On This Day In Video Game History, July 21: Notable Happenings in the PC and Video Game And Entertainment Industry On This Day
On this day… July 21
1948
The first computer in history to run stored-programs, the Small-Scale Experimental MachineSmall-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM) is inaugurated as it runs its first program. Nicknamed “Baby,” the computer was built at the University of Manchester and is based on the theories of John von Neumann. It is also the first computer to store data in RAM, as later modern computers will.
1982
Release 19 of the popular Zork II interactive fiction game is published by Infocom. It is the second game in the Zork trilogy.
1993
Sega releases the fantasy-themed, turn-based tactical roleplaying game (RPG) Shining Force for the Genesis in North America. (ESRB: E)
1995
Konami releases the platform game Castlevania: Dracula X for the Super Famicom in Japan. It is the last game in the franchise to be released for the the Super Famicom system.
Nintendo releases Mario’s Tennis, also known as Mario’s Dream Tennis, for the Virtual Boy in Japan. It will be released in August 1995 in North America bundled in with the Virtual Boy itself. Later, the ScrewAttack website will decry the site as the seventh worst Mario game of all time.
1999
A1 Games releases the Monopoly clone, Board Game Top Shop, for the Playstation in the US. (ESRB: E)
At the Macworld Conference & Expo, Steve Jobs announces that, unlike most major game releases, Halo: Combat Evolved will be released for Mac OS and Windows simultaneously.
2001
Nintendo releases the racing game Mario Kart Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. It combines features from earlier Mario Kart games, Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64. In particular, it features the gameplay mechanics of the latter title and tracks from the former game.
2003
Eidos Interactive releases the racing game The Italian Job for the GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows, and Xbox in North America. It is based on the 2003 heist film The Italian Job. (ESRB: T)
2004
Capcom releases Crimson Tears for the PlayStation 2 in North America. The game is close is play to a dungeon crawler. (ESRB: T)
Capcom releases Devil Kings as “Sengoku Basara” for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. The game is a hack and slash adventure set against the historical backdrop of Japan’s Sengoku Period, and it casts players in the role of two opposed warlords feuding over control of of the land.
SNK Playmore releases the versus fighting game The King of Fighters Neowave for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. The game is a port of the original arcade version.
A high court of the United Kingdom rules that the1500 Messiah 2 mod chips for the PlayStation 2 video game console are a violation of Sony’s intellectual property rights under European Union Copyright Directive (EUCD) and that advertisement, sale, or use of the modification chips is illegal. The Messiah chips enable the PlayStation 2 units distributed in the UK to play the games distributed in Japan and the US as well as pirated titles and back-up copies made by users.
2005
Bandai releases the side-scrolling fighting game Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy for the Nintendo DS in Japan. Though the game hits shelves just two days before the Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa is released, the game is based on the fifty-one episodes of the anime series. The touchscreen of the DS is put to novel use by requiring players to draw alchemy transmutation circles as the characters do in series.
Nintendo releases Mario Superstar Baseball for the GameCube in Japan. (CERO: A)
Sega releases Bleach Advance: Kurenai ni Somaru Soul Society for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. The game is based on the popular Bleach manga and anime series, and it is the second video game in the Bleach franchise.
ValuSoft releases the simulation game Prison Tycoon for personal computers in the US. The game puts players in charge of prison, which they must manage, keeping the prisoner and staff in line while still turning a profit. (ESRB: T)
