Origin of Arcade Games | ZONE BOWLING

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been playing games. Some may even argue that ancient cave paintings don't just show early humans hunting and gathering, but also enjoying games - hey, art interpretation is subjective, right?

Fast-forward several centuries and here we are in the modern world, in the age of technology and electricity with what many may call the best culmination of these developments: arcade games.

Here we trace the early history of these machines - just look how far we have come!

Flash back: Early arcade games

The very first coin-operated arcade video game machine was launched in September 1971. Called Galaxy Game, it was introduced to the market by Bill Pitts and Hugh Tuck. The very first Galaxy Game machine was installed at Stanford University in the Tresidder Union building, according to BMI Gaming. Two months later, the world of gaming changed again when Computer Space was released - the first mass-produced video arcade game that delighted thousands of people. 

Computer Space was the creation of Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, who are in many ways the iconic forefathers of the arcade gaming industry because they went on to found the company Atari. In 1972, PONG was brought out, and arcades took on a whole new level of commercial success.

Inspired by the sport of tennis, PONG was developed as a dot that moved and two paddles for players to play with. The prototype for the arcade machine was made using a 1970s black and white television set and a 1.2-metre-high wooden cabinet.

PONG was first tried by gamers in Silicon Valley and is often thought of the game that sparked the modern arcade gaming technologies, which brings us to the present day. 

Flash forward: Beep beep beep

Here we are today, only a few decades later, but technology has completely revolutionised the world. Come enjoy the latest and greatest arcade games, with high-definition screens and expert motion sensors, at your nearest ZONE BOWLING centre!