1989 in video gaming

Notable events of 1989 in video gaming. See also history of computer and video games.

Events

The original Game Boy

Notable releases

• Maxis releases Will Wright's SimCity, the first of the "Sim" games and a revolutionary real-time software toy.
• Tengen releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game, which is recalled after Nintendo sues Tengen.
• Wes Cherry writes Solitaire and Robert Donner writes Minesweeper, which are bundled with Microsoft Windows starting from version 3.
• Brøderbund releases the Prince of Persia game, the first in a series of games, noted for its advancements in animation.
• Nintendo of America introduces Enix's Dragon Warrior franchise to North America.
• Techno Soft releases Herzog Zwei (Genesis) an important development in the real-time strategy genre.
• Psygnosis release Shadow of the Beast, demonstrating the capabilities of the Amiga and helping sales of the computer.

Hardware

• Atari Corp. releases the Lynx handheld console.
• Mattel, Inc. releases the Power Glove controller for the NES home console.
• Nintendo releases the Game Boy handheld console.
• NEC's PC Engine released in North America as the Turbografx-16.
• Sega Megadrive released in North America as the Sega Genesis.

Made in 1989 and released to the mass markets as the first hand held game to include game cartridges.

Business

• Hasbro, Inc. acquires Coleco Industries, Inc.
• Trinity Acquisition Corporation founded (renamed THQ in 1990)
• Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen
  • Nintendo sues Tengen over the Tetris video game copyrights. Tengen loses and recalls all its Tetris games.
  • November - Nintendo sues Tengen over production of unlicensed Nintendo games. Tengen loses. (Tengen originally sued Nintendo on December 12, 1988 for antitrust violations.)
• Nintendo v. Camerica Ltd. Nintendo sues Camerica over patent violations of the Game Genie for the NES console. Camerica wins the suit.