Iconic Games throughout the years...

Oryk Zinyo

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I am looking to compile a list of the most iconic games throughout the years. I am not looking for the games that collectors want today due to rarity - lets be honest and admit that rarity equates almost always to poor sales.

I am looking for the games of each year (lets say 1978 to present) that had lines waiting to play, the games that you saw in every arcade and were always busy. Games like Pac Man, Ms Pac, DK, and Centipede come to mind for the golden age while SFII and MK were king during their time. I'd really like to know what everyone thinks. I may be opening a "museum" and I recognize that I will have to suplement my collection with iconic games if I want their to be any prolonged interest.


So, can you list off some iconic games from your gaming heyday along with the year(s) of it's polularity?
 
I am looking to compile a list of the most iconic games throughout the years. I am not looking for the games that collectors want today due to rarity - lets be honest and admit that rarity equates almost always to poor sales.

I am looking for the games of each year (lets say 1978 to present) that had lines waiting to play, the games that you saw in every arcade and were always busy. Games like Pac Man, Ms Pac, DK, and Centipede come to mind for the golden age while SFII and MK were king during their time. I'd really like to know what everyone thinks. I may be opening a "museum" and I recognize that I will have to suplement my collection with iconic games if I want their to be any prolonged interest.


So, can you list off some iconic games from your gaming heyday along with the year(s) of it's polularity?

1976 - Sea Wolf
1977 - Space Wars
1978 - Space Invaders
1979 - Asteroids
1980 - Pacman
1981 - Centipede/ Donkey Kong
1982 - Burgertime/ Ms Pacman
1983 - Mario Bros
1984 -
1985 - Ghosts N Goblins
1986 - Double Dragon/ Rampage/ Outrun
1987 -
1988 -
1989 -
1990 -
 
1976 - Sea Wolf
1977 - Space Wars
1978 - Space Invaders
1979 - Asteroids
1980 - Pacman
1981 - Centipede/ Donkey Kong
1982 - Burgertime/ Ms Pacman
1983 - Mario Bros
1984 -
1985 - Ghosts N Goblins
1986 - Double Dragon/ Rampage/ Outrun
1987 -
1988 -
1989 -
1990 -


That is a great list, but I am really surprised by Space Wars' inclusion. I have one, so it is no problem but I wouldn't really expect it to make the list...
 
That is a great list, but I am really surprised by Space Wars' inclusion. I have one, so it is no problem but I wouldn't really expect it to make the list...

For me, it was huge, but not in the year of it's release. I'd say I really played the hell out of it in 1982. 1977 wasn't a huge year for iconic games, so Space Wars is my choice for that year.
 
I'll add a few that come to mind:

1976 - Sea Wolf
1977 - Space Wars
1978 - Space Invaders
1979 - Asteroids
1980 - Pacman
1981 - Centipede/ Donkey Kong
1982 - Burgertime/ Ms Pacman / Tron / Robotron
1983 - Mario Bros/ Dragon's Lair
1984 - 1942
1985 - Ghosts N Goblins
1986 - Rampage/ Bubble Bobble
1987 - Double Dragon
1988 - Ghouls 'n Ghosts
1989 - Golden Axe/ Final Fight / TMNT
1990 - For the life of me, I don't see one good game in this year. Snow Bros. maybe? But I wouldn't say it's iconic.
1991 - Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
 
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For me, it was huge, but not in the year of it's release. I'd say I really played the hell out of it in 1982. 1977 wasn't a huge year for iconic games, so Space Wars is my choice for that year.

But were others playing it? I played the hell out of Head On during the mid to late '80's but I don't remember ever seeing anyone else drop a quarter in the machine. I wouldn't inlcude it because of this, even though I looked a long time to find one.
 
But were others playing it? I played the hell out of Head On during the mid to late '80's but I don't remember ever seeing anyone else drop a quarter in the machine. I wouldn't inlcude it because of this, even though I looked a long time to find one.

Give me a better iconic game from 1977.
 
1976 - Sea Wolf
1977 - Space Wars
1978 - Space Invaders
1979 - Asteroids
1980 - Pacman
1981 - Centipede/ Donkey Kong
1982 - Burgertime/ Ms Pacman
1983 - Mario Bros
1984 -
1985 - Ghosts N Goblins
1986 - Double Dragon/ Rampage/ Outrun
1987 -
1988 -
1989 -
1990 -

For 1976-80, I agree. For 81, I'd go DK.

1982 - Tron/Robotron
1983 - Star Wars/Dragon's Lair
1984 - Punch-Out!!!
 
1976 - Sea Wolf
1977 - Space Wars
1978 - Space Invaders
1979 - Asteroids
1980 - Pacman
1981 - Centipede/ Donkey Kong
1982 - Burgertime/ Ms Pacman
1983 - Mario Bros
1984 - 1942
1985 - Ghosts N Goblins
1986 - Rampage/ Bubble Bobble/Super Mario Bros.
1987 - Double Dragon
1988 -
1989 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1990 -
1991 - Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
1992 - Mortal Kombat


Added a couple more. I remember I wasn't able to play SMB for at least a month after it came out due to the long wait to be able to play it. The line was ridiculous
 
Give me a better iconic game from 1977.


Honestly, I'd say Circus. It was copied by several companies a year later and even made it to the Atari 2600.


Though, to be fair Space Wars was copied as well...


BTW, this is why I asked for 1978 and newer. I knew there would be a ton of dissent for older games, since most of us only saw them years after they were released.
 
Honestly, I'd say Circus. It was copied by several companies a year later and even made it to the Atari 2600.


Though, to be fair Space Wars was copied as well...


BTW, this is why I asked for 1978 and newer. I knew there would be a ton of dissent for older games, since most of us only saw them years after they were released.

I missed the 1978 or newer part, or maybe I just ignored it. Either way, Sea Wolf was a ton more iconic than Circus, so I think you have to go back to at least 1976. 1986 is a tough year for me, because the 3 I listed were all pretty much king that year. Someone said Double Dragon is 1987 though, so maybe just between Rampage and Outrun.
 
I'm too lazy to look up dates, but ones that come to mind for me are (besides the ones already mentioned).
Pole Position
Star Wars
Dragon's Lair (mentioned, but only once).
Tempest (mentioned, but only once).
Gauntlet
Galaga
At one time or another, i can remember standing in line to play any of these games.
 
But were others playing it? I played the hell out of Head On during the mid to late '80's but I don't remember ever seeing anyone else drop a quarter in the machine. I wouldn't inlcude it because of this, even though I looked a long time to find one.

For what it's worth I clearly remember seeing Space Wars back in the day, it was one of my all time favorite games. Even years after its release it was definitely being played anywhere I saw it. I would usually have to wait to play it in the late 70's and I recall in 1980 I would still see it in various arcades, perhaps not getting played as much as before but still holding a prominent place.

For reference, this was in Vancouver, BC so a reasonably large city with plenty of arcades back in the day.
 
Here is the list I have so far, with a couple added from my personal experiences:

1976 - Sea Wolf
1977 - Space Wars
1978 - Space Invaders
1979 - Asteroids
1980 – Pacman / Tempest
1981 – Centipede / Donkey Kong / Galaga
1982 – Burgertime / Ms Pacman / Tron / Robotron / Pole Position
1983 - Mario Bros / Dragon's Lair / Star Wars
1984 – 1942 / Punch-Out!!
1985 - Ghosts N Goblins / Gauntlet
1986 – Rampage / Bubble Bobble / Outrun / Super Mario Bros
1987 - Double Dragon
1988 - Ghouls 'n Ghosts
1989 - Golden Axe / Final Fight / TMNT / NeoGeo MVS
1990 – Smash TV
1991 - Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
1992 – Mortal Kombat
1993 –
1994 –
1995 – Area 51
1996 –
1997 –
1998 –
1999 – Hydro Thunder
2000 –



Keep 'em coming guys...
 
Berzerk was overshadowed by PacMan in 1980, but Berzerk was definitely iconic and always drew a line to play it BITD.
 
Robot Bowl. LOL :D

Robot Bowl was awesome! In 1977 that is what I played quite frequently. Anyway, here is my list:

1976 Sea Wolf / Sprint 2
1977 Boot Hill / Circus
1978 Space Invaders / Atari Football
1979 Asteroids
1980 Battlezone
1981 Defender / Ms. Pac-Man
1982 Pole Position
1983 Spy Hunter / Track & Field
 
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