This inspired other early games as simple as tic-tac-toe and checkers.
Pong, however, is more known as it demonstrated a computer’s power. From that sparked a new genre of games, video games. Atari which employed Nolan and Ted created more and more games that lasted until the “Gold Age of Arcade Games
1978-1982.” In 1977 the spark was also lit from Tomohiro Nishikado’s Breakout. The same game was adapted to a space-like game, coming out 1978 infamously called Space Invaders.
Space Invaders eventually led to Atari’s Asteroids released in 1979. Now we get into the heavy hitters that moved the 80’s arcades. In 1980 we got the excellent spaceship based game Defender. Pac-Man was next in 1980 which is the pinnacle of classic arcade games. It is the game that pops up in everyone’s head when they think of arcade games. Also, Centipede came out in 1980 which was a pattern based third person shooter where you had to defeat the most annoying 100 legged insects. All of these games are some of the most simple games though so entertaining. These games are something else as they were so limited to their storage but managed to create games that have and will never die. To master these games takes a lot of skill to realize the patterns of the enemies and how to counteract that with human knowledge. Though I can never say, I have mastered any of these games as I am just too based on the moment than repeating patterns.
Now we get into 1981 which is a massive year for some of the best games I have ever played. We start with Tempest which was honestly a game very much ahead of the game as it was pre-3D graphics that was mesmerizing at the time. Then we got the spamming button game Galaga. I remember playing this as a kid and not being able to get past the third stage as my finger was sore by then. Then we got the god game Donkey Kong.
Quarter after Quarter. Arcade games are the foundation of modern video games. Now I would love to introduce you to some of the most iconic classic games that started the gaming industry. Inspired programmers 30 years after release and entertain kids for generations. Games you can play when you are bored or ready for competition. When I think of great games I think it is natural I gravitate to games I grew up with. Though until I delved deep into the history of the games, I realized that none of the games I play now would have been around if not for the founding fathers of games. Here is the first installment of Gamie Games featuring classic arcade games.
I want to clear up that Pong, released in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, although claimed to be the first game, it was not. A game called Turochamp which was published in 1950 by Alan Turing and David Champernowne. It was a chess game for early computers.
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By: Xavier Arenas
GAMIE GAMES:
ARCADE EDITION