Overview
Space Invaders started it. The golden age of arcade games ran from roughly 1978 to 1983, transforming video games from curiosity to cultural force. Pac-Man became a pop culture icon. Donkey Kong introduced Mario. Revenue exceeded Hollywood films. Then the home console crash ended the boom, but the games created during this period remain foundational.
Fast facts
- Start: Space Invaders (1978).
- Peak: 1981-1982.
- End: 1983 crash impact.
- Revenue peak: $8 billion (1982).
Defining games
| Title |
Year |
Innovation |
| Space Invaders |
1978 |
Started the boom |
| Asteroids |
1979 |
Vector graphics |
| Pac-Man |
1980 |
Character, maze |
| Defender |
1981 |
Scrolling complexity |
| Donkey Kong |
1981 |
Platforming, narrative |
| Galaga |
1981 |
Shooter refinement |
Revenue and popularity
| Year |
Arcade revenue (US) |
| 1978 |
~$3 billion |
| 1980 |
~$5 billion |
| 1982 |
~$8 billion |
| 1983 |
Declining |
Cultural penetration
| Phenomenon |
Example |
| Pac-Man fever |
Song, merchandise, TV show |
| Arcade locations |
Every mall, corner |
| Mainstream news |
Cover stories |
| Film |
Tron (1982) |
Technical progress
| Year |
Advancement |
| 1978 |
Basic raster graphics |
| 1979 |
Vector displays |
| 1980 |
Colour proliferation |
| 1981 |
Multi-screen, scrolling |
| 1982 |
Isometric, scaling |
Key companies
| Company |
Contribution |
| Atari |
Asteroids, Centipede |
| Namco |
Pac-Man, Galaga |
| Nintendo |
Donkey Kong |
| Williams |
Defender, Robotron |
| Taito |
Space Invaders |
End of the golden age
| Factor |
Impact |
| Market saturation |
Too many games |
| Home consoles |
Competition |
| 1983 crash |
Industry contraction |
| Transition |
Silver age began |
Legacy
| Impact |
Significance |
| Game conventions |
Established templates |
| Industry foundation |
Proved viability |
| Cultural icons |
Pac-Man, Mario origins |
| Nostalgia |
Enduring reverence |
See also