Arcade

A coin-operated video game machine is known as an arcade game. They are typically set up in pubs, restaurants and other such places. Initially arcade games were games like ball toss games, shooting galleries, or ones playing mechanical music. Arcade games were inspired from the amusement parks of the 1920s era. The first coin-operated pinball machine was made in the 1930s. These were made of wood and did not have lit-up bonus surfaces on the playing field. These games also used mechanical instead of electronic scoring readouts. A coin-operated version of the ’Spacewar’ computer game was set up by students at Stanford University in 1971. By 1977, solid state electronics for both operating and scoring were used in most pinball machines.

All arcade games generally use solid state electronics and integrated circuits. They also utilize custom per-game hardware with numerous CPUs, highly specialized sound and graphics chips and/or boards, and also the most modern computer graphics display technology. Many arcade games feature specific ambience or control accessories, including fully enclosed dynamic cabinets with force feedback controls. A number of arcade games are also installed in bowling alleys, college campuses, supermarkets, movie theatres, airports, shopping malls, hotels and bakeries. Arcade games are freely available online.