Arcade Files

The golden age (1978–83)

15 entries: the cabinets that built the arcade, from Space Invaders to the crash. Each shows the record, then asks what you remember.

The golden age (1978–83) · 19721978

Was Pong the first arcade video game?

Released: 1972

The golden age (1978–83) · 19781983

Did Space Invaders really cause a coin shortage?

Released: 1978

The golden age (1978–83) · 19791984

Why did Asteroids look different from other arcade games?

Released: 1979

The golden age (1978–83) · 19801985

When did Pac-Man come out in the U.S.?

Released: 1980 in Japan; October 1980 in the U.S.

The golden age (1978–83) · 19791983

What was the difference between Galaxian and Galaga?

Released: 1979

The golden age (1978–83) · 19811985

Why was Defender so hard?

Released: 1981

The golden age (1978–83) · 19811985

Was Donkey Kong the first Mario game?

Released: 1981

The golden age (1978–83) · 19811985

Who made Frogger?

Released: 1981

The golden age (1978–83) · 19811985

Who designed Centipede?

Released: 1981

The golden age (1978–83) · 19811990

How did the double-ship trick in Galaga work?

Released: 1981

The golden age (1978–83) · 19821990

Why was Ms. Pac-Man made without Namco?

Released: 1982

The golden age (1978–83) · 19821986

What was Q*bert saying when he swore?

Released: 1982

The golden age (1978–83) · 19821986

How did you kill things in Dig Dug?

Released: 1982

The golden age (1978–83) · 19821985

Did the Tron arcade game make more than the movie?

Released: 1982

The golden age (1978–83) · 19821986

Why were you riding an ostrich in Joust?

Released: 1982