Space-Themed Arcade games. Why?

Phetishboy

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Is it because as visionarys and most likely science fiction buffs, many arcade designers/programmers were going with what they knew/ liked, or was it because they were putting out what they thought the public wanted? There are a lot of space-themed/ futuristic arcade classics out there, and I just wonder if 'space' was a theme that seemed to go hand in hand with arcade game technology, which was 'ahead of it's time' back in the late 70's early 80's. Kinda like if it was digital or electronic, it was considered futuristic? Sort of a 'space age' Jetsons mentality?
 
You also have the freedom to make up any kind of alien enemies with a space theme...
 
I think the space theme goes back earlier than that -to the late 1950s and 1960s.

Back then people believed that space travel for the ordinary person was just a few years away and would be as common as flying in an airplane. A lot of public opinion was influenced by NASA PR which was used to justify the amount of money that was spent on the space program.

A lot of the early game designers were from that generation of kids.
 
I think the space theme goes back earlier than that -to the late 1950s and 1960s.

Back then people believed that space travel for the ordinary person was just a few years away and would be as common as flying in an airplane. A lot of public opinion was influenced by NASA PR which was used to justify the amount of money that was spent on the space program.

A lot of the early game designers were from that generation of kids.

That's kinda what I thought. Was the 'Atomic Age' the precursor or the same as the 'Space Age'? It seems that some advertisers use them interchangeably.
 
Because it was 'COOL' look at the movies we remember from the same time Star Wars, Tron, The Last Star fighter, Star Trek, Close Encounters, ET ..... even the crappy movies had WOW factor.
 
Because it was 'COOL' look at the movies we remember from the same time Star Wars, Tron, The Last Star fighter, Star Trek, Close Encounters, ET ..... even the crappy movies had WOW factor.

So are robots considered 'space age' too? I mean there was a big one in Rocky 2 or 3, but I always think of them that way. Space=Robots

Berzerk, Robotron: 2084, i, robot, etc.
 
Because it was 'COOL' look at the movies we remember from the same time Star Wars, Tron, The Last Star fighter, Star Trek, Close Encounters, ET ..... even the crappy movies had WOW factor.


And not to deny Phet's favorite sssssssci-fi film "Black Hole".

Looking back, the space theme was just one easy theme. Think of how many f'n "pool table" and "card game" EM pinballs were designed. What caused that trend?
 
So are robots considered 'space age' too? I mean there was a big one in Rocky 2 or 3, but I always think of them that way. Space=Robots

Berzerk, Robotron: 2084, i, robot, etc.

Absolutely we all wanted a Robbi the Robot from Radio Shack to deliver us a can of coke. And I still own the battery sucking Big Trak just because it was programable. Plus the dad in the commercial acknowleged his son....oooh the pain (ok I'm over it).
 
And not to deny Phet's favorite sssssssci-fi film "Black Hole".

Looking back, the space theme was just one easy theme. Think of how many f'n "pool table" and "card game" EM pinballs were designed. What caused that trend?

I actually tried to watch both Black Hole and Forbidden Planet this past week. My daughter hated them both, and we barely got a third into either movie before I was forced to stop them. She actually liked FP better, but she was still bored as hell.
 
sooo... what's the theme here, my favorite little astro-nut?

2008-11-04_110520.jpg


2 words: Cosmic Dispatcher

She actually made the daily lunch announcements for the ship's cafeteria.


"...tap tap tap, is this thing on? OK, today's menu includes creamed p...mmmmppffftmmmmmmmmm"
 
Is it because as visionarys and most likely science fiction buffs, many arcade designers/programmers were going with what they knew/ liked, or was it because they were putting out what they thought the public wanted? There are a lot of space-themed/ futuristic arcade classics out there, and I just wonder if 'space' was a theme that seemed to go hand in hand with arcade game technology, which was 'ahead of it's time' back in the late 70's early 80's. Kinda like if it was digital or electronic, it was considered futuristic? Sort of a 'space age' Jetsons mentality?


I really think the designers were riding the coat-tails of Star Wars. I think a lot of people forget just how big it really was. And there's that excitement of the unknown when relating to "space". What and who are these invaders? We must kill them before they get to earth! Yeah there was space themed stuff long before Star Wars ever came out; but this was a new era. What could be more inviting than defending mother earth and saving mankind from these freeks? Only when they started to run out of ideas did you see the more popular non-space themed games like Pac-Man, Burgertime, etc.
 
...because nerds think space is cool.

And you, Mr. Cool, do not think so? I have always been fascinated with astronomy, which is pretty much the scientific side of most science fiction, which I also love. I never thought of myself as a nerd?
 
Ive always loved space. Where is the pic of the man who designed Asteroids Deluxe? That pic answers all your queries.
 
Ive always loved space. Where is the pic of the man who designed Asteroids Deluxe? That pic answers all your queries.

Forgot about that dude. Very Cool.

Asteroids Deluxe was a great space themed game, as was Asteroids, Space Invaders, Stratovox, Moon Patrol, Scramble, Defender and Space Wars. Ironically, Star Wars came out the year the arcade industry crashed.
 
Forgot about that dude. Very Cool.

Asteroids Deluxe was a great space themed game, as was Asteroids, Space Invaders, Stratovox, Moon Patrol, Scramble, Defender and Space Wars. Ironically, Star Wars came out the year the arcade industry crashed.

Other space themed games: Computer Space, Galaxian, Galaga, Stargate, Star Fire, Starship 1, Star Trek, Phoenix.

A man is not a man without a Galaga.
 
Because space themed games > The Sims ... that's why.

Reality TV sucks and so does reality gaming ... I'd rather jump over barrels rolled by a monkey or joust on ostriches 7 days a week.

Steve
MM
 
Because space themed games > The Sims ... that's why.

Reality TV sucks and so does reality gaming ... I'd rather jump over barrels rolled by a monkey or joust on ostriches 7 days a week.

Steve
MM

Ironically, I always thought of Joust as a Space themed/ Other planet type game, even though it isn't. Is there a starry night background in that game?
 
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