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Overview of the events of 1992 in video games From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1992 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Dragon Quest V, Final Fantasy V, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, and Super Mario Kart, along with new titles such as Art of Fighting, Lethal Enforcers, Mortal Kombat and Virtua Racing.
The year's highest-grossing video game worldwide was Capcom's arcade fighting game Street Fighter II for the second year in a row, while also being the year's highest-grossing entertainment product. The year's best-selling home system was the Game Boy for the third year in a row, while the year's best-selling home video games were Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and the Super NES port of Street Fighter II, which were both also the year's highest-grossing home entertainment products.
The following titles won Game of the Year awards for 1992.
Awards | Game of the Year | Publisher | Genre | Platform | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Tribune | Street Fighter II | Capcom | Fighting | Super NES | [1] |
Electronic Gaming Awards | [2] | ||||
Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) | [3] | ||||
European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) | [4] | ||||
GameFan Golden Megawards | [5] | ||||
Game Informer | [6] | ||||
Golden Joystick Awards | [7][8] | ||||
Gamest Awards | Street Fighter II Dash (Champion Edition) | Capcom | Fighting | Arcade (CP System) | [9] |
Chicago Tribune | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Nintendo | Action-adventure | Super NES | [1] |
GameFan Golden Megawards | Cybernator (Assault Suits Valken) | Masaya Games | Run and gun | Super NES | [5] |
Streets of Rage 2 | Sega | Beat 'em up | Sega Genesis | [5] | |
Wonderdog | JVC Musical Industries | Platform | Sega CD | [5] | |
PC Engine Fan | Far East of Eden II: Manji Maru | Hudson Soft | Role-playing | PC Engine CD-ROM² | [10] |
The following video game releases in 1992 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.[11]
Title | Developer | Publisher | Score (out of 40) | Genre | Platform |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome | Chunsoft | Enix | 36 | Role-playing | Super Famicom |
Shin Megami Tensei | Atlus | Atlus | 36 | ||
I Love Mickey & Donald: Fushigi na Magic Box (World of Illusion) | Sega AM7 | Sega | 36 | Platformer | Sega Mega CD |
Street Fighter II | Capcom | Capcom | 35 | Fighting | Super Famicom |
Mario Paint | Nintendo R&D1 | Nintendo | 35 | Art |
The year's highest-grossing game worldwide was Street Fighter II, which alone accounted for an estimated 60% of the global arcade game market, according to Coinslot magazine.[12][13] The following table lists the year's top-grossing arcade games in Japan, the United Kingdom, United States, and worldwide.
Market | Title | Coin drop revenue | Inflation | Manufacturer | Genre | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | Street Fighter II: The World Warrior | Unknown | Unknown | Capcom | Fighting | [14][15][16] |
United Kingdom | Street Fighter II: The World Warrior | $456 million | $990 million | Capcom | Fighting | [12] |
United States | Street Fighter II / Champion Edition | Unknown | Unknown | Capcom | Fighting | [17][18] |
Worldwide | Street Fighter II: The World Warrior | Capcom | Fighting | [12] |
The following titles were the top ten highest-grossing arcade games of 1992 in Japan, according to Gamest, Game Machine and Famicom Tsūshin (Famitsu) magazines.
Rank | Gamest[14] | Game Machine[15] | Famicom Tsūshin (Famitsu)[16] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Type | Points | |||
1 | Street Fighter II: The World Warrior | Street Fighter II / Dash | Software kit | 7795 | Street Fighter II: The World Warrior |
2 | Street Fighter II Dash (Champion Edition) | Final Lap 2 | Standard/deluxe | 3821 | Final Lap 2 |
3 | Captain Commando | F1 Exhaust Note | Dedicated | 3464 | Street Fighter II Dash |
4 | Garō Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai (Fatal Fury) | Tetris (Sega) | Software kit | 3402 | F1 Exhaust Note |
5 | Final Lap 2 | Columns | Software kit | 3218 | Final Lap |
6 | Knights of the Round | Super Volley '91 (Power Spikes) | Software kit | 3140 | Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours |
7 | Sonic Wings (Aero Fighters) | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Dedicated | 2937 | Super Monaco GP |
8 | F-1 Grand Prix | Clutch Hitter | Software kit | 2748 | Driver's Eyes |
9 | WWF WrestleFest | Garō Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai | Software kit | 2401 | Tetris (Sega) |
10 | Hacha Mecha Fighter | Super Monaco GP | Standard/deluxe | 2347 | Virtua Racing |
In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade video games of 1992.
Rank | RePlay[17] | Play Meter | Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA)[19][20][21] | AMAA[22] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dedicated arcade cabinet | Arcade conversion kit | ||||
1 | Street Fighter II / Champion Edition | Street Fighter II[18] | Street Fighter II: Champion Edition | WWF WrestleFest | Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Mortal Kombat, Neo Geo MVS, Terminator 2: Judgment Day |
2 | World Heroes, Art of Fighting, X-Men, Lethal Enforcers, Mortal Kombat, Steel Talons, Space Lords, Final Lap 2 / Final Lap 3, Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, Virtua Racing |
Unknown | Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Race Drivin', X-Men |
Captain America and The Avengers, Road Riot 4WD, Sunset Riders, Super High Impact | |
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | Suzuka 8 Hours | ||||
6 | Unknown | — | — | ||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
On Australia's Timezone monthly arcade charts published in the June 1992 issue of Leisure Line magazine, Capcom's Street Fighter II: Champion Edition was the top-grossing arcade conversion kit and Konami's X-Men was the top-grossing dedicated arcade cabinet.[23]
Rank | System(s) | Manufacturer | Type | Generation | Sales | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | USA | Europe | Korea | Worldwide | |||||
1 | Game Boy | Nintendo | Handheld | 8-bit | 1,910,000[24] | 4,000,000[25] | 6,000,000[26] | Unknown | 11,910,000+ |
2 | Super NES / Super Famicom | Nintendo | Console | 16-bit | 3,580,000[24] | 5,600,000[27] | 2,030,000[28] | 20,000[29] | 11,230,000+ |
3 | Mega Drive / Genesis | Sega | Console | 16-bit | 400,000[24] | 5,100,000[27] | 2,660,000[28] | 76,000[29] | 8,236,000+ |
4 | Nintendo Entertainment System | Nintendo | Console | 8-bit | 820,000[24] | 2,700,000[25] | 3,030,000[28] | 110,000[29] | 6,660,000+ |
5 | IBM PC | IBM | Computer | — | — | — | — | — | 3,400,000[30] |
6 | Macintosh | Apple Inc. | Computer | — | — | — | — | — | 2,500,000[31] |
7 | Master System | Sega | Console | 8-bit | — | < 50,000[32] | 2,235,000[28] | 180,000[29] | 2,415,000+ |
8 | Compaq Computer (PC) | Compaq | Computer | — | — | — | — | — | 1,500,000[30] |
9 | Game Gear | Sega | Handheld | 8-bit | 250,000[24] | 800,000[32] | 320,000+ (UK)[33] | Unknown | 1,370,000+ |
10 | NEC PC-88 / PC-98 | NEC | Computer | — | 1,120,000[34][35] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1,120,000+ |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Street Fighter II each sold 5 million units worldwide in 1992,[36][37] making them the year's highest-grossing entertainment products.[38] The following home video games sold more than 1 million units worldwide in 1992.
Rank | Title | Platform | Sales | Revenue | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | United States | Europe | Worldwide | Nominal | Inflation | |||
1 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Mega Drive/Genesis | Unknown | 2,000,000[39] | 1,750,000+[40][41] | 5,000,000[36] | $450 million[38] | $980 million |
Street Fighter II | Super NES | 2,000,000+[42][43] | 2,000,000[44] | 200,000+[45] | 5,000,000[37] | Unknown | Unknown | |
3 | Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome | Super Famicom | 2,800,000[46][47] | — | — | 2,800,000+[48] | $200 million+[49] | $430 million+ |
4 | Super Mario Kart | Super NES | 2,000,000+ | < 1,000,000[39] | — | 2,000,000+ | Unknown | |
Final Fantasy V | Super Famicom | 2,000,000+ | — | — | 2,000,000+ | |||
6 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Super NES | Unknown | 1,000,000[39] | Unknown | 1,000,000+ |
The following table lists the year's top-selling home video game releases in several markets, including Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
Market | Title | Platform | Sales | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Europe | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sega Mega Drive | 1,750,000+[40][41] | [50] |
Japan | Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome | Super Famicom | 2,800,000[46][47] | [51][52] |
South Korea | Street Fighter II | Super Comboy | Unknown | [50] |
United States | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sega Genesis | 2,000,000 | [39] |
Street Fighter II | Super NES | 2,000,000 | [44] |
In Japan and South Korea, according to Famicom Tsūshin (Famitsu) magazine, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video game releases of 1992.
Rank | Japan[51] | South Korea[50] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Platform | Sales | Title | Platform | |
1 | Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome[52] | Super Famicom | 2,800,000[46][47] | Street Fighter II | Super Comboy |
2 | Final Fantasy V | Super Famicom | 2,000,000+[43][53] | Final Fantasy V | |
3 | Super Mario Kart | Super Famicom | 2,000,000+[43] | Dragon Quest V | |
4 | Street Fighter II | Super Famicom | 2,000,000+[42][43] | Arang Jeonseol (Fatal Fury) | |
5 | Romancing SaGa | Super Famicom | < 1,170,000[54] | Ranma ½: Hard Battle | |
6 | Super Mario Land 2: 6-tsu no Kinka | Game Boy | Unknown | — | |
7 | Mario Paint | Super Famicom | |||
8 | Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu | Super Famicom | < 730,000[55] | ||
9 | Hoshi no Kirby (Kirby's Dream Land) | Game Boy | Unknown | ||
10 | Super Famista (Super Batter Up) | Super Famicom |
The following titles were the top three best-selling home video game releases of 1992 in Europe and the United Kingdom.
Rank | Europe[50] | United Kingdom[45] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Platform | Sales | Title | Platform | Sales | |
1 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Mega Drive | 1,750,000+[40][41] | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Mega Drive | 1,000,000+[40][56] |
2 | Road Rash II | Mega Drive | Unknown | Street Fighter II | Super NES | 200,000 |
3 | Mario Paint | Super NES | Unknown | Amiga | Unknown |
In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the top-selling home video games of each month in 1992.
Month | Game consoles | Home computers | Ref | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mega Drive | Super NES | Master System | NES | Game Boy | Amiga | Spectrum | ||
January | WWF WrestleMania (home computers) | [57] | ||||||
February | Robocod | — | Sonic the Hedgehog | Super Mario Bros. 3 | Super Mario Land | Grand Prix 1 | Unknown | [58][59] |
March | QuackShot | — | Asterix | 1st Division Manager | Unknown | [60][61][62] | ||
April | Desert Strike | Unknown | Project-X | Unknown | [63][61][64] | |||
May | Unknown | Super Kick Off | John Madden[65] | Unknown | [66] | |||
June | Unknown | Champions of Europe | Rescue Rangers | Sensible Soccer | Italia '90 | [67][68][69] | ||
July | Taz-Mania | Unknown | Wimbledon | [70][71][72] | ||||
August | Olympic Gold[61] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Rainbow Islands | [73][74] | |
September | Alien 3[61] | WWF Super WrestleMania | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | [75][76][77] | ||
October | Street Fighter II (Super NES) | [45][78] | ||||||
November | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive) | [45][61][79] | ||||||
December | [80][81][82] |
In the United States, the following titles were the top three best-selling home video games of 1992.
Rank | Title | Publisher | Genre | Sales | Platform | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sega | Platformer | 2,000,000 | Sega Genesis | [39] |
Street Fighter II | Capcom | Fighting | 2,000,000 | Super NES | [44] | |
3 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Nintendo | Action-adventure | 1,000,000 | Super NES | [39] |
The following titles were the best-selling home video games of each month for video game consoles (home consoles and handheld consoles) in 1992.
Month | NES | Super NES | Sega Genesis | TurboDuo | Game Boy | Atari Lynx | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June | Unknown | Final Fantasy II | Unknown | — | Unknown | Unknown | [83] |
August | Yoshi | Street Fighter II | Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing | — | Super Mario Land | Batman Returns | [84] |
September | Turtles in Time | — | [85] | ||||
October | Tecmo Super Bowl | Street Fighter II | NHLPA Hockey '93 | Cosmic Fantasy 2 | Kirby's Dream Land | NFL Football | [78][86] |
November | John Madden Football '93 | Air Zonk | Super Mario Land 2 | [87][88] | |||
December | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Batman Returns | [89] |
The following titles were the top-selling personal computer games on the monthly PC Research charts in 1992, as reported by Electronic Games magazine.
Month | MS-DOS games | MS-DOS educational games | Amiga | Macintosh | CD-ROM | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May | Hardball III | — | — | — | — | [90] |
June | Aces of the Pacific | Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? | — | — | — | [91] |
July | — | — | — | [92] | ||
August | Links | — | — | — | [93] | |
September | Falcon 3.0: Operation Fighting Tiger | — | — | — | [94] | |
October | King's Quest VI | Civilization | Prince of Persia | Battle Chess | [95] |
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