An arcade game is a coin- or token-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. These games use a joystick and buttons as control, appealing to many people in classic games such as Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Other games include pinball machines and redemption games like UFO catchers, which are especially popular in the Japanese market and reward players with physical prizes rather than tickets or tokens.
Game Types
The most familiar are video games, employing screens and controllers for interaction. More than 300,000 units of classics like Pac-Man have been sold since it was first put on display in 1980, with curious crowds pumping over $2.5 billion into the machines. Street Fighter II, released in 1991, has sold over 200,000 units worldwide. Since its 1978 release, Space Invaders has moved more than 360,000 units, resulting in $2 billion worth of sales.
Also crucial are amusement games that do not involve electronic or electromagnetic technologies, such as pinball machines and racing simulators. Released in 1992, The Addams Family pinball machine is estimated to have sold over 20,000 units, making it the best-selling pinball table. Meanwhile, racing simulator games such as Initial D Arcade Stage, released in 2002, have pushed more than 10,000 units. In Japan, redemption games like UFO catchers are hugely popular, with the Tokyo market size reaching $1 billion in 2019.
Game Cabinets
Dedicated cabinets like Space Invaders, released in 1978, have been popular since then, generating over $2 billion from sales of more than 360,000 units. Daytona USA racing cabinets, released in 1993, have sold over 40,000 units worldwide. The Addams Family pinball machine, with over 20,000 units sold since its release in 1992, became the highest-selling pinball machine of all time. These cabinets are often found in larger arcades and theme parks, drawing returning players with their unique design and premium feel.
Universal cabinets are more flexible and can be used for various games. The JAMMA standard ensures that different games can run in the same cabinet, reducing operational costs. Sega and Namco widely adopted this standard, with their Tekken series making more than 20,000 sales of the universal cabinets. Systems like Taito’s NESiCAxLive can be used over the internet, enabling real-time updates and downloads. In 2018, over 10,000 units were sold in the Japanese market.
Gameplay
Games like Pac-Man (1980) have players gobbling up dots in a maze and dodging ghosts, a timeless concept that has attracted multitudes of gamers. Street Fighter II, released in 1991, is played by knocking out opponents in a single- or two-player setting, allowing for global head-to-head battles. Space Invaders (1978), a shooting game in which you manipulate a spaceship to resist enemies, has sold no less than 360,000 units since release.
Physical interaction is key in mechanical and electromechanical games. The Addams Family pinball machine, released in 1992, captivates players as steel balls roll around hitting targets to prevent them from falling, encouraging players to crush high scores; over 15,000 units have been sold. Games like Initial D Arcade Stage, an arcade racing simulator where players drive virtual cars in races, have sold more than 10,000 units since being launched in 2002. UFO catchers, a genre of redemption game where players use mechanical claws to grab a prize, reached a market size of $1 billion in Tokyo alone in 2019.
Control Methods
Classic games use traditional joystick and button control methods. Space Invaders allows an intuitive experience, incorporating a movement button and a fire button. Since its launch in 1978, this game has attracted over 360,000 players.
Racing games are typically installed with steering wheels and pedals to reenact actual driving. For example, Daytona USA has sold roughly 40,000 units since its launch in 1993. Shooting games like Resident Evil are installed with simulated gun controllers. Finally, UFO catchers are equipped with joysticks and buttons to handle mechanical claws. Tokyo’s market size was estimated at $1 billion in 2019.
