Beginning with Space Invaders in 1978, arcade games began to appear everywhere. By 1982, there were 13,000 dedicated arcade locations across North America. It was the Golden Age of Arcade Games, generating $3.2 billion dollars in 1983. By 1985, revenue had fallen 97%. Atari declared bankruptcy. Arcades closed. Most of the old games were converted or destroyed. A few were packed into warehouses where they remained, largely forgotten, for at least another decade. This is the story of arcade video games, and the generation who grew up in the arcades attempting to collect and preserve their fondest memories.—Anonymous
Remember the golden age of arcade game, back when arcades were everywhere?
Beginning with Space Invaders in 1978, arcades began to move out of smoke-filled pool halls and bars.
By 1982, 13,000 dedicated arcade locations existed across North America, generating $3.2 billion dollarsin 1983 alone.
By 1985, revenue had fallen 97%. Atari declared bankruptcy. Arcades began to disappear.
Most of the old games were converted or destroyed. A few, packed into warehouses, remained largely forgottenfor another decade.
"The Space Invaders: In Search of Lost Time" is about the second life of arcade games in basements and garages all across the country.
