Timeline (Ohga Shrugs)

The timeline for Ohga Shrugs.

1991

 * June 20 - Nintendo unexpectedly breaks a deal with Sony to create a CD-ROM attachment for the Super Nintendo. Sony President Norio Ohga is outraged, but ultimately decides to let it go.
 * June 23 - Sonic the Hedgehog is released for the Sega Genesis. The game's popularity soon leads to Sonic becoming Sega's mascot to rival Mario.
 * August 23 - The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is released in America.
 * December 1 – The Sega-CD is released as a Sega Genesis peripheral. It flops

1992

 * April 11 – The SNES is launched in Europe
 * April 27 - Kirby's Dream Land is released, launching a popular new Nintendo franchise.
 * May 5 - Wolfenstein 3D is released for the PC, starting a revolution of First-Person shooter games.
 * June 10 – The first version of Street Fighter 2 is released for the Super Nintendo.
 * August 27 - Super Mario Kart is released, starting the most successful racing series of games ever made.
 * November 21 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is released for the Genesis. It goes on to become its best selling non-bundled game.

1993

 * February 21 - Star Fox is released for the Super Nintendo. The game is the first major true-3D game from Nintendo.
 * February - Development of the Sega Saturn begins.
 * May 15 - Final Fight 2 is released for the SNES. The game is a sign of slowly changing times, as Capcom created no arcade equivalent to this once arcade-based franchise.
 * July 11 - Goof Troop is released in America. This licensed game from Capcom is the first title to be designed by Shinji Mikami.
 * September 23 - Sonic CD, the most notable Sega CD game, is released. Despite the game's critical acclaim, it sells little hardware.
 * September 24 - Myst is released for computers. It becomes one of the best selling computer games of all time, eventually taking the crown for best selling computer game ever for a couple of years.
 * October 4 - The 3DO console is released. However, due to its high price of $699 and lack of support, the system is soon discontinued.
 * October 5 - Mega Man 6 is released for the NES. After over a decade of support, this unofficially marks the end of the system's life.
 * October 14 – Ridge Racer is released in the arcades. The game does not come to home consoles.
 * November 15 - Atari releases the Jaguar console. Although powerful, the system proves to be a commercial failure, and is the last American console ever made.
 * December - Sega releases Virtua Fighter for the arcade, sparking the 3D gaming revolution.
 * December 17 - Capcom releases Mega Man X'' for the SNES. This game marks the series' belated yet successful step into the next generation.

1994

 * February 2 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is released.
 * March 19 - Super Metroid is released for the SNES. The game goes on to define a subgenre of games.
 * March 26 - Daytona USA is released in the arcades. The game is acclaimed for its advanced 3D racing.
 * April 21 - The Ultra 64, later renamed the Nintendo 64, is first shown to the public.
 * April - Camelot Software Planning is created out of the defunct Sonic! Software Planning studio. Camelot continues to make games for Sega.
 * September 9 - Mortal Kombat 2 is released for the Super Nintendo, with all of the gore and fatalities intact.
 * November 14 - X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse is released. It is the first of several notable games from Capcom based on Marvel Comics licenses.
 * November 21 – The 32X is released in the West. 6 games are made for it.
 * November 21 - Donkey Kong Country is released for the Super Nintendo. This new series helps the Super Nintendo do well in its latter years.
 * November 22 – The Sega Saturn is released in Japan. The key launch title is Virtua Fighter, which goes on to be the dominant fighting franchise on the platform.
 * November 28 - Killer Instinct is released by Rare in the arcades. It is ported to the SNES the next year.
 * December 9 – Tekken is released in the arcades. This series does not come to home consoles the entire 5th console generation.
 * December 16 - Mega Man X2 is released for the SNES.

1995

 * March 17 – Panzer Dragoon is released for the Saturn.
 * March 24 - Mega Man 7 is released for the SNES. Unlike the X series, this game looks back to the past rather than embracing new ideas in game design.
 * April 1 – Daytona USA is released for the Saturn.
 * May 11 - The first Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is held in Los Angeles. Launch details for the Sega Saturn are given, while Nintendo reveals that it will release its next system in 1996.
 * June 5 - Street Fighter Alpha is released in the arcades. The first truly new Street Fighter game since 1991, the game uses concepts and animation similar to that found in other contemporary Capcom games, like Darkstalkers and X-Men: Children of the Atom.
 * June 26 - Donkey Kong Land is released for the Game Boy. It is followed up with sequels in in 1996 and 1997.
 * August 15 - Highly Responsive to Prayers, the first game in the Touhou series, is released. The series eventually gains a strong following in Japan, especially once the games start getting ported to Sega's consoles.
 * September 2 – The Sega Saturn is released worldwide at a price of about $299. Key launch titles include Virtua Fighter and Daytona USA.
 * September 9 - The Neo Geo CD is launched.
 * November - Virtua Cop is another major title, and is the leading on-rails shooter of the era.
 * November 21 - Donkey Kong Country 2 is released for the SNES.
 * December 1 – Virtua Fighter 2 is released. The game goes on to become the Saturn’s best selling fighter.
 * December 12 – Sega Rally Championship is released. This revolutionary racer, which allows for different surfaces to have different properties, is the primary Saturn racing game.

1996

 * January 19 – A port of Street Fighter Alpha is brought to the Saturn.
 * February 27 - Pokemon is released in Japan. The first generation of games breathes new life into the aging Game Boy, and, when combining versions, becomes Japan's best-selling retail game of all time.
 * March 9 - Super Mario RPG is released for the SNES. It marks the continuation of cooperation between Nintendo and Square going into the next generation.
 * April 30 – Rayman is released for the Saturn. It becomes the #1 2D platformer for the system.
 * May 3 – Resident Evil is released for the Saturn. It helps define early 3D gaming.
 * May 16 - E3 1996 is held. The event continued to gain prominence, establishing its place as the preeminent video gaming trade show in the United States. Nintendo showed off the Nintendo 64 using Super Mario 64, Pilotwings 64, Goldeneye 007, and a demo of Square's Final Fantasy VII. The American release date of September 26 is revealed, as is the launch price of $250. Donkey Kong Country 3 is also shown, as is the recently released Super Mario RPG. Saturn games shown include Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, and Virtua Fighter 3.
 * June 22 - Quake is released for the PC. The game is one of the defining games in PC history, with its 3D environments and extensive multiplayer options.
 * June 23 – The Nintendo 64 is released in Japan with Super Mario 64. This game helps define three-dimensional navigation and interaction in virtual spaces. Pilotwings 64 is the other notable launch game.
 * July 5 – Nights into Dreams is released by the Sonic Team for the Saturn. Although a critical darling, it is no Sonic.
 * July 21 - Mole Mania is released for the Game Boy. It ends up becoming one of Shigeru Miyamoto's most obscure works.
 * August 4 - Tetris Attack is released for the Game Boy and SNES. It is notable as the first Puzzle League game to come West, albeit advertised as a Tetris game.
 * August - Gunpei Yokoi temporarily leaves Nintendo. However, he returns in 1997 as an adviser and mentor.
 * September 7 – Crash Bandicoot is released for the Saturn. This third party game, published by Universal Interactive Studios, becomes the Saturn’s answer to Mario.
 * September 20 – Sakura Taisen is released in Japan. This popular dating sim series makes it big in that country, but is never brought West.
 * September 20 – Wave Race 64 is released.
 * September 26 – The Nintendo 64 is released in North America at $250. The Saturn’s price is cut to $250.
 * October 11 – Tomb Raider is released for the Saturn. It becomes one of the system’s premiere franchises.
 * November 22 - Donkey Kong Country 3 is released for the SNES. It is one of the last major games for the system. On the same day, Rare also releases a port of their arcade title Killer Instinct 2 to the N64, renaming it Killer Instinct Gold. It is their first of many N64 titles.
 * November 30 - Street Fighter EX is released in the arcades. This game is Capcom's attempt at creating a 3D fighter. Although by no means a failure, this does not prove to be the future of the series.
 * December – Fighters Megamix is released for the Saturn. The game combines aspects of multiple Sega fighting games in a King of Fighters-like fashion.
 * December – Mario Kart 64 is released in Japan. The game easily becomes the best selling racer on the N64.
 * December – Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is released. Although a moderate hit, it merely hints at later great games like Goldeneye and Star Fox 64.

1997

 * January – Final Fantasy 7 comes out in Japan for the N64, followed by a worldwide release later in the year. As an N64 exclusive, it is radically different from our timeline’s Final Fantasy 7. Character models are more developed, but lack the same level of detail in environments. The same character models are used in and out of battle, and load times are mostly eliminated, but the world is smaller, there is less music, and cinematics are kept to a minimum. The resulting project is significantly smaller (a 20 hour RPG rather than a 40 hour one), but more concentrated and coherent. Although a hit in the west, the series does not reach true superstardom like in our timeline.
 * February 4 - Street Fighter 3 is released in Japanese arcades. Unlike its predecessor, this game is a more subdued success, limiting the future of the franchise for years.
 * March 1 – The N64 is released in Europe
 * March - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is released for the Saturn. The game is one of the few successful fully 2D titles of the fifth console generation, and is even rarer in that it was allowed to be released in the West.
 * March - Tekken 3 is released in the arcades. This game's popularity gives the aging arcades a breathe of fresh air, allowing them to prosper for longer than in our timeline.
 * March 18 - Kirby's Star Stacker
 * March 21 - Blast Corps is released for the N64.
 * April – Star Fox 64 is released. The game features Rumble Pack compatibility, which is later used as an option in other games as well.
 * May – Saturn and N64 prices are cut to $199.
 * May 16 - E3 1997 is held. The theme of this show is shooter games, as many renowned shooters are shown. These include Goldeneye 007, Half-Life, and Unreal. Other major games include Starcraft and Diablo from Blizzard, Resident Evil 2 from Capcom, Tomb Raider II from Eidos, Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night from Konami, Banjo-Kazooie and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from Nintendo, Panzer Dragoon Saga from Sega, Final Fantasy Tactics from Square, Grand Theft Auto from Take-Two, and Dead or Alive from Tecmo.
 * June - Final Fantasy Tactics is released for the N64, and becomes the best selling 2D game on the system, as well as one of the best-selling RPGs.
 * August 1 - Mega Man X4 is released for the Saturn. Although the game's predecessors were on the competing SNES, the Saturn was chosen based on its 2D graphics and lower costs of manufacturing retail copies of games.
 * August 23 – Goldeneye is released for the N64. The popularity of the first major console FPS draws in a lot of older gamers, especially due to the multiplayer.
 * September – Super Robot Taisen F is released for the Saturn in Japan. Like many popular Japanese Saturn games, it never leaves the country.
 * November 21 – Diddy Kong Racing is released. It essentially feeds off of and expands upon Mario Kart’s success.
 * November – Tomb Raider 2 is released. It becomes one of the best selling action games on the Saturn.
 * December – Yoshi’s Story is released for the N64. The game sells well enough, but has a poor critical reception largely due to its brevity.
 * December - Crash Bandicoot 2 is released for the Saturn. It goes on to become the best selling 3D platformer on the system.
 * December 18 - Mega Man Legends is released for the Saturn. The first 3D entry in the series, it is well-received, but overshadowed by earlier Mega Man games. The low quality of the Saturn's 3D effects does not help.

1998

 * January 21 - Resident Evil 2 is released for the Saturn. This game goes on to become the best selling game in the series and the best selling horror game of all time for years to come.
 * February - 1080° Snowboarding is released for the N64.
 * March 2 - Wario Land 2 is released for the Game Boy.
 * March – Resident Evil 2 is released for the Saturn. It is eventually ported to the N64 in a slightly compromised fashion.
 * March 31 - Starcraft is released for the PC. The game, though far from the first Real-time strategy game on the platform, is widely considered the best the genre has to offer. Starcraft would become a staple of competitive gaming.
 * May 28 - E3 1998 is held. As 1998 is widely considered one of the great years in gaming history, this E3 had many notable titles shown. Nintendo's first party lineup included Banjo-Kazooie, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Pokemon, and the Game Boy Color. Sega's titles include House of the Dead, Panzer Dragoon Saga, and Burning Rangers. Third party games include EA's Black & White, Konami's Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill, LucasArts's Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Microsoft's Age of Empires II, and Square's Final Fantasy VIII.
 * June 29 – Banjo-Kazooie is released. It is arguably the greatest 3D platformer on the N64, a platform known for its 3D platformers.
 * June - Project NAOMI is unveiled by Sega. It is later revealed to be their next-generation hardware, eventually named the Dreamcast.
 * July 14 - F-Zero X is released for the N64. It is well received, but is overshadowed by kart racers on the N64, possibly dooming the franchise.
 * August – Console prices are cut to $149.
 * September - Sega purchases Camelot Software Planning
 * September 5 - An anime inspired special edition of Pokemon titled Special Pikachu Edition, aka Yellow, is released in Japan.
 * October – Metal Gear Solid is released for the Saturn.
 * October – Spyro the Dragon is released for the Saturn.
 * October 14 – The Game Boy Color is launched at about $80. Despite launching with a deluxe version of Tetris, it is overshadowed by the Pokemon phenomenon. The system is replaced in just a few years, and is fairly quickly discontinued.
 * November – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is released. The game is just as big a deal as it is in real life, if not more so.
 * November – Crash Bandicoot 3 is released.
 * November – Virtua Fighter 3 is released for the Saturn.
 * November 19 - Half-Life is released for the PC. In addition to pushing forward storytelling in shooter games, the title also puts the fledgling Valve on the map.
 * December 1 - A colored port of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening subtitled DX is released for the Game Boy Color.
 * December 5 - Hey You, Pikachu! is released for the N64 in Japan. The game isn't released in the West until 2000.
 * December - Custom Robo is released for the N64. It starts a minor Nintendo franchise.
 * December - Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is released for the N64. Along with Star Fox 64, it is the most notable flying game of the generation.
 * December – Mario Party is released to good sales and some praise. It starts yet another multiplayer series for Nintendo systems.

1999

 * January – Super Smash Bros is released for the N64. The game joins the library of multiplayer titles the N64 has become known for, and becomes the best selling fighting game on the system.
 * February 11 – Final Fantasy 8 comes out for the N64.
 * February 13 - Power Stone is released in the arcades. One of the first major games for Sega's NAOMI hardware, it is a showcase of what the next generation could bring. Despite plans to do so, neither this game or its sequel would be brought to the Dreamcast. However, upon the dissolution of the game's development team, Sega would hire its members to create "Team Smackdown."
 * March – Pokemon Snap is released. Despite its brevity, it becomes the second best selling on-rails shooter on the N64, following Star Fox 64.
 * March 16 - The Neo Geo Pocket Color is released in Japan. Although by no means a hit, it helps establish the Neo Geo brand as a competitor to the Game Boy series.
 * April – Pokemon Stadium is released. The game helps breathe life into the aging N64, preparing it for the onslaught of the Dreamcast.
 * May – Star Wars Episode 1 Racer is released to critical acclaim and sales success on the N64. It is later ported to the upcoming Dreamcast.
 * May 13 - E3 1999 is held. Sega reveals their upcoming Dreamcast, which would usher in the next generation of consoles. First party titles include Sonic Adventure and Shenmue. and Nintendo, although confirming their next system's existence, kept the focus on their current console. Nintendo games shown included Donkey Kong 64, Pokemon Stadium, and Super Smash Bros. Other games shown include Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Blizzard's Diablo II, Capcom's Resident Evil 3 and marvel vs. Capcom, EA's The Sims, Microsoft's Age of Empires 2, Namco's Soul Calibur, and Ubisoft's Rayman 2.
 * May 17 - Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is released for the Game Boy Color. A port of the original game, with the Lost Levels sequel and a variety of other content thrown in, this game is very well received.
 * June - Sonic Golf, the first of several "Sonic Sports" games from Camelot, is released for the Saturn.
 * July 1 - Dino Crisis is released for the Saturn.
 * July – Driver is released for the Saturn
 * July – Seaman is released for the Saturn alongside a microphone peripheral. It becomes a cult hit.
 * August - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is released for the N64. This franchise becomes one of the prominent sports series in gaming up through the following console generation.
 * September – The N64 and Saturn's price are cut to $129.
 * September - The Game Boy Micro is released. This version of the Game Boy requires a single AAA battery to power, and has all the features of its larger predecessors. Although incapable of playing Game Boy Color games, the system sells decently.
 * September 22 - Resident Evil 3 is released for the Saturn.
 * October - Rayman 2 is, controversially, released for the Nintendo 64, a platform that previously had no Rayman games. Rayman 2 is considered by many to be the best 3D platformer of the generation not by Nintendo or any of its affiliates.
 * October - Xenogears is released for the Saturn.
 * November 21 - Pokemon Gold/Silver is released in Japan, followed by releases in other countries up through 2001. Selling only somewhat less than the first generation of Pokemon games, Gold/Silver easily sells more than any other Game Boy Color game.
 * November 24 - Donkey Kong 64 is released. The game required a special expansion pack for increased RAM, like the latter Majora’s Mask. Nonetheless, it sells well.
 * December 17 - Mario Party 2 is released for the N64. Years later, it is still regarded as possibly the greatest title in series history.

2000

 * February – Dead or Alive 2 is released for the Saturn.
 * February 4 - The Sims is released for the PC. This starts one of the best selling franchises on the history of the platform, due to the wide demographic appeal in the series's nature.
 * March - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is released. It is the odd 2.5D platformer on a system dominated by 3D platforming.
 * March 21 - Earthbound 64, aka Mother 3, is released to critical acclaim and decent sales. The game is notably darker than its predecessors, containing elements such as drug-induced nightmares, depression, and suicide. It thus earns itself a "Mature" rating in the United States, a first-time event for a Nintendo game.
 * March 28 - Wario Land 3 is released for the Game Boy Color.
 * April – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is released. It suffers from lower sales than Ocarina of Time due to the need for a peripheral.
 * May 11 - E3 is held. This is the final E3 before the sixth generation of consoles. Sega shows off their launch line up, including Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Samba de Amigo, and Shenmue. Nintendo reveals their GameCube, announcing its approximate release date of latter 2001. The last full round of N64 games shown at E3 included Banjo-Tooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Kirby 64, and Majora's Mask. Third party games shown include Blizzard's Warcraft 3, Konami's Metal Gear Solid 2, and Square's Final Fantasy IX.
 * May 22 - Perfect Dark is released for the N64. It continues the FPS tradition started by Goldeneye.
 * June 30 - Excitebike 64, as developed by Left Field Productions, is released.
 * July - Sonic Tennis is released for the Saturn. It is one of the last major games for the system.
 * July – Dragon Quest 7 is released for the N64. The game helps the N64 temporarily overshadow the upcoming Dreamcast in Japan, despite its age.
 * August 16 - Kirby Tilt n Tumble is released for the Game Boy Color. Controlled by a series of accelerometers within the cartridge, the game is ahead of its time.
 * September – The Dreamcast is launched for a price of about $199, and is released worldwide over the next few months at similar prices. Launch window titles include Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Samba de Amigo, Shenmue, Sonic Shuffle, Rayman 2, Capcom vs. SNK, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. It is renowned as one of the great launch lineups of all time.
 * September – Final Fantasy 9 is released for the N64.
 * September 13 - Dino Crisis 2 is released for the Saturn. It is one of Capcom's last games for the system.
 * September 25 - Pokemon puzzle League is released for the N64. Essentially a reskin of the SNES game "Tetris Attack," the game is based on the Pokemon anime rather than the RPG games.
 * October – Skies of Arcadia is released for the Dreamcast.
 * October - The Saturn's price is cut to $100
 * October 20 - Mega Man Xtreme is released for the Game Boy Color. It can be seen as part of the series's transition from consoles to the Game Boy.
 * November 20 – The N64’s price is cut to $100. Banjo-Tooie is also released on this day.
 * November 21 - Sin & Punishment is released for the N64.
 * November 30 - Mega Man X5 is released for the Saturn. Upon the insistence of series creator Keiji Inafune, the game is the last main entry in its series.
 * December 7 - Mario Party 3 is released. A few days later, Hudson Soft first enters the stock market, becoming a public company. many of the shares are eventually purchased by Nintendo, and a relationship between the two companies begins to form.
 * December 14 - Pokemon Crystal is released in Japan. The game is a special edition of Gold/Silver.
 * December – Pokemon Stadium 2 is released. The game is one of the N64’s last hurrahs, driving much of its sales through the next few months.
 * December – Phantasy Star Online is launched, and becomes the first great console MMO.

2001

 * February 1- Onimusha: Warlords is released for the Dreamcast.
 * February 5 - Paper Mario is released, as the last in a line of great Role-Playing games for the Nintendo 64.
 * February 20 - The Zelda Oracle games are released for the Game Boy Color. Unlike most games in the series, they are developed by Capcom rather than Nintendo EAD. Each game is well received in general, selling millions of copies combined despite the imminent release of the Game Boy Advance.
 * March 5 - Conker's Bad Fur Day is released for the Nintendo 64. The game controversially includes references to sexual conduct and lewd behavior, and becomes a cult classic. Notably, it is Nintendo's second game to get a "Mature" rating.
 * March 21 - The Game Boy Advance is launched at a price of about $100 in Japan, followed by a Western release in June. Unlike its predecessors, it is virtually uncontested. It is released with Super Mario Advance, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, and Mega Man: Battle Network.
 * April 1 - Dr. Mario 64 is released. A minor release, it is notably Nintendo's smallest game ever made for the Nintendo 64.
 * April 21 - Animal Crossing is released for the Nintendo 64. However, the game remains relatively obscure until its GameCube port later in the year.
 * May - E3 2001 is a bigger event than ever. On the Dreamcast side, games like Super Monkey Ball, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Sonic Adventure 2 are shown. Meanwhile, Nintendo highlights their two upcoming systems, the Game Boy Advance and the GameCube. Games featured include Final Fantasy X, Pikmin, and Super Smash Bros Melee.
 * July 28 – Mario Kart: Super Circuit is released for the GBA.
 * August 16 - Devil May Cry comes out for the Dreamcast. This series of hack and slash action games becomes one of the more popular series on the system.
 * August 21 - Wario Land 4 is released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan, followed by a November release in the West. Though not quite as well received as Wario Land 3, it is still a hit. Note that the same game engine would be used for next year's Metroid Fusion.
 * September – Super Monkey Ball is released for the Dreamcast
 * September 7 – The GameCube is released in Japan at about $200. Key launch titles include Final Fantasy X, Wave Race: Blue Storm, and Luigi’s Mansion. Final Fantasy X easily dominates the launch, guaranteeing the GameCube a place in the country.
 * September 3 - Advance Wars is released in America. It is the first entry in the long-running series to do so, and it becomes a critical hit upon release.
 * September 9 - The Neo Geo Portable is released. This is the most popular handheld from SNK ever, and goes on to sell decently until its replacement in 2005.
 * October 11 - Ace Attorney is released for the Game Boy Advance. The series becomes a cult classic in Japan, but doesn't arrive in the West until 2006's Game Boy Nitro port.
 * October 22 – Grand Theft Auto 3 is released for the PC. The game is not available on the Dreamcast, due to the limited control scheme. Likewise, the game is never released for the GameCube, although this is a purely business decision rather than a technical one.
 * November 2– Pikmin is released for the GameCube.
 * November -The GameCube launches in America with the main Japanese launch titles and Pikmin.
 * November 12 – Metal Gear Solid 2 is released for the Dreamcast. The game is a huge step above its predecessor on a technological level, but still falls short of our timeline’s respective version.
 * November 15 - Dead or Alive 3 is released for the Dreamcast.
 * November 21 – Super Smash Bros Melee is released for the GameCube. Rez is released for the Dreamcast
 * November - Halo is released for the PC and the Mac OS X. The game starts a series of popular FPS's that never migrate to the consoles.
 * December 14 – Super Mario Advance 2 is released in Japan, with a Western release coming early the nest year.
 * December - Jak and Daxter is released for both 6th generation consoles. It begins one of the more influential platforming series of the era.

2002

 * January – Virtua Fighter 4 is released for the Dreamcast. It joins the vast library of Dreamcast fighters with a strong online fanbase.
 * February 28 - Cubivore is released for the GameCube in Japan. It is later brought West, albeit published by Atlus instead of Nintendo.
 * March 15 - Resident Evil has a remake released for the GameCube. The GameCube becomes the new home of Resident Evil this generation.
 * March 29 - Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade is released in Japan. Although the game never comes West, it is still known to Western players due to the inclusion of its protagonist, Roy, in the popular Super Smash Bros Melee.
 * April 26 - Mega Man Zero is released for the Game Boy Advance. Along with the Battle Network series, the Zero games keep the Mega Man franchise alive on the Game Boy Advance.
 * May – The GameCube is launched in Europe.
 * May - The Dreamcast's price is cut to $179, and the Saturn's price is cut to $50. In retaliation, Nintendo cuts the GameCube's price to $149.
 * May - Sonic Adventure 2 is released for the Dreamcast.
 * May 31 - Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo, steps down after over 50 years at the helm. He is replaced by Satoru Iwata, who is notably an actual former creator of games.
 * June 28 - Shining Sun is released for the Dreamcast. It is one of the most acclaimed RPG's on the system.
 * July 9 - E3 2002 is held. Nintendo shows off their upcoming Mario, Metroid, and Zelda games as well as third party games like Kingdom Hearts, while Sega shows off their own Panzer Dragoon Orta along with Ninja Gaiden and Ratchet & Clank. On the handheld front, Nintendo continues to be the only notable player, with remakes of classic games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland being prominently displayed.
 * July 26 – Super Mario Sunshine is released. The game scores and sells better than Sonic’s recent outings, but not by tremendously much. It is generally seen as a lesser work than Super Mario 64.
 * August - Super Monkey Ball 2 is released for the Dreamcast.
 * September 15 - Animal Crossing is first released in the West, after an extensive localization. The game starts a new major global franchise for Nintendo, particularly for its handhelds, as seen with Wild World in 2006.
 * September - Nintendo purchases Rare from the Stamper brothers, making it a first party developer.
 * September 13 – Super Mario Advance 3 is released.
 * September 22 - Dinosaur Planet is released for the GameCube. It is a success, but one that is never followed up on, possibly due to similarities to the more successful Zelda franchise.
 * September - Kingdom Hearts is released. The game does similarly well as in our timeline, and inspires future Action-RPGs.
 * October – Shenmue 2 is released for the Dreamcast.
 * October 18 – Kirby’s Nightmare in Dreamland is released for the Game Boy Advance.
 * October 21 - Mario Party 4 is released for the GameCube. The series prospers this generation, with annual releases for a few years.
 * October 29 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is released for the PC. The game is eventually ported to the GameCube, but it sell poorly there.
 * November – Shinobi is released for the Dreamcast. It joins Devil May Cry in the Dreamcast's library of action games.
 * November 10 - Metroid Prime is released for the GameCube. It successfully restarts an old franchise, and is one of the best rated games of the generation. Metroid Fusion for the GBA is released on the same day, to somewhat lesser but still great sales and reviews.
 * November 12 - Resident Evil Zero is released for the GameCube.
 * November 28 – Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire are released. in Japan, with the Western release coming the following Spring. The game is significantly less popular than its predecessors, and marks a low point for the series in terms of sales. Nevertheless, Pokemon still ends up selling more than any other Game Boy Advance game.
 * November - Ratchett and Clank is released for both consoles. It combines platforming and shooting gameplay to become its own popular franchise.
 * December – Panzer Dragoon Orta is released. It shames Star Fox fans.
 * December 6 – The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is released. Despite the controversial art style, the game ultimately is well received, although not as much as Ocarina of Time. A port of A Link to the Past is released the same day in Japan, which includes a bonus multiplayer-oriented game developed by Capcom called Four Swords.

2003

 * January – The House of the Dead 3 is released for the Dreamcast.
 * February 1 - Devil May Cry 2 is released for the Dreamcast. The game is a critical and sales disappointment, but not enough to kill the series.
 * February - The Game Boy Advance gets a facelift with the SP model. This version is a flip model of the GBA, with a built-in light.
 * March 13 - Final Fantasy XI is released for the GameCube. Unlike most recent entries in the series, this one focuses on gameplay over story, reintroducing the Job System and featuring few cutscenes.
 * March - Rayman 3 is released for both consoles. It is considered a step down from its predecessors, like many other 3D platformers of the era.
 * April 25 - Donkey Kong Racing is released to general acclaim. However, the title is soon overshadowed by Mario's respective racing game. Giftpia is released the same day in Japan.
 * May 9 - Fire Emblem: The Sword of Flame is released in Japan. It is the first entry in the series to get brought to the West, where it is simply titled Fire Emblem.
 * May 14 - E3 2003 is held. The event is generally seen as disappointing, with Nintendo showing few major new titles other than racers and Mother 4 and Sega's Sonic Heroes receiving poor previews. Sega announces a $30 price drop for the Dreamcast.
 * June 6 - Donkey Kong Country is released for the Game Boy Advance''. It is the first port of a classic game from Rare to a handheld system.
 * June 23 - Advance Wars 2 is released for the Game Boy Advance. It continues the popular series, which eventually becomes a trilogy on the system.
 * June 26 - Viewtiful Joe is released for the GameCube. The game is eventually also brought to the Dreamcast. However, despite positive reviews, neither version of the game sells well. As Capcom's Clover Studio's debut, it sets a trend for great games that sell poorly.
 * July 11 – Super Mario Advance 4 is released.
 * July - Sonic Golf: Green Hills Zone is released for the Dreamcast. The game ends up being a surprise hit.
 * July 25 - Pokemon Channel is released for the GameCube. It is poorly received, much like its predecessor Hey You, Pikachu!
 * August - Soul Calibur 2 is released for both consoles. Despite the Dreamcast version's online play, the GameCube version sells better, partially due to the inclusion of Link from the Zelda series.
 * September 5 - The GameCube's price is cut to $129. Excitecycle, the continuation of Nintendo's long-running racing series, is released the same day.
 * November - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is released. The game is an oddity in that it is a successful realistic platformer. However, it has minimal influence on the industry.
 * November 7 – Mario Kart: Double Dash is released. The game receives generally good reviews, but is hindered by a lack on online play compared to the Dreamcast.
 * November 10 - Mario Party 5 is released.
 * November 17 - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is released for the Game Boy Advance. It starts a second great franchise of Mario RPG games, focusing on the teamwork between the two famous brothers.
 * December 5 - 1080° Avalanche is released for the GameCube. It is less successful than its Nintendo 64 predecessor 1080° Snowboarding and even other snowboarding games, dooming the franchise.
 * December 12 - Pokémon Colosseum is released for the GameCube in Japan, with a Western release coming the following spring. It combines the RPG mechanics of the handheld games with the 3D graphics of the Nintendo 64's Stadium games.

2004

 * January 29 – Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen is released in Japan, with a Western release coming towards the end of the year. The game essentially follows the original Pokemon games using the mechanics and graphics of the most recent titles, and is one of the best selling titles for the Game Boy Advance.
 * February 7 - The first wave of NES Classics, including Super Mario Bros., Ice Climber, and Bomberman, are released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan, where they are available for a discount price of $20. Many NES games would eventually be re-released for the Game Boy Advance, including both Nintendo and third party games.
 * February 9 - Metroid: Zero Mission is released for the Game Boy Advance. A full remake of the original NES game, it is one of the most critically acclaimed remakes in video game history. The graphics, sound, added content, altered gameplay, and many other aspects are lauded. However, it sells much less than Metroid Fusion, possibly due to competition from the re-release of the NES game on the same system also during 2004.
 * February – Sonic Heroes is released. It is the worst received main Sonic game yet.
 * March 2 - Ninja Gaiden is released for the Dreamcast. Along with Shinobi and the Devil May Cry series, it helps define a generation of Action games, and defines the Dreamcast as the only console to get those games on.
 * March 4 - Custom Robo is released in Japan. Actually the fourth entry in the franchise, known as Custom Robo: Battle Revolution in Japan, it is the first entry in the series to be brought West, where it received mixed reviews.
 * March 11 - Monster Hunter is released for the Dreamcast. The game is successful enough to warrant a sequel, but the series doesn't truly take off until the third main iteration in the series in 2009.
 * March 18 - The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is released. Combining the use of both the GBA and the GameCube, this hardware-heavy gaiden to the Zelda series still becomes a moderate success.
 * April 15 - Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is released for the Game Boy Advance. An unusual game even by Kirby standards, it combines Metroid style elements with classic Kirby platforming.
 * April 22 - Pikmin 2 is released for the GameCube. The game refines the RTS formula used in the original, and is generally considered the best console RTS ever made.
 * May - The Dreamcast's price is cut by $20, to $129.
 * May 6 - Grabbed by the Ghoulies is released for the GameCube. Unlike in our timeline, this game is an open-world platformer, and receives more positive than negative reviews.
 * May 20 - Street Fighter 3: Perfect Edition is released for both the Dreamcast and the GameCube. The game is the ultimate edition of an aging fighter.
 * May 23 - E3 is held. Nintendo displays Mother 4, Metroid Prime 2, and Resident Evil 4 for the GameCube and mentions their seventh generation of game systems. The surprise announcement of the show is Star Fox: Dark Phoenix, which is being developed in cooperation with Capcom. Sega shows off Sega Superstars Smackdown, Shenmue 3, and Metal Gear Solid 3.
 * June 25 - Donkey Kong Country 2 is released for the Game Boy Advance.
 * July 22 - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is released in Japan. It solidifies Mario's status as an RPG icon, strengthens the GameCube's RPG library in general, and is considered one of the best games of the year.
 * September 16 – Pokemon Emerald is released in Japan.
 * October 7 - WarioWare: Twisted!, a puzzle/variety game, is released for the Game Boy Advance. Although it never became a true sales hit, the game is one of the most acclaimed titles for the system, and the game eventually wins multiple awards.
 * October 8 - Mother 4 is released for the GameCube. The game is controversial within the gaming community, due to its distinct nature compared to its predecessors. Director Fumito Ueda is alternatively called a genius and an imbecile by divided fans. On the same day, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is also released, for the Game Boy Advance.
 * October 11 - Sega Superstars Smackdown is released for the Dreamcast. The game goes on to be the best selling fighter on the system.
 * October 25 - Sonic Power Tennis is released for the Dreamcast. Though overshadowed by the crossover Smackdown, this game continues Camelot's trend of well received sports games based on the Sonic franchise. Mario Party 6 is released on the same day.
 * October 26 - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is released for the PC. The game is beyond the capabilities of the Dreamcast and GameCube, and mark the beginning of the end of the generation to some.
 * November 4 - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance. One of the more obscure Zelda games, it was developed by Capcom. Despite being the only original title in the series for the GBA, it has merely moderate sales, although the critics were quite fond of the game.
 * November 8 – Shenmue 3 is released. The series as a whole sold well and was a critical hit, but was financially draining. The series ends here.
 * November 15 - Metroid Prime 2 is released. The game is not quite as well received as its predecessor.
 * November - Metal Gear Solid 3 is released for the Dreamcast. Though it is a departure from the series main storyline, its survival gameplay and mastery of the Dreamcast hardware make it a masterpiece.
 * November 30 - World of Warcraft is released on the PC. It soon becomes the most popular MMORPG of all time, and along with Valve's Half-Life 2, breathes new life into the ailing PC games market.
 * December - The Behemoth's first game, Alien Hominid, is released for the Dreamcast and GameCube. It is a surprise hit, and ensures a successful future for the independent developer.
 * December 16 - Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is released for the GameCube in Japan. It is a predecessor to the 2D platformer revival.

2005

 * January 11 - Resident Evil 4 is released for the GameCube. It becomes one of the GameCube's few best selling 2005 titles, and one of the best received shooters of all time.
 * January 13 - Mario Party Advance is released for the Game Boy Advance. It is poorly received by critics. Interestingly, this is one of the last games made by Hudson Soft before they become a subsidiary of Nintendo.
 * February 14 - Star Fox: Dark Phoenix is released for the GameCube. Though not as successful as 64, the game nevertheless is a solid hit both critically and commercially.
 * March 1 - Devil May Cry 3 is released for the Dreamcast. The game refines the series formula to become the top selling and best reviewed entry in the original trilogy.
 * March 6 - The American television show 60 Minutes runs a feature about video games and their connection to violence. The show takes a strong stance against games. This troubles Tom Fulp of The Behemoth and Newgrounds.com, leading to the creation of the charity "Extra Life" as of March 17.
 * April - Hudson Soft, after years of losses, turns to Nintendo for aid. Due to the two companies' close relationship, similar to that between Nintendo and HAL Laboratories in the early 90's, Nintendo announced that they would fund Hudson Soft in return for Nintendo exclusivity. Nintendo would also eventually go on to also buy a majority of shares in the company.
 * April - Lego Star Wars is released, beginning a highly successful series of Lego games based off of different franchises.
 * April 20 - The GameCube's price is cut to $99. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is released on the same day in Japan, where the game is bundled.
 * May 17 - E3 2005 is held. Nintendo and Sega show off their next systems for the first time. Nintendo also shows off their next handheld, the Game Boy Nitro. However, most of the demos are in an unplayable form.
 * May 19 - Brain Age is released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. However, the game does not truly shine until the Nitro port released worldwide the following year.
 * June 23 - Chibi-Robo! is released for the GameCube in Japan. Although brought West in 2006, it fails to make an impact in either a critical or commercial sense. On the same day, Advance Wars 3 is released, finishing the GBA trilogy.
 * August 4 - Pokemon XD is released for the GameCube. It is seen as a simple sequel, and fails to reach the upper levels of GameCube Role-Playing games.
 * August 14 - Phantasmagoria of Flower View, the ninth Touhou game, is released. Notably, it is the first entry in the series to officially be released in the West, as Rising Star Games publishes the game in America and Europe by the end of the year.
 * August 29 - Kameo: Elements of Power is released for the GameCube.
 * September 13 - The Game Boy Micro, a minuscule version of the Advance, is released. It sells well enough, but ultimately gets overshadowed by the upcoming Nitro. Older versions of the Advance are cut in price to $75.
 * November 7 - Mario Party 7, the last annual Mario Party game, is released for the GameCube.
 * November 11 - Donkey Kong Country 3 is released for the Game Boy Advance''.
 * November 17 - Perfect Dark Zero is released for the GameCube. Although a successful continuation of the series, it is unable to jump-start the faltering multiplayer shooter on consoles. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, the first in a series of Pokemon spinoffs, is released on the same day.
 * November - Shadow the Hedgehog is released. It receives very mixed reviews.
 * November - Dragon Quest 8 is released for the GameCube. The game is one of the top selling RPGs of the generation. Soon afterwards, the developer, Level-5, enters a permanent arrangement to create games for publisher Enix.
 * November 28 - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is released for the Game Boy Advance. It is Nintendo's last notable games for the system.
 * December - The Neo Geo Gold is released. This system starts healthily, but ultimately fails to compare to the Game Boy Nitro, which is released a few months later.
 * December 22 - Kingdom Hearts 2 is released in Japan, and is brought West the following year. The game sells somewhat less than the original, but still very well, while actually scoring slightly better.

2006

 * February - Sonic Riders is released for the Dreamcast.
 * February 23 - Baten Kaitos Origins is released for the GameCube. Despite lackluster sales, it had good reviews, although it is soon overshadowed by other RPG's.
 * February 24 – The Game Boy Nitro is launched in Japan for $150. This handheld is similar to our DS, but with only the one touchscreen, a touch more horsepower, and an analog stick, making it appear similar to the PSP. Like the Advance, it goes virtually unopposed in the handheld market, other than the imminent rise of the iOS devices. Launch titles include Animal Crossing: Wild World, Super Mario 64 Deluxe, Mario Kart Nitro, and Mega Man Powered Up.
 * March 16 - Final Fantasy XII, the last great RPG for the GameCube, is released in Japan. Unbeknownst to the general public, it is the end of a nearly two-decade era of Nintendo-exclusivity for the series.
 * March 20 - Tetris Nitro is released.
 * March 30 - Pokemon Ranger is released in Japan. Developed by the makers of Kirby, this game marks the start of a new successful series, selling a couple million copies.
 * April - The Dreamcast's price is cut to $99.
 * April 13 - Okami is released for the GameCube, and proves to be a major critical hit. A Zelda-style game, it is one of the few examples that rivals the Zelda series itself. However, initially low sales help doom Clover Studio.
 * May 18 - Bomberman is released for the Nitro. It is one of the first notable Hudson Soft projects as a subsidiary of Nintendo.
 * June 6 - Excitecycle Extreme is released for the GameCube in America. It is Nintendo's last GameCube title to be released.
 * June 5 - New Super Mario Bros is released for the Nitro. The game helps spark a revival of 2D and 2.5D platformers, both on the Nitro and the upcoming 7th generation consoles.
 * August 1 - Platinum Games is founded from the employees of Clover Studio. Notable employees include Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil, Atsushi Inaba, who helped develop Ace Attorney, and Hideki Kamiya, who led the development of Resident Evil 2.
 * August 3 - Rhythm Heaven is released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. The game becomes a cult classic, despite it coming out after the release of the Nitro.
 * September 21 - Pokemon Diamond and Pearl are released in Japan. This fourth generation of games gains popularity over the third thanks to the inclusion of online battling and trading.
 * October 4 - Gunpei Yokoi leaves Nintendo for the last time. Although he is open for interviews in the future and even attends an event or two, this time his retirement is for real.
 * November 2 - Nintendogs is released for the Nitro. The game becomes a phenomenon, attracting people who would usually not be interested in video games.
 * November – Sega and Nintendo release their 7th generation systems, the Pluto and the Revolution, for about $300 apiece at minimum with multiple skus and bundles. The two systems have similar specs, somewhere between our timeline’s Wii and the HD twins, and use 4.7 GB DVD discs. If anything, specs are comparable to the Vita’s, with some stats being higher and lower. Thus, games are typically rendered in 480p or 720p. Controllers are similar to the real-life standard, with four face buttons, a D-Pad, dual analogs, Start, Select, and home buttons, and two rows of shoulder buttons. The main difference between the two consoles is online strategy. Sega uses an Xbox Live-like system, where players pay per month of online access and play, and a market of downloadable games is quick to get started. The Revolution, on the other hand, is similar to the Wii in terms of online support. The service is free, and doesn't launch with a true eShop, instead having a Virtual Console service. Over time, both consoles get better online support, including eventual Netflix compatibility.
 * November 11 – The Sega Pluto is launched in Japan. Sega launches the system with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, with 3rd party titles including sports and racing games, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Blue Dragon, which is funded in part and published by Sega. Sonic the Hedgehog is intended to be a launch title, but is delayed for quality reasons. Therefore, the launch is considered somewhat disappointing, ala the PS3 launch in our timeline.
 * November 17 - The Pluto is launched in America.
 * November 19 – The Nintendo Revolution is launched in America. Nintendo launches the system with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Viva Pinata, with third parties providing various sports and racing games and Dead Rising.
 * December 2 - The Revolution is launched in Japan, with WarioWare: Smooth Moves being an additional launch title.
 * December 7 - Mega Man Star Force is released for the Game Boy Nitro. Like other Mega Man games of this generation, it scores and sells worse than its predecessors.
 * December 8 - The Revolution and Pluto are launched in Europe.

2007

 * January 4 - Pokemon Battle Revolution is released for the Revolution. It is not as successful as earlier Pokemon console games of the same style, due in part to the online portions of the handheld games it is meant to supplement.
 * February – Virtua Fighter 5 is released for the Pluto.
 * February 15 - Planet Puzzle League is released for the Nitro.
 * February 22 - Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is released for the Revolution. It is the first of many notable role-playing games for the system.
 * March – Virtua Tennis 3 is released for the Pluto.
 * April 9 – Super Paper Mario is released for the Revolution.
 * April 12 - Ace Attorney 4 is released for the Nitro. It is a moderate hit in Japan, but due to the lateness of the first three games in the West, it isn't released in America and Europe until 2009.
 * April 13 - Pilotwings Island is released for the Nitro. The game is a minor hit, and encourages many who were doubting the abilities of developer Hudson Soft.
 * May 22 – Mario Party 8 is released. It performs similarly to its GameCube predecessors.
 * June – Sonic the Hedgehog, better known as Sonic 07, is released. Although by no means the mess our timeline’s counterpart was, the game is still heavily criticized for its story.
 * June 23 - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is released for the Nitro. A spinoff of Wind Waker, it goes on to become the best selling handheld Zelda game of all time.
 * June 26 - Lost Planet is released for the Pluto and Revolution. It starts a moderately successful new Capcom franchise.
 * June 29 - Brain Age 2 is released for the Nitro. The game continues the Nitro's trend and Nintendo's trend in general of attracting new audiences.
 * June - The Game Boy Advance receives its final price cut, to $50.
 * July - Ninja Gaiden Sigma is released for the Revolution. It marks a change in the exclusivity of games, and the increasing reliance on first party efforts.
 * July 10 - E3 2007 is held. Nintendo shows off Mario Kart X, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy, and Revolution Fitness for the Revolution, while Sega demonstrates Nights: Journey of Dreams, Sonic at the Olympic Games, and third party games like Metal Gear Solid 4 for the Pluto. Other games shown include Assassins' Creed, Resident Evil 5, and Star Wars" The Force Unleashed. Meanwhile, the Nitro continues its run with games like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword and Contra 4.
 * July 19 - The Revolution's eShop proper opens to the public. This allows for the digital purchases of software beyond Virtual Console titles. Launch games for the eShop service include Bomberman Blast.
 * August 10 - Responding to slow sales, especially over the summer, and disappointing titles like Sonic 07, Sega cuts the bottom price point of the Pluto to $280, introducing a new sku to take the top price point. Although this has minimal a effect, it takes time for the Pluto to prove its place in the market.
 * August 17 - Mountain of Faith, the tenth Touhou game, is released in Japan. The game is later ported to the Nintendo eShop abroad, making this the first entry in the series to appear on a Nintendo system.
 * September 10 – Metroid Prime 3 is released. The game finishes the Prime trilogy, but the lack of online multiplayer prevents it from becoming a killer app.
 * September 13 - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 is released for the Nitro.
 * November 1 – Super Mario Galaxy is released for the Revolution. It is one of the top-rated games of all time, and sells remarkably well. Mario Party Nitro is released on the same day, and is much better received than its GBA predecessor.
 * November 5 - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is released for the PC. The game shakes up the First-Person shooter by taking place in a modern setting and adding new aspects to multiplayer. Many other shooters would follow in its footsteps.
 * November – Sonic at the Olympic Games is released. The game is meant to compete with Nintendo’s Mario Sports titles. Although not quite as popular as our timeline’s Mario crossover series, it does well enough to warrant multiple sequels.
 * November – Assassin’s Creed is released for both consoles. The game is slightly scaled down from our timeline’s version, and still suffers from repetition. Nevertheless, the game proves to be a hit, starts a new franchise, and shows off what these new systems can do.
 * November – Guitar Hero is released for the Revolution and Pluto. It starts what becomes a major franchise. This is two years later than in our timeline due to the limits of G6 discs and the lack of establishment of the two consoles in 2006.
 * December 8 – Revolution Fitness is released by Nintendo to the Revolution. In a timeline where the video game market is limited, this game helps sell a lot of systems, pushing this generation ahead of its predecessors.

2008

 * January 24 – Devil May Cry 4 is released for both consoles.
 * January 28 - Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is released for the Nitro. This entry in the series controversially takes a much darker tone than its predecessors, and is less well received.
 * February - Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles is released for the Nitro, officially turning Assassin's Creed into a series. The game receives mixed reviews, much like future spin-offs in the series.
 * March – Sega Superstar Tennis is released, to surprisingly good reviews and sales.
 * March 13 – Super Smash Bros Brawl is released for the Revolution. It is the first major game to make extensive use of Nintendo’s online service.
 * March 20 - Pokemon Ranger 2 is released for the Nitro.
 * March 27 - Monster Hunter Portable is released for the Game Boy Nitro. Essentially a reworking of the first couple of games in the series to work on the weaker Nitro, the game starts a trend of growth for the series.
 * April 3 – Mario Kart X is released for the Revolution. It becomes the best selling racing game of its generation, and pushes a lot of hardware.
 * April - Valkyria Chronicles is released for the Pluto.
 * May 15 - The Glory of Heracles is released for the Nitro. Reception was decent, but the game is overshadowed by other Nitro RPG's.
 * June - Ninja Gaiden 2 is released for both the Pluto and the Revolution.
 * June – Metal Gear Solid 4 is released for the Pluto.
 * July 10 - Super Wario Land is released for the Revolution. It is the first of several 2D platformers from Good-Feel based on classic Nintendo franchises.
 * July 15 - E3 2008 is held. This year is a disappointing one for Nintendo fans, as few first party games are shown. Sega shows off Sonic Unleashed and Valkyria Chronicles, and also announces that Final Fantasy XIII would be a multiplatform title. Furthermore, Sega also announced a multi-game deal with the young Platinum Games, which would start a long relationship between the two companies. Third party games included ''Resident Evil 5';.
 * July – Soul Calibur 4 is released
 * July 31 - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is released for the Nitro. It is a remake of the original game in the series, and receives sales and praise on par for the series.
 * August 14 - The Nitro receives a price cut to $130. In Japan, Rhythm Heaven Gold, the sequel to a popular rhythm game, is also released on the same day.
 * August 31 - Castle Crashers is released for the Pluto and Revolution. It is one of the most successful independent games in history, ultimately selling millions across several systems.
 * September 2 - Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise is announced for the Revolution.
 * September 13 - Pokemon Platinum is released for the Nitro. Although it sells quite well, like earlier Pokemon special editions, the sheer quantity of major Nitro games prevents it from dominating the library.
 * September – Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is released as a multiplatform title.
 * September 18 - Kirby Super Star Ultra is released for the Nitro. A remake of a SNES game with extra content, it actually outsells the original by a wide margin.
 * September 21 - Mega Man 9 is released as an eShop and SegaNet game. The title breaths new life into a waning franchise.
 * September - Sega cuts the Pluto's minimum price to $200. Only at this point, almost two years after launch, does it begin to sell healthily. However, by this point, it is nearly impossible to match the Revolution.
 * October – Guitar Hero 2 is released. The game builds on the previous entry’s success.
 * October 28 - Sega Superstars Smackdown: The Skirmish is released for the Pluto. It is the first retail game available for purchase via SegaNet.
 * November 1 - A new version of the Nitro called the Game Boy Nitro Plus is released in Japan. The Nitro Plus is similar to the original, but with slightly more RAM, two built-in cameras, internal and external storage, and a new component of the Nintendo eShop. A worldwide release would come in April.
 * November - Nintendo cuts the minimum Revolution price to $250.
 * November 9 - Banjo-Threeie is released for the Revolution. The game is well received, but pales in comparison to the recent Super Mario Galaxy.
 * November 23 - Animal Crossing: City Folk is released for the Revolution. Although it would sell well, critics bashed the game for being too similar to its predecessors.
 * December 17 – Final Fantasy 13 is released for both consoles, although the better selling and received version is on the Revolution.
 * December 18 - Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is released for the Revolution in Japan. Although the game never leaves the country, it becomes a favorite among importers.

2009

 * February 5 - Street Fighter 4 is released for the Revolution and Pluto. The game helps respark the fighting genre, and begins a trend of more Fighting games from Capcom than since the 90's.
 * February 10 - MadWorld is released for the Pluto. It is the first of multiple exclusives from Platinum Games for Sega consoles.
 * February 11 - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is released for the Nitro. The game is very well received, becoming the best-selling Mario RPG by the end of the Ntro's life.
 * February – Sonic Unleashed is released. It is considered a return to form for the series, albeit not as good as Mario's recent Super Mario Galaxy.
 * February – Street Fighter 4 comes to the consoles. The game resparks the fighting genre, aided by both systems' online play.
 * February – Yakuza 3 is released for the Pluto.
 * March 19 – Resident Evil 5 is released for both consoles. The game is one of the most popular shooters of the generation, and further popularizes 3rd person shooters.
 * April 29 - WarioWare DIY is released for the Nitro. This microgame compilation allows users to create and share content, and is critcally well received. However, it sells fairly poorly.
 * June 2 - E3 2009 is held. This year's event is considered a step above the previous disappointing year. Sega's titles include Bayonetta, a Devil May Cry-esque action game, Aliens Vs. Predator, and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Nintendo, meanwhile, shows off New Super Mario Bros Revolution, Metroid: Other M, Ico, and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Third party games demonstrated include Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, Need for Speed: Shift, and Batman: Arkham Asylum. Nitro games displayed include The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Scribblenauts, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
 * June 11 - Tomodachi Collection is released for the Nitro. One of the few Nitro games to use the Revolution's avatars in a significant fashion, this game ultimately sells millions of units despite never releasing outside of Japan. Platinum Games' second title, Infinite Space, is released the same day on SegaNet.
 * June – Prototype is released. It continues the trend of open-world games on the consoles this generation.
 * July - Dragon Quest 9 is released for the Game Boy Nitro, marking a Japanese shift towards portable gaming. It eventually becomes the best selling entry in the series in the country, thanks in part to the Nitro's huge userbase.
 * July 29 - Mario Hoops is released for the Revolution.
 * August 1 – Monster Hunter 3 is released as a Revolution exclusive. The game is a major success, and is widely creditied with turning Monster Hunter into one of Capcom's largest franchises.
 * August – Batman: Arkham Asylum is released for both consoles. The game does very well critically and commercially, starting a new franchise.
 * September – Need for Speed: Shift is released
 * September 12 - Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver is released for the Nitro in Japan. A remake of the second generation of Pokemon, this game actually performs better, thanks to a combination of new mechanics and the health of the Nitro's market. The Western release is in the following March.
 * September – Revolution Sports by Rare is released for the Revolution.
 * October 1 – Revolution Fitness Plus is released.
 * October – Tekken 6 is released for both consoles.
 * October 20 – Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games is released.
 * October 23 - Style Savvy is released for the Nitro.
 * October 29 - Sin & Punishment: Star Successor and Bayonetta are released for the Revolution and Pluto respectively. The games are not released in the West until the next year.
 * November 5 - Revolution Sports, a sports-themed compilation of minigames from Rare, is released for the Revolution. Unlike our timeline's Wii Sports, it never becomes a phenomenon. However, it does add to the Revolution brand of games that help expand the console market this generation.
 * November 10 – At long last, the first Call of Duty game is brought to the consoles: a port of Modern Warfare. Although the series is at home on the PC, it finds some success on the Revolution and Pluto.
 * November 11 – New Super Mario Bros Revolution is released. The game repopularizes 2D platformers, and expands the Revolution’s installbase. In fact, this game is often accredited with giving the Revolution the final push necessary to dominate the console generation. New Super Mario Bros Revolution also was the first retail game available for purchase on the Revolution's eShop.
 * November 17 – Assassin’s Creed 2 is released. In lieu of popular FPS’s like Call of Duty and Halo, and even some sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto, this game helps define the console generation. The spinoff Discovery for the Nitro is released the same day.
 * December 5 - PokePark is released for the Revolution in Japan, followed by an international release next year.
 * December 7 - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is released for the Nitro. It is neither as commercially or critically successful as Phantom Hourglass, but still is a notable hit.

2010

 * January 17 - In response to the recent earthquake in Haiti, The Behemoth announces a special three-day sale for their games on SegaNet and the eShop. For every dollar spent on their virtual goods, including both games and DLC, The Behemoth would donate $1.50 to Extra Life.
 * February - Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is released for the Pluto.
 * March 1 - Mega Man 10 is released for SegaNet and the eShop. The game is somewhat less popular than its 2008 predecessor, putting the series in jeopardy.
 * March 6 - Pokemon Ranger 3 is released for the Nitro, finishing a trilogy of games for the system.
 * March 12 - Picross 3D is released for the Nitro.
 * March 18 - Goldeneye 007 HD Remix is released for the Revolution's eShop. A remake of the N64 classic, this FPS goes on to become one of the eShop's mainstays.
 * April 20 - Super Street Fighter 4 is released. The game receives fairly poor sales, preventing Capcom from making more remakes of Street Fighter 4.
 * May 30 – Super Mario Galaxy 2 is released to critical acclaim. Like its predecessor, it is one of the best rated games of all time.
 * June 10 - Xenoblade is released in Japan. However, it does not come to Europe and America for another two years.
 * June 12 - Art Academy is released for the Nitro.
 * June 14 - E3 2010 is held. This is the last E3 before the generational transition begins. Nintendo displays possibly their best lineup yet for the Revolution, with games such as Donkey Kong Country Returns, Ico, Epic Yarn, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Revolution Party, Mario Sports Mix, and Metroid 5: Other M in the first party lineup. Sega, in response, displayed Sonic Colors, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Yakuza 4, and Valkyria Chronicles 2, as well as announcing a new price cut to $150 for the cheapest sku. Third party games included Goldeneye 007 as a Revolution exclusive, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Epic Mickey, Metal Gear Rising as a multiplatform game, Final Fantasy XIV, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Rayman Origins, and a Mortal Kombat reboot.
 * July 1 - Ico is released for the Revolution. Although critically successful, the game suffers from poor sales.
 * July 15 - Lost in Shadow is released for the Revolution. Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem is released for the Nitro the same day.
 * August 5 – Revolution Party is released, and sells well. Kirby: Mass Attack is released for the Nitro the same day.
 * September 6 - The minimum price for the Revolution is cut to $200. Metroid 5: Other M is released the same day, to less success than the Prime games typically had.
 * September 18 - Pokemon Black/White is released for the Nitro in Japan. Although the second generation of games in the series for the Nitro, Black/White nevertheless ends up being a step forward for the franchise, bringing critical acclaim and sales success. A Western release comes the following March.
 * September 22 - Final Fantasy XIV is released for the Revolution and Pluto. The game, like XI before it, features an emphasis on gameplay over story, in contrast to the cutscene-heavy XIII.
 * September 30 - Okamiden is released for the Game Boy Nitro in Japan. Like the original Okami, the game is reviewed positively but sells poorly.
 * September 31 - Dead Rising 2 is released for both the Revolution and the Pluto. The game is not as well received as the original, but still sells enough to leave the possibility of a sequel open.
 * October - Sonic the Hedgehog 4, a downloadable title for the Pluto, is released. The game is considered a general disappointment.
 * October - Shining Sun: Dark Dawn is released for the Pluto.
 * November – Sonic Colors is released to the most critical acclaim the series has had since the Adventure duo of games.
 * November – Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is released. From this point on, Assassin’s Creed is an annual franchise.
 * November 14 - Donkey Kong Country Returns is released for the Revolution. Although Retro was responsible for the project rather than Rare, it nevertheless is a sales success and a critical darling. In general, it receives even better reviews than New Super Mario Bros Revolution, although sales are much lower. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is released for the Nitro the same day.
 * November 25 - Mario Sports Mix, a collaboration between Nintendo and Enix, is released.
 * November – Epic Mickey is released for both consoles.
 * November - Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is released.
 * December 5 - Ice Climber Ascent is released for the Nitro. The second classic Nintendo franchise re-imagined by Hudson Soft for the Nitro, the game ends up gaining a strong following, thanks to its charm and gameplay. The game ends up being a major sales success.
 * December – Monster Hunter 3 Portable is released for the Nitro. The game is somewhat compromised to fit on the platform, but is nonetheless a hit in Japan.
 * December 8 - Newgrounds Rumble is released as a downloadable title for the Revolution and Pluto.
 * December 14 - The Neo Geo X is released at a price of $300. This niche handheld is remarkable for being download-only, but fails to leave a mark on the gaming world.

2011

 * January 27 - Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is released. Although sucessful, fans are outraged by the expanded version released under a year later.
 * April 15 – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is released. The game features some of the best graphics in console history, with both technical prowess and artistic genius.
 * April 21 - Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure is released for the Nitro. As one of Nintendo's few Nitro games in 2011, it symbolizes the system's decline for many fans.
 * April - Mortal Kombat is released to critical acclaim and sales success, continuing the fighting genre revival.
 * June 6 - E3 2011 is held. This event marks the first appearance of all three major 8th generation gaming devices: the successors of the Pluto and Revolution, called the Eclipse and Stream respectively, and the Game Boy 3DS, all of which would be released the next year. Of particular note is the Game Boy 3DS, which has a radically innovative design, similar to our timeline's 3DS with a clam-shell connecting the main system to a top 3D screen. Early demos of games are shown, and the early lineup is revealed to include Mario Kart 3D, Nintendogs+cats, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Kid Icarus: Uprising. Third party games for the Game Boy 3DS include Resident Evil: Revelations and Metal Gear Solid 3D. The Nitro's price is also announced to be cut to about $100 worldwide, effective immediately.
 * July 21 - Rhythm Heaven Fever is released in Japan, with a worldwide release coming the next year.
 * October - Batman: Arkham City is released. This game is the critical darling of the year, and sells about as well as the original.
 * October 24 - Kirby's Return to Dreamland is released for the Revolution. It is received as yet another 2D platformer on a console with many of them, but sells particularly well in Japan.
 * October 28 - Pikmin Anniversary is released. The game is essentially an HD port of Pikmin and Pikmin 2.
 * November 12 - PokePark 2 is released for the Revolution.
 * November - Guitar Hero 5, the final entry in the series, is released.
 * November – Sonic at the 2012 Olympic Games is released.
 * November – Sonic Generations is released to celebrate the Hedgehog’s 20th birthday. The game combines 2D and 3D gameplay.
 * November – Assassins' Creed: Revelations is released.

2012

 * March - The Game Boy 3DS is released worldwide, at a price of about $200. Launch titles include Mario Kart 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Nintendogs+cats, Resident Evil: Revelations, and various multiplatform and licensed games. The system is a major success, despite rising competition from cell phones, MP3 players, and tablets.
 * March 3 - The Game Boy 3DS is released in Japan.
 * March - Ninja Gaiden 3 is released. Unlike its predecessors, it is critically panned, destroying the franchise.
 * March 8 - Street Fighter Reborn is released for the Pluto and Revolution. A reimagining of the original Street Fighter from 1987, the game sells worse than Street Fighter 4, but reintroduces many characters to the public eye.
 * March 9 - Mario Party 9 is released for the Revolution.
 * March 23 - The Game Boy 3DS is released in Europe.
 * March 25 - The Game Boy 3DS is released in America.
 * April 19 - Fire Emblem: Awakening is released for the Revolution. It is Nintendo's last game released for the Revolution, and by the time it comes out in the West in 2013, the Stream is already out. Ironically, the game ends up doing better than most in the franchise, due to a combination of new incorporated concepts, the Revolution's high level of popularity, and a fan campaign launched to help convince Nintendo to release the game in the West.
 * May 17 - Dragon's Dogma is released for the Revolution and Pluto. The game is inspired by Western Role-Playing games, but still manages to be a moderate hit on the consoles.
 * May - Sonic Tennis Open is released for the Pluto.
 * June 5 - E3 2012 is held. The two companies display their new systems in their final forms. Launch window titles for the upcoming systems are revealed, and include Aliens: Colonial Marines, Sega Superstars Smackdown: Strife and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed from Sega and New Super Mario Bros S, Wii Fit 2, Pokemon: Black and White Adventures, and Killer Instinct 3 from Nintendo. Other upcoming titles include Resident Evil 6, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Metal Gear Rising, Assassin's Creed 3 and Tomb Raider, and Epic Mickey 2 for systems both old and new. Ports of various PC games like the latest Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto are promised. On the handheld front, Nintendo shows off their upcoming Game Boy 3DS games, including New Super Mario Bros 2, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Mario Party 3D, and Star Fox 64 3D
 * June 16 - Pokemon Black/White 2 is released for the Nitro. The last major game for the Nitro, it symbolizes the abundance of Pokemon games on the platform as well as a last excuse for Nitro owners not wanting to upgrade to a 3DS.
 * July 28 - Brain Age 3 is released in Japan. The game fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessors, due in part to similarities to much cheaper mobile games.
 * August 2 - Dragon Quest X is released in Japan for the Revolution. Although it does not sell quite as well as the extremely popular 9, it continues the series's importance on Nintendo consoles.
 * August 4 - New Super Mario Bros 2 is released for the 3DS. It quickly becomes one of the best selling games on the system.
 * October 2 - Resident Evil 6 is released for the Revolution and Pluto. Originally thought to be a grand finale for the entire console generation, the game is something of a critical miss, despite healthy sales.
 * October - Sega and Nintendo cut the Pluto's and Revolution's minimum prices to $130 and $150 respectively.
 * November 1 - Animal Crossing: New Leaf is released in Japan. The game is a massive hit, outselling even other big names on the Game Boy 3DS such as Mario.
 * November – The Sega Eclipse and Nintendo Stream are launched. The two systems are similar in power to our timeline's Wii U, which is to say they're roughly ten times as powerful as their predecessors. Much of their power, however, is diverted to non-gaming purposes. Both systems are capable of multitasking and are constantly connected to the internet, with Nintendo having a social network called "Miiverse" for their system, nevertheless.
 * November 11 - The Sega Eclipse is launched in America. Launch games include Assassin's Creed 3, Sega Superstars Smackdown: Strife, and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
 * November 18 - The Nintendo Stream is launched in America. Launch titles include Assassin's Creed 3, New Super Mario Bros S, and Pokemon: Black and White Adventures. Pokemon: Black and White Adventures is the successor of games like Stadium, Colosseum, and Battle Revolution.
 * November 20 - Assassin's Creed: Liberation is released for the Game Boy 3DS, shortly after Assassin's Creed III, a launch title for the Eclipse and Stream, comes out.
 * November 23 - The Sega Eclipse is launched in Europe.
 * November 30 - The Nintendo Stream is launched in Europe.
 * December 6 - Paper Mario: Sticker Star is released for the Game Boy 3DS. The game controversially forgoes many traditional RPG elements, instead opting for an inventory-based combat system.
 * December 8 - The Nintendo Stream is launched in Japan. A port of Monster Hunter 3 called Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is released on both the Stream and the Game Boy 3DS on the same day, with cross-platform functionality. The game ends up being successful enough here to warrant a worldwide release in 2013.
 * December 15 - The Sega Eclipse is launched in Japan.

2013

 * January 7 - Tom Fulp announces a fundraiser for Extra Life, in cooperation with The Behemoth. The top hundred donors over the next three months before the game's release would have their names featured within the game. The names would be added to the final product via a patch that would also fix any technical issues.
 * January 31 - DmC: Devil May Cry is released for the Revolution, Pluto, Stream, and Eclipse. The game receives decent reviews but fairly low sales, even selling across four platforms.
 * February 12 - After a long wait, Sega releases Aliens: Colonial Marines. The game receives poor reviews, and is considered a major loss for the young Eclipse.
 * February 14 - Dragon Quest 7 is released for the Game Boy 3DS. A remake of the N64 classic, this game becomes one of the first notable RPG's on the system.
 * February 19, 2013 - Ubisoft releases Rayman Legends for the 8th generation consoles. The game receives immediate critical acclaim.
 * March 12 - Killer Instinct 3 is released for the Stream.
 * March 20 - Mario Party 3D is released for the Game Boy 3DS.