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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

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.

AwardsGame of the YearPlatformPublisherGenreRef
Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM)Donkey Kong CountrySNESNintendoPlatformerurl=https://videogamegeek.com/award/29030/egm-awardstitle=EGM Awardsaccess-date=29 December 2017archive-date=30 December 2017archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060428/https://videogamegeek.com/award/29030/egm-awardsurl-status=live }}
Game Informer
Video Games & Computer Magazine
Time Magazine
Nintendo Power
Kid's Choice Awards
GameFan MegawardsEarthworm JimGENPlaymates InteractivePlatformer
Clockwork KnightSATSega
Gamest AwardsThe King of Fighters '94ArcadeSNKFighting
IAAPA Exhibit AwardsAce DriverArcadeNamcoRacing
Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA)NBA JamAcclaimSports (basketball)

''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.

TitlePlatformDeveloperPublisherGenreScore (out of 40)
Final Fantasy VISNESSquaresoftSquaresoftRPG37
Ridge RacerPS1NamcoNamcoRacing37
Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (Mystery of the Emblem)SNESIntelligent SystemsNintendoTactical RPG36
Virtua FighterSATSega AM2SegaFighting36

Financial performance

Highest-grossing arcade games

The best-selling arcade printed circuit board (PCB) worldwide in 1994 was SNK's Neo Geo MVS system.

Japan

The following titles were the top ten highest-grossing arcade games of 1994 in Japan.

RankGamestGame MachineTitleManufacturerTitleTypePoints
1Super Street Fighter II X: Grand Master ChallengeCapcomVirtua FighterPCB / Deluxe
2Virtua FighterSegaSuper Street Fighter II / XPCB
3Garō Densetsu Special (Fatal Fury Special)SNKPuyo PuyoPCB3466
4Vampire: The Night Warriors (Darkstalkers)CapcomRidge RacerDeluxe3265
5The King of Fighters '94SNKSuper Real Mahjong PIVPCB2909
6Super Street Fighter IICapcomShanghai IIIPCB2794
7Gokujo ParodiusKonamiRaiden IIPCB2718
8Ridge RacerNamcoLethal EnforcersDedicated2713
9Daytona USASegaTetris (Sega)PCB2686
10Puyo PuyoCompileOutRunners2P cabinet2676

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the highest-grossing games of each month in 1994.

MonthDedicated arcade cabinetPrinted circuit board (PCB)Ref
FebruaryRidge Racerdate=15 March 1994title=Arcade Actionurl=https://retrocdn.net/images/7/7f/CVG_UK_149.pdf#page=82magazine=Computer and Video Gameslocation=United Kingdompublisher=Future Publishingissue=149 (April 1994)pages=82–6}}
MarchRidge RacerSuper Street Fighter II Turbo
April
MayDaytona USA
June
JulyDaytona USA
August
September
OctoberDaytona USAGunbird

Virtua Fighter by Sega AM2 was also one of the UK's most popular coin-ops of the year.

United States

In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade video games of 1994.

RankPlay MeterAAMAAMOATitleAwardDedicated arcade cabinetArcade conversion kit
1Daytona USA,
Mortal Kombat IIDaytona USA (Twin)
Cruis'n USA,
Killer Instinct,
Mortal Kombat II,
Neo Geo MVSDiamondMortal Kombat II
2Lethal Enforcers,
Mortal Kombat,
NBA Jam,
NBA Jam: Tournament Edition,
Virtua FighterNBA Jam: Tournament Edition,
Raiden II,
Super Street Fighter II,
Samurai Shodown
3rowspan="3"
4
5
6NBA Jam: Tournament EditionPlatinum
7rowspan="3"Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors,
Raiden II,
Revolution XGoldcolspan="2" rowspan="6"
8
9
10rowspan="3"Alien vs. Predator,
Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom,
Super Street Fighter II TurboSilver
11
12

Best-selling video game consoles

RankManufacturerPlatformTypeSalesJapanUSAEuropeElsewhereWorldwide
1NintendoGBHandheldlast=小川 (Ogawa)first=純生 (Sumio)date=2010-12-14title=テレビゲーム機の変遷 —ファミコン、スーパーファミコン、プレステ、プレステ2、Wiiまで—trans-title=Recent Developments in Video Game Technology in Japan — Famicom, Super Famicom, Play Station, Play Station 2 and Wii —url=http://www.toyo.ac.jp/uploaded/attachment/3049.pdfjournal=経営論集 (Keiei Ronshū)language=japublication-date=March 2011issue=77pages=1–17 (2)issn=0286-6439archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725185700/http://www.toyo.ac.jp/uploaded/attachment/3049.pdfarchive-date=2015-07-25access-date=2021-12-06via=Toyo University Academic Information Repository (Toyo University)}}7,500,000+
2SegaGENHomedate=March 1995title=Finance & Businessurl=https://www.scribd.com/doc/208776076/Screen-Digest?secret_password=2ntzw5zfrtsy8kxequmgmagazine=Screen Digestpages=56–62access-date=May 23, 2021}}date=January 6, 1995title=Sega threepeat as video game leader for Christmas sales; second annual victory; Sega takes No. 1 position for entire digital interactive entertainment industrywork=Business Wireurl=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega+threepeat+as+video+game+leader+for+Christmas+sales;+second...-a015997617url-status=deadaccess-date=24 December 2021archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014174045/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega+threepeat+as+video+game+leader+for+Christmas+sales%3B+second...-a015997617archive-date=2013-10-14}}1,540,0001,000,0007,040,000+
3NintendoSNESHome2,200,000last1=Clementsfirst1=Matthew T.last2=Ohashifirst2=Hiroshidate=October 2004title=Indirect Network Effects and the Product Cycle: Video Games in the U.S., 1994–2002url=http://www.netinst.org/Clements_Ohashi.pdf#page=25url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307012843/http://www.netinst.org/Clements_Ohashi.pdfarchive-date=March 7, 2016access-date=September 21, 2011publisher=NET Institutepages=12, 24}}1,060,000900,0006,218,000
4SegaSCDHome150,000550,000205,000905,000
5SegaGGHandheld350,000500,000+850,000+
6SegaSATHome840,000840,000
7SegaS32XHome270,000500,00065,000835,000
8Goldstar, Panasonic, Sanyo3DOHome450,000160,00015,0005,000+630,000+
9SonyPS1Home600,000600,000
10NintendoNESHome280,000548,000+

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.

RankTitlePlatformSalesJapanUSAWorldwide
1Donkey Kong Country (Super Donkey Kong)SNES956,0002,057,0066,000,000
2Street Fighter II941,000+989,178+3,709,090+
3Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III)SNES2,550,000+275,9522,825,952+
4Mortal Kombat II1,929,494+2,500,000+
5NBA JamGEN, SNES2,313,5262,313,526+
6Sonic 3 & KnucklesGEN1,473,7301,473,730+
7Madden NFL 95GEN, SNES811,568811,568+
8Super MetroidSNES531,000256,262+787,262+
9Mighty Morphin Power RangersGEN, SNES731,910731,910+
10J.League Excite Stage '94 (Capcom's Soccer Shootout)SNES714,000714,000+

Japan

In Japan, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1994.

RankTitlePlatformPublisherGenreSalesRef
1Final Fantasy VISNESSquaresoftRPG2,550,000+title=Final Fantasy IIImagazine=Electronic Gaming Monthlyissue=63publisher=Ziff Davisdate=October 1994page=172url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_63/page/n177/mode/1up}}
2Super Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong Country)SNESNintendoPlatformer956,000
3Super Street Fighter IISNESCapcomFighting941,000
4J.League Excite Stage '94 (Capcom's Soccer Shootout)SNESEpoch Co.Sports (soccer)714,000
5Super Bomberman 2SNESHudson SoftMaze713,000
6Super Momotarō Dentetsu IIISNESHudson SoftSimulation610,000
7Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 3SNESBandaiFighting595,000
8Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (Mystery of the Emblem)SNESNintendoTactical RPG563,000
9Super MetroidSNESNintendoMetroidvania531,000
10Mother 2: Gīgu no Gyakushū (EarthBound)SNESNintendoRPG518,000

United States

In the United States, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1994.

RankTitlePlatformPublisherGenreSalesRef
1NBA JamGEN, SNESAcclaim EntertainmentSports (basketball)2,313,526
2Donkey Kong CountrySNESNintendoPlatformer2,057,006
3Mortal Kombat IIGEN, SNESAcclaim EntertainmentFighting1,929,494
4Sonic 3 & KnucklesGENSegaPlatformer1,473,730
5Street Fighter IIGEN, SNESCapcomFighting989,178+
6Madden NFL 95GEN, SNESEA SportsSports (football)811,568
7Mighty Morphin Power RangersGEN, SNESSega, BandaiAction731,910
8The Lion KingGEN, SNESVirgin InteractivePlatformer619,399
9NBA Live 95GEN, SNESEA SportsSports (basketball)542,758
10Disney's AladdinSNESCapcomPlatformer421,996+

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.

MonthTitlePlatformPublisherGenreRef
JanuarySensible SoccerGENSonySports (soccer)
FebruarySimCity 2000DOS, MACMindscapeCity builder
MarchNBA JamGEN, SNES, GGAcclaimSports (basketball)
AprilDoomId SoftwareFPS
MayWorld Cup StrikerSNESU.S. GoldSports (soccer)
JuneWorld Cup USA '94GEN, SNES, GGU.S. GoldSports (soccer)
JulyStar Wars: TIE FighterVirgin InteractiveSpace combat
AugustSuper Street Fighter IIGENSegaFighting
SeptemberMortal Kombat IISNES, GEN, SMS, GG, GBAcclaimFighting
OctoberDoom IIVirgin InteractiveFPS
NovemberFIFA Soccer 95GENEA SportsSports (soccer)
December

Events

  • Nintendo proclaims "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".
  • 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.)
    • Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Dragon Pacific Intern

Notable releases in 1994

Release DateTitlePlatformDeveloper/PublisherGenreRef
February 2Sonic the Hedgehog 3GENSega
MarchX-COM: UFO DefenseDOSMythos Games/MicroProse
March 19Super MetroidSNESNintendoMetroidvania
March 25The Elder Scrolls: ArenaDOSBethesdaAction RPG, Sandbox
April 2Final Fantasy VISNESSquare Co.RPG
June 14Donkey Kong 94GBNintendo
JulyTIE FighterDOSLucasArts
August 2Earthworm JimSNES, GENShiny Entertainment
August 25The King of Fighters '94NEOSNK
August 27EarthBoundSNESNintendoRPG
SeptemberMaster of MagicDOSMicroProse
September 9Mortal Kombat IISNESSculptured Software/Acclaim Entertainment
September 22System ShockDOSLooking Glass Studios/Origin Systems
October 10DoomLINDave D. Taylor/id Software
October 10Doom IIDOSid Software
October 17Sonic & KnucklesGENSega
October 28Killer InstinctArcadeRare
November 15Warcraft: Orcs & HumansDOSBlizzard Entertainment
November 15NFL '95GEN, GGDouble Diamond Software (GEN)
Blue Sky Software (GG)Sports (football)
November 21Donkey Kong CountrySNESRare/Nintendo
November 23King's Quest VII: The Princeless BrideDOSSierra On-Line
DecemberThe Need for Speed3DOElectronic ArtsRacing
DecemberMagic CarpetDOS, PS1, SATBullfrog ProductionsAction
DecemberWing Commander III: Heart of the TigerDOSOriginSpace combat simulator
December 9TekkenArcadeNamcoFighting
December 10Wario's WoodsNESNintendo
December 16King's FieldPS1FromSoftwareAction RPG
December 17Phantasy Star IV: The End of the MillenniumGENSega
December 21MarathonMACBungieFPS
December 27HereticDOS, MACRaven Software/id Software

Notes

References

References

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  2. (2 January 2017). "25 Years Of Game Informer's GOTY Awards". Game Informer.
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  6. ''[[iarchive:GamefanVolume3Issue01January1995/page/n67/mode/2up. GameFan]]'', volume 3, issue 1 (January 1995), pages 68-75
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