1978

The Rise of Video Game Machines. By the late 1970s, coin-operated video game machines were becoming increasingly popular in arcades, bars, and entertainment venues. One particularly common format was the cocktail-style video game table, where the screen was placed under a glass top and players sat opposite each other.

 

These machines offered a completely new form of entertainment compared to traditional mechanical games. Electronic games with moving graphics and new gameplay concepts attracted especially younger players.

The rapid success of video games led many manufacturers and operators to believe that video game machines might replace traditional pinball machines. As a result, the pinball industry began to worry about losing its dominant position in arcades.

Although video games grew rapidly during this period, pinball continued to evolve through new technical innovations and remained an important part of arcade entertainment.

 

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