See also: 1977 in video gaming, other events of 1978, 1979 in video gaming, history of video games

Events

Notable releases

• Cinematronics releases the Space Wars vector graphics arcade game
• Hudson releases Lode Runner for Nintendo home systems in Japan. This is the first game to be released on a Nintendo console that was not made by Nintendo.
• Konami Corporation releases the Block Game arcade game
• Taito Corporation releases the Space Invaders arcade game

Hardware

• APF Electronics Inc. releases the MP-1000 home console
• Bally/Midway releases the Bally Professional Arcade home console
• Entreprex releases the Apollo 2001 home console
• Magnavox releases the Odyssey² (G7000 Videopac) home console
• Nintendo releases the Color TV Game 15 home console and the Computer Othello arcade game
• Warner Communications' Atari introduces the trackball controller on the arcade game Football; releases the Pinball Game System home console

Business

• SNK founded