The Third Person Title Reigns
EA is one of the more hesitant companies at launching new single player franchises, but here came the sci-fi horror Resident Evil-eque Dead Space which landed to critical and commericial success. Stalking the horrors of the Ishimaru, Isaac was a huge hit. Likewise, the PS3 saw Snake return in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - the swansong to Solid Snake's tale. What did you make of both acclaimed titles?
10 Years Ago - Success Reached New Heights
In 2013 Rockstar would launch the last, most recent GTA with Grand Theft Auto V - a title still being milked a decade later but has none the less become the most successful game ever made. Sony would also find its own success with the arrival of the acclaimed The Last of Us with another notable release being Bioshock Infinite, a title that saw huge success and also no further sequel as yet. Outside of software, Sony and Microsoft launched the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One - a new generation battle with Nintendo trying to fend them off with Super Mario 3D World. What is your review of a decade of the PS4/XBO generation?
Looking back, what are your thoughts and biggest memories?
2023 is no different with several releases enjoying the marking of their debuts. Here we group key Anniversaries taking place throughout 2023:
What are your memories and thoughts of these key release Anniversary moments in gaming history?
50 Years Ago - Konami is Established
The house of Castlvania, Silent Hill, Bomberman and MGS was set up to manufacture arcade machines by Kagemasa Kozuki having previously services juke boxes. Half a century on, how important has Konami been to your hobby experience?
45 Years Ago - Space Invader Releases
The shooter became an arcade phenomenon when it launched in 1978. Alien forces descend on horizontal lines as players duck in and out of cover, blasting them down. By 1982 it had become the highest grossing videogame ever made cementing it as a classic that has carried through the years. Was this your first gaming epiphany?
40 Years Ago - The Industry Crashes
Market saturation is often cited as a reason for the videogame crash of 1983. The shock was so severe, lasting two years, that many companies went under and analysts wondered if the videogame market was ever going to be viable. It would last for two years when Nintendo would properly enter the arena. Do you remember the experience of being a gamer during the crash?
35 Years Ago - The Sega Mega Drive is Launched
Japan was the first market to see Sega's 16-Bit answer to the revived videgame market, the Mega Drive arrived with its sleeker black design and much better visuals adding a third button to the controller. The system would go on to be close to the hearts of an entire generation of gamers. What did the Mega Drive mean to you?
30 Years Ago - Samurai Shodown and Star Fox Launch
Yes, both franchises are now three decades old despite their respective companies offering little in way of celebration of the fact this year. The first a weapons based 2D fighter, the second one of the first 3D visual home console games - both classic games. What are your memories of first experiencing these franchises?
25 Years Ago - The Classic Wave
A nexus point for multiple generations, a host of classic games from 1998 enjoy their 25th Anniversary this year: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, F-Zero X, Metal Gear Solid, Marvel vs Capcom, Resident Evil 2, Banjo-Kazooie, Sonic Adventure, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Half-Life, StarCraft, Radiant Silvergun and Xenogears are just some of the titles released in that twelve month window. What did it feel like to be a gamer during this time to you?
20 Years Ago - Valve Releases Steam
Coming out of Beta, Steam launched as a platform to support their own titles, eventually beginning to launch partner games and expand until it became the PC platform giant that it is today. Did you experience the early days of Steam and are you a fan of it success?
15 Years Ago - The Third Person Title Reigns
EA is one of the more hesitant companies at launching new single player franchises, but here came the sci-fi horror Resident Evil-eque Dead Space which landed to critical and commericial success. Stalking the horrors of the Ishimaru, Isaac was a huge hit. Likewise, the PS3 saw Snake return in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - the swansong to Solid Snake's tale. What did you make of both acclaimed titles?
10 Years Ago - Success Reached New Heights
In 2013 Rockstar would launch the last, most recent GTA with Grand Theft Auto V - a title still being milked a decade later but has none the less become the most successful game ever made. Sony would also find its own success with the arrival of the acclaimed The Last of Us with another notable release being Bioshock Infinite, a title that saw huge success and also no further sequel as yet. Outside of software, Sony and Microsoft launched the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One - a new generation battle with Nintendo trying to fend them off with Super Mario 3D World. What is your review of a decade of the PS4/XBO generation?
Looking back, what are your thoughts and biggest memories?
Discovering RPGs with Final Fantasy VIII, fighting games with Tekken 3, driving games with Gran Turismo... Doesn't get much better.
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