How the 1980s Influenced the Modern Gaming Industry

 

Have you ever tried to look back into the history of gaming? If not, then you have missed a lot of useful information. Modern gamers keep getting the latest updates to their favorite video games. They enjoy playing from the comfort of their home using advanced gaming consoles or personal computers. Today, high-quality games can also be played using handheld gadgets such as smartphones and tablets. On the other side, people in the 1980s didn’t have privileges akin to modern-day video game culture. They found excitement and pleasure in playing arcade games from gaming giants such as Atari. The industry witnessed highs and lows in that era. 

The present-day gaming systems like PlayStation and Nintendo have taken the industry by storm. Let’s flashback the amazing gaming age!

Arcade Games

Arcade games were in great demand at the beginning of the 1980s. In 1981, the Arcade gaming industry generated a whopping $5 billion in revenue in the United States alone. The number of Arcades doubled in just two years from 1980 to 1982. People were crazy about video games in the 80s. They had a deep impact on society. Other industries such as film and music also felt jerks of video games. Buckner and Garcia rolled out a hit single titled ‘Pac-Man Fever’ in 1982. It was ranked number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The track was all about the famous video game ‘Pac-Man’. Likewise, the story of the science fiction movie Tron was based on the life of a computer programmer.

3rd Generation Video Game Consoles

The release of the Japanese family computer brought a great revolution in the gaming community. Initially, it was known as Famicom. Later, it took the world by storm as the Nintendo Entertainment System. People really liked enjoying exciting video games on these devices from Nintendo. Famicom dominated the US market after being a massive success in its home country Japan. Another famous gaming console was labeled as Sega’s Mark III, which also gained traction under the tag ‘Master System’.

Casino Games from the '80s

The casino industry witnessed a lot of amazing gambling games in the '80s. People of different European countries and the United States showed great interest in casino activities. In 1982, Datamost released a ‘Casino’ video game. This one game was a video gaming package that included five famous games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Video Poker, Keno, and Roulette. These are still very popular among players who look upon at online casino for real money. Fans really appreciated this impressive release. It added a personal touch such as greeting the player and asking his name. This was when Casino video games started to boom.

Popular Video Games

More than a few unforgettable video games were launched. They were based on addictive gameplay. That’s the reason people fell in love with those simple yet exciting games. Following are some of the most memorable releases from the '80s:

• Tetris: This puzzle game was launched in Europe and North America in late 1987 and early 1988.
• SimCity: Filled with tons of entertainment, this game was released in 1989.
• Defender: Out in 1980, this was one of the most sought-after games at the arcade.
• Super Mario Bros: Kids of the '80s know the charisma of this unforgettable game.
• Prince of Persia: In 1989, this particular game brought the ultimate adventure.

Aside from those mentioned above, there were many other enthralling games that made people addicted to the gaming industry. Some prominent titles include Frogger, Dig Dug, Pitfall, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong. The era proved to be the basis of modern-day gaming entertainment.

Video Game Developers

There were several notable developers who produced some of the most outstanding video games during that period. Some of those gaming companies no longer exist. 3D Realms was a Denmark-based company that came to limelight with the release of ‘Duke Nukem’. Based in San Jose California, Accolade was established in 1984 by Bob Whitehead and Alan Miller. The company’s popular productions included Star Control, Test Drive 2/3, and Star Control series. The Access Software was established in November 1982. Chris Jones and Bruce Carver laid the foundation of this company in Salt Lake City, Utah. They created games such as Tex Murphy, Beach Head, Under a Killing Moon, and the Pandora Directive.

Alfa System came into existence in 1988. It surfaced from Kumamoto City, Japan. They created stunning games, particularly for NEC consoles. They are also known for the development of Tales of the World and Oreshika series. Another worth mentioning gaming tycoon from the '80s was Arc System Works. Based in Yokohama Japan, the company entertained the world with BlazeBlue Series, Granblue Fantasy Versus, Guilty Gear, and Dragon Ball FighterZ.

Conclusion

Although the year 1983 witnessed a video game crash, yet the decade is considered to be a roller coaster of several fantastic game series. After reaching a whopping $3.2 billion in 1983, the revenues decreased to just $100 million in 1985. This was a devastating situation for the game developers as many companies were declared bankrupt due to the recession. The decade of the '80s started with a slew of Arcade-style games and slowly moved into the development of evolving technology game types. Advanced versions began to hit the market and grabbed the attention of millions of game lovers from around the world.