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Anarcade video game is anarcade game that takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. All arcade video games arecoin-operated or accept other means of payment, housed in anarcade cabinet, and located inamusement arcades alongside other kinds ofarcade games. Until the early 2000s, arcade video games were the largest[1] and most technologically advanced[2][3] segment of thevideo game industry.
Earlyprototypical entriesGalaxy Game andComputer Space in 1971 established the principle operations for arcade games, andAtari'sPong in 1972 is recognized as the first successful commercial arcade video game. Improvements in computer technology and gameplay design led to agolden age of arcade video games, the exact dates of which are debated but range from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. This golden age includesSpace Invaders,Pac-Man, andDonkey Kong. The arcade industry had a resurgence from the early 1990s to mid-2000s, includingStreet Fighter II,Mortal Kombat, andDance Dance Revolution, but ultimately declined in theWestern world as competinghome video game consoles such as theSonyPlayStation andMicrosoftXbox increased in their graphics and gameplay capability and decreased in cost. Nevertheless, Japan, China, and South Korea continue to maintain a robust arcade industry in contemporary times.[4]
Games of skill were popularamusement-parkmidway attractions from the 19th century on. With the introduction of electricity and coin-operated machines, they facilitated a viablebusiness. Whenpinball machines with electric lights and displays were introduced in 1933 (but without the user-controllerflippers which would not be invented until 1947) these machines were seen asgames of luck. Numerous states and cities treated them as amoral playthings for rebellious young people, and banned them into the 1960s and 1970s.[5]
Electro-mechanical games (EM games) appeared inarcades in the mid-20th century. FollowingSega's EM gamePeriscope (1966), the arcade industry experienced a "technological renaissance" driven by "audio-visual" EM novelty games, establishing the arcades as a suitable environment for the introduction of commercial video games in the early 1970s.[6] In the late 1960s, college studentNolan Bushnell had a part-time job at an arcade where he became familiar with EM games watching customers play and helping to maintain the machinery, while learning the game business.[7]
Theearly mainframe gameSpacewar! (1962) inspired the first commercial arcade video game,Computer Space (1971), created by Nolan Bushnell andTed Dabney and released byNutting Associates.[8] It was demonstrated at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) show in October 1971.[9] AnotherSpacewar-inspired coin-operated video game,Galaxy Game, was demonstrated atStanford University in November 1971. Bushnell and Dabney followed theirComputer Space success to create - with the help ofAllan Alcorn - a table-tennis game,Pong, released in 1972.Pong became a commercial success, leading numerous other coin-op manufacturers to enter the market.[8]
The video game industry transitioned from discrete integrated circuitry to programmablemicroprocessors in the mid-1970s, starting withGun Fight in 1975. The arcade industry entered a "Golden Age" in 1978 with the release ofTaito'sSpace Invaders, which introduced many novelgameplay features. From 1978 to 1982, several other major arcade-games from Namco, Atari, Williams Electronics, Stern Electronics, and Nintendo were all consideredblockbusters, particularly Namco'sPac-Man (1980), which became a fixture inpopular culture. Across North America and Japan, dedicated video-game arcades appeared and arcade-game cabinets appeared in many smaller storefronts. By 1981, the arcade video-game industry was worthUS$8 billion in the US.[10]
The novelty of arcade games waned sharply after 1982 due to several factors, includingmarket saturation of arcades and arcade games amd amoral panic over video games (similar to fears raised over pinball machines in the decades prior). The arcade market had recovered by 1986, with the help of software-conversion kits, the arrival of popularbeat 'em up games (such asKung-Fu Master (1984) andRenegade (1986–1987)), and advancedmotion simulator games (such as Sega's "taikan" games includingHang-On (1985),Space Harrier (1985), andOut Run (1986)). However, the growth of home video-game systems such as theNintendo Entertainment System led to another brief arcade decline toward the end of the 1980s.[11]
Arcade games continued to improve with the development of technology and of gameplay. In the early 1990s, the release ofCapcom'sStreet Fighter II established the modern style offighting games and led to a number of similar games such asMortal Kombat,Fatal Fury,Killer Instinct,Virtua Fighter, andTekken, creating a new renaissance in the arcades.[12][13] Another factor was realism,[14] including the "3D Revolution" from2D andpseudo-3D graphics to "true"real-time3D polygon graphics.[15][16] This was largely driven by a technologicalarms-race betweenSega andNamco.[17] During the early 1990s games such as Sega'sVirtua Racing andVirtua Fighter popularized 3D-polygon technology in arcades. 3D graphics later became popular in console and computer games by the mid-1990s,[18] though arcade systems such as theSega Model 3 remained considerably more advanced than home systems in the late 1990s.[2][3] Until about 1996, arcade video-games had remained the largest segment of the globalvideo-game industry. Arcades declined in the late 1990s, surpassed by the console market for the first time around 1997–1998.[1]
Since the 2000s, arcade games have taken different routes globally. In the United States, arcades have become niche markets as they compete with the home-console market, and they have adapted other business models, such as providing other entertainment options or adding prize redemptions.[19] In Japan, where arcades continue to flourish, games likeDance Dance Revolution andThe House of the Dead aim to deliver tailored experiences that players cannot easily have at home.[20]
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Virtually all modern arcade games (other than the very traditional fairmidway) make extensive use of solid stateelectronics,integrated circuits, and monitor screens, all installed inside anarcade cabinet.
With the exception ofGalaxy Game andComputer Space, which were built around small form-factormainframe computers, the first arcade games are based on combinations of multiple discrete logic chips, such astransistor–transistor logic (TTL) chips. Designing an arcade game was more about the combination of these TTL chips and other electronic components to achieve the desired effect on screen. More complex gameplay required significantly more TTL components to achieve this result. By the mid-1970s, the first inexpensive programmablemicroprocessors had arrived on the market. The first microprocessor-based video game is Midway'sGun Fight in 1975 (a conversion of Taito'sWestern Gun), and with the advent ofSpace Invaders and the golden era, microprocessor-based games became typical.[21]: 64 Early arcade games were also designed aroundraster graphics displayed on acathode-ray tube (CRT) display. Many games of the late 1970s and early 1980s use special displays that renderedvector graphics, though these waned by the mid-1980s as display technology on CRTs improved.[22] Prior to the availability of color CRT or vector displays, some arcade cabinets have a combination of angled monitor positioning,one-way mirrors, and clear overlays to simulate colors and other graphics onto the gameplay field.[23]
Coin-operated arcade video games from the 1990s to the 2000s generally use custom hardware often with multipleCPUs, highly specializedsound andgraphics chips, and the latest in expensivecomputer graphics display technology. This allows more complex graphics and sound than contemporaryvideo game consoles orpersonal computers. Many arcade games since the 2000s run on modified video game console hardware (such as the Sega NAOMI or Triforce) or gaming PC components (such as theTaito Type X). Many arcade games have more immersive and realistic game controls thanPC orconsole games. This includes specialized ambiance or control accessories such as fully enclosed dynamic cabinets withforce feedback controls, dedicatedlightguns, rear-projection displays, reproductions of automobile or airplane cockpits, motorcycle or horse-shaped controllers, or highly dedicated controllers such asdancing mats andfishing rods. These accessories are usually too bulky, expensive, and specialized to be used with typical home PCs and consoles. Arcade makers experiment withvirtual reality technology. Arcades have progressed from using coins as credits to smart cards that hold the virtual currency of credits.
Modern arcade cabinets use flat panel displays instead of cathode-ray tubes. Internet services such asALL.Net,NESiCAxLive,e-Amusement andNESYS, allow the cabinets to download updates or new games, do online multiplayer gameplay, save progress, unlock content, or earn credits.
Many arcade games have short levels, simple and intuitive control schemes, and rapidly increasingdifficulty. The classic formula for a successful arcade video game is "easy to learn, difficult to master"[24] along with a "multiplelife, progressively difficultlevel" paradigm.[25] This is due to the environment of the arcade, where the player is essentially renting the game for as long as their in-game avatar can stay alive or until they run out oftokens. Games on consoles or PCs can be referred to as "arcade games" if they share these qualities, or are direct ports of arcade games.[citation needed]
Arcaderacing games often have sophisticatedmotion simulatorarcade cabinets,[26][27] a simplifiedphysics engine, and short learning time when compared with more realisticracing simulations. Cars can turn sharply without braking or understeer, and theAI rivals are sometimes programmed so they are always near the player with arubberband effect. Other types of arcade-style games includemusic games (particularlyrhythm games), andmobile andcasual games with intuitive controls and short sessions.[citation needed]
The term "arcade game" can refer to anaction video game designed to play similarly to an arcade game with frantic, addictive gameplay.[28] The focus of arcade action games is on the user's reflexes, and many feature very little puzzle-solving, complex thinking, or strategy skills.[citation needed] These includefighting games often played with anarcade controller,beat 'em up games including fast-pacedhack and slash games, andlight gunrail shooters and "bullet hell"shooters with intuitive controls and rapidly increasing difficulty.[citation needed]
Many arcadecombat flight simulation games have sophisticated hydraulic motion simulator cabinets,[26][27] and simplified physics and handling. Arcade flight games are meant to have an easylearning curve, in order to preserve their action component. Increasing numbers of console flight video games, such asCrimson Skies,Ace Combat, andSecret Weapons Over Normandy indicate the falling of manual-heavy flight sim popularity in favor of instant arcade flight action.[29]
A modern subgenre of action games called "hack and slash" or "character action games" represent an evolution of traditional arcade action games, and are sometimes considered a subgenre of beat 'em up brawlers. This subgenre of games was largely defined byHideki Kamiya, creator of theDevil May Cry andBayonetta franchises.[30]
Arcade games are found in restaurants, bowling alleys, college campuses, video rental shops, dormitories, laundromats, movie theaters, supermarkets, shopping malls, airports, and other retail environments. They are popular in public places where people are likely to have free time.[31]
Their profitability is expanded by the popularity of conversions of arcade games for home-based platforms. In 1997,WMS Industries (parent company ofMidway Games) reported that if more than 5,000 arcade units are sold, at least 100,000 home version units will be sold.[32]
TheAmerican Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) is atrade association established in 1981[33] that represents the American coin-operated amusement machine industry,[34] including 120 arcade game distributors and manufacturers.[35] TheJapan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association (JAMMA) represents the Japanese arcade industry. Arcade machines may have standardized connectors or interfaces such as JAMMA, or JVS, that help with quick replacement of game systems or boards in arcade cabinets. The game boards or arcade boards may themselves allow for games to be replaced via game cartridges or discs.
Prior to the 2000s, successful video games were oftenconverted to a home video game console or home computer. Many of the initialAtari VCS games, for example, were conversions of Atari's success arcade games. Arcade game manufacturers that were not in the home console or computer business found licensing of their games to console manufacturers to be a successful business model, as console manufacturer competitors would vie for rights to more popular games.Coleco famously bested Atari to secure the rights to convert Nintendo'sDonkey Kong, which it subsequently included as a pack-in game for theColecoVision to challenge the VCS.[36]
Arcade conversions typically had to make concessions for the lower computational power and capabilities of the home console, such as limited graphics or alterations in gameplay. Such conversions had mixed results. The Atari VCS conversion ofSpace Invaders was considered the VCS'skiller application, helping to quadruple the VCS sales in 1980.[37] In contrast, the VCS conversion ofPac-Man in 1982 was highly criticized for technical flaws due to VCS limitations such as flickering ghosts and simplified gameplay. ThoughPac-Man was the best-selling game on the VCS, it eroded consumer confidence in Atari's games and partially contributed to the 1983 crash.[38]
The need for arcade conversions began to wane as arcade game manufacturers like Nintendo, Sega, and SNK entered the home console market and used similar technology within their home consoles as found at the arcade, negating the need to simplify the game. Concessions still may be made for a home release; notably, theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System conversion ofMortal Kombat removed much of the gore from the arcade version to meet Nintendo's quality control standards.[39]
Exact copies of arcade video games can be run throughemulators such asMAME on modern devices. An emulator is an application that translates foreign software onto a modern system, in real-time. Emulated games appeared legally and commercially on theMacintosh in 1994[40][41] with Williams floppy disks,Sony PlayStation in 1996, andSega Saturn in 1997 with CD-ROM compilations such asWilliams Arcade's Greatest Hits andArcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 1, and on thePlayStation 2 andGameCube with DVD-ROM compilations such asMidway Arcade Treasures.[citation needed] Arcade games are downloaded and emulated through theNintendo WiiVirtual Console service starting in 2009.[citation needed]
Using emulation, companies likeArcade1Up have produced at-scale or reduced-scale recreations of arcade cabinets using modern technology, such as LCD monitors and lightweight construction. These cabinets are typically designed to resemble the original arcade game cabinets, but may also support multiple related games. These cabinets can be offered in diverse and miniaturized styles, such as table-mounted and wall-mounted versions.[42]
For arcade games, success is usually judged by either the number ofarcade hardware units sold to operators, or the amount of revenue generated. The revenue can include the coin drop earnings from coins (such asquarters,dollars, or100 yen coins) inserted into machines,[43] and/or the earnings from hardware sales with each unit costing thousands of dollars. Most of the revenue figures listed below are incomplete as they only include hardware sales revenue, due to a lack of available data for coin drop earnings which typically account for the majority of a hit arcade game's gross revenue. This list only includes arcade games that either sold more than 10,000 hardware units or generated a revenue of more than$10 million. Most of the games listed were released between thegolden age of arcade video games (1978–1984) and the 1990s.
| Game | Publisher | Release year | Hardware units sold | Estimated gross revenue (US$ without inflation) | Estimated gross revenue (US$ with 2024 inflation)[44] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pac-Man | Namco | 1980 | 400,000(until 1982)[45] | $6 billion(until 1982)[46][47] | $19.5 billion |
| Space Invaders | Taito | 1978 | 750,000(until 1979)[48] | $3.8 billion(until 1982)[49] | $18.3 billion |
| Street Fighter II | Capcom | 1991 | 221,000+(until 1995)[n 1] | $5.31 billion+(until 1999)[54] | $12.3 billion |
| The King of Fighters '97 | SNK | 1997 | 150,000(until 1998)[55] | ||
| Donkey Kong | Nintendo | 1981 | 132,000(until 1982)[n 2] | $280 million(until 1982) (US hardware sales)[59] | $970 million (US hardware sales) |
| Ms. Pac-Man | Midway | 1982 | 125,000(until 1988)[60][61] | $1.5 billion(until 1995)[62] | $3.6 billion |
| Asteroids | Atari | 1979 | 100,000(until 2001)[61][63] | $800 million(until 1991)[64][65] | $2.77 billion |
| Defender | Williams | 1981 | 70,000(until 2020)[66] | $1.5 billion(until 2020)[66] | $2.62 billion |
| Print Club (Purikura) | Sega/Atlus | 1995 | 45,000(until 1997)[67] | $1 billion(until 1997)[68] | $2.06 billion |
| Centipede | Atari | 1981 | 55,988(until 1991)[69] | $115.65 million (hardware sales until 1991)[69] | $267 million (hardware sales) |
| Galaxian | Namco | 1979 | 50,000(in the US until 1982)[70] | ||
| Virtua Fighter | Sega | 1993 | 40,000+(until 1996)[71] | ||
| Virtua Fighter 2 | Sega | 1994 | 40,000+(until 1996)[72] | ||
| Tekken 2 | Namco | 1995 | 40,000(until 1996)[73] | ||
| Starhorse2 | Sega | 2005 | 38,614(until 2009)[n 3] | $59.321 million(until 2011) (Fifth Expansion)[n 4] | $95.5 million (Fifth Expansion) |
| Hyper Olympic (Track & Field) | Konami | 1983 | 38,000(1983 in Japan)[84] | ||
| Tekken 3 | Namco | 1997 | 35,000(in 1997)[85] | ||
| Donkey Kong Jr. | Nintendo | 1982 | 30,000(1982 in the US)[86] | ||
| Mr. Do! | Universal | 1982 | 30,000(1982 in the US)[87] | ||
| Karate Champ | Data East | 1984 | 30,000(in the US until 1985)[88] | ||
| Out Run | Sega | 1986 | 30,000(until 1994)[89] | $100 million+(cabinet sales)[90] | $290 million(cabinet sales) |
| Final Fight | Capcom | 1989 | 30,000(until 1991)[91] | ||
| Virtua Fighter 3 | Sega | 1996 | 30,000(until 1997)[85] | ||
| NBA Jam | Midway | 1993 | 20,000(until 2013)[92] | $2 billion(until 2013)[93] | $3.5 billion |
| World Club Champion Football | Sega | 2002 | 2,479(until 2009)[n 6] | $706.014 million(until 2012)[97] | $1.23 billion |
| Mortal Kombat II | Midway | 1993 | 27,000(until 2002)[98] | $600 million(until 2002)[99] | $1.13 billion |
| Frogger | Sega | 1981 | $135 million+(US hardware sales)[100] | $467 million (US hardware sales) | |
| Tempest | Atari | 1981 | 29,000(until 1983)[101] | $62.408 million (hardware sales until 1991)[69] | $144 million (hardware sales) |
| Q*bert | Gottlieb | 1982 | 25,000(until 2001)[102] | ||
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Konami | 1989 | 25,000(US & EU until May 1990)[103][104] | ||
| Beatmania | Konami | 1997 | 25,000(until 2000)[105] | $12.4 million(until 1998) (Japan hardware sales)[n 8] | $24.3 million (Japan hardware sales) |
| Mortal Kombat | Midway | 1992 | 24,000(until 2002)[98] | $570 million(until 2002)[98] | $996 million |
| Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors | Capcom | 1994 | 24,000[107] | ||
| Robotron: 2084 | Williams | 1982 | 23,000(until 1983)[101] | ||
| Pole Position | Namco | 1982 | 21,000(in the US until 1983)[101] | $60.933 million(until 1983)[101][69] (US hardware sales) | $199 million (US hardware sales) |
| Dig Dug | Namco | 1982 | 22,228[69](in the US until 1983)[108] | $46.3 million(until 1983)[69] (US hardware sales) | $151 million (US hardware sales) |
| Popeye | Nintendo | 1982 | 20,000(in the US until 1982)[58] | ||
| Vs. Super Mario Bros. | Nintendo | 1986 | 20,000(1986)[109] | ||
| Pump It Up | Andamiro | 1999 | 20,000(until 2005)[110] | ||
| Tekken Tag Tournament | Namco | 1999 | 19,000(until 2000)[111] | ||
| Jungle Hunt | Taito | 1982 | 18,000(in the US until 1983)[108] | ||
| Raiden | Tecmo | 1990 | 17,000[112] | ||
| Killer Instinct | Midway | 1994 | 17,000[113] | $125 million+[114] | $265 million+ |
| Pokémon Mezastar | Takara Tomy | 2020 | $187 million+(until 2021)[115] | $187 million+ | |
| Dragon's Lair | Cinematronics | 1983 | 16,000(until 1983)[116][117] | $68.8 million (hardware sales until 1983)[116][118] | $217 million (hardware sales) |
| Asteroids Deluxe | Atari | 1981 | 22,399(until 1999)[119] | $46.1 million (hardware sales until 1999)[119] | $87 million (hardware sales) |
| Missile Command | Atari | 1980 | 19,999(until 2010)[120] | $36.8 million (hardware sales until 1991)[119] | $85 million (hardware sales) |
| Berzerk | Stern | 1980 | 15,780(until 1981)[121] | ||
| Scramble | Konami | 1981 | 15,136(until 1981)[121] | ||
| Champion Baseball | Sega | 1983 | 15,000(in Japan until June 1983)[122] | ||
| Mushiking: King of the Beetles | Sega | 2003 | 13,500(until 2005)[123] | $530 million(until 2007)[n 9] | $906 million |
| Battlezone | Atari | 1980 | 15,122(until 1999)[119] | $31.2 million (hardware sales until 1999)[119] | $58.9 million (hardware sales) |
| Stargate | Williams | 1981 | 15,000(until 1983)[101] | ||
| Space Duel | Atari | 1982 | 12,038(until 1991)[69] | ||
| Mahjong Fight Club 3 | Konami | 2004 | 13,000(until 2004)[126] | ||
| Super Cobra | Konami | 1981 | 12,337(until 1981)[121] | ||
| Capcom Bowling | Capcom | 1988 | 12,000(until 1991)[127] | ||
| Sega Rally Championship | Sega | 1994 | 12,000[128] | ||
| Oshare Majo: Love and Berry | Sega | 2004 | 10,300(until 2006)[76][129] | $302.68 million(until 2007)[n 10] | $504 million |
| Double Dragon | Technōs | 1987 | 10,000+(US in 1988)[130] | ||
| Street Fighter | Capcom | 1987 | 10,000+(until 1991)[131] | ||
| Dance Dance Revolution | Konami | 1998 | 10,000+(until 1999)[132] | ||
| Wheels / Wheels II (Speed Race) | Taito | 1974 | 10,000(1975 in the US)[133] | ||
| Gee Bee | Namco | 1978 | 10,000[134] | ||
| Big Buck Hunter Pro | Raw Thrills | 2006 | 10,000(until 2009)[135][136] | ||
| World Club Champion Football: Intercontinental Clubs | Sega | 2008 | 1,689(until 2009)[n 5] | $150.1 million(until 2012)[n 7] | $219 million |
| Pokémon Battrio | Takara Tomy | 2007 | $125 million+(until 2012)[115] | $190 million+ | |
| StarHorse3 Season I: A New Legend Begins | Sega | 2011 | $132.18 million(until 2012)[n 11] | $185 million | |
| Pokémon Tretta | Takara Tomy | 2012 | $125 million+(until 2014)[115] | $171 million+ | |
| Border Break | Sega | 2009 | 2,998(until 2009)[80] | $107 million(until 2012)[n 12] | $157 million |
| Tron | Midway | 1982 | 800(in the US until 1982)[142] | $45 million(until 1983)[143] | $102 million |
| Sengoku Taisen | Sega | 2010 | $94.04 million(until 2012)[n 13] | $136 million | |
| Pokémon Ga-Olé | Takara Tomy | 2016 | $92 million+(until 2018)[115] | $121 million+ | |
| Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road | Square Enix | 2007 | $78.2 million(until 2008)[n 14] | $119 million | |
| Samba de Amigo | Sega | 1999 | 3,000(until 2000)[146] | $47.11 million(until 2000)[147] | $88.9 million |
| Sangokushi Taisen 3 | Sega | 2007 | $54.4 million(until 2011)[n 15] | $82.5 million | |
| Pong | Atari | 1972 | 8,500–19,000[148][149] | $11 million(until 1973)[150] | $77.9 million |
| Lord of Vermilion | Square Enix | 2008 | $50.443 million(until 2008)[n 16] | $73.7 million | |
| Sega Network Mahjong MJ4 | Sega | 2008 | 12,892(until 2009)[151] | $47 million(until 2010)[n 17] | $68.6 million |
| Kangaroo | Sunsoft | 1982 | 9,803[69](until 1983)[108] | $20.58 million(until 1983) (US hardware sales)[69] | $67.1 million (US hardware sales) |
| Hard Drivin' | Atari | 1989 | 3,318(until 1989)[69] | $22.9 million(until 1989)[69] | $58.1 million |
| Gauntlet | Atari | 1985 | 7,848(until 1985)[69] | $18.01 million(until 1985)[69] | $52.7 million |
| Sega Network Mahjong MJ5 | Sega | 2011 | $34.87 million(until 2012)[n 18] | $48.7 million | |
| Millipede | Atari | 1982 | 9,990(until 1991)[69] | $20.669 million(until 1991)[69] | $47.7 million |
| Race Drivin' | Atari | 1990 | 3,525(until 1991)[69] | $20.03 million(until 1991)[69] | $46.2 million |
| Breakout | Atari | 1976 | 15,000(until 1981)[152] | $12.045 million (hardware sales until 1981)[119] | $41.7 million |
| Time Traveler | Sega | 1991 | $18 million(until 1991)[118] | $41.6 million | |
| Space Ace | Cinematronics | 1984 | $13 million(until 1984)[118] | $39.3 million | |
| Xevious | Namco | 1982 | 5,295(in the US until 1983)[69] | $11.1 million(until 1983)[69] (US hardware sales) | $36.2 million (US hardware sales) |
| Atari Football | Atari | 1978 | 11,306(until 1999)[119] | $17.266 million(until 1999)[119] | $32.6 million |
| Final Lap | Namco | 1987 | 1,150(in the US until 1988)[69] | $9.5 million(until 1988)[69] (US hardware sales) | $26.3 million (US hardware sales) |
| Paperboy | Atari | 1984 | 3,442(until 1991)[69] | $8.6 million(until 1991)[69] | $19.9 million |
| Star Wars | Atari | 1983 | 12,695(until 1991)[69] | $7.595 million(until 1991)[69] | $17.5 million |
| Sprint 2 | Atari | 1976 | 8,200(until 1999)[119] | $12.669 million(until 1999)[119] | $23.9 million |
| Championship Sprint | Atari | 1986 | 3,595(until 1991)[69] | $8.26 million(until 1991)[69] | $19.1 million |
| Pole Position II | Namco | 1983 | 2,400(in the US until 1983)[69] | $7.43 million(until 1983)[69] (US hardware sales) | $23.5 million (US hardware sales) |
| Sea Wolf | Midway | 1976 | 10,000(until 2000)[153] | ||
| Lunar Lander | Atari | 1979 | 4,830(until 1999)[119] | $8.19 million(until 1999)[119] | $15.5 million |
| Super Sprint | Atari | 1986 | 2,232(until 1999)[119] | $7.8 million(until 1999)[119] | $14.7 million |
| Marble Madness | Atari | 1984 | 4,000(until 1985)[154] | $6.3 million(until 1991)[69] | $14.5 million |
| Rolling Thunder | Namco | 1986 | 2,406(in the US until 1987)[69] | $4.8 million(until 1987)[69] (US hardware sales) | $13.8 million (US hardware sales) |
| Arabian | Sunsoft | 1983 | 1,950(in the US until 1983)[108] | $3.9 million(until 1983)[69] (US hardware sales) | $12.3 million (US hardware sales) |
These are the combined hardware sales of at least two or more arcade games that are part of the same franchise. This list only includes franchises that have sold at least 5,000 hardware units or grossed at least $10 million revenues.
| Franchise | Publisher | Original release year | Total hardware units sold | Estimated gross revenue (US$ without inflation) | Estimated gross revenue (US$ with 2024 inflation)[44] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pac-Man | Namco | 1980 | 526,412(until 1988)[n 19] | $6 billion(until 1982)[155] | $20 billion |
| Space Invaders | Taito | 1978 | 750,000(until 1980)[48] | $3.8 billion(until 1982)[49] | $18.3 billion |
| Street Fighter | Capcom | 1987 | 500,000(until 2002)[156][157] | $5.31 billion+(until 1999)[54] | $12.3 billion |
| Pac-Man clones | — | 1980 | 300,000(until 2002)[158] | ||
| Street Fighter clones | — | 1987 | 200,000+[51] | ||
| Mario | Nintendo | 1981 | 190,800(until 1983)[n 20] | $280 million(until 1982) (US hardware sales)[59] | $968 million (US hardware sales) |
| Donkey Kong | Nintendo | 1981 | 167,000(until 1983)[n 2] | $280 million(until 1982) (US hardware sales)[59] | $968 million (US hardware sales) |
| Asteroids | Atari | 1979 | 136,437(until 1999)[n 21] | $850.79 million(until 1999)[n 22] | $1.61 billion |
| Virtua Fighter | Sega | 1993 | 110,000+[a] | ||
| Golden Tee Golf | Incredible Technologies | 1989 | 100,000(until 2011)[159] | ||
| Data Carddass | Bandai | 2005 | 100,000(until 2012)[160] | ||
| Tekken | Namco | 1994 | 94,000+[b] | ||
| Defender | Williams | 1981 | 85,000(until 2020)[n 23] | $1.5 billion(until 2020)[66] | $2.62 billion |
| Centipede | Atari | 1981 | 65,978(until 1991)[n 24] | $136.3 million(until 1991)[n 25] | $315 million |
| Mortal Kombat | Midway | 1992 | 51,000(until 2002)[98] | $1.17 billion(until 200)[98][99] | $2.05 billion |
| Galaxian | Namco | 1979 | 50,986(in the US until 1988)[n 26] | ||
| Pokémon arcade games | Takara Tomy | 2007 | $530 million+(until 2021)[115] | $813 million+ | |
| Starhorse | Sega | 2000 | 38,734(until 2009)[n 27] | $191.501 million(until 2012)[n 28] | $350 million |
| Bemani | Konami | 1997 | 35,000+(until 2000)[n 29] | $12.4 million(until 1998) (Beatmania hardware sales in Japan)[n 8] | $24.3 million (Beatmania hardware sales in Japan) |
| Big Buck | Incredible Technologies/Raw Thrills | 2000 | 33,500(until 2010)[n 30] | ||
| Mr. Do! | Universal | 1982 | 30,000(in the US until 1982)[87] | ||
| Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road | Square Enix | 2007 | $78.2 million(until 2008)[n 14] | $119 million | |
| Lord of Vermilion | Square Enix | 2008 | $50.443 million(until 2008)[n 16] | $73.7 million | |
| Scramble | Konami | 1981 | 27,473(until 1981)[121] | ||
| Sega Network Mahjong | Sega | 2000 | 25,986(until 2006)[n 33] | $81.87 million(until 2012)[n 34] | $149 million |
| Darkstalkers | Capcom | 1994 | 27,000+[107] | ||
| Pole Position | Namco | 1982 | 24,550(in the US until 1983)[n 35] | $77.9 million(until 1988) (US hardware sales)[n 36] | $254 million (US hardware sales) |
| Dig Dug | Namco | 1982 | 22,228[69](in the US until 1983)[108] | $46.3 million(until 1983)[69] (US hardware sales) | $151 million (US hardware sales) |
| Pump It Up | Andamiro | 1999 | 20,000(until 2005)[110] | ||
| Breakout | Atari | 1976 | 15,805(until 1999)[119] | $17.745 million(until 1999)[119] | $33.5 million |
| Star Wars | Atari | 1983 | 14,039(until 1991)[69] | $9.275 million(until 1983)[69] | $21.4 million |
| Sprint | Atari | 1976 | 14,027(until 1999)[119] | $28.729 million(until 1999)[119] | $54.2 million |
| Mushiking | Sega | 2003 | 13,500(until 2005)[123] | $530 million(until 2007)[n 9] | $906 million |
| Sea Wolf | Midway | 1976 | 14,000(until 2000)[153] | ||
| Mahjong Fight Club | Konami | 2002 | 13,000(until 2004)[126] | ||
| Gauntlet | Atari | 1985 | 11,368(until 1991)[69] | $20.41 million(until 1991)[69] | $47.1 million |
| Love and Berry | Sega | 2004 | 10,300(until 2006)[76] | $302.68 million(until 2007)[n 10] | $504 million |
| Sangokushi Taisen | Sega | 2005 | 9,929(until 2008)[n 38] | $148.44 million(until 2012)[n 39] | $239 million |
| Pong | Atari | 1972 | 8500–19,000[148][149] | $11 million(until 1973)[150] | $77.9 million |
| Hard Drivin' | Atari | 1989 | 6,843(until 1991)[69] | $42.93 million(until 1991)[69] | $75.48 million |
| Samba de Amigo | Sega | 1999 | 3,000(until 2000)[146] | $47.11 million(until 2000)[n 40] | $88.9 million |
| Border Break | Sega | 2009 | 2,998(until 2009)[80] | $107 million(until 2012)[n 12] | $157 million |
| World Club Champion Football | Sega | 2012 | 2,479(until 2015)[n 6] | $706.014 million(until 2012)[n 41] | $1.23 billion |
Last year, arcade game revenues were approximately $5 billion, compared to $8 billion in 1981 and $7 billion in 1982.
What has remained constant is that Japanese arcades have always aimed to offer experiences that players could not get at home. This is a constant throughout Japanese arcade history.
What are the best-selling video games? There are a number of factors to consider when attempting to answer this question. First, there are several different types of video games, which makes comparisons difficult, or perhaps unfair. Arcade games are played for a quarter a play (although some are 50 cents, or even more), while home games are bought outright, and their systems must be purchased as well.
Estimates counted 7 billion coins that by 1982 had been inserted into some 400,000 Pac Man machines worldwide, equal to one game of Pac Man for every person on earth. US domestic revenues from games and licensing of the Pac Man image for T-shirts, pop songs, to wastepaper baskets, etc. exceeded $1 billion.
In 1982 alone, Americans pumped $6 billion in quarters into Pac-Man's mouth—more than they spent in Las Vegas casinos and movie theatres combined.
In 1982 alone, Americans pumped $6 billion in quarters into Pac-Man's mouth—more than they spent in Las Vegas casinos and movie theatres combined.
WhenStreet Fighter II′ (pronounced street fighter two dash) was released just a short time later, it sold around 140,000 units, at¥160.000 (c. US$1300 / £820) each. The figures were beyond massive – they were simply unheard of.Capcom'sTitanic wasn't sinking. Anything but. The game was a runaway success in its territory of choice, bringing Western gamers as much joy as it had in the East.
Capcom will not release the final numbers, but some outsiders have estimated that more than 60,000 Street Fighter II arcade machines were sold worldwide.
Jumpman hopped over barrels, climbed ladders, and jumped from suspended platform to suspended platform as he tried to rescue a damsel from his pissed-off pet gorilla. The game was a smash, and sixty-five thousand cabinets were sold in Japan, propping up the then-struggling Nintendo and laying the groundwork for Nintendo andDonkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto to dominate gaming throughout the 1980s and beyond.
Donkey Kong sold some 67,000 arcade cabinets in two years, making two of its American distributors sudden millionaires thanks to paid commission. As a barometer of success, know that Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man are the only arcade games to have sold over 100,000 units in the United States.
With more than 60,000 units sold in the United States,Donkey Kong was Nintendo's biggest arcade hit. The arcade industry began its long collapse the year after Donkey Kong was released, and Nintendo's arcade fortunes eroded quickly. Nintendo releasedDonkey Kong Junior in 1982 and sold only 30,000 machines, 20,000Popeye machines (also 1982), and a mere 5000 copies ofDonkey Kong 3 (1983).
Donkey Kong was Nintendo's first international smash hit and the main reason behind the company's breakthrough in the Northern American market. In the first year of its publication, it earned Nintendo 180 million US dollars, continuing with a return of 100 million dollars in the second year.
Atari sold more than 70,000 Asteroids machines in the United States. The game did not do as well in Europe and Asia, however. Only about 30,000 units were sold overseas.
At $2000 a unit, Atari has made about $140 million from that game alone.
Jumpman hopped over barrels, climbed ladders, and jumped from suspended platform to suspended platform as he tried to rescue a damsel from his pissed-off pet gorilla. The game was a smash, and sixty-five thousand cabinets were sold in Japan, propping up the then-struggling Nintendo and laying the groundwork for Nintendo andDonkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto to dominate gaming throughout the 1980s and beyond.
Donkey Kong sold some 67,000 arcade cabinets in two years, making two of its American distributors sudden millionaires thanks to paid commission. As a barometer of success, know that Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man are the only arcade games to have sold over 100,000 units in the United States.
In 1982, Universal Sales made arcade history with a game called Mr Do! Instead of selling dedicated Mr Do! machines, Universal sold the game as a kit. The kit came with a customized control panel, a computer board with Mr Do! read-only memory (ROM) chips, stickers that could be placed on the side of stand-up arcade machines for art, and a plastic marquee. It was the first game ever sold as a conversion only. According to former Universal Sales western regional sales manager Joe Morici, the company sold approximately 30,000 copies of the game in the United States alone.
Both versions went on to produce terrific numbers for Sega, bringing in total worldwide sales of over $100 million and adding another memorable franchise to Sega's stable of hits.
Gottlieb sold approximately 25,000 Q*Bert arcade machines.
Konami has sold 25,000 Beatmania machines in three years. In the arcade industry, selling 1000 units is considered a success.
Cinematronics sold more than 16,000 Dragon's Lair machines in 1983, for an average price of $4300. Coleco purchased the home rights to the game, giving Cinematronics an additional $2 million.
While certainly not the size of Asteroids, the game was still a huge hit with almost 20,000 units sold.
Taito sold over 10,000 Double Dragon dedicated games in the United States, and over 80% of U.S. video game operators bought at least one Double Dragon
Although the Disney Studios expected to make over $400 million from this siliconic extravaganza, our source at Variety tells us that its North American rentals were $15 million and estimated total gross, $30 million. The arcade game Tron, made by Bally, grossed more.
Typical of the new games is Pong, a popular version of electronic table tennis manufactured by two-year-old Atari, Inc. (estimated fiscal 1974 revenue: $14 million) of Los Gatos, Calif. Atari sold some 8,500 games to U.S. amusement parlors and other businesses last year.
Atari eventually sold more than 19,000 Pong machines, giving rise to many imitations. Pong made its first appearance in 1972 at "Andy Capp's," a small bar in Sunnyvale, California, where the video game was literally "overplayed" as eager customers tried to cram quarters into an already heavily overloaded coin slot.
Its first hit game, "Pong," launched in 1972, made $11 million in revenue in just one year.
Sea Wolf, which was another creation of Dave Nutting, did solid business, selling more than 10,000 machines.
"I think we have the Mickey Mouse of the 1980s," said one Pac-Man executive when it was noted that Americans were spending about $6 billion per year on the game and its spinoffs
Street Fighter has sold over 25 million console games and 500,000 arcade units generating more than a billion dollars in revenue.
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