What is an arcade game?

Most people probably heard the term arcade game before. But what actually defines such a game? Arcade games are machines located in arcades, on which games can be played for money. These arcades were especially popular in the 70s and 80s, before game consoles found their way into living rooms. Young people in particular gathered in these arcades in their free time to pass the time and achieve new high scores.

The first arcade game is considered to be "Computer Space" from 1971. The inventor of the game founded the well-known video game company "Atari" a few years later. In the game, the player controls a spaceship and has to dodge the shots of two UFOs and hit them with his own shots. For the controls, there were only four buttons. Two for movement, one to shoot and one to accelerate. Later there was also a version where two players could play against each other. Even though arcades no longer exist in most countries, arcade games still do to this day. In mobile game stores, like the Google Play Store, there is even a separate category for arcade games. Games like "Fruit Ninja" also have their own arcade mode. In such modes/games, it's often just about getting as many points as possible, while the player usually has three lives available. The controls are pretty minimalistic, so overall these games simulate classic arcade games pretty closely.

1980 saw the release of "Pac-Man", probably the most famous arcade game. Known at the time as "Puck-Man", the little yellow circle quickly gained many fans. Invented by the Japanese Toru Iwatani, the game was launched on the US market in 1980. The player controls the eponymous "Pac-Man", whose name is derived from the Japanese "paku paku" and means "quickly open and close your mouth". The player must move the yellow circle through a blue maze, trying not to come into contact with any of the four ghosts. By collecting a powerup, the ghosts can be eaten by "Pac-Man" and will reappear in the center of the maze after some time. "Pac-Man" has spawned numerous versions. Among them, the female version "Ms. Pac-Man" or versions for cell phones and computers.

Video game history was almost as strongly influenced by the arcade game "Space Invaders". The game, in which the player has to shoot down enemy aliens with a spaceship, appeared as early as 1978. "Space Invaders" is considered the first game with a soundtrack, four repeating bass notes played while the game was running. In 1982, the cult game "Tron" was released, in which two players play against each other. Each player controls a motorcycle-like vehicle that drags a strip of light behind it. One player must steer his strip of light so that the other player drives against it. The game is based on the movie of the same name, released the same year. "Tron" helped shape modern science fiction and spawned a sequel, "Tron: Legacy," in 2010.