1994 in video games
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1994 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy VI, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Super Street Fighter II Turbo and Virtua Fighter 2 and Doom II, along with new titles such as Daytona USA, Ace Driver, Alpine Racer, The King of Fighters '94 and Tekken.
The year's best-selling video game console was the Game Boy, while the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis remained the best-selling home console. The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Super Street Fighter II X (Super Street Fighter II Turbo) and Virtua Fighter in Japan, and Daytona USA and Mortal Kombat II in the United States, while the year's best-selling home video game worldwide was Donkey Kong Country.
Legend
| 3DO | 3DO | Arcade | Arcade video game | DOS | PC DOS / MS-DOS, Windows 3.X |
| GB | Game Boy | GEN | Genesis / Mega Drive | GG | Game Gear |
| LIN | Linux | MAC | Classic Mac OS, 2001 and before | NEO | Neo Geo AES |
| NES | Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom | PS1 | PlayStation 1 | S32X | 32X |
| SAT | Sega Saturn | SCD | Sega CD / Mega-CD | SMS | Master System |
| SNES | Super NES / Super Famicom / Super Comboy |
| Action | Action game | Action RPG | Action role-playing game | City builder | City-building game |
| Fighting | Fighting game | FPS | First-person shooter | Metroidvania | Metroidvania |
| Platformer | Platformer | Racing | Racing video game | RPG | Role-playing video game |
| Sandbox | Sandbox game | Simulation | Simulation video game | Sports | Sports video game |
| Tactical RPG | Tactical role-playing game |
Hardware releases
- Aiwa releases the Aiwa Mega-CD multimedia home console in Japan only.
- Bandai releases the Playdia multimedia home console.
- NEC releases the PC-FX multimedia home console.
- Sega:
- introduces the North American cable TV Sega Channel in cooperation with Time Warner (AOL Time Warner); the subscription service provides Sega Genesis games via cable box to customers
- releases the Sega 32X add-on for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in Europe (November 14), North America (November 21) and Japan (December 3)
- releases the Sega Nomad handheld console in North America, a portable Sega Genesis.
- releases the Sega Saturn home console in Japan on November 22
- SNK releases the Neo Geo CD home console.
- Sony releases the PlayStation home console in Japan on December 3.
- Nintendo releases the Super Game Boy adapter for the Super Nintendo home console.
- Atari Corporation discontinues the Lynx handheld system.
Top-rated games
Game of the Year awards
The following titles won Game of the Year awards for 1994.
| Awards | Game of the Year | Platform | Publisher | Genre | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) | Donkey Kong Country | SNES | Nintendo | Platformer | [1] |
| Game Informer | [2] | ||||
| Video Games & Computer Magazine | [3] | ||||
| Time Magazine | [4] | ||||
| Nintendo Power | |||||
| Kid's Choice Awards | [5] | ||||
| Computer Gaming World Premier Awards | X-COM: UFO Defense | DOS | MicroProse | Strategy | [6] |
| GameFan Megawards | Earthworm Jim | GEN | Playmates Interactive | Platformer | [7] |
| Clockwork Knight | SAT | Sega | |||
| Gamest Awards | The King of Fighters '94 | Arcade | SNK | Fighting | [8] |
| IAAPA Exhibit Awards | Ace Driver | Arcade | Namco | Racing | [9] |
| Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) | NBA Jam | Acclaim | Sports (basketball) | [10] |
Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame
The following video game releases in 1994 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.[11]
| Title | Platform | Developer | Publisher | Genre | Score (out of 40) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VI | SNES | Squaresoft | Squaresoft | RPG | 37 |
| Ridge Racer | PS1 | Namco | Namco | Racing | 37 |
| Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (Mystery of the Emblem) | SNES | Intelligent Systems | Nintendo | Tactical RPG | 36 |
| Virtua Fighter | SAT | Sega AM2 | Sega | Fighting | 36 |
Financial performance
Highest-grossing arcade games
The best-selling arcade printed circuit board (PCB) worldwide in 1994 was SNK's Neo Geo MVS system.[12]
Japan
The following titles were the top ten highest-grossing arcade games of 1994 in Japan.
| Rank | Gamest[8] | Game Machine[13] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Manufacturer | Title | Type | Points | |
| 1 | Super Street Fighter II X: Grand Master Challenge | Capcom | Virtua Fighter | PCB / Deluxe | 5857 |
| 2 | Virtua Fighter | Sega | Super Street Fighter II / X | PCB | 5003 |
| 3 | Garō Densetsu Special (Fatal Fury Special) | SNK | Puyo Puyo | PCB | 3466 |
| 4 | Vampire: The Night Warriors (Darkstalkers) | Capcom | Ridge Racer | Deluxe | 3265 |
| 5 | The King of Fighters '94 | SNK | Super Real Mahjong PIV | PCB | 2909 |
| 6 | Super Street Fighter II | Capcom | Shanghai III | PCB | 2794 |
| 7 | Gokujo Parodius | Konami | Raiden II | PCB | 2718 |
| 8 | Ridge Racer | Namco | Lethal Enforcers | Dedicated | 2713 |
| 9 | Daytona USA | Sega | Tetris (Sega) | PCB | 2686 |
| 10 | Puyo Puyo | Compile | OutRunners | 2P cabinet | 2676 |
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the highest-grossing games of each month in 1994.
| Month | Dedicated arcade cabinet | Printed circuit board (PCB) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | Ridge Racer | [14][15] | |
| March | Ridge Racer | Super Street Fighter II Turbo | [16] |
| April | [17] | ||
| May | Daytona USA | [18] | |
| June | [19] | ||
| July | Daytona USA | [20] | |
| August | [21] | ||
| September | [22] | ||
| October | Daytona USA | Gunbird | [23] |
Virtua Fighter by Sega AM2 was also one of the UK's most popular coin-ops of the year.[24]
United States
In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade video games of 1994.
| Rank | Play Meter | AAMA[25][26] | AMOA[27][28] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Award | Dedicated arcade cabinet | Arcade conversion kit | ||
| 1 | Daytona USA, Mortal Kombat II[29] |
Daytona USA (Twin) Cruis'n USA, Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat II, Neo Geo MVS |
Diamond | Mortal Kombat II | |
| 2 | Lethal Enforcers, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, NBA Jam: Tournament Edition, Virtua Fighter |
NBA Jam: Tournament Edition, Raiden II, Super Street Fighter II, Samurai Shodown | |||
| 3 | Unknown | ||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | Unknown | NBA Jam: Tournament Edition | Platinum | N/a | |
| 7 | Unknown | Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, Raiden II, Revolution X |
Gold | N/a | |
| 8 | |||||
| 9 | |||||
| 10 | Unknown | Alien vs. Predator, Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom, Super Street Fighter II Turbo |
Silver | ||
| 11 | |||||
| 12 | |||||
Best-selling video game consoles
| Rank | Manufacturer | Platform | Type | Sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | USA | Europe | Elsewhere | Worldwide | ||||
| 1 | Nintendo | GB | Handheld | 1,140,000[30] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 7,500,000+[31] |
| 2 | Sega | GEN | Home | 500,000[32] | 4,000,000+[33] | 1,540,000[32] | 1,000,000[32] | 7,040,000+ |
| 3 | Nintendo | SNES | Home | 2,200,000[32] | 2,058,000[34] | 1,060,000[32] | 900,000[32] | 6,218,000 |
| 4 | Sega | SCD | Home | 150,000[32] | 550,000[32] | 205,000[32] | N/a | 905,000[32] |
| 5 | Sega | GG | Handheld | 350,000[30] | 500,000+[33] | Unknown | Unknown | 850,000+ |
| 6 | Sega | SAT | Home | 840,000[30] | N/a | N/a | N/a | 840,000 |
| 7 | Sega | S32X | Home | 270,000[35] | 500,000[33] | 65,000[32] | N/a | 835,000 |
| 8 | Goldstar, Panasonic, Sanyo | 3DO | Home | 450,000[30] | 160,000[32] | 15,000[32] | 5,000+[32] | 630,000+ |
| 9 | Sony | PS1 | Home | 600,000[30] | N/a | N/a | N/a | 600,000 |
| 10 | Nintendo | NES | Home | 280,000[30] | 268,000[34] | Unknown | Unknown | 548,000+ |
Best-selling home video games
The following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games (console games or computer games) worldwide in 1994.
| Rank | Title | Platform | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan[36] | USA[37] | Worldwide | |||
| 1 | Donkey Kong Country (Super Donkey Kong) | SNES | 956,000 | 2,057,006 | 6,000,000[38] |
| 2 | Street Fighter II | 941,000+ | 989,178+[a] | 3,709,090+[b] | |
| 3 | Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III) | SNES | 2,550,000+[43] | 275,952 | 2,825,952+ |
| 4 | Mortal Kombat II | Unknown | 1,929,494+ | 2,500,000+[44] | |
| 5 | NBA Jam | GEN, SNES | Unknown | 2,313,526 | 2,313,526+ |
| 6 | Sonic 3 & Knuckles | GEN | Unknown | 1,473,730 | 1,473,730+ |
| 7 | Madden NFL 95 | GEN, SNES | N/a | 811,568 | 811,568+ |
| 8 | Super Metroid | SNES | 531,000 | 256,262+[45] | 787,262+ |
| 9 | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | GEN, SNES | N/a | 731,910 | 731,910+ |
| 10 | J.League Excite Stage '94 (Capcom's Soccer Shootout) | SNES | 714,000 | Unknown | 714,000+ |
Japan
In Japan, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1994.
| Rank | Title | Platform | Publisher | Genre | Sales | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Fantasy VI | SNES | Squaresoft | RPG | 2,550,000+ | [43] |
| 2 | Super Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong Country) | SNES | Nintendo | Platformer | 956,000 | [36] |
| 3 | Super Street Fighter II | SNES | Capcom | Fighting | 941,000 | |
| 4 | J.League Excite Stage '94 (Capcom's Soccer Shootout) | SNES | Epoch Co. | Sports (soccer) | 714,000 | |
| 5 | Super Bomberman 2 | SNES | Hudson Soft | Maze | 713,000 | |
| 6 | Super Momotarō Dentetsu III | SNES | Hudson Soft | Simulation | 610,000 | |
| 7 | Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 3 | SNES | Bandai | Fighting | 595,000 | |
| 8 | Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (Mystery of the Emblem) | SNES | Nintendo | Tactical RPG | 563,000 | |
| 9 | Super Metroid | SNES | Nintendo | Metroidvania | 531,000 | |
| 10 | Mother 2: Gīgu no Gyakushū (EarthBound) | SNES | Nintendo | RPG | 518,000 |
United States
In the United States, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1994.[46]
| Rank | Title | Platform | Publisher | Genre | Sales | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NBA Jam | GEN, SNES | Acclaim Entertainment | Sports (basketball) | 2,313,526 | [37] |
| 2 | Donkey Kong Country | SNES | Nintendo | Platformer | 2,057,006 | |
| 3 | Mortal Kombat II | GEN, SNES | Acclaim Entertainment | Fighting | 1,929,494 | |
| 4 | Sonic 3 & Knuckles | GEN | Sega | Platformer | 1,473,730 | [37] |
| 5 | Street Fighter II | GEN, SNES | Capcom | Fighting | 989,178+ | [a] |
| 6 | Madden NFL 95 | GEN, SNES | EA Sports | Sports (football) | 811,568 | [37] |
| 7 | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | GEN, SNES | Sega, Bandai | Action | 731,910 | |
| 8 | The Lion King | GEN, SNES | Virgin Interactive | Platformer | 619,399 | |
| 9 | NBA Live 95 | GEN, SNES | EA Sports | Sports (basketball) | 542,758 | |
| 10 | Disney's Aladdin | SNES | Capcom | Platformer | 421,996+ | [46][37] |
United Kingdom
HMV, a British entertainment retailer, released a monthly list of the chain's highest-selling home video game titles. The following titles topped the monthly all-formats charts, as reported by Computer and Video Games.
| Month | Title | Platform | Publisher | Genre | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Sensible Soccer | GEN | Sony | Sports (soccer) | [47] |
| February | SimCity 2000 | DOS, MAC | Mindscape | City builder | [48] |
| March | NBA Jam | GEN, SNES, GG | Acclaim | Sports (basketball) | [49] |
| April | Doom | Id Software | FPS | [50] | |
| May | World Cup Striker | SNES | U.S. Gold | Sports (soccer) | [51] |
| June | World Cup USA '94 | GEN, SNES, GG | U.S. Gold | Sports (soccer) | [52] |
| July | Star Wars: TIE Fighter | Virgin Interactive | Space combat | [53] | |
| August | Super Street Fighter II | GEN | Sega | Fighting | [54] |
| September | Mortal Kombat II | SNES, GEN, SMS, GG, GB | Acclaim | Fighting | [55] |
| October | Doom II | Virgin Interactive | FPS | [56] | |
| November | FIFA Soccer 95 | GEN | EA Sports | Sports (soccer) | [57] |
| December | [58] |
Events
- Nintendo proclaims "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".[59][60]
- Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.
- "Project Reality" is renamed the Nintendo Ultra 64. The console's design is revealed to the public for the first time in spring 1994.
- The second of two congressional hearings on video games takes place on March 5. Topics for discussion include the depiction of violence and sexual content in video games, their influence on children, and the prospect of governmental regulation of video game content.
- April – The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) is founded in response to the hearings (name changed to the Entertainment Software Association in 2003); the IDSA founds the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in order to self-regulate content in video games in the mold of the Motion Picture Association of America film rating system.
- April 28 – Sega and MGM make a venture to create video games, movies, and television programs.
- June 24 – The Computer Game Developers Association is formed by Ernest W. Adams.
- November – Game Zero magazine drops their print format and becomes the first video game news magazine on the web.
- November 10 – William Higinbotham, creator of Tennis for Two (1958), dies at 84.
Business
- New companies: Neversoft
- Defunct: Commodore, Tradewest
- September 14 – Video gaming magazine Nintendomagasinet is cancelled after four years. Number 9 of 1994 would have been released on this day, but instead the magazine joins Super Power.
- Apogee establishes the 3D Realms Entertainment division.
- Blizzard Entertainment is renamed from Silicon & Synapse.
- SSI sold to Mindscape
- Alpex Computer Corp. v. Nintendo lawsuit: Alpex sues Nintendo over patent infringements related to the NES. Nintendo loses the case. (In 1996 this ruling was reversed by an appeals court, which determined that no patents had been infringed upon.)[61][62]
- Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Dragon Pacific Intern
Notable releases in 1994
See also
Notes
- 222,224+ Street Fighter II Turbo and Special Champion Edition sales up until August.[41] 341,728 Super Street Fighter II sales up until September.[42] 448,452 Street Fighter II, Turbo and Special Champion Edition sales in December.[37]
- 1.9 million worldwide sales during January–March 1994.[39][40] 77,910+ Street Fighter II Turbo and Special Champion Edition sales in the US during April–August.[41] 941,000 Super Street Fighter II sales in Japan during June–December.[36] 341,728 Super Street Fighter II sales in the US during July–September.[42] 448,452 Street Fighter II, Turbo and Special Champion Edition sales in the US during December.[37]