3 Classic Arcade Video Games

They just don’t make arcades like they used to. The hallmark clack of pinball machines and the 8-bit orchestras playing from all sorts of machines isn’t something you can really find anymore. Here’s a list of some of the greatest arcade classics of all time.

Pong

The game that started it all. It’s a simple system–two players with a paddle and a ball that bounces back and forth between them. Developed originally in Germany in 1958 and then adapted to an arcade system in 1972 by Atari, this game is fundamentally important in the history of games.^[1] The concept of this game would be adapted and reused for years and years to come. It’s also a lot of fun!

Galaga

The pixel art in this game is legendary. Each alien enemy looks totally unique, and the ship itself is iconic. Shoot down aliens as they descend on you from above, and try not to get hit by the enemies. This was a major twist on the original space shooter, Space Invaders, but with better colors and images. Its biggest selling point was that your ships could get abducted by alien ships, but you could rescue them and have double the firing power!^[2]

Pac-Man

This game was a major departure from most of the space shooters being released at the time. The player guides Pac-Man through a maze while he is pursued by 4 ghosts. The ghosts are one of the most interesting parts of the game. Each one has their own name and special ways they will pursue you. Blinky, the red ghost, will follow you as closely as possible. Pinky, the pink ghost, will try to predict your location. Inky, the blue ghost, will pay attention to your location and the red ghost’s location. And Clyde, the orange ghost, moves toward or away from you, depending on how close you are to him.^[3] The programs that governed each ghost’s movements gave them distinct personalities, emulating a type of intelligence not found in many video game characters at the time.

There are a lot of ways to still access these classic games. There are home systems that allow you to play them on your television, and there are also full arcade cabinets that allow you to have the arcade experience in your own home. If you’re looking to organize your finances in a way that lets you play more and think about your retirement less, contact us today!