This Day in Video Game History: October 22

This Day in Video Game History: October 22
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This Day in Video Game History

1996

Sega released a web browser and the two hundred dollar Net Link modem adapter for the Sega Saturn video game console, announcing plans to release web-based games for the Net Link no later than March.

1997

Capcom hires acclaimed horror director George Romero to direct a television commercial for its upcoming survival horror game Resident Evil 2 in Japan. View the commercial online.

1998

Asmik Ace Entertainment released the single-player game LSD for the PlayStation in Japan. The game was based on one of the developer’s real-life dream diary. The game was a commercial flop, so much so that it was never released outside of Japan, however it did earn a small cult following of gamers who found the disturbing imagery of the game amusing. There are no experience points, objectives, opponents, or storyline to the game. A player’s only purpose was to walk through the expansive setting to explore the environment. Every time the player’s character bumps into a wall or other object, the setting shifts, plunging players into increasing stranger dreams.

Capcom released the Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter versus fighting game for the Sega Saturn in Japan.

Crack dot Com shuts down, publicly posting the source code for its game, Golgotha, a game that had been in development for over two years but that had never been completed.

1999

At the thirty-third annual Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Japan, Sony demonstrates its new driving game, Gran Turismo 2. Sega demonstrates its F355 Challenge arcade machine at Ferrari’s booth. Panasonic demonstrates an in-car video game system that allows passengers to play the Nintendo 64 video game console in cars.

Bleem! released the Bleem! PlayStation emulator version 1.5 . The version expands its compatibility to include another seventy PlayStation games.

Rockstar Games released the Grand Theft Auto 2 driving game for the PlayStation in Europe and North America. (ESRB: T)

Sega and Itochu enter into a partnership to produce a line of clothing featuring Sonic the Hedgehog called the “Sonic Fashion Project.”

2002

Driver 2

Bam Entertainment released the single-player game Reign of Fire, based on the film of the same name, for the PlayStation 2 in the U.S. (ESRB: M)

Infogrames released the Driver 2: The Wheelman driving game for the Game Boy Advance in the U.S. (ESRB: T)

Konami released the run and gun game Contra: Shattered Soldier for PlayStation 2 in North America. It quickly gains a reputation for being even more difficult than the earlier Sega version. (ESRB: T)

Microsoft Game Studios released the single-player game Sneakers for the Xbox in the U.S. (ESRB: E)

2003

Activision released the SeaWorld Adventure Parks Tycoon simulation game for personal computers. (ESRB: E)

2004

Future Tactics

JoWood Productions released the Future Tactics: The Uprising tactical roleplaying game (RPG) for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in Europe.

Madcatz released the three-dimensional input device Gametrak for PlayStation 2 video game system in Europe. The Gametrak was a mechanical system for tracking in-game elements in three-dimensional space.

Monte Cristo Multimedia released the Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand strategy game for Windows in the UK. Its gameplay is roughly similar to that of SimCity, with the addition of a first-person perspective that allows players to tour their creation. (PEGI: 12+)

2007

The Sims 2 Castaway

Electronic Arts released The Sims 2: Castaway simulation game for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii in North America. (ESRB: T)

Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Arcade package. For under three hundred dollars, the Arcade console ships with 256MB of memory, an HDMI output, five family-friendly games, and a wireless controller.