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October 18
Video Games
1985: Nintendo test releases the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the United States, in New York City. Special displays are set up in department, toy, and electronics stores. 50,000 of the available 100,000 units are sold by Christmas. The NES uses a 1.79MHz 6502 processor, and generates images with 256x240 resolution in 16 colors. The NES comes with the Robotic Operating Buddy and the Zapper light gun. Price is US$125. Seventeen game cartridges are available with the launch of the game system.
1992: The fifth annual MultiMedia Expo is held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California.
1994: Sega releases the Sonic & Knuckles video game for the Genesis in the US.
1995: Acclaim releases the Mortal Kombat 3 game for personal computers in the US.
1996: Apple Computer introduces the Apple Performa 6360 CD computer. It features 160 MHz PowerPC 603e processor, 8X CD-ROM drive, 28.8 kbps modem, 1 MB video RAM, 16 MB RAM, 1.2 GB Quantum IDE hard drive, one PCI slot, and over 24 applications and 15 CD-ROM discs. Price is US$1499.
1996: Apple computer introduces the Performa 6400/200 "Video Editing Edition". It features 200 MHz 603e PowerPC processor, 32 MB RAM, 2.4 GB hard drive, 1 MB video RAM, 28.8 kbps modem, 8X CD-ROM drive, 256 kB level-2 cache, Avid Cinema video editing software, and over 24 applications and 15 CD-ROM discs. Price is US$2699.
2001: Sony celebrates the first anniversary of the PlayStation 2 in the US. with a private party in the St. Regis Hotel in Century City, California. Shipments of the system in the US to date are 8.6 million, with total sales of 5 million.
2002: The CBS TV network airs the 48 Hours Investigates show. The computer game EverQuest is presented as addictive and dangerous.
2004: Capcom releases the Mega Man Zero 3 video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US.
2005: Sierra releases the F.E.A.R. game for personal computers in the US.
2005: Rockstar Games releases The Warriors video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the US.
2005: Nintendo releases the Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance video game for the GameCube in the US.
2005: Sony releases the Shadow of the Colossus video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US.
2006: Microsoft releases the Internet Explorer 7 Web browser.
2006: Namco Bandai releases the Bounty Hounds video game for the PlayStation Portable in the US.
2006: Electronic Arts releases The Godfather: The Game video game for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, and Xbox 360 in the US.
2007: Ubuntu releases the Ubuntu 7.10 Linux operating system. Code name during development was Gutsy Gibbon.
2007: (to October 21) In Los Angeles, California, the E for All Expo video game show is held, open to the public. About 18,000 attend over four days.
2009: The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. A child is dressed at Halloween as a character from the video game Halo.
1992: The fifth annual MultiMedia Expo is held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California.
1994: Sega releases the Sonic & Knuckles video game for the Genesis in the US.
1995: Acclaim releases the Mortal Kombat 3 game for personal computers in the US.
1996: Apple Computer introduces the Apple Performa 6360 CD computer. It features 160 MHz PowerPC 603e processor, 8X CD-ROM drive, 28.8 kbps modem, 1 MB video RAM, 16 MB RAM, 1.2 GB Quantum IDE hard drive, one PCI slot, and over 24 applications and 15 CD-ROM discs. Price is US$1499.
1996: Apple computer introduces the Performa 6400/200 "Video Editing Edition". It features 200 MHz 603e PowerPC processor, 32 MB RAM, 2.4 GB hard drive, 1 MB video RAM, 28.8 kbps modem, 8X CD-ROM drive, 256 kB level-2 cache, Avid Cinema video editing software, and over 24 applications and 15 CD-ROM discs. Price is US$2699.
2001: Sony celebrates the first anniversary of the PlayStation 2 in the US. with a private party in the St. Regis Hotel in Century City, California. Shipments of the system in the US to date are 8.6 million, with total sales of 5 million.
2002: The CBS TV network airs the 48 Hours Investigates show. The computer game EverQuest is presented as addictive and dangerous.
2004: Capcom releases the Mega Man Zero 3 video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US.
2005: Sierra releases the F.E.A.R. game for personal computers in the US.
2005: Rockstar Games releases The Warriors video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the US.
2005: Nintendo releases the Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance video game for the GameCube in the US.
2005: Sony releases the Shadow of the Colossus video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US.
2006: Microsoft releases the Internet Explorer 7 Web browser.
2006: Namco Bandai releases the Bounty Hounds video game for the PlayStation Portable in the US.
2006: Electronic Arts releases The Godfather: The Game video game for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, and Xbox 360 in the US.
2007: Ubuntu releases the Ubuntu 7.10 Linux operating system. Code name during development was Gutsy Gibbon.
2007: (to October 21) In Los Angeles, California, the E for All Expo video game show is held, open to the public. About 18,000 attend over four days.
2009: The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA. A child is dressed at Halloween as a character from the video game Halo.
Movies
1987: Birth of Zac Efron; actor (High School Musical, High School Musical 2, Summerland).
1988: ABC airs the first episode of TV show Roseanne.
1989: Birth of Joy Lauren; actress (Danielle Van De Kamp - Desperate Housewives TV show).
1989: Death of Harvey Hart at age 61 from a stroke; director (Columbo, East of Eden).
1991: Birth of Tyler Posey; actor (Doc).
1993: Death of Lois Kibbee at age 71 from a brain tumor; actress (Edge of Night, Somerset, One Life to Live).
2000: Death of Gwen Verdon at age 75 after a heart attack; actress/dancer (Damn Yankees, All My Children, Magnum P.I., The Cosby Mysteries, Walker Texas Ranger).
2000: Death of Julie London at age 74 from a stroke; actress/singer (Emergency TV show).
1988: ABC airs the first episode of TV show Roseanne.
1989: Birth of Joy Lauren; actress (Danielle Van De Kamp - Desperate Housewives TV show).
1989: Death of Harvey Hart at age 61 from a stroke; director (Columbo, East of Eden).
1991: Birth of Tyler Posey; actor (Doc).
1993: Death of Lois Kibbee at age 71 from a brain tumor; actress (Edge of Night, Somerset, One Life to Live).
2000: Death of Gwen Verdon at age 75 after a heart attack; actress/dancer (Damn Yankees, All My Children, Magnum P.I., The Cosby Mysteries, Walker Texas Ranger).
2000: Death of Julie London at age 74 from a stroke; actress/singer (Emergency TV show).
Music
2000: Death of Julie London at age 74 from a stroke; actress/singer (Emergency TV show).
Sports
2009: In Sao Paulo, Brazil, round 16 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship is won by Mark Webber.
2009: In Phillip Island, Australia, round 15 of the FIM MotoGP Championship is won by Casey Stoner.
2009: In Phillip Island, Australia, round 15 of the FIM MotoGP Championship is won by Casey Stoner.
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