Arcade Games in 20th Century: Part 4 - Arcades and Personal Computers

Even though arcades had survived the rapid increase of video game technologies, their time had seemingly passed.  Every year game technologies become more and more advanced, allowing games to become more complex and realistic.  Video arcade games, with their poor graphics and low capabilities could not hold peoples interest any more.

One thing that became possible with the rise of video game technologies, was the ability for one to play different games on a single platform, this occurred when the personal computer (PC) appeared.


Back then computers had very few capabilities, and the installation of arcade games required a great deal of time; as did running the games on early PCs.  Despite these disadvantages, computers became the number one choice of many gamers.

Early video arcade games could be played only on arcade cabinets, which were specially designed for them.  Personal computers quickly became the universal platform.  In result, there was no longer a need for arcade cabinets, and arcade establishments started to lose popularity.

Regardless however, of all of the disadvantages of video arcade games,  as well as the capabilities of modern video game technologies, when arcades were introduced online, it became obvious that arcade games  were and are still very popular.

Arcade Games in 20th Century: Part 3 - Arcades vs. Simulators

The rise of video game technologies did not only improve video arcade games; the exaggerated use of realistic elements led to the appearance of a totally new game genre, simulator games (sim games.)


From the moment that simulators appeared, their popularity began to rise rapidly and the interest in arcades began to fall.  This resulted in decreasing sales in the video arcade game industry.  Simulators definitely had benefits in terms of video game technologies much more than arcades.  They became popular thanks to their atmosphere and realism.

Obviously, it was not the best of times for video arcade games, however, this game genre did not disappear.  Why so, you might ask, after all the main characteristics of arcades are:

• low reality imitation
• low planning of the levels
• low planning of the task issues

In terms of the first point of view, these characteristics leave no chances for the genre.  Arcades do however have one benefit that allows them to exist along with simulator games, the simple game play.  Simplicity is both the advantage and disadvantage of video arcade games.

Arcade Games in 20th Century: Part 2 - Evolution of Arcades

The appearance of arcades took place during the interwar period.  That was the time when the coin operated machines were developed.  However, not everyone was able to use arcade games; the person had to be in a certain age range.  In addition, only certain categories of people were allowed to use arcade games.

Then the video game technologies started to improve arcades with electronic features.  This led to the improvement of automatic gaming tools.  Modifications in there structure resulted in the simplification and enrichment of game play.

After some more time had passed, modifications have been moved from external area of arcade games to internal, the games themselves started to be improved.  This improvement led to more realistic imitations in games.

In the late 1970s-1980s, arcade games became an industrial environment based on electronic work.  This period of time is also known as the golden age of video arcade games.

Clip about the History of Video Games

Here is a very interesting video.  It is a clip representing an amateur song on the topic of the history of video games.

In fact, the video is very cool.  But there are also some sad disadvantages.  The lyrics consist mostly of different words (the only exception is refrain) that define different video game technologies, names of great people from the arcade world, arcade game companies, video game consoles, and titles of arcade games.  These words were planned to be sorted in chronological order.  The end result however, left the song with some with chronological mistakes, some important video games for example (like Spacewar, 1962) and people (like Willy Higinbotham, the inventor of video game Tennis for Two, 1958, which is believed to be the first video game) were missed.

Also, (in my opinion,) the song should be in a different genre of music.  The song talks about a time before the 1990's, the time of classic video games.  These games had the 8bit music, and I believe that the song should be 8bit too.

Despite these disadvantages, the video leaves a good impression.  It is very pleasant to hear the well known, and loved titles of classic arcade games, the games of childhood.  It is as though you are remembering your whole life, in terms of video arcade games.  A special thanks for the video itself, it perfectly supplements the nostalgic atmosphere of the music.  It would be nice if the author wrote the continuation of the song to tell about the history of video games from 1990 until today.

You can watch the clip about the history of video games below or here on Youtube.com.