In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1977, according to the second annual Game Machine chart. Both arcade video games and electro-mechanical games (EM games) are listed on the same arcade chart. Namco's EM racing game F-1 was the highest-grossing overall arcade game for the second year in a row, followed by Taito's racing video game Speed Race DX (its predecessor Speed Race was distributed as Wheels by Midway Manufacturing in North America).[1][2]
Note: Medal games are listed on a separate chart, with Nintendo's EVR Race being the highest-grossing medal game for the second year in a row.[1][2]
United States
In the United States, Play Meter magazine began publishing annual lists of top-grossing arcade games in 1977. The following titles were the top ten highest-earning arcade video games of the year on the annual Play Meter and RePlay charts. Lifetime arcade cabinet sales are also given in a separate column.
Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd. formally changes its name to Namco (which it has employed as a brand name since 1971), and establishes Namco Enterprises Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong, its first subsidiary based outside Japan.[12]
Notable releases
The Atari Video Computer System was the most successful video game console of the second-generation era.
In September, Atari releases the Atari Video Computer System (later known as the VCS or Atari 2600) video game console alongside nine launch titles in the USA.[14]
Coleco releases a number of new models of the Telstar series: the Telstar Alpha, the Telstar Colormatic, the Telstar Regent, the Telstar Ranger, the Telstar Galaxy, and the Telstar Combat. Most of these systems feature only minor variations on the original Telstar model, such as new controller types (for example, the Ranger featured a light gun, while the Galaxy included joysticks).[15]
Nintendo releases the Color TV-Game 6 dedicated home video game console, featuring six variations of Light Tennis (a Pongclone). Nintendo's partner, Mitsubishi, produces most of the system's hardware components.[19]
Philico releases the Telejogo dedicated home video game console, featuring three pre-installed games.
Bally releases the Bally Home Library Computer (Astrocade) home video game console through mail order retailer JS&A National Sales Group. Delays in production of the system, however, mean that none of the units will actually ship until the following year.[20]
^Steven L. Kent (2000), The first quarter: a 25-year history of video games, BWD Press, p. 83, ISBN 0-9704755-0-0, retrieved April 9, 2011, Sea Wolf, which was another creation of Dave Nutting, did solid business, selling more than 10,000 machines. (A later color version sold an additional 4000 units.)
^ a bProduct: Total Build (PDF). Atari Games. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
^"昔(1970年代)のテレビゲームは何台売れた?" [How many old (1970s) video games sold?]. Classic Videogame Station Odyssey (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
^Rubin, Michael (2006). "Eighteen: A Hole in the Desert [1982–1983]" (PDF). Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution. Triad Publishing Company. pp. 291-314 (292). ISBN 978-0-937404-67-6.
^ a b c d eReimer, Jeremy (December 15, 2005). "Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
Jeremy Reimer (December 7, 2012). "Total Share: Personal Computer Market Share 1975-2010". Jeremy Reimer.
^Fischer, John (2002). "Famous Philadelphians – Nine Richest Philadelphians". About.com – Greater Philadelphia / South Jersey. Archived from the original on March 29, 2006. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^Thomas, Donald A. Jr (2005). "–1977–". ICWhen.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2006. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^"Namco History (English summary)". NAMCO WonderPage. 2001. Archived from the original on January 10, 2006. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^Miller, Michael (2005). "A History of Home Video Game Consoles > First Generation: 1972–1977". InformIT. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^"Atari 2600 History". AtariAge. 2006. Archived from the original on February 19, 2006. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^Goldberg, Martin (2003). "Museum of Home Video Gaming". Archived from the original on February 11, 2006. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^"OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2003. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
^"Seb - Telescore (mod.750)". www.system-cfg.com. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
^"Serious Game Classification : Seb Telescore 750 / 751 / 752 (1977)". serious.gameclassification.com. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
^"Color TV Game 6". NinDB. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^Squire, Lance F. (2005). "The Bally/Astrocade FAQ version h2.8". Lance F. Squire Homepage. Archived from the original on February 7, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2006.
^Hunter, William (2005). "Player 2 Stage 1: The Coin Eaters". The Dot Eaters. Archived from the original on December 31, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^"History of Infocom". Infocom – The Master Storytellers. Retrieved February 18, 2006.
^Koster, Raph (2002). "Online World Timeline". Raph Koster's Website. Archived from the original on February 14, 2006. Retrieved February 18, 2006.