1980 in computing, games and technology

33 milestones from 1980: 6 computers and hardware, 4 peripherals, 4 software, 5 games, 7 games, 1 movies, 4 events, 2 legal milestones.

Open 1980 in the interactive timeline The 1980s

Computers and hardware

• Mattel Intellivision
• HP-85
• Sinclair ZX80
• Game & Watch
• TRS-80 Color Computer
• Apple III

Peripherals

• Epson MX-80
• Seagate ST-506
• Intel 8087 Math Coprocessor
• Microsoft Z-80 SoftCard

Software

• dBase II
• SuperCalc
• 86-DOS
• Microsoft Xenix

Games

• Adventure (Atari 2600)
• Pac-Man
• Missile Command
• Battlezone
• Zork I

Games

• Akalabeth: World of Doom
• Rogue
• Mystery House
• The Wizard and the Princess
• Rally-X
• Berzerk
• Mission Asteroid

Movies

• The Empire Strikes Back

Events

• Usenet established
• Broderbund founded
• Microsoft signs contract to supply an OS for the IBM PC
• Apple goes public

Legal milestones

• CNN launches
• Computer Software Copyright Act of 1980 signed