- July (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: NCAA Football 2003 for the PlayStation 2. [955.26] [1403.84]
- August 1
- Sony releases a Zen Black translucent PlayStation 2 game system in Japan. Price is about US$250. [347.44]
- August 8
- Microsoft announces it is working on a sequel to the Halo video game for the Xbox. [597]
- August 16
- Electronic Arts releases the Madden NFL 2003 video game for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube in the US. [322.91] [347.43,44] [744.28]
- August 23
- Capcom releases the Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [310.71] [322.61] [347.44] [553.110] [980.29]
- August 26
- Nintendo releases the Super Mario Sunshine video game for the GameCube in the US. [309.74] [310.33] [330.64] [347.118] [401] [411] [412.24] [871.38] [980.30]
- In the US, Microsoft begins offering a full-cost US$30 rebate on a DVD playback kit when purchased with a new Xbox. The offer ends November 2. [597]
- August 27
- Sony releases the PS2 Network Adapter for the PlayStation 2 in the US. Price is US$39.99. [298.58] [309.97] [310.29] [347.34] [348.152] [441.25] [597] [745.17] [954.62] [1403.30]
- Sony CEA releases the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. Price is US$59.99. [297.56] [298.76] [309.97] [310.29] [347.44,90] [740.26] [743.20] [744.28]
- August (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Madden NFL 2003 for the PlayStation 2. [629.78] [745.24]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- (month unknown)
- Microsoft makes an internal change to the Xbox configuration, to lower manufacturing costs and increase security against hackers. [597]
- Sony releases the PUD-J5A virtual Reality headset for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. It incorporates Sony's Glasstron display technology and motion-tracking sensor. Price is about US$480. [955.18]
- September
- In Greece, a court declares Law 3037 banning electronic games unconstitutional. [439.40] [597]
- September 13
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. A scene takes place in a video game arcade. Two characters play a "Virtua-Stud" virtual reality video game. In an arena battle, a giant ape throws barrels down steps and ladders, a reference to the Donkey Kong video game. [890]
- September
- Square EA releases the Kingdom Hearts video game for the PlayStation 2 game system in the US. [276.78] [347.80] [557.69]
- September 16
- Nintendo releases the e-Reader card scanner for the Game Boy Advance in the US. It scans dot codes on e-Reader cards, which can contain games and program enhancements. The reader contains 64 Megabits of memory, and one Megabit of Flash memory. Price is US$39.99. Game titles available are Excitebike-e, Balloon Fight-e, Tennis-e, Pinball-e, Donkey Kong Jr.-e, for US$5 each. [439.40] [532.53] [534] [597]
- Nintendo releases the Animal Crossing video game for the GameCube in the US. [310.33] [347.112] [401] [535.62] [730.164]
- September 20
- IBM announces it has shipped 10 million "Gekko" PowerPC processors for Nintendo's GameCube. [597]
- Microsoft buys the British game developer Rare for US$375 million. [439.38] [597]
- September 23
- Nintendo releases the Star Fox Adventures video game for the GameCube in the US. [296.60] [297.158] [307.90] [310.33] [346.78] [347.44] [348.122] [401]
- September 24
- Quote by J. Allard, Microsoft general manager for Xbox: "... narrowband gaming [is] like sucking pizza through a straw.". [597]
- Nintendo releases the Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [310.108] [348.152] [401] [411] [1149.64]
- September (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Madden NFL 2003 for the PlayStation 2. [629.78] [986.21]
- (month unknown)
- Shipments of Gran Turismo 3 worldwide to date: 8 million. [629.32]
- October 4
- Majesco Sales releases the BloodRayne video game for the PlayStation 2 in the USA. [1403.151]
- October 11
- Acclaim releases the Burnout 2: Point of Impact video game for the PlayStation 2 in England. Acclaim offers to pay drivers' speeding tickets incurred that day. [745.18]
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. A video game system appears, playing "CRASH NEBULA IN POWERPLANT". [1064]
- October 12
- Namco releases the Namco Museum video game for the GameCube in the US. It includes classic arcade games Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Pole Position II, Galaxian. [401] [534.144]
- October 15
- In the US, Microsoft begins bundling two video games with the Xbox, until the end of the year. The games are Sega GT 2002 and Jet Set Radio Future. The Xbox also now comes standard with a smaller controller, the same one used in the Japanese market. [597]
- October
- The November issue of Mac Addict magazine includes a picture of a yellow apple eating white dots, a reference to the Pac-Man video game. [1038.4]
- In Japan, the Tokyo Game Show is held. Sony announces it has sold 40 million PlayStation 2 systems worldwide to date: 17 million in the US, 12 million in Europe, and 11 million in Japan. [597] [745.17]
- October 16
- Microsoft releases the Blinx: The Time Sweeper video game for the Xbox in the US. [359.55] [557.95] [597] [620.147]
- October 21
- In Japan, Square unveils the Final Fantasy X-2 video game for the PlayStation 2, showing a video trailer for the game. [745.67]
- Nintendo releases the Mario Party 4 video game for the GameCube in the US. [310.33] [359.55,144] [401] [411] [871.38]
- October 29
- Take 2 Interactive releases the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. (Total lifetime sales: 17.5 million units.) [310.29] [439.12d,143,153] [441.24] [455.61] [570.77] [597] [644.188] [670.24] [1004.12] [1147.30] [1370.78] [1403.151]
- Sega releases the Phantasy Star Online: Episode 1 & II video game for the GameCube in the US. The game can be played offline in single-player mode, or online against other players for US$9 per month. Price is US$39.99. [427.109] [597]
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. A parent offers his son's video games as a "trick or treat" offering. [1065]
- October 30
- Nintendo releases a dial-up modem and a network adapter for the GameCube. Price of each is US$35. [597]
- The European Union fines Nintendo 168 million euros (about US$147 million) for colluding with game distributors to sell products at different prices in different parts of Europe, in violation of European Union treaties. [597]
- October 31
- Square releases a remake of the Final Fantasy video game for the PlayStation in Japan. [745.68]
- Square releases a remake of the Final Fantasy II video game for the PlayStation in Japan. [745.68]
- November 1
- Microsoft and Sega release a limited edition (999 produced) Panzer Dragoon Orta Xbox system in Japan. It includes a white case, white controller, Panzer Dragoon Orta video game, and a special necklace. Price is about US$325. All units sell on the opening day. [432.64]
- The WB Television Network airs the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch TV show in the US. A character says the best her magic spell book can do is "exorcise a demon-infested Atari", likely referring to the Atari 2600 or Atari Video Computer System. [903]
- November
- Acclaim announces that Sony forced it to censor nudity planned for the BMX XXX video game for the PlayStation 2. The GameCube and Xbox versions are not affected. [629.60]
- November 8
- Konami releases the Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance video game for the Xbox in the US. [310.86] [439.143]
- November 9
- Electronic Arts releases the SSX Tricky video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [359.55] [401]
- November 11
- Nintendo releases the Donkey-Kong-e video game for the e-Reader in the US. [401] [439.40]
- Capcom releases the Resident Evil Zero video game for the GameCube in the US. (2.5 million copies are sold.) [401] [439.143] [1491.21] (November 12 [834.17])
- Nintendo releases the Mario Bros.-e video game for the e-Reader in the US. [401] [439.40]
- Sega releases the Sonic Mega Collection video game for the GameCube in the US. (November 12 [779.40])
- November 14
- Microsoft officially launches the Xbox Live online gaming service in the US, and releases the Xbox Live Starter Kit in the US. Price is US$49.99, including a one-year subscription to Xbox Live. The service requires a broadband Internet connection. [359.34] [583.E1] [597]
- November
- The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology publishes the article "Not so doomed: computer game play and positive adolescent development" by K. Durkin and B. Barber. It reports that video games are a normal part of a well-adjusted lifestyle. [480.50]
- Ubi Soft releases the Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell video game for the Xbox in the US. [310.30] [434.35]
- Microsoft drops the price of the Xbox in Europe to 249 euros on the continent, and 160 pounds in Britain. [427.25]
- Sega releases the Shinobi video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [436.77]
- 3D6 releases the Revenge of Shinobi video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [436.77]
- Namco releases the Ninja Assault video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [436.77]
- Capcom announces five new games for the GameCube in Japan: Resident Evil 4, Viewtiful Joe, P.N. 03, Dead Phoenix, and Killer 7. Killer 7 video game [442.24]
- November 17
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The Pokémon character Pikachu appears. [943]
- November 18
- Nintendo releases the Metroid Prime video game for the GameCube in the US. [310.33] [359.134] [401] [439.143] [536.110] [779.25]
- Nintendo releases the Metroid Fusion video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [310.33] [401] [536.110] [779.25] [1149.64]
- November 19
- Acclaim releases the BMX XXX video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. [310.77] [745.18]
- Nintendo announces the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Player. The device will attach to the bottom of the GameCube, and will play all versions of Game Boy cartridges. The adapter is to go on sale in Japan next March. [442.28] [597]
- November 21
- Nintendo releases the Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire video games for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. [331.30] [439.80d]
- November 22
- Midway releases the Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance video game for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance in the US. Midway declares the day "Fatality Friday". (Sales by the end of the year reach 1 million copies.) [322.66] [347.44] [436.165] [808] [1006.22]
- November 24
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character says various words, trying to remember a code word. One of the words he says is "Nintendo". [944]
- November 26
- Square and Enix announce they are merging companies to form Square Enix by April 1, 2003. [436.51] [442.24] (December [1013.20])
- November (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PlayStation 2. [1005.27]
- (month unknown)
- Sony hosts the Bicoastal Online Celebrity Gaming Tournament in New York City and Los Angeles. Sony demonstrates online gaming with the PlayStation 2. The game played is NFL GameDay 2003. [1067.34]
- December 1
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character temporarily living in an 1895 setting says "I miss my toys, my video games". [945]
- December 2
- Nintendo releases The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. [310.118] [411]
- December 8
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A character plays a handheld video game closely resembling a Nintendo Game Boy. [845]
- December
- The American National Institute on Media and the Family releases its 7th Media Wise Video Game Report Card in Washington, D.C. The report gives the industry its first overall "F" grade, due to the increase in violence in game content, and the failure of parents and retailers to keep violent games away from kids. [425.28]
- Michael Robertson, CEO of Lindows, reveals that he is the formerly anonymous sponsor of two US$100,000 prize offers for the first persons to run the Linux operating system on a modified and an unmodified Xbox video game system. [597]
- December (month)
- Top selling video game in the USA for the month: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PlayStation 2. [1006.20]
- Year
- Top selling video game in the USA for the year: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PlayStation 2. [1007.20]
- Total video game sales in the USA for the year: 149.6 million. [1007.20]
- Sales of video game software in the US during the year: US$5.5 billion. [431.42]
- Sales of video game systems and games in the US during the year: about US$10 billion. [449.44]
- Sales of arcade games in the USA for the year: US$523 million. [1505.283]
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