1983 in computing, games and technology

90 milestones from 1983: 24 computers and hardware, 11 peripherals, 6 software, 4 games, 19 games, 6 movies, 15 events, 4 legal milestones, 1 world events.

Open 1983 in the interactive timeline The 1980s

Computers and hardware

• Apple ImageWriter
• Philips Videopac+ G7400
• Intellivision II
• Memotech MTX500
• Commodore SX-64
• Apple IIe
• Compaq Portable
• Camputers Lynx
• Atari 1200XL
• IBM PC XT
• TRS-80 Model 100
• Apple Lisa
• Mattel Aquarius
• Nintendo Famicom (Japan)
• SG-1000
• Sega SC-3000
• Acorn Electron
• Atari 2800
• Casio PV-1000
• Gakken Compact Vision TV Boy
• Coleco Adam
• Mitsubishi ML-8000
• HP 150
• Tandy 2000

Peripherals

• Apple Lisa Mouse
• KoalaPad Touch Tablet
• AST SixPakPlus
• Seagate ST-225
• Epson FX-80
• Sweet Micro Systems Mockingboard
• Sinclair ZX Interface 1
• Kempston Joystick Interface
• Yamaha DX7
• Microsoft Mouse
• Sinclair ZX Microdrive

Software

• PC-Write
• Lotus 1-2-3
• MS-DOS 2.0
• Microsoft Word 1.0
• Turbo Pascal
• Visi On

Games

• Manic Miner
• Mario Bros.
• M.U.L.E.
• Archon: The Light and the Dark

Games

• The Dark Crystal
• Math Blaster!
• Xevious
• Spy Hunter
• Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare
• Enchanter
• The Witness
• Alley Cat
• Pinball Construction Set
• Scepter of Goth
• Sinistar
• Gyruss
• Jetpac
• Star Wars (1983 arcade game)
• Elevator Action
• Lode Runner
• Dragon's Lair
• Planetfall
• Ultima III: Exodus

Movies

• Videodrome
• Return of the Jedi
• WarGames
• Saturday Supercade premieres on CBS
• A Christmas Story
• Scarface

Events

• Video game crash of 1983
• MIDI demonstrated at Winter NAMM
• ARPANET switches to TCP/IP
• Apple announces the Lisa
• Origin Systems founded
• MSX standard announced
• MIDI 1.0 specification published
• Atari buries unsold cartridges in a New Mexico landfill
• Richard Stallman announces the GNU Project
• Osborne Computer Corporation files for bankruptcy
• Interplay Productions founded
• Texas Instruments exits the home computer market
• DNS specified in RFC 882 and RFC 883
• IBM announces the PCjr
• Microsoft announces Windows

Legal milestones

• Apple v. Franklin appeals ruling on software copyright
• Neal Patrick of the 414s testifies to the House on hacking
• Cabbage Patch Kids frenzy
• Judge rules for Nintendo in Universal v. Nintendo

World events

• Time names the computer Machine of the Year