Arcade games are coin-operated machines in which the player essentially rents the game for as long as they can stay alive. The first popular games were shooting galleries and fortune tellers usually found on amusement park midways. Arcade game popularity increased until its peak in the 1980s. The popularity of arcades faded with technological advances in home computers and console systems. The more popular games have been recreated for contemporary platforms and can be found in online gaming communities such as Xbox Live and machines designed for home use, e.g., Dreamcade 2.0. Don't miss our Portals section where you will find fun Arcade-style game to play online games for free.
Arcade Game Features
- Short levels
- Simple, intuitive control schemes
- Rapidly increasing difficulty
Popular Arcade Game Titles
- Pac-Man
- Galaga
- Donkey Kong
- Star Wars
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Dig Dug
- Asteroids
- Defender
- Tron
- Tempest
- Centipede
Typical Arcade Locations
- Restaurants
- Video arcades
- Bowling alleys
- College campuses
- Laundromats
- Movie theaters
- Supermarkets
- Shopping malls
- Airports
- Truck stops
- Bars/pubs
- Hotels
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Earliest arcade pinball machines date back to the 1930s
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Fact:
Popularity faded in the late 1980s
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Fact:
Current arcade hardware is compatible with gaming consoles to facilitate porting video arcade games to home systems
