Sierra releases the computer role playing game game Ultima II: Revenge Of The Enchantress for the Apple II home computer. Written by Richard “Lord British” Garriott, this is the second volume of the best-selling Ultima series of RPGs, and the first to introduce space travel and science fiction elements into the games’ sword-and-sorcery fantasy setting. 
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ITV airs the 33rd episode of P.J. Hammond’s science fiction series Sapphire & Steel, starring David McCallum and Joanna Lumley. David Collings and Edward de Souza guest star.
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Coleco releases the LED matrix-driven tabletop version of Donkey Kong in a colorful case with arcade artwork. The game play and graphics are somewhat lacking, but the mini-arcade games tend to sell well since they don’t require connection to the family TV. (more…)
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. (more…)
ITV airs the 34th episode of P.J. Hammond’s science fiction series Sapphire & Steel, starring David McCallum and Joanna Lumley. David Collings and Edward de Souza guest star in the final episode; despite ending in a cliffhanger, the series ended due to the frequent lack of availability of its two leads. Big Finish Productions will revive Sapphire & Steel as a series of audio dramas in the 21st century.
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Coleco releases the Donkey Kong cartridge for the Intellivision home video game system, a home version of the hit arcade game. (more…)
With the words “Prepare to joust, buzzard bait!”, Williams Electronics launches an arcade sleeper hit built on unlikely juxtapositions (medieval knights, jousting with lances, riding on ostriches, over a lake of lava, stalked by pterodactyls). Joust becomes immensely popular for its simultaneous two-player mode, in which one’s buddy can be as much of a liability as any of the computer-controlled enemies. Whispers of movie deals based on the game are briefly heard before the video game industry’s fortunes change at the end of the year. (more…)
Taito America releases the arcade game Change Lanes, designed by Dave Needle, in American arcades. The game is an early mash-up of first-person racing and combat genres, putting players in the driver’s seat of a multi-terrain car that must ram through enemies and avoid missiles launched by aircraft to survive long enough to refuel. (more…)
Geffen Records releases the fourth self-titled Peter Gabriel album, though it’s given a subtitle of Security to avoid confusion with Gabriel’s three previous self-titled albums. The album includes the hit single “Shock The Monkey”. (more…)
The first episode of Glen A. Larson’s Knight Rider premieres on NBC, starring David Hasselhoff and Edward Mulhare, with William Daniels as the voice of KITT. Richard Basehart (Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea), Lance LeGault (Werewolf), and Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Battlestar Galactica) guest star in the series premeire.
The first episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star premieres on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Judson Scott (The Phoenix, V) and Susan Ruttan (L.A. Law) guest star.
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NBC airs the 14th episode of the Marvel animated series Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, starring the voices of Dan Gilvezan, Kathy Garver, and Frank Welker. This is the premiere of the very brief second season, which tells each character’s origin story.
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After a long development process (during which it was briefly known as “Atari Video System X”), Atari introduces its own next-generation video game console, Atari 5200. Dubbed “The Supersystem,” the new console, boasting far better graphics and sound capabilities than the VCS, is hampered by one of the worst controller concepts in video game history. Also not helping the 5200’s chances are the lack of an adapter allowing VCS owners to painlessly transition to the new system, a peripheral already available for the Colecovision. (In keeping with the new system’s name, the VCS is also now marketed as the Atari 2600.) (more…)
Universal (a video game manufacturer unrelated to the Hollywood studio of the same name) introduces a cute arcade action game, Mr. Do!, casting players as a clown with a deadly weapon to use against underground monsters. Mr. Do! leads a revolution in the video game industry not with its game play, but with its form factor: it is sold as a conversion kit which can be plugged into a generic arcade cabinet, a concept which could potentially save arcade operators thousands of dollars by sparing them the expense of having to purchase an entire new machine to swap out games. (more…)
Activision releases the Megamania! cartridge for the Atari VCS home video game system. Inspired by the arcade game Astro Blaster, and subtitled “A Space Nightmare”, Megamania! pits players against airborne bow ties and hamburgers – and their own energy management skills. A national TV ad campaign featuring The Tubes heralds the game’s arrival. (more…)
Sega releases the arcade game The second episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Carmen Argenziano (Stargate SG-1) guest stars.
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NBC airs the 15th episode of the Marvel animated series Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, starring the voices of Dan Gilvezan, Kathy Garver, and Frank Welker.
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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. (more…)
Sega releases the arcade game 
Mute Records releases the second album by Depeche Mode, A Broken Frame, featuring the singles “See You” and “The Meaning Of Love”. (more…)
The Odyssey² video game console gets its first major hardware upgrade in the form of the add-on voice synthesizer module, marketed as the Voice of Odyssey². With the Type & Tell cartridge packed in, the Voice promises to add speech to numerous specially marked Odyssey² games. The initial line of Voice games, also released on or around this date, includes K.C.’s Krazy Chase (a sequel to the sued-off-the-market K.C. Munchkin), and educational games Nimble Numbers NED and SID The Spellbinder.
Desperately trying to keep its coin-op games fresh, Sega releases the arcade game conversion kit Super Zaxxon. The kit updates Zaxxon machines with new graphics and levels, giving arcade operators the chance to put a “new” machine in circulation without purchasing an entire new cabinet. (more…)
The third episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Bill Daily (I Dream of Jeannie) guest stars.
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NBC airs the 16th episode of the Marvel animated series Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, starring the voices of Dan Gilvezan, Kathy Garver, and Frank Welker, concluding the second season.
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NBC premieres the first episode of James D. Parriott’s time travel series Voyagers!, starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. Ed Begley Jr. guest stars as Wilbur Wright in the pilot episode, written and directed by Parriott.
Mattel Electronics releases the Tron Deadly Discs cartridge for the Intellivision home video game system, based on the movie Tron. A version of this game is also released by Mattel’s M Network imprint for the Atari 2600. (more…)
Mattel Electronics releases the Tron Maze-a-Tron cartridge for the Intellivision home video game system, based on elements of the movie Tron. (more…)
Pinball maker D. Gottlieb & Co., via its Mylstar video game division, graces arcades with the qute qreatures of Q*Bert. Though it rakes in quarters abundantly, Q*Bert’s easily recognizable characters briefly prove to be a licensing gold mine, resulting in toys, clothing, children’s books, and even a Saturday morning cartoon. The game is fast-tracked to numerous home video game systems. (more…)
The fourth episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Earl Boen (The Terminator) guest stars.
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NBC airs the second episode of James D. Parriott’s time travel series Voyagers!, starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. Fay Hauser guest stars as Harriet Tubman.
Warner Bros. Records releases the first solo album by Donald Fagen, The Nightfly, featuring the singles “I.G.Y.” and “New Frontier”. (more…)
The Learning Company tries on Rocky’s Boots, an innovative educational computer game designed to teach players the basics of circuit diagrams and basic logic by designing virtual machines to kick specific objects on screen. The game is designed by Warren Robinett, a former Atari programmer whose previous claim to fame is the hit game Adventure. (more…)
Konami introduces the arcade game The fifth episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Arthur Roberts (Air America) guest stars.
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