1998 in video gaming
Categories: 1998 computer and video games
| 1998
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| 1998 in games |
Notable events of 1998 in computer and video games. See also history of computer and video games.
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Events
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo to the AIAS Hall of Fame
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Interactive Awards
- 4th annual E³ (Electronic Entertainment Expo); the 1st annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of E³
- Game One channel (subsidiary of Canalplus); Infogrames Entertainment SA and Canal+ launch the Game One television channel
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Notable releases
- September - Konami releases Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation. The game revitalizes the Metal Gear series with 3D graphics, is heralded as one of the finest games ever made, and causes an explosion of popularity in stealth-based games.
- September 30 - Nintendo releases Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy, the first Pokémon video games in North America.
- November 20 - Sierra On-Line publishes Valve Software's Half-Life. It wins dozens of "game of the year" awards and spawns expansions, popular mods, and many spin-off products.
- November 21 - In Japan, Nintendo releases the first Zelda game for the Nintendo 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is widely praised and sells more than seven million copies. It was released in North America on November 23 and the UK on December 11.
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Hardware
- Bandai's WonderSwan handheld in Japan
- Majesco Sales Inc.'s Genesis 3 home console
- Nintendo:
- Game Boy Color (GBC) handheld console
- Camera & Printer accessories for the Game Boy handheld console
- SEGA's Naomi arcade console and Dreamcast home console
- SNK's Neo Geo Pocket (NGP) handheld
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Business
- Activision acquires CD Contact Data and Head Game Publishing
- Eidos Interactive acquires Crystal Dynamics
- Electronic Arts Inc. acquires Virgin Studio and Westwood Studios, Inc.
- Hasbro, Inc. acquires Atari Corporation (from JTS Corp.), Microprose, and Tiger Electronics
- JTS Corp. (Atari Corporation) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- BreakAway Games, Ltd. founded
- Elixir Studios Ltd. formed
- Lego Media established by LEGO Group
- Metro3D, Inc. founded
- Rockstar Games founded
- Square Co., Ltd. and Electronic Arts form Square Electronic Arts LLC to publish a wealth of Square Co., Ltd. titles in the U.S.
- WildTangent, Inc. founded