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The 1980s were a simplier times for video games: there weren’t fancy graphics, intricate story-lines, or those mind-numbing videos that you weren’t allowed to skip. The local arcade was the ultimate destination for birthday parties, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, or lazy saturday afternoons. They were loud, exciting, smelly, and packed with the finest assortment of games (and cold pretzels) managed by the nerdiest of gentlemen. Each and every arcade game—whether it was Nintendo or Sega—was similar in its simplicity, but a total blast.

The 1990s were an awesome times for video and arcade games. The graphics improved dramatically – both in 2D and the emerging 3D. The maze and platform genres were supplanted by the fighting, racing, and FPS genres. The 90s was also the golden age for pinball games – but that is another discussion for another time.

By the end of the decade, the home video games surpassed their arcade counterparts, and arcades were going the way of video rental stores. Pinball machines and arcade cabinets made way for crane games, whack-a-moles, basketball cages, and skee ball alleys.

So in honor of the high water mark of arcade games, here is The Podcast Unlimited Top Ten 90’s Coin Op Arcade Games! Continue reading →