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Herb Kohl, the Wisconsin senator who cosponsored the 1994 bill to rate all video games, praises the video game industry for creating an arcade rating system and advisory messages. Because of this cooperation, Kohl promises that no new laws will need to be enacted. However, Kohl threatens to boycott arcades that don't comply with the required posted ratings. In related news, two Florida senators propose a bill to prevent minors from viewing violent games in the Sunshine State. The bill doesn't get passed. The outcome is different at Wal-Mart stores across the country, when the chain bans more than 50 arcade games that are "considered inappropriate by Wal-Mart standards."
Banner Year for Video games
The IDSA (Interactive Digital Software Association) announces that 1998 was a banner year for the electronic entertainment industry. During the first six months of 1998, sales were up 30 percent from all of 1997, which itself had been a record year.
Unfortunately, the news isn't all rosy. The IDSA also reports that the home video game industry is flourishing at the expense of the arcade industry. One victim of this trend is Acclaim, which announces that it is exiting from the arcade industry on March 6.
Emulation Woes
Emulation continues to be a major topic of discussion throughout the industry, and the IDSA works to shut down Web sites that offer ROM images--although the definition of the legality of the ROM images continues to remain in question.
1999
Nintendo Joins IBM for New Console
Nintendo announces a new console, code-named the Dolphin. It will be built around a 400MHz copper microchip technology called Gekko, which will be manufactured by IBM. Nintendo expects to ship the new console before the Christmas 2000 season.
Cellular Phone Games
Nintendo announces the Game Boy Advance, a 32-bit color handheld system, which can be combined with a cellular phone for Internet access. Nintendo promises that the new unit will be compatible with both Game Boy and Game Boy Color software.
Howard Lincoln's Plans to Retire
Howard Lincoln announces that he plans to retire from his position as CEO of Nintendo of America on February 14, 2000.
JTS Files for Bankruptcy
JTS, the disk drive company that absorbed Atari Corporation, officially files for bankruptcy.
Classic Gaming Expo Opens in Las Vegas
An offshoot of 1998's World of Atari show, the first Classic Gaming Expo opens in August in Las Vegas. Among the dignitaries who attend is Ralph Baer, the inventor of the video game. Nolan Bushnell also promises to attend until an online fiasco forces him to alter his plans.
Microsoft Announces Video Game Console
Microsoft reveals that it is working on a home console system code-named X-Box. Like Sega's Dreamcast, it uses a version of Windows CE as its operating system.
 |  Billy Mitchell. |
Billy Mitchell achieves the highest possible score for Pac-Man when he completes every board and winds up with a score of 3,333,360.
VM Labs at E3
After years of secrecy, VM Labs finally comes out into the open at its booth at E3. It is now clear that VM Labs will not release a new gaming console. Instead it plans to place its NUON technology inside new DVD players and hopes to make money from the licensing of NUON-compatible games.
Neo-Geo Pocket Released in United States
Although it didn't release the monochrome NeoGeo Pocket handheld unit in the United States, SNK Corporation of America has different plans for the color incarnation of the unit. In June, the company begins offering the 16-bit system via mail order, with a suggested retail price of $69.95. It then follows up by distributing the unit to US stores in August.
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