American game manufacturer Midway releases the arcade game Gun Fight, the first-ever fully microprocessor controlled arcade videogame, based on Taito’s similar Western Gun game for the Japanese market. Developed by Nutting Associates, the game is a moderate success as a coin-operated arcade game, but in hindsight it is perhaps more significant as a technical milestone. 
Midway introduces its own first-person car racing arcade game, Datsun 280 ZZZAP! (with permission from Datsun for the product placement, a video game first).
Arcade game maker Midway introduces the coin-op video game Galaxian in American arcades. The game, originated in Japan by Namco, is the first entry in a fruitful relationship between the two companies; another game in the works at Namco will prove to be huge windfall for Midway in 1980.
Under license from Namco, the game’s Japanese originators, Midway Manufacturing introduces the obsession that is Pac-Man to American arcades. Titled Puck-Man in its homeland (due to the yellow character’s resemblance to a round hockey puck), Midway swaps vowels for fear that vandals will turn the letter P into an F on the arcade cabinets. With its cute characters and instinctive game play, Pac-Man catches on immediately, propelling the video game industry into overdrive.
Arcade game maker Midway introduces the coin-op video game Rally-X in American arcades. The game, originated in Japan by Namco, is rolled out at a 1980 trade show for amusement and arcade machine operators alongside another Namco/Midway import, Pac-Man. With its more-accessible-to-mainstream-America race car elements, Rally-X is considered the hot favorite of the two, possibly a major hit in the making.
Midway releases the arcade video game Wizard Of Wor, a maze shooter for one or two players who can play cooperatively or against each other – though in many cases, a single game can start cooperatively and end competitively!
Midway releases the arcade video game Bosconian, licensed from Namco, the Japanese developers behind Pac-Man and Galaga.
Midway releases the arcade video game Kick, a whimsical game which is later updated to include a “guest starring” appearance by Pac-Man (to which Midway also holds the North American license).
Midway delivers the long-anticipated sequel to Pac-Man to eager arcade operators. Ms. Pac-Man – a game which originated not from Pac-Man’s creators in Japan, but from an American “enhancement kit” maker called General Computer Corporation – arrives in arcades and immediately starts to break earnings records, eventually becoming the top-earning coin-op video game in American history.
Bally/Midway releases the official Tron arcade game, based on Disney’s movie, in the United States. Containing multiple games based, either directly or loosely, on action setpieces from the movie, the arcade game is an instant hit even as the film struggles in theaters.
Data East’s food-obsessed arcade game Burgertime debuts in the United States, licensed locally by Midway. Challenging players – who may or may not be old salts at the fast-food business – to work their buns off trying to complete several burgers despite a revolt by the ingredients, Burgertime becomes a hit with seasoned gamers.
Midway releases the arcade video game Super Pac-Man, licensed from Namco, the Japanese developers behind Pac-Man, of which this game is a direct sequel.
Still trying to stem the tide of bootleg copies of Pac-Man in American arcades, Midway releases the coin-op conversion kit Pac-Man Plus, offering arcade operators an inexpensive (and legal) way to “freshen” old Pac-Man machines on-site rather than turning to bootleg enhancement kits, a problem that has been stealing Midway’s market share since Pac-Man became a hit.
Midway releases the arcade video trivia game Professor Pac-Man, a quiz game tenuously connected to the company’s string of Pac-Man sequels. Few cabinets are produced due to very low early sales, so Professor Pac-Man is a rare find.
Midway releases the arcade video game Mappy, licensed from Namco, the Japanese developers behind Pac-Man.
Midway releases the arcade game Discs Of Tron in American arcades. The second coin-op game based on the movie Tron, this game was originally devised as an additional “stage” of the original Tron coin-op until designers split it off into its own game. The “environmental” cabinet, allowing players to stand inside the brightly black-lit game, becomes a legend of arcade architecture. 
Segaa releases the arcade game Astron Belt in American arcades. The first game to go into development specifically as a laser videodisc game, Astron Belt is a minor hit but it overshadowed by the Disney-esque visuals of another laserdisc coin-op, Dragon’s Lair.
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.
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.
Midway releases the arcade video game Timber.
Midway releases the arcade video game Pac-Land, a game placing Pac-Man in a side-scrolling 2-D world similar to that of Super Mario Bros.
