Segaa releases the arcade game Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator in American arcades. The vector graphics coin-op, simulating the “tactical views” seen on the Enterprise in the first two Star Trek movies, is the first officially licensed Star Trek video game. It also reflects some corporate synergy: Sega was, at the time, also owned by Paramount Pictures parent company Gulf + Western. 
The seventh episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their movie roles; Billy Dee Williams provides the voice of Lando Calrissian.
The eighth episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their movie roles; Billy Dee Williams provides the voice of Lando Calrissian.
The ninth episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their movie roles; Billy Dee Williams provides the voice of Lando Calrissian.
The tenth and final episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their movie roles; Billy Dee Williams provides the voice of Lando Calrissian.
Mere weeks before Return Of The Jedi arrives in theaters, Atari releases the arcade game Star Wars in the United States, in both upright (standing) and cocktail (sit-down) models, complete with almost-intelligible sample voices from the movie of the same name. Players strafe the Death Star at lightning speeds (thanks to vector graphics, which can draw faster than full-screen raster graphics) after fending off TIE fighters. The Force is with us… for 25 cents.
Capping off the original movie trilogy that began with Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back is released. Though there will be a small number of TV projects, as well as ongoing comic and prose fiction publishing, a popular role-playing game and video games, this is the last Star Wars movie for 16 years.
Atarisoft, an Atari imprint that ports the company’s games (or licensed properties) to competitors’ hardware, reveals its port of Pac-Man for the Intellivision at the 1983 summer Consumer Electronics Show. The game proves to be a minor hit closer to Christmas.
Buena Vista Records releases the LP Star Wars: Rebel Mission To Ord Mantell, an original audio drama written by Brian Daley (the writer behind the entire National Public Radio adaptation of Star Wars). It features none of the movie or radio cast members.
Midway releases the arcade video game Pac ‘N’ Pal, licensed from Namco, the Japanese developers behind Pac-Man, of which this game is a loose sequel.
British publisher W.H. Allen releases the non-fiction book Doctor Who: A Celebration by Peter Haining (with uncredited contributions by Jeremy Bentham), chronicling the series up to the eve of its 20th anniversary.
Atari, under its Atarisoft imprint, releases the Apple II port of Pac-Man, largely reusing the code of the earlier H.A.L. Labs title Taxman.
Midway releases the arcade video game Jr. Pac-Man, a new Pac-Man sequel which introduces a scrolling element with mazes that are bigger than the screen.
The 602nd episode of Doctor Who airs on PBS television stations across America – the first Doctor Who story ever to premiere outside the UK – with British fans having to wait two days later to see it on BBC1. Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee reprise their roles as the second and third Doctors, with Richard Hurndall stepping into the role of the first Doctor. (Never-before-seen footage from the abandoned 1979 story Shada constitutes Tom Baker’s appearance as the fourth Doctor.) Numerous former companions of the various Doctors put in guest appearances as well, alongside Anthony Ainley as the Master. The special 90-minute story celebrates 20 years of Doctor Who.
Hobbled by the recent half-billion-dollar losses of its Atari division, Warner Communications finds itself vulnerable to a potential hostile takeover by Australian publisher Rupert Murdoch, who isn’t shy about his plan to acquire a controlling interest in Warner’s very slowly recovering stock. To stave off Murdoch’s takeover attempt, a 19% stake in Warner is traded for 43% of Chris-Craft Industries’ broadcasting division, BHC Communications. This transaction later has unforseen consequences, including BHC’s near-successful 1989 attempt to block the Time Warner merger, and the creation of the short-lived PTEN television network, a failed 1990s venture whose main claim to fame will be the science fiction series Babylon 5.
The 603rd episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story opens the 21st season, and marks the first appearance of the Silurians and Sea Devils since 1972 (and the first joint appearance of both); this is also the last Silurian story of the original series. Ingrid Pitt and Ian McCulloch guest star.
The 604th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story opens the 21st season, and marks the first appearance of the Silurians and Sea Devils since 1972 (and the first joint appearance of both); this is also the last Silurian story of the original series. Ingrid Pitt and Ian McCulloch guest star.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 605th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story opens the 21st season, and marks the first appearance of the Silurians and Sea Devils since 1972 (and the first joint appearance of both); this is also the last Silurian story of the original series. Ingrid Pitt and Ian McCulloch guest star.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 606th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story opens the 21st season, and marks the first appearance of the Silurians and Sea Devils since 1972 (and the first joint appearance of both); this is also the last Silurian story of the original series. Ingrid Pitt and Ian McCulloch guest star.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 607th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Polly James guest stars.
The 608th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Polly James guest stars.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 609th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Peter Gilmore, William Lucas and Lesley Dunlop guest star.
The 610th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Peter Gilmore, William Lucas and Lesley Dunlop guest star.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 611th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Peter Gilmore, William Lucas and Lesley Dunlop guest star.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 612th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Peter Gilmore, William Lucas and Lesley Dunlop guest star.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 613th and 614th episodes of Doctor Who air on BBC1, in a special 50-minute format due to the BBC’s coverage of the 1984 Winter Olympics. Terry Molloy assumes the role of Davros; Maurice Colbourne, Rula Lenska, Rodney Bewes and Leslie Grantham guest star.
The 615th and 616th episodes of Doctor Who air on BBC1, in a special 50-minute format due to the BBC’s coverage of the 1984 Winter Olympics. Terry Molloy assumes the role of Davros; Maurice Colbourne, Rula Lenska, Rodney Bewes and Leslie Grantham guest star. This is Janet Fielding’s last on-screen appearance as long-time TARDIS traveler Tegan Jovanka until 2022.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 617th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Anthony Ainley appears as the Master, as Nicola Bryant is introduced as new TARDIS traveler Peri, the first regular American character (though the actress herself is British). Otherworldly location filming has been done at Lanzarote in the Canary Islands for this story. Peter Wyngarde guest stars.
The 619th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Anthony Ainley appears as the Master, and Peter Wyngarde guest stars. Otherworldly location filming has been done at Lanzarote in the Canary Islands for this story.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The 620th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Anthony Ainley appears as the Master, and Peter Wyngarde guest stars. Mark Strickson makes his final appearance as TARDIS traveler Turlough, and this episode also sees the end of Kamelion, a robot intended to be played by a real robot later beset by mechanical issues in the wake of its designer’s death.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store