Arcade clubs, new releases on a monthly basis, excited players, a massive boost in arcade machine sales – this was all part of The Golden Age of Arcade Games. In today’s post, we’ll share curious details concerning this period. It was undoubtedly the most profit-making period of time for game developers. And arcade games lovers were certainly the happiest back then.
In the following paragraphs, you’ll find information about some of the most popular titles released during The Golden Age of Arcade Games. Also, we’ll do our best to point out some key events that have taken place during that time. Last but not least, we’ll share the titles of the newest arcade video games that remind us of the good old classics.
The Beginning
Many believe that The Golden Age of Arcade Games is a period between 1975 and 1983. These were times of constant progression, growth in technology, and releases of new games. Arcade games were something innovative and extremely amusing to people back then. There were numerous barcades, allowing visitors to spend a few hours of exciting games.
Going to arcade clubs at the weekends was probably the most popular form of entertainment for individuals. The good thing was that arcade machines were accessible at various places, such as bars, supermarkets, cafeterias, and gas stations. At the cost of a few pennies, any guest could’ve spent some quality minutes playing games, such as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, or Galaxian.
The Golden Age of Arcade Games: The Mania
It’s an undeniable fact that arcade games were quite popular at the end of 1970 and in the beginning of 1980. That’s why many people who had the necessary funds started buying arcade games machines. The cost of one machine in 1980 had increased greatly, compared to the machines sold in 1975. In 1981, the United States had sold more than 490,000 arcade machines, whose total cost was more than $90 million.
Everyone wanted to own such a machine simply because the popularity and the search were huge. Numerous manufacturers started working round the clock to come up with new games on the market. Regrettably, not all of them have managed to succeed. Many games failed miserably either because of their hard rules or because of the short life-span of the machines.
The hype was so immense that the video arcade game industry in the US was generating earnings equal to $7 billion per year. Some of the most successful companies during that era were (some of them still are) Nintendo, Taito, Namco, Atari, and many others.
Most Popular Releases
As mentioned, during The Golden Age of Arcade Games, people enjoyed new releases quite frequently. That’s why the price of arcade machines had reached unbelievable numbers. Game developers also noticed how obsessed individuals of all ages were with arcade games. That’s why they did their best to create high-quality arcade games as fast as they could.
Not all of them notched up the desired success, however. In their attempt to create something different, some companies ended up delivering games that were not to people’s liking. A few developers managed to earn tens of million dollars thanks to their top-notch arcade games. Some of the most favored and well-known productions of theirs were:
- Pac-Man
- Space Invaders
- Dig Dug
- Qix
- Scramble
- Galaga
- Popeye
- Jungle King
- Zaxxon
- Spy Hunter
- Defender
Experiments with Technology
The Golden Age of Arcade Games was also a period when technology was developing with the speed of sound. Developers were looking for various ways to make their games even more entertaining and captivating. They wanted to deliver something more than arcade games for machines; they wanted to introduce their products on computers, as well.
A great number of experts believe that Space Invaders by Taito was the first arcade video game written with an onboard microprocessor by Intel.
21st Century Arcade Video Games Worth Playing
We’re happy to say that even after the end of the Arcade Games Era, there were still some pretty nice games provided by reputable developers. They offered the same quality, similar features, and guaranteed amusement. We won’t lie to you and say that arcade video games launched after, let’s say 2010, are all marvelous.
Nevertheless, our team has a few favorite titles that are fairly new and are promised to keep you entertained during the entire gameplay. Please, find our top 8 recommendations for arcade video games released between 2010 and 2020.
- Bakugan: The Batters
- Dream Raiders
- Fighting EX Layer
- Blade Strangers
- Dirty Drivin’
- Jurassic Park Arcade
- Luigi’s Mansion Arcade
- Pokemon Tretta
Conclusion
The end of The Golden Age of Arcade Games did not put an end to gaming’s popularization. Nowadays, we all have a favourite game we can’t wait to play in our free time. What’s more important is that we can play it from the comfort of our own homes because all games are now optimized for PCs and mobile devices.
In our blog, you can find extensive information about various arcade games, majorly video ones. If you wish to be instantly notified whenever we add a new post, make sure you subscribe to our website if you haven’t already. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always reach us.