Atari 2600 Video Game Release Dates for 1979
With pop culture atmosphere.
Information compiled by Duane Alan Hahn.
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Atari 2600 Game History: 1979
Bowling (Atari) EBG
Canyon Bomber (Atari) EBG
Casino (Atari) EBG
Football (Atari) EBG
Human Cannonball (Atari) EBG
Miniature Golf (Atari) EBG
Sky Diver (Atari) EBG
Slot Machine (Atari) EBG
Superman (Atari) EBG
Backgammon (Atari) EBG
Video Chess (Atari) EBG
Page last updated on: 2019y_02m_06d_1116t
Below is an incomplete list of Atari 2600 video game release dates by month in the USA for the year 1979 along with lists of top 100 music, movies, and TV shows to help summon your treasured memories of the Atari 2600 years with the bonus of recreating the magical feelings of that special time.
If you were too young or not even born yet, play the songs in the order they are listed and watch short video clips or commercials for the movies and TV shows (in order) and you might start to feel what it was like back then in 1979. There were no smartphones or an Internet full of knowledge and entertainment at your fingertips. If you wanted to know something, you had to go to the library and try to find the information in a book. If you were lucky, you had an encyclopedia set at home, but it would probably be many decades out of date.
Link Colors
Links that jump to other places on this page are blue. Links that lead to other pages online are red.
Quick List and Index
For those who only want release dates and nothing else, there is a Release Date Quick List. This page also has an Index.
Not Set in Stone
Most of the release dates below are not set in stone. Games will be moved as better information is found, so be sure to check back once in a while.
Best Guess
Many games are marked as a best guess. Some guesses are worse than others. Below is a list of the types of guesses that can be on this page.
Best Guess (BG): At least one magazine or newsletter mentioned the month a game was released or supposed to be released.
Extreme Best Guess (EBG): A vague mention of the release month in a magazine or newsletter.
Super Extreme Best Guess (SEBG): The Video Game Update newsletter only had a review for the game (no release month mentioned), so it's a semi-educated wild guess. The review could have happened the same month the game was released or the review could have been published a month or more later.
Desperate Super Extreme Best Guess (DSEBG): There might be an ad in a magazine to go on if we're lucky. It's a desperate semi-educated wild guess.
Copyright Date
Remember, the date on the box, cartridge, manual, and copyright screen can be different from the actual release date. For example, Atari 2600 Pac-Man was released in March/April of 1982, but the box, cart, manual, and copyright screen have 1981 as the copyright date. It usually took around 6 months for a programmer to make an Atari VCS game back then and that's not counting the time it took to make the manuals, boxes, and cartridges.
YouTube
To help make your experience even more enjoyable, most items have a link next to them that will lead you to related search results at YouTube where you might find video game commercials, gameplay footage, music videos, and clips from TV shows or movies.
You Can Help
If you find a mistake, or have more information to add, such as month/year release dates for games, please contact me. Every little bit of credible information helps, no matter how insignificant you think it might be. Thanks for your help.
January 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Lady” by Little River Band (Jan 6) YouTube
“Stormy” by Santana (Jan 6) YouTube
“Sing For The Day” by Styx (Jan 6) YouTube
“Heaven Knows” by Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams (Jan 13) YouTube
“Superman” by Herbie Mann (Jan 13) YouTube
“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester (Jan 13) YouTube 55%
“I Go To Rio” by Pablo Cruise (Jan 13) YouTube Wikipedia
“Take That To The Bank” by Shalamar (Jan 13) YouTube
“What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers (Jan 20) YouTube 95%
“Crazy Love” by Poco (Jan 20) YouTube 65%
“Every Which Way But Loose” by Eddie Rabbitt (Jan 20) YouTube
“Chase” by Giorgio Moroder (Jan 20) YouTube 55%
“Goodbye I Love You” by Firefall (Jan 20) YouTube
“You Stepped Into My Life” by Melba Moore (Jan 20) YouTube
“Knock On Wood” by Amii Stewart (Jan 27) YouTube 55%
“Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills (Jan 27) YouTube
“Stumblin’ In” by Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman (Jan 27) YouTube
“I Just Fall In Love Again” by Anne Murray (Jan 27) YouTube
“Forever In Blue Jeans” by Neil Diamond (Jan 27) YouTube
“Theme From ‘Superman’ (Main Title)” by John Williams/London Symphony Orchestra (Jan 27) YouTube
January 1979
Article: Mid-Season 1979 (TV Obscurities)
All Star Secrets [game show] NBC (Jan 8) YouTube Wikipedia Schedule
Password Plus [game show] NBC (Jan 8) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Delta House ABC (Jan 18) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Salvage 1 ABC (Jan 20) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Brothers and Sisters NBC (Jan 21) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Super Bowl XIII [sports] NBC (Jan 21) YouTube Wikipedia
Nightly Business Report PBS (Jan 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Dukes of Hazzard CBS (Jan 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Hello, Larry NBC (Jan 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Sweepstakes [$weepstake$] NBC (Jan 26) YouTube IMDb Schedule
Turnabout NBC (Jan 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
CBS News Sunday Morning CBS (Jan 28) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Backstairs at the White House [miniseries] NBC (Jan 29) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
February 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Bustin’ Loose (Part 1)” by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers (Feb 3) YouTube
“Dog And Butterfly” by Heart (Feb 3) YouTube
“Tragedy” by Bee Gees (Feb 10) YouTube
“Sultans Of Swing” by Dire Straits (Feb 10) YouTube
“He’s The Greatest Dancer” by Sister Sledge (Feb 10) YouTube
“Big Shot” by Billy Joel (Feb 10) YouTube 75%
“Precious Love” by Bob Welch (Feb 10) YouTube
“Just One Look” by Linda Ronstadt (Feb 10) YouTube
“I’ll Supply The Love” by Toto (Feb 10) YouTube
“Now That We Found Love” by Third World (Feb 10) YouTube
“Contact” by Edwin Starr (Feb 10) YouTube
“Heart Of Glass” by Blondie (Feb 17) YouTube 75%
“Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)” by Jacksons (Feb 17) YouTube 85%
“I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)” by Instant Funk (Feb 17) YouTube
“Keep On Dancin’” by Gary’s Gang (Feb 17) YouTube
“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen (Feb 17) YouTube 65%
“Roxanne” by The Police (Feb 24) YouTube
“Aqua Boogie” by Parliament (Feb 24) YouTube
February 1979
The First Great Train Robbery (Feb 2) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Agatha (Feb 9) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
February 1979
Makin’ It ABC (Feb 1) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The New Fred and Barney Show NBC (Feb 3) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
Supertrain NBC (Feb 7) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Angie ABC (Feb 8) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Roots: The Next Generations [miniseries] ABC (Feb 18) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
This Old House PBS (Feb 20) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Billy CBS (Feb 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Flatbush CBS (Feb 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Mrs. Columbo NBC (Feb 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule [Later known as Kate Columbo, followed by Kate the Detective and then ultimately Kate Loves a Mystery]
Cliffhangers NBC (Feb 27) YouTube Wikipedia TV Obscurities Schedule
March 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Blow Away” by George Harrison (Mar 3) YouTube 75%
“Rubber Biscuit” by Blues Brothers (Mar 3) YouTube
“Love Is The Answer” by England Dan and John Ford Coley (Mar 10) YouTube 75%
“Reunited” by Peaches & Herb (Mar 17) YouTube
“In The Navy” by Village People (Mar 17) YouTube
“Renegade” by Styx (Mar 17) YouTube 55%
“Get Used To It” by Roger Voudouris (Mar 17) YouTube
“(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right” by Barbara Mandrell (Mar 17) YouTube
“Good Times Roll” by The Cars (Mar 17) YouTube
“Just When I Needed You Most” by Randy Vanwarmer (Mar 24) YouTube
“The Logical Song” by Supertramp (Mar 24) YouTube 85%
“Love Takes Time” by Orleans (Mar 24) YouTube
“I Need Your Help Barry Manilow” by Ray Stevens (Mar 24) YouTube
“Goodnight Tonight” by Wings (Mar 31) YouTube 75%
“Makin’ It” by David Naughton (Mar 31) YouTube
March 1979
Norma Rae (Mar 2) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Real Life (Mar 2) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
March 1979
Stockard Channing in Just Friends CBS (Mar 4) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
The Ropers ABC (Mar 13) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Harris and Company NBC (Mar 15) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
13 Queens Boulevard ABC (Mar 20) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
The Bad News Bears CBS (Mar 24) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Dear Detective ABC (Mar 28) YouTube IMDb
The Chisholms [miniseries] CBS (March 29) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Bowling in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 14, 1979 (review) and April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Canyon Bomber in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 14, 1979 (review) and April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Casino in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Football in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 14, 1979 (review) and April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Human Cannonball in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 14, 1979 (review) and April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Miniature Golf in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 14, 1979 (review) and April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Sky Diver in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
Programmer Jim Huether said in an interview that Sky Diver was the best selling 2600 game until Space Invaders came out.
April 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest mention of Slot Machine in a newspaper that I've found so far is from April 15, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in April.
April 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Old Time Rock & Roll” by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Apr 7) YouTube
“When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” by Dr. Hook (Apr 14) YouTube
“Deeper Than The Night” by Olivia Newton-John (Apr 14) YouTube 60%
“Little Bit Of Soap” by Nigel Olsson (Apr 14) YouTube
“Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer (Apr 21) YouTube
“Love You Inside Out” by Bee Gees (Apr 21) YouTube
“You Take My Breath Away” by Rex Smith (Apr 21) YouTube
“Ain’t Love A Bitch” by Rod Stewart (Apr 21) YouTube
“Honesty” by Billy Joel (Apr 21) YouTube 75%
“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge (Apr 28) YouTube 65%
“Chuck E’s In Love” by Rickie Lee Jones (Apr 28) YouTube
“She Believes In Me” by Kenny Roger (Apr 28) YouTube
“I Want You To Want Me (Live)” by Cheap Trick (Apr 28) YouTube 85%
“You Can’t Change That” by Raydio (Apr 28) YouTube
“Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead (Apr 28) YouTube
“Dance The Night Away” by Van Halen (Apr 28) YouTube
“Georgy Porgy” by Toto (Apr 28) YouTube 55%
April 1979
The Duke [miniseries] NBC (Apr 5) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Mackenzies of Paradise Cove ABC (Apr 6) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Highcliffe Manor NBC (Apr 12) YouTube IMDb Schedule
Whodunnit? [game show] NBC (Apr 12) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Real People NBC (Apr 18) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Friendly Fire [TV movie] ABC (Apr 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Trivia: The Price is Right moves to 11:00 A.M. EST. [game show] CBS (Apr 23) YouTube Wikipedia: 1979 Events Schedule
Whew! [game show] CBS (Apr 23) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
May 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Minute By Minute” by The Doobie Brothers (May 5) YouTube 75%
“Shakedown Cruise” by Jay Ferguson (May 5) YouTube
“Theme From ‘Ice Castles’ (Through The Eyes Of Love)” by Melissa Manchester (May 5) YouTube
“Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward (May 12) YouTube
“Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind and Fire with the Emotions (May 12) YouTube 65%
“Sad Eyes” by Robert John (May 19) YouTube
“Shine A Little Love” by Electric Light Orchestra [ELO] (May 19) YouTube 70%
“Does Your Mother Know” by ABBA (May 19) YouTube 75%
“Bad Girls” by Donna Summer (May 26) YouTube
“Lead Me On” by Maxine Nightingale (May 26) YouTube
“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” by KISS (May 26) YouTube
“Shadows In The Moonlight” by Anne Murray (May 26) YouTube
“Weekend” by Wet Willie (May 26) YouTube 65%
“If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me” by Bellamy Brothers (May 26) YouTube
May 1979
Last Embrace (May 4) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Apocalypse Now (May 10) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
May 1979
June 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“One Way Or Another” by Blondie (Jun 2) YouTube 75%
“Up On The Roof” by James Taylor (Jun 2) YouTube 55%
“Suspicions” by Eddie Rabbitt (Jun 2) YouTube
“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson (Jun 9) YouTube
“Since I Don’t Have You” by Art Garfunkel (Jun 9) YouTube
“Good Times” by Chic (Jun 16) YouTube 55%
“The Main Event/Fight” by Barbra Streisand (Jun 16) YouTube
“My Sharona” by The Knack (Jun 23) YouTube 60%
“The Devil Went Down To Georgia” by Charlie Daniels Band (Jun 23) YouTube 60%
“I’ll Never Love This Way Again” by Dionne Warwick (Jun 23) YouTube
“Born To Be Alive” by Patrick Hernandez (Jun 23) YouTube
“Let’s Go” by The Cars (Jun 30) YouTube
“I Know A Heartache When I See One” by Jennifer Warnes (Jun 30) YouTube
June 1979
Phantasm (Jun 1) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (Jun 15) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The In-Laws (Jun 15) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Prophecy (Jun 15) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Rocky II (Jun 15) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Escape from Alcatraz (Jun 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Main Event (Jun 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Muppet Movie (Jun 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Moonraker (Jun 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (Jun 27) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
July 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“After The Love Has Gone” by Earth, Wind and Fire (Jul 7) YouTube 80%
“Goodbye Stranger” by Supertramp (Jul 7) YouTube
“Different Worlds” by Maureen McGovern (Jul 7) YouTube 75%
“Lonesome Loser” by Little River Band (Jul 21) YouTube 75%
“Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” by Robert Palmer (Jul 21) YouTube
“Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” by Journey (Jul 21) YouTube 75%
“Rise” by Herb Alpert (Jul 21) YouTube
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson (Jul 28) YouTube 70%
“Cruel To Be Kind” by Nick Lowe (Jul 28) YouTube 65%
July 1979
Dracula (Jul 13) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
August 1979
Extreme Best Guess based on a thread at AtariAge, an article at gamasutra, and the info at A History of … Games. The earliest mention of Superman in a newspaper that I've found so far is from September 2, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry probably belongs here in August.
August 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Don’t Bring Me Down” by Electric Light Orchestra [ELO] (Aug 4) YouTube 75%
“This Night Won’t Last Forever” by Michael Johnson (Aug 4) YouTube
“Pop Muzik” by M (Aug 11) YouTube 85%
“Sail On” by Commodores (Aug 11) YouTube
“Please Don’t Go” by KC and the Sunshine Band (Aug 25) YouTube
August 1979
More American Graffiti (Aug 3) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (Aug 17) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
August 1979
The Facts of Life NBC (Aug 24) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
September 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Good Girls Don’t” by The Knack (Sep 1) YouTube
“Come To Me” by France Joli (Sep 1) YouTube
“Dirty White Boy” by Foreigner (Sep 8) YouTube
“Rainbow Connection” by Kermit [Jim Henson] (Sep 15) YouTube
“Still” by Commodores (Sep 29) YouTube
“Dreaming” by Blondie (Sep 29) YouTube
“Victim Of Love” by Elton John (Sep 29) YouTube
September 1979
Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel PBS (Sep 1) YouTube Wikipedia
The Woodwright’s Shop PBS (Sep 1) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Lazarus Syndrome ABC (Sep 4) YouTube IMDb epguides Schedule
SportsCenter ESPN (Sep 7) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Fred and Barney Meet The Thing NBC (Sep 8) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
Jason of Star Command CBS (Sep 9) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
Out of the Blue ABC (Sep 9) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Benson ABC (Sep 13) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Working Stiffs CBS (Sep 15) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
A New Kind of Family ABC (Sep 16) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
3’s a Crowd [game show] Syndication (Sep 17) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo NBC (Sep 18) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
The Last Resort CBS (Sep 19) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Struck by Lightning CBS (Sep 19) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia TV Obscurities Schedule
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century NBC (Sep 20) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Eischied NBC (Sep 21) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia epguides Schedule
Casper and the Angels NBC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
A Man Called Sloane NBC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon NBC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia SMS
The New Shmoo NBC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
The Super Globetrotters NBC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo ABC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
Spider-Woman ABC (Sep 22) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Saturday Morning Schedule
The Associates ABC (Sep 23) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Archie Bunker’s Place CBS (Sep 23) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
California Fever CBS (Sep 25) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Trapper John, M.D. CBS (Sep 25) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Big Shamus, Little Shamus CBS (Sep 29) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
October 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Cruisin’” by Smokey Robinson (Oct 6) YouTube
“Ladies Night” by Kool & The Gang (Oct 6) YouTube 60%
“Babe” by Styx (Oct 6) YouTube
“Heartache Tonight” by Eagles (Oct 6) YouTube 65%
“Dream Police” by Cheap Trick (Oct 6) YouTube 75%
“My Forbidden Lover” by Chic (Oct 6) YouTube
“Get It Up” by Ronnie Milsap (Oct 6) YouTube
“Better Love Next Time” by Dr. Hook (Oct 13) YouTube
“Take The Long Way Home” by Supertramp (Oct 13) YouTube 80%
“Who Listens To The Radio” by The Sports (Oct 13) YouTube
“Highway To Hell” by AC/DC (Oct 13) YouTube
“Slip Away” by Ian Lloyd (Oct 13) YouTube
“Do That To Me One More Time” by Captain and Tennille (Oct 20) YouTube
“We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Cliff Richard (Oct 20) YouTube
“Cool Change” by Little River Band (Oct 20) YouTube
“This Is It” by Kenny Loggins (Oct 20) YouTube 60%
“Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes (Oct 20) YouTube 50%
“No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” by Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer (Oct 20) YouTube
“Confusion” by Electric Light Orchestra [ELO] (Oct 20) YouTube
“In The Stone” by Earth, Wind & Fire (Oct 20) YouTube 58%
“Don’t Let Go” by Isaac Hayes (Oct 27) YouTube
“Wait For Me” by Daryl Hall & John Oates (Oct 27) YouTube
October 1979
The Miracle Worker [TV movie] NBC (Oct 14) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Shirley NBC (Oct 26) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia Schedule
Freedom Road [Miniseries] NBC (Oct 29) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
November 1979
Extreme Best Guess. The earliest trustworthy mention of Backgammon in a newspaper that I've found so far is from November 22, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in November. I'm guessing that it was delayed along with Video Chess.
November 1979
Extreme Best Guess. According to an article in Personal Computing, Larry Wagner said “Let me say that Atari’s Chess Cartridge will finally be in the stores around November. We’ve had all sorts of technical problems and delays but everything has finally been cleared up.” The earliest trustworthy mention of Video Chess in a newspaper that I've found so far is from November 22, 1979 (Sears ad), so this entry seems to belong here in November.
TV Commercial from December 2, 1979
Video [Arcade Alley] (Apr 80 p76)
Electronic Games 1983 Software Encyclopedia (83 p34)
November 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Rock With You” by Michael Jackson (Nov 3) YouTube 90%
“Jane” by Jefferson Starship (Nov 3) YouTube
“I Call Your Name” by Switch (Nov 3) YouTube
“Send One Your Love” by Stevie Wonder (Nov 3) YouTube 60%
“Life During Wartime (This Ain’t No Party…)” by Talking Heads (Nov 3) YouTube
“Deja Vu” by Dionne Warwick (Nov 10) YouTube
“Rapper’s Delight” by SugarHill Gang (Nov 10) YouTube
“Head Games” by Foreigner (Nov 10) YouTube
“Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles (Nov 10) YouTube
“Yes, I’m Ready” by Teri DeSario with KC (Nov 17) YouTube
“Coward Of The County” by Kenny Rogers (Nov 17) YouTube
“Don’t Do Me Like That” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Nov 17) YouTube
“Since You Been Gone” by Rainbow (Nov 17) YouTube
“I Wanna Be Your Lover” by Prince (Nov 24) YouTube
“Message In A Bottle” by The Police (Nov 24) YouTube
November 1979
Trivia: Jaws is broadcast on television for the first time. ABC (Nov 4) YouTube Wikipedia: Events
Nightline [debuting as The Iran Crisis—America Held Hostage] ABC (Nov 8) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
All Quiet on the Western Front [TV movie] CBS (Nov 14) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July [special] ABC (Nov 25) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
December 1979
New on Top 100 Radio [Selected Hits in the Order They Charted]
“Money” by The Flying Lizards (Dec 1) YouTube
“With You I’m Born Again” by Billy Preston and Syreeta (Dec 8) YouTube
“The Second Time Around” by Shalamar (Dec 8) YouTube
“The Long Run” by Eagles (Dec 8) YouTube
“An American Dream” by The Dirt Band (Dec 8) YouTube
“Last Train To London” by Electric Light Orchestra [ELO] (Dec 8) YouTube 75%
“Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl (Medley)” by Spinners (Dec 15) YouTube
“Longer” by Dan Fogelberg (Dec 15) YouTube
“Sara” by Fleetwood Mac (Dec 15) YouTube
“When I Wanted You” by Barry Manilow (Dec 15) YouTube
“Why Me” by Styx (Dec 15) YouTube 57%
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen (Dec 22) YouTube 65%
“Daydream Believer” by Anne Murray (Dec 22) YouTube
“Fool In The Rain” by Led Zeppelin (Dec 22) YouTube
“Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar (Dec 22) YouTube 60%
“99” by Toto (Dec 22) YouTube
“Star” by Earth, Wind & Fire (Dec 22) YouTube
December 1979
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Dec 7) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
1941 (Dec 14) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
The Jerk (Dec 14) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
December 1979
The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Tree [special] NBC (Dec 3) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
A Christmas for Boomer [TV movie] NBC (Dec 6) YouTube IMDb Wikipedia
Atari 2600 Game History: 1979
Atari 2600 Company List (NTSC)
Information Compiled From the Following Sources
The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers
Atari History Museum (Atari Historical Society)
Wikipedia: Wide-release Movies
Wikipedia: 1979 in American Television
Special thanks to Gideon Marcus, www.galacticjourney.org (55 years ago in Science Fact and Fiction), for the use of his release date chart from the early days of the Atari VCS.
Related Links
Atari Owners Club Bulletin / VCS Owners Club Bulletin
Find release dates for Atari 2600 games that were sold in the UK.
A chronological history of computers, video games, and related technologies (at archive.org).
Disclaimer
View this page and any external web sites at your own risk. I am not responsible for any possible spiritual, emotional, physical, financial or any other damage to you, your friends, family, ancestors, or descendants in the past, present, or future, living or dead, in this dimension or any other.
If reading this page opens a time vortex back to 1979, the good news is that I've heard there are infinite timelines and you can't do any damage to the timeline you came from. The bad news is that you can't return to your original timeline in the future, so enter the time vortex at your own risk.