- March 9
- Nintendo releases the Super Smash Bros. Brawl video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA and Canada. (Unit sales in the first week: 2.7 million.) [1197.10] [1205.19] [1242.22] [1243.39] [1248.48] [1252.94] [1313.29]
- March (month)
- Total sales of video game systems in Japan for the month: PlayStation Portable 415,415, Nintendo Wii 265,542, Nintendo DS 255,124, PlayStation 3 81,579, Xbox 360 13,127. [1114]
- Video game system sales in the US: Nintendo Wii 720,000, Nintendo DS 698,000, PlayStation Portable 297,000, Xbox 360 262,000, PlayStation 3 257,000. [1114]
- Top selling video game in the USA: Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. [1114] [1254.102]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. [1254.102]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan: Pokémon Ranger: Batonaaji. [1254.102]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan: Wii Fit. [1254.102]
- April 22
- Square Enix releases The World Ends With You video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1313.30]
- April 27
- Nintendo releases the Mario Kart Wii video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA and Canada. [1230.7] [1243.20] [1253.66] [1254.98] [1267.18] [1313.30]
- April (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the USA: Wii 714,000, Xbox 360 188,000, PlayStation 3 187,000. [1114]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the US for the month: Mario Kart Wii. [1272.96]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the US for the month: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness. [1272.96]
- Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Mario Kart Wii for the Nintendo Wii. [1272.96]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Taiko Master DS. [1272.96]
- May 6
- Electronic Arts releases the Boom Blox video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA and Canada. [1230.4] [1253.44] [1313.31]
- May 19
- Nintendo launches the Wii Fit exercise game for the Nintendo Wii video game system in the US, initially only in New York City. Price is US$90 including game and balance board input device. [1114] [1220.17] [1230.5] [1231.44] [1242.24] [1254.100]
- May (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the US during the month: Nintendo Wii 675,000, PlayStation 3 209,000, Xbox 360 187,000. [1114]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA for the month: Mario Kart Wii. [1273.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the US for the month: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness. [1273.92]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Mario Kart Wii. [1273.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Pachinko Pachislot Kouryaku Series DS Volume 2. [1273.92]
- June 24
- Square Enix releases the Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1263.15] [1272.94] [1313.31]
- June (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the US: Nintendo Wii 666,000, Nintendo DS 783,000. [1114]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA during the month: Guitar Hero: On Tour. [1274.108]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA during the month: Wii Fit. [1274.108]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan during the month: Wii Fit. [1274.108]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan during the month: Legend of Starfi. [1274.108]
- July 8
- 2K Games releases the Civilization Revolution video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS in the USA. [1253.68] [1272.38,83] [1273.91] [1284.45]
- July (month)
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA during the month: Wii Fit. [1275.116]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA during the month: Guitar Hero: On Tour. [1275.116]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan during the month: Fire Emblem: The Dark Dragon & The Sword of Light. [1275.116]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan during the month: Wii Fit. [1275.116]
- August (month)
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA during the month: Wii Fit. [1282.132]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA during the month: Guitar Hero: On Tour. [1282.132]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan during the month: Wii Fit. [1282.132]
- September 14
- Electronic Arts releases the Rock Band 2 video game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo Wii in the USA and Canada. [1275.107] [1280.3] [1313.33] [1319.33]
- September 16
- LucasArts releases the Star Wars: Force Unleashed video game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation Portable in the USA and Canada. [1275.98] [1280.9] [1285.44] [1313.33]
- September 30
- Sega releases the Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1282.130]
- September (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the US: Nintendo Wii 687,000, Nintendo DS 536,800, Xbox 360 347,200, PlayStation 3 232,400, PlayStation Portable 238,100. [1114]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA during the month: Wii Fit. [1283.132]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA during the month: Kirby Super Star Ultra. [1283.132]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan during the month: Pokémon Platinum. [1283.132]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan during the month: Wii Fit. [1283.132]
- October 26
- Activision releases the Guitar Hero World Tour video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1280.15] [1283.104] [1313.34]
- October (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the US: Nintendo Wii 803,210, Nintendo DS 491,000, Xbox 360 371,000, PlayStation 3 190,000, PlayStation Portable 193,000. [1114] [1300.14]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the US during the month: Wii Fit. [1114] [1357.80]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA during the month: Kirby Super Star Ultra. [1357.80]
- Top selling video game in Japan during the month: Kirby Super Star Ultra for the Nintendo DS. [1357.80]
- November 9
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A handheld video game appears, one that looks like the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. [1329]
- November 16
- Nintendo releases the Animal Crossing: City Folk video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1357.74]
- November 18
- Sega releases the Sonic Unleashed video game for the Wii in the US. [1357.67]
- November
- Nintendo releases the DSi in Japan. [1114]
- November 25
- Square Enix releases the Chrono Trigger video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1283.130]
- November (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the US: Nintendo Wii 2,040,000, Nintendo DS 1,570,000, Xbox 360 836,000, PlayStation Portable 421,000, PlayStation 3 378,000, PlayStation 2 206,000. [1114] [1313.10]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the US during the month: Wii Play. [1114] [1313.88]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the US during the month: Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Alma. [1313.88]
- Top selling video game in Japan during the month: Professor Layton and the Last Journey for the Nintendo DS. [1313.88]
- December (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Wii Play for the Nintendo Wii. [1314.96]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Mario Kart DS. [1314.96]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Rhythm Heaven. [1314.96]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Wii Fit. [1314.96]
- Year
- Top selling video game in the world for the year: Mario Kart Wii for the Nintendo Wii, at 8.94 million copies. [1315.100]
- Top selling video game in the USA for the year: Wii Play with Remote for the Nintendo Wii. [1314.30]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the year: Mario Kart DS. [1314.30]
- Video game console usage in the US for the year, according to Nielsen's Top 10 Lists for 2008:
- PlayStation 2 31.7 percent (of console user minutes for year),
- Xbox 360 17.2 percent,
- Nintendo Wii 13.4 percent,
- Xbox 9.7 percent,
- PlayStation 3 8.3 percent,
- GameCube 4.6 percent.
[2543.8]
2009
- January (month)
- Sales of video game systems in the US: Nintendo Wii 680,000, Nintendo DS 510,000, Xbox 360 309,000, PlayStation 3 203,000. [1114]
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii. [1114] [1315.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Personal Trainer: Cooking. [1315.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time. [1315.92]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Taiko Expert Wii. [1315.92]
- February 10
- Xseed Games releases the Retro Games Challenge video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1313.87] [1339.20]
- Sega releases The House of the Dead: Overkill video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1339.30]
- February 16
- Nintendo releases the Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1313.19]
- February (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the USA: Nintendo DS 588,000, PlayStation Portable 199,000. [1114]
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii. [1316.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Mario Kart DS. [1316.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Cube Picross. [1316.92]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: New Play Control Pikmin. [1316.92]
- March 10
- Sega releases the Madworld video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA [1315.84] [1339.32]
- March
- Nintendo announces that total shipments of its DS portable consoles has topped 100 million worldwide. [1114]
- March 17
- Rockstar releases the Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars video game for the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS in the USA. [1313.69] [1316.88] [1339.32]
- March 22
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Platinum video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1313.19] [1315.90]
- March 25
- Nintendo announces it has shipped more than 50 million units of its Wii game console to date. [1114]
- March 29
- Activision releases the Guitar Hero: Metallica video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 2 in the USA. [1316.83] [1339.32]
- March (month)
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Platinum. [1317.94]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA for the month: Wii Fit. [1317.94]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Muramasa: The Demon Blade. [1317.94]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Mario & Luigi RPG 3. [1317.94]
- April 3
- Nintendo releases the DSi in Europe. [1114]
- April 5
- Nintendo releases the DSi handheld video gam system in the USA. It features SD memory card slot, thinner than DS Lite, slightly larger dual screens, Opera-based Web browser, two cameras, no GameBoy Advance cartridge slot; price is US$169. [1114] [1316.12] [1361.24]
- April (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii. [1318.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Platinum. [1318.92]
- Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Monster Hunter G for the Nintendo Wii. [1318.92]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Pokémon Fushigi No Dungeon: Sora No Tankentai. [1318.92]
- May 3
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA.
- A man plays a video game, mimicing Microsoft's Halo.
- A man says "Where's my video games? My Xbox, my Wii?"
[1332]
- May 18
- Nintendo releases the Punch-Out!! video game for the Wii in the USA. The game is a remake of a classic game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. [1310.45] [1316.46] [1317.87] [1339.33]
- May (month)
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA for the month: Wii Fit. [1319.94]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Platinum. [1319.94]
- Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Infinite Space for the Nintendo DS. [1319.94]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Play on Wii: Chibi-Robo!. [1319.94]
- June
- In Los Angeles, California, the Electronic Entertainment Expo is held. Microsoft announces the upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band video game, and unveils the Project Natal camera-based full-body motion control. Sony announces the PSP Go handheld video game system with slide-up screen for $249, and a PlayStation 3 motion control wand. Nintendo announces Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Matio Bros. Wii, Wii Fit Plus, and the Wii Vitality Sensor. [1319.12]
- June 8
- Nintendo releases the Wii MotionPlus attachment for the Wii controller, giving more precise motion control. [1317.18]
- June
- Square Enix releases the Dragon Quest IX video game for the Nintendo DS in Japan. (2.3 million copies are sold in the first 48 hours.) [1320.100]
- June 17
- Atari releases the Ghostbusters video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1280.17] [1311.45] [1317.35] [1318.81]
- June (month)
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA for the month: EA Sports Active Bundle. [1320.98]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Pokémon Platinum. [1320.98]
- Top selling video game in Japan for the month: Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS. [1320.98]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Wii Sports Resort. [1320.98]
- July 21
- Xseed Games releases the Little King's Story for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1339.34]
- July 26
- Nintendo releases the Wii Resort video game for the Wii in the USA. [1317.19] [1320.90]
- July (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Wii Sports Resort for the Nintendo Wii. [1323.102]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in Japan for the month: Monster Hunter Tri. [1323.102]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in Japan for the month: Dragon Quest IX. [1323.102]
- August 24
- Nintendo releases the Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1339.34]
- August 25
- Nintendo releases the Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Wii in the USA. The pack includes Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2 Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3 Corruption. [1312.44] [1323.95]
- August (month)
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA for the month: Wii Sports Resort. [1324.38]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Fossil Fighters. [1324.38]
- September 14
- Nintendo releases the Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1323.98] [1339.35]
- September 15
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment releases the Scribblenauts video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1323.96] [1339.35]
- September 27
- Nintendo drops the price of the Wii system in the US by $50 to US$199.99. [1114]
- September (month)
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the US during the month: Wii Sports Resort. [1114] [1338.22]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the US during the month: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. [1338.22]
- October 1
- Nintendo drops the price of the Wii system in Japan by 5000 yen to 20,000 yen. [1114]
- October 4
- Nintendo releases the Wii Fit Plus video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1338.131]
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. Twins play handheld video games (like Nintendo Game Boy Advance) in opening credits. [1333]
- October 13
- Majesco releases the A Boy and His Blob video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1339.36]
- October 27
- Activision releases the DJ Hero video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1338.120] [1339.37]
- October 29
- In England, the 27th Golden Joystick Awards ceremony is held, for games released between May 2008 and May 2009.
- Multiplayer game: Call of Duty: World at War
- Nintendo game: Call of Duty: World at War
- Soundtrack: Guitar Hero: World Tour
- Handheld game: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS
[1235]
- October (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the US: Nintendo Wii 507,000, PlayStation 3 321,000, Xbox 360 250,000. [1114]
- November 15
- Nintendo releases the New Super Mario Bros. Wii video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1339.39] [1341.83]
- November 21
- Nintendo launches the Nintendo DSi XL in Japan, with a 4.2-inch diagonal screen. Price is 20,000 yen (US$222). Case color choices are dark brown, wine red, and white. [1114] [1338.23]
- November (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the USA: Nintendo Wii 1.26 million, Xbox 360 820,000, PlayStation 3 710,000. [1114]
- Top selling Nintendo Wii video game in the USA for the month: New Super Mario Bros. Wii. [1342.18]
- December 7
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1338.93] [1341.90] [1354.56]
- December 13
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA.
- A child plays what appears to be an Xbox 360 with wireless remote.
- The characters Mario and Luigi, part of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. franchise appear.
- Someone says "I've got video games".
[1346]
- December (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: New Super Mario Bros. Wii for the Nintendo Wii. [1342.18]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA for the month: Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. [1342.18]
2010
- January 31
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. A "Funtendo Zii" is a parody of the Nintendo Wii video game system with wireless remote, showing a golf game, a tennis game, and a World War II fighting game. [1350]
- January (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA during the month: New Super Mario Bros. Wii for the Nintendo Wii. [1360.22]
- Top selling Nintendo DS video game in the USA during the month: Mario Kart DS. [1360.22]
- March 14
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. The "Funtendo Zii" appears as an ad on the back page of a magazine, a parody of the Nintendo Wii. [1351]
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon SoulSilver and Pokémon HeartGold video games for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1359.56] [1360.72]
- March 23
- Ubisoft releases the Red Steel 2 video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1342.66] [1359.57]
- March 28
- Nintendo releases the Nintendo DSi XL handheld video game system in the USA. Price is $189.99. [1114] [1361.24]
- Nintendo releases the WarioWare DIY video game for the Nintendo DS in the USA. [1359.57] [1360.78]
- March (month)
- Unit sales of video game systems in the USA for the month: Nintendo Wii: 557,500, Xbox 360: 338,400, PlayStation 3: 313,900. [1114]
- April 20
- Capcom releases the Monster Hunter Tri video game for the Nintendo Wii in the USA. [1356.44] [1360.77]
- April 25
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. A "Funtendo Zii" appears, a parody of the Nintendo Zii. When the power goes out, the two kids use the remotes to fight each other. [1352]
- May 9
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. A parody of the Nintendo Wii Dance Dance Revolution game appears, as the Zii Dance Dance Evolution. [1353]
- May 23
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Galaxy 2 video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1355.42] [1372.94] [1375.31]
- June 24
- Comedy Central airs the Futurama TV show in the USA. A character says "We've lost power to the forward Game Boy, Mario not responding!" and uses a Nintendo NES controller. [1381]
- August 26
- Comedy Central airs the Futurama TV show in the USA. At a convention there are booths for "Videogame the Movie", and for "Movie the Videogame", and a character is dressed like Nintendo's Mario character. [1384]
- August 31
- Nintendo releases the Metroid: Other M video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1366.94] [1370.61]
- September 26
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A bus driver plays a handheld video game while driving, looking like the Nintendo Gameboy Advance. [1385]
- October 5
- Square Enix releases the Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light video game for the Nintendo DS in the US. [1366.47,83]
- October 17
- Nintendo releases the Kirby's Epic Yarn video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1374.126] [1375.34]
- October 19
- Activision releases the DJ Hero 2 video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii in the US. [1374.115] [1375.34]
- October 26
- Electronic Arts releases the Rock Band 3 video game for the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360 in the US. [1366.74] [1375.35]
- November 2
- Nintendo releases the GoldenEye 007 video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1363.32]
- November 7
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Two kids play a video game using motion-sensing controllers that look like the Nintendo Wii controllers. One child is struck by the other by the controller. While playing a board game, a kid says "What was that lesson I learned from video games? Oh yeah, kill! Kill! Kill!" [1386]
- November 14
- Nintendo releases the Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem video game for the Nintendo DS in the US. [1374.129]
- November 16
- Sega releases the Sonic Colors video game for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS in the US. [1367.89]
- November 21
- Nintendo releases the Donkey Kong Country video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1363.33] [1374.124] [1375.37]
- November 25
- Disney Interactive Studios releases the Epic Mickey video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1363.33] [1367.90] [1375.24]
2011
- January 4
- Nintendo releases the Mario Sports Mix video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1367.41]
- January 11
- Square Enix releases Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded for the Nintendo DS in the US. [1364.36] [1367.41] [1374.97] [1375.97]
- February 7
- Nintendo releases the Mario Sports Mix video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US. [1375.82]
- February 22
- Atlus releases the Radiant Historia video game for the Nintendo DS in the US. [1375.87]
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