In 1971, the first commercial arcade machine – Computer Space sold to the public. It was designed by the famous Nolan Bushnell. There are many innovations in technology but it has some puzzling aspects in game operation. So it is not successful in business. Even so, Nolan Bushnell accumulated a lot of experience through the game, leaving nutting associates to establish Atari, the overlord of the game industry.
In 1972, Pong, the first successful arcade machine, was designed by Nolan Bushnell and Alan Alcorn. At that time, Nolan put the game machine in a local gas station. Nolan had made a lot of money when the game machine finished its mission and stopped running. Pong achieved success with amazing speed and it can be said that it created the arcade game industry.
In 1974, the first game that used ROM to store image data – Tank (keegames / Atari Inc.)
- Infancy
Arcade machine in its infancy has not been popularized. Aside from many factors, the arcade game machines had poor picture quality, few colors and lower entertainment. Its entertainment effect is far inferior to our arcade machines today. From a certain point of view, these games are not arcade games in the real sense.
- 12 years of rapid development
1978-1990 can be said to be 12 years of arcade games in full bloom. Nintendo has gradually become the master of arcade games. With a Mario, Nintendo has attracted the hearts of many players around the world. Then Capcom’s ACT games appeared. The publication of “Street Fighter” had made Capcom’s a leader in fighting games of arcade games. Later, SNK’s plug-in RETROCON came out which added infinite fun to players.
- New era
It means networking. Players can have their own personality data through the network and can cooperate or fight with other players. Sega launched the “Sangokushi Taisen” during this period and players can storm a pass in cooperation. Later, Seed Destiny launched by BANDAI-NAMCO made countless players become Gundam’s fans and so far. Then came Square-Enix’s pioneering work Dragon Quest.
Today’s arcade machines have large screen size, smooth visual effect and more operation methods. They combine the online and offline playing methods which not only has the sense of game experience and operation, but also has the pleasure of online communication.
The following is the history of classic arcades of all periods:
1972, Pong, Atari Inc.
1974, Tank, Kee Games/Atari Inc.
1975, Gunfight, Taito/Midway
1976, Night Driver, Atari Inc.
1976, Breakout, Atari Inc.
1978, Space Invaders,Taito/Bally/Midway
1978, Football, Atari Inc.
1979, Asteroids, Atari Inc.
1979, Warrior,Vectorbeam/Cinematronics
1980, Battlezone, Atari Inc.
1980, Defender, WilliamsElectronics
1980, Missile Command, Atari
1980, Pac-Man, Bally/Midway
1981, Donkey Kong, Nintendo Ltd.
1981, Centipede, Atari Inc.
1981, Tempest, Atari Inc.
1982, Pole Position, Namco/Atari
1982, Tron, Bally/Midway
1982, Zaxxon, Sega Ltd.
1983, Star Wars, Atari Inc.
1983, Dragon’s Lair,Starcom/Cinematronics
1984, I, Robot, Atari Inc.
1985, Xevious, Namco/Atari Inc.
1985, Gauntlet, Atari Games
1986, Space Harrier, Sega
1986, Athena, SNK
1986, Ikari Warriors, SNK
- StreetFighter, CAPCOM
1991, Street Fighter II, CAPCOM
1991, Fetal Fury,SNK
1992, Art of Fighting,SNK
1992, Warriors of Fate, CAPCOM
1992, Virtua Racing, Sega
1993, Samurai Shodown,SNK
1993, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs,CAPCOM
1993, Virtua Fighter, Sega
1993, Daytona, Sega
1994, The King of Fighters’94,SNK
1994, Armored Warriors, CAPCOM
1995, Real Bout Fetal Fury, SNK
1996, Metal Slug,SNK
1996, Oriental Legend IGS
1997, The King of Fighters’97,SNK
1997, The King of Fighters’98,SNK
1997, The Last Blade,SNK
1999, Knights of Valour, IGS
1999, Mark of The Wolves,SNK
1999, Dead or Alive 2,TECMO★
2000, Knights of Valour 2, IGS
2000, The King of Fighters’2000,SNK
2000, Guilty Gear X, Arc SystemWorks★
2000, Marvel vs. Capcom 2,CAPCOM★
2000, Capcom vs. SNK – Millennium Fight,CAPCOM★
2001, The King of Fighters’2001,EOLITH
2002, The King of Fighters’2002, PLAYMORE& EOLITH
2003, SNK vs Capcom Chaos,PLAYMORE
2003, SamuraiShodown V, PLAYMORE
2003, Knights of Valor – The Seven Spirits,IGS
2004, King of Fighters – The Neo Wave, SNKPlaymore
2004, Sangokushi Taisen, SEGA
2005, NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, SNKPlaymore
2005, Fist Of The North Star, Arc SystemWorks
2005, Guilty Gear XX Slash, Arc SystemWorks
2005, Senko No Ronde Special,G.Rev
2006, The King of Fighters XI, SNKPlaymore
2006, Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna,BANDAI-NAMCO
2006, Trigger Heart Exelica,Warashi
2007, Oriental Legend 2, IGS
2007, KOF Maximum Impact Regulation A, SNKPlaymore
2008, BlazBlue: CalamityTrigger,Arc System Works
2008, Samurai Spirits:sen,SNK Playmore
2008, Street Fighter IV,CAPCOM
2008, The King of Fighters XII, SNKPlaymore
2010, Super Street Fighter IV,CAPCOM
2010, The King of FightersXIII（KOF13）,SNK Playmore
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