Filed under:
Classic arcade diagrams
-
'Pong' and 'Space Invaders Part II'
Atari's Pong and Taito's Space Invaders were two early arcade success stories. The cocktail table version of Space Invaders stands as one of the most iconic designs in the medium's short history.
-
'Donkey Kong' and 'Robotron: 2084'
Nintendo's Donkey Kong was the company's first major success, and thanks to its difficulty is still played by enthusiasts to this day. Robotron: 2084 is a fixed-perspective shooter that brought a number of innovations, including the use of twin control sticks — one for movement, and another for shooting.
-
'Ms. Pac-Man' and Nintendo Vs. System
Midway's US-produced Ms. Pac-Man built on the success of Namco's original classic by adding a bow and some lipstick to the first game's hero to create his female doppelgänger. Nintendo's Vs. System was a two-player cabinet with dual screens. It played host to a number of NES ports, foreshadowing a shift in gaming, as play started to move from arcades to living rooms.
-
SNK Neo-Geo MVS and Taito Vewlix L
SNK's Neo-Geo MVS cabinet featured a slot that allowed arcades to switch in new games without replacing the cabinet. Taito's Vewlix system is one cabinet you'll still find in many arcades. It features standard PC parts inside and even runs Windows.
