<s>
1988	O
saw	O
many	O
sequels	O
and	O
prequels	O
in	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Mega	B-Application
Man	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Revenge	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
new	O
titles	O
such	O
as	O
Assault	B-Application
,	O
Altered	B-Application
Beast	I-Application
,	O
Capcom	B-Application
Bowling	I-Application
,	O
Ninja	B-Application
Gaiden	I-Application
,	O
RoboCop	B-Application
,	O
Winning	B-Application
Run	I-Application
and	O
Chase	B-Application
H.Q.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
year	O
's	O
highest-grossing	O
arcade	O
games	O
were	O
After	B-Application
Burner	I-Application
and	O
After	B-Device
Burner	I-Device
II	I-Device
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Operation	B-Application
Wolf	I-Application
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
and	O
RoboCop	B-Application
in	O
Hong	O
Kong	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
year	O
's	O
bestselling	O
home	O
system	O
was	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
(	O
Famicom	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
fifth	O
year	O
in	O
a	O
row	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
year	O
's	O
best-selling	O
home	O
video	O
games	O
were	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
III	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
Super	O
Mario	O
Bros./Duck	O
Hunt	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Out	B-Application
Run	I-Application
wins	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
at	O
the	O
5th	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
year	O
1987	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
July	O
–	O
Nintendo	O
releases	O
the	O
first	O
issue	O
of	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
magazine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
-	O
Namco	O
releases	O
their	O
first	O
3D	O
polygon	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
Winning	B-Application
Run	I-Application
,	O
running	O
on	O
the	O
Namco	B-Application
System	I-Application
21	I-Application
arcade	O
board	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rank	O
Hong	O
Kong	O
United	O
States	O
Bondeal	O
Play	O
Meter	O
AMOA	O
Dedicated	O
cabinet	O
Conversion	O
kit	O
1	O
RoboCop	B-Application
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
Shinobi	B-Application
2	O
Chequered	O
Flag	O
rowspan	O
=	O
"	O
4	O
"	O
Out	B-Application
Run	I-Application
,	O
After	B-Application
Burner	I-Application
,	O
Operation	B-Application
Wolf	I-Application
,	O
Bad	B-Application
Dudes	I-Application
Vs.	I-Application
DragonNinja	I-Application
Twin	B-Application
Eagle	I-Application
,	O
Heavy	B-Application
Barrel	I-Application
,	O
Capcom	B-Application
Bowling	I-Application
,	O
Time	B-Application
Soldiers	I-Application
3	O
Devastators	B-Application
4	O
P.O.W.	B-Application
</s>
<s>
Operation	B-Application
Wolf	I-Application
was	O
the	O
top-earning	O
arcade	O
game	O
of	O
1988	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
the	O
NES	B-Language
Action	O
Set	O
bundled	O
with	O
Super	O
Mario	O
Bros./Duck	O
Hunt	O
was	O
the	O
best-selling	O
toy	O
of	O
1988	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
2	I-Application
became	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best-selling	O
cartridges	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Zelda	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
of	I-Application
Link	I-Application
were	O
the	O
top-selling	O
cartridges	O
during	O
the	O
holiday	O
season	O
,	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
and	O
Mike	B-Application
Tyson	I-Application
's	I-Application
Punch-Out	I-Application
each	O
crossed	O
sales	O
between	O
1987	O
and	O
1988	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Month	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
United	O
States	O
All	O
systems	O
ZX	B-Operating_System
Spectrum	I-Operating_System
Weeks	O
1-2	O
Weeks	O
3-4	O
Platform	O
Out	B-Application
Run	I-Application
Mike	B-Application
Tyson	I-Application
's	I-Application
Punch-Out	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Top	B-Application
Gun	I-Application
NES	B-Language
Platoon	B-Application
Mike	B-Application
Tyson	I-Application
's	I-Application
Punch-Out	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Mike	B-Application
Tyson	I-Application
's	I-Application
Punch-Out	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
We	O
Are	O
the	O
Champions	O
Ice	B-Application
Hockey	I-Application
Steve	B-Application
Davis	I-Application
Snooker	I-Application
Target	B-Application
:	I-Application
Renegade	I-Application
Ice	B-Application
Hockey	I-Application
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
NES	B-Language
Target	B-Application
:	I-Application
Renegade	I-Application
(	O
ZX	B-Operating_System
Spectrum	I-Operating_System
)	O
Mike	B-Application
Tyson	I-Application
's	I-Application
Punch-Out	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
NES	B-Language
Football	B-Application
Manager	I-Application
2	I-Application
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
Football	B-Application
Manager	I-Application
2	I-Application
European	O
Five-a-Side	O
R.B.I.	O
</s>
<s>
Award	O
Sinclair	O
User	O
Awards	O
(	O
December	O
1988	O
)	O
6th	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
(	O
April	O
1989	O
)	O
Arcade	O
8-bit	B-Application
computer	O
16-bit	B-Device
computer	I-Device
Console	B-Application
Game	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Operation	B-Application
Wolf	I-Application
Speedball	B-Application
Thunder	B-Application
Blade	I-Application
(	O
Master	O
System	O
)	O
Best	O
Arcade	O
/	O
Coin-Op	O
Conversion	O
Operation	B-Application
Wolf	I-Application
Best	O
Graphics	O
Armalyte	B-Application
Rocket	B-Application
Ranger	I-Application
Best	O
VGM	O
/	O
Soundtrack	O
Bionic	B-Application
Commando	I-Application
International	B-Application
Karate	I-Application
+	I-Application
Best	O
Original	O
Game	O
Dynamite	B-Application
Dux	I-Application
Best	O
Software	O
House	O
Ocean	O
Software	O
Mirrorsoft	O
Best	O
Progammer	O
John	O
Phillips	O
The	O
Bitmap	O
Brothers	O
Best	O
Shooter	O
/	O
Shoot	O
'	O
Em	O
Up	O
Galaxy	B-Application
Force	I-Application
Best	O
Beat	O
'	O
Em	O
Up	O
Bad	B-Application
Dudes	I-Application
vs.	I-Application
DragonNinja	I-Application
Best	O
Adventure	O
Game	O
Corruption	B-Application
Fish	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Award	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
(	O
November	O
1988	O
)	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
(	O
1989	O
)	O
Computer	O
Entertainer	O
Awards	O
of	O
Excellence	O
(	O
January	O
1989	O
)	O
VideoGames	O
&	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
(	O
February	O
1989	O
)	O
Master	O
System	O
NES	B-Language
Console	B-Application
Console	B-Application
Computer	O
Console	B-Application
Computer	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
(	O
SMS	O
)	O
Zaxxon	B-Application
3D	I-Application
(	O
Master	O
System	O
)	O
Superstar	B-Application
Ice	I-Application
Hockey	I-Application
Entertainment	O
Program	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Rocket	B-Application
Ranger	I-Application
(	O
AMI	B-Device
)	O
Wizardry	B-Application
IV	I-Application
(	O
APL2	B-Device
)	O
Bubble	B-Device
Ghost	I-Device
(	O
GS	B-Device
)	O
Captain	B-Device
Blood	I-Device
(	O
ST	B-Device
)	O
Pool	B-Application
of	I-Application
Radiance	I-Application
(	O
C64	O
)	O
Battlehawks	B-Application
1942	I-Application
(	O
PC	O
)	O
The	B-Application
Colony	I-Application
(	O
Macintosh	B-Device
)	O
Arcade	O
Conversion	O
Out	B-Application
Run	I-Application
Arkanoid	B-Device
Rampage	B-Application
(	O
Master	O
System	O
)	O
Arkanoid	B-Device
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
Rocky	B-Application
Side	B-Application
Pocket	I-Application
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
(	O
SMS	O
)	O
rowspan	O
=	O
"	O
2	O
"	O
King	B-Device
's	I-Device
Quest	I-Device
IV	I-Device
Side	B-Application
Pocket	I-Application
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Rocket	B-Application
Ranger	I-Application
Sound	O
/	O
Soundtrack	O
Original	O
/	O
Innovative	O
Jaws	B-Application
Blaster	B-Application
Master	I-Application
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Monopoly	O
(	O
Master	O
System	O
)	O
Battle	B-Application
Chess	I-Application
Action	O
/	O
Arcade-Style	O
Space	B-Application
Harrier	I-Application
R.C.	O
</s>
<s>
Pro-Am	O
Contra	B-Application
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Chop	B-Application
N	I-Application
 '	I-Application
Drop	I-Application
Blaster	B-Application
Master	I-Application
(	O
NES	B-Language
)	O
Skate	B-Device
or	I-Device
Die	I-Device
!	I-Device
</s>
<s>
April	O
–	O
Namco	O
releases	O
Assault	B-Application
,	O
which	O
may	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
use	O
hardware	O
rotation	O
of	O
sprites	O
and	O
the	O
background	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
August	O
–	O
Sega	O
releases	O
Altered	B-Application
Beast	I-Application
,	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive/Genesis	I-Operating_System
where	O
it	O
was	O
packaged	O
with	O
the	O
console	B-Application
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
–	O
Capcom	O
releases	O
Ghouls	B-Application
'	I-Application
n	I-Application
Ghosts	I-Application
,	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Ghosts	B-Application
'	I-Application
n	I-Application
Goblins	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
–	O
Namco	O
releases	O
Winning	B-Application
Run	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
polygonal	O
3D	O
arcade	O
racing	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
–	O
Technōs	O
Japan	O
releases	O
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Revenge	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
sequel	O
to	O
Double	B-Application
Dragon	I-Application
,	O
released	O
during	O
the	O
previous	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Atari	O
Games	O
releases	O
an	O
official	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Tetris	B-Device
as	O
well	O
as	O
Cyberball	B-Application
and	O
Toobin	B-Application
 '	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Namco	O
releases	O
World	B-Application
Stadium	I-Application
,	O
Berabow	O
Man	O
,	O
Marchen	B-Application
Maze	I-Application
,	O
Bakutotsu	B-Application
Kijuutei	I-Application
,	O
which	O
is	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Baraduke	B-Application
,	O
Ordyne	B-Application
,	O
Metal	B-Application
Hawk	I-Application
,	O
World	B-Application
Court	I-Application
,	O
Splatterhouse	B-Application
,	O
which	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
get	O
a	O
parental	O
advisory	O
disclaimer	O
,	O
Mirai	B-Application
Ninja	I-Application
,	O
Face	B-Application
Off	I-Application
and	O
Phelios	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Williams	O
releases	O
the	O
violent	O
,	O
drug-themed	O
NARC	B-Application
,	O
beginning	O
a	O
run	O
of	O
major	O
hits	O
for	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
January	O
2	O
–	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
releases	O
Wasteland	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
January	O
5	O
–	O
shareware	O
game	O
The	B-Application
Adventures	I-Application
of	I-Application
Captain	I-Application
Comic	I-Application
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
NES-style	O
scrolling	O
platform	O
games	O
for	O
MS-DOS	O
,	O
setting	O
the	O
stage	O
for	O
a	O
subsequent	O
shareware	O
boom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
January	O
8	O
–	O
Konami	O
releases	O
Super	B-Application
Contra	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
January	O
14	O
–	O
Konami	O
releases	O
Konami	B-Application
Wai	I-Application
Wai	I-Application
World	I-Application
the	O
first	O
ever	O
crossover	O
game	O
features	O
cast	O
of	O
all	O
star	O
characters	O
from	O
various	O
video	O
game	O
franchises	O
&	O
non-video	O
game	O
properties	O
such	O
as	O
characters	O
from	O
blockbuster	O
movies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
January	O
29	O
–	O
the	O
first	O
commercial	O
versions	O
of	O
Tetris	B-Device
are	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
February	O
10	O
–	O
Enix	O
releases	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pro-Am	O
is	O
released	O
and	O
becomes	O
a	O
hit	O
for	O
the	O
NES	B-Language
,	O
drawing	O
attention	O
to	O
UK	O
developer	O
Rare	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
July	O
20	O
–	O
Capcom	O
releases	O
Bionic	B-Application
Commando	I-Application
,	O
for	O
NES/Famicom	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
1987	O
arcade	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
August	O
–	O
Treasure	B-Application
Island	I-Application
Dizzy	I-Application
is	O
released	O
by	O
Codemasters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
October	O
5	O
–	O
Origin	O
Systems	O
releases	O
Ultima	B-Application
V	I-Application
:	I-Application
Warriors	I-Application
of	I-Application
Destiny	I-Application
,	O
which	O
includes	O
a	O
time-of-day	O
system	O
and	O
daily	O
schedules	O
for	O
non-player	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
October	O
9	O
–	O
Nintendo	O
revamps	O
Doki	O
Doki	O
Panic	O
and	O
releases	O
it	O
as	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
System	O
in	O
America	O
and	O
the	O
PAL	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Birdo	O
made	O
her	O
debut	O
in	O
this	O
game	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
as	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
USA	I-Application
in	O
1992	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
October	O
23	O
–	O
Nintendo	O
releases	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Famicom	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
1	O
–	O
Nintendo	O
releases	O
Zelda	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
of	I-Application
Link	I-Application
in	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
had	O
been	O
released	O
nearly	O
two	O
years	O
earlier	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
the	O
Famicom	B-Device
Disk	I-Device
System	I-Device
,	O
before	O
America	O
even	O
saw	O
the	O
first	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
9	O
–	O
Tecmo	O
releases	O
Ninja	B-Application
Gaiden	I-Application
for	O
the	O
NES/Famicom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
17	O
–	O
Square	O
Co	O
.	O
releases	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
II	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Famicom	B-Device
Disk	I-Device
System	I-Device
as	O
the	O
second	O
installment	O
of	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
December	O
24	O
–	O
Capcom	O
releases	O
Mega	B-Application
Man	I-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
eventually	O
becoming	O
the	O
highest-selling	O
installment	O
of	O
the	O
entire	O
Mega	B-Application
Man	I-Application
franchise	O
with	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
1.5	O
million	O
copies	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pool	B-Application
of	I-Application
Radiance	I-Application
the	O
first	O
of	O
the	O
SSI	O
Gold	O
Box	O
games	O
is	O
released	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
computer	O
RPG	O
officially	O
based	O
on	O
Advanced	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Superior	B-Device
Software	I-Device
release	O
Exile	B-Application
on	O
the	O
Acorn	B-Device
Electron	I-Device
and	O
BBC	B-Device
Micro	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
releases	O
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
outside	O
Japan	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	O
Master	O
System	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
in	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
most	O
successful	O
series	O
of	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Arts	O
releases	O
John	B-Device
Madden	I-Device
Football	I-Device
for	O
the	O
Apple	B-Device
II	I-Device
,	O
starting	O
its	O
highly	O
successful	O
line	O
of	O
American	B-Application
football	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interplay	O
's	O
animated	O
chess	O
program	O
Battle	B-Application
Chess	I-Application
is	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
,	O
then	O
widely	O
ported	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pioneer	B-Application
Plague	I-Application
makes	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
's	O
4096	O
color	O
Hold-And-Modify	O
mode	O
,	O
something	O
not	O
thought	O
possible	O
for	O
animated	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AMC	O
Verlag	O
releases	O
Herbert	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Atari	B-Device
8-bit	I-Device
family	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
October	O
29	O
–	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Mega	I-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
buys	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
Bandai	O
's	O
Family	B-Application
Trainer	I-Application
and	O
re-releases	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
Power	B-Application
Pad	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Namco	O
releases	O
the	O
Namco	B-Application
System	I-Application
21	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
arcade	O
system	O
board	O
specifically	O
designed	O
for	O
3D	O
polygon	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
