Top ten classic arcade games...

[opcode]

Hi there!

I am doing a little research about what classic arcade games are the most popular ones. But just to make things more interesting [and fair], I am just interested on arcade games released prior 84...
So please, what is your top ten list for classic arcade games?

Eduardo Mello

PS: I will send my list later on...

[Charlie]

Prior to 1984? You should make it prior to 1986 instead.

[opcode]

Ok, so prior to 1986.... :)

[bargora]

Robotron 2084
Spy Hunter
Frontline
Omega Race
Burger Time
Qix
M.A.C.H. 3
Galaga
Xevious
Elevator Action

Why 1986?

EDIT: AW, CRUD. STRIKE M.A.C.H. 3, ADD TIME PILOT. What was I thinking? That is all.

[opcode]

Why 1986?

Uhm... good question? Why 1986, Charlie? :-D
I still think 1984 is a more representative date, ever if you are taking into account Japanese arcade games. The arcade industry changed a lot after 1984...

[Charlie]

LOL, well 1986 is where I think the industry changed. But 1984 is still good.

[o2william]

I wasn't sure if you meant "most popular in general" or just my favorites, so I'll do both. :)

Most Popular in General:
Pong (in its day)
Space Invaders
Pac-Man/Ms. Pac-Man (I'll cheat and list them together)
Donkey Kong
Defender
Galaga
Centipede
Frogger
Q*bert
Dragon's Lair

My Favorites:
Robotron
Kaos (hey, I like it)
Galaxian
Defender
Ms. Pac-Man (especially sped-up. Not "pure," I know...)
Pleiades
Pengo
Scramble
Solar Fox
Rally-X

[Daniel Thomas]

Well, if you're going to use a cutoff date, I'd say 1985 or so. Basically, you want the point between the American videogame crash of 1983-4 and the arrival of Super Mario Bros. and the NES in 1985.

Anyway, this is a good topic. Offhand, here's what I would pick for my favorite "Golden Era" titles (no real order):

Space Invaders
Asteroids
Pac-Man/Ms. Pac-Man
Defender
Robotron 2084
Pole Position
Donkey Kong
Galaga
Xevious
Burgertime
Star Wars

Okay, it goes to 11 or 12, but I can't pare down beyond these. As for Pac-Man, maybe you should just group the whole series of Pac games together: Pac-Man, Ms., Baby, Jr., Super. So why hasn't Professor Pac been emulated yet?

[CrazyImpmon]

10: Tempest
9: Tempest
8: Tempest
7: Tempest
6: Tempest
5: Tempest
4: Tempest
3: Tempest
2: Tempest
and my #1 favorite is: Tempest
LOL

[Arqueologia_Digital]

My top ten (of many years) in no order:

Burger time
Bubbles
Donkey kong
Elevator action
Ms. Pac man
Tempest
Galaga
Galaxian
Pong
Mario bros.

[Six Switch]

Pong
Space Invaders
Ms. Pac-Man
Donkey Kong
Defender
Galaga
Centipede
Frogger
Robotron
Sinisatr(was that in 86 or before?)

[jhd7]

Ah, the early heyday of the arcade, when nearly everything was original. I was a freshman in college in 1978, and spent way too much time and money playing video games and pinball. In my mind, these are the classics (in no specific order):

Space Invaders
Galaxian
Asteroids
Donkey Kong
Centipede
Dig Dug
Defender
Missile Command
Pac Man
BurgerTime

[maxlords]

Asteroids
Joust
Battlezone
Pole Position
Time Pilot
Centipede
Joust II
Discs of Tron
Gauntlet (1985)
Star Wars

In no particular order..

[Arcade Antics]

Robotron:2084 for certain.
Donkey Kong
Ms. Pac-Man
Centipede
Asteroids
Space Invaders
Galaga
Defender
Pong
Star Wars

Edit: this list was what I figured were the top ten most popular games of the day, not necessarily my favorite top ten. Although I do consider Robotron the Best. Game. Ever. :)

[opcode]

Nice! So far score is:

5 votes:
- Pac-Man/Ms Pac-Man
- Robotron 2084
- Galaga
- Defender
- Donkey Kong

4 votes:
- Burger Time
- Space Invaders
- Asteroids
- Centipede

3 votes:
- Galaxian
- Star Wars
- Pong

2 votes:
- Xevious
- Elevator Action
- Pole Position
- Tempest

And more than a dozen titles with just a vote....

I must confess I was surprised by Robotron and Burger Time huge popularity...

Eduardo Mello

[ghsqb]

My 10 Faves are:

Time Pilot
Double Dragon
R-Type
Shinobi
Splatterhouse
Pac Man
Spy Hunter
Star Wars
Elevator Action

And #1 Best Arcade Game EVER:

Dragons Lair!!!

Sorry if I'm over the cutoff dates on some of these, I don't know the dates of them but the timing seems about right....

[Raedon]

Astro Blaster
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Snap/astrobl.png

Tempest
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Snap/tempest.png

Dragon's Lair
http://coinop.org/Image.aspx?g=2509cb6f-0f7a-4c4a-9f83-f396d006dbf6

Marble Madness
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Snap/marble.png

Asteroids
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Cabinets/asteroid.png

Robotron 2084
http://roms2.mame.dk/png/robotron.png

Joust
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Snap/joust.png

Karate Champ
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Snap/kchampvs.png

Galaga
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Flyers/galaga.png

Gauntlet
http://coinop.org/KB/GfxMame/Cabinets/gauntlet.png

[klimatron8]

Not sure when it came out but I vote Punchout! (or was it SuperPunchout?) as #1.

[Nature Boy]

Pre 1984 list:

Asteroids (1979)
Ms. Pac-Man (1981)
Bump 'n' Jump (1982)
Elevator Action (1983)
New Rally X (1981)
Pengo (1982)
Bomb Jack (1984)
Galaga (1981)
Star Wars (1983)
Spy Hunter (1983)

Pre 1985 list:

Asteroids (1979)
Ms. Pac-Man (1981)
Bump 'n' Jump (1982)
Elevator Action (1983)
New Rally X (1981)
Gauntlet (1985)
Ghosts 'n' Goblins (1985)
Galaga (1981)
Star Wars (1983)
Spy Hunter (1983)

Pre 1986 list:

Asteroids (1979)
Ms. Pac-Man (1981)
Bump 'n' Jump (1982)
Elevator Action (1983)
Bubble Bobble (1986)
Gauntlet (1985)
Ghosts 'n' Goblins (1985)
Galaga (1981)
Star Wars (1983)
Out Run (1986)

[Time]

No MR DO!!!! What are you people thinking!!!! :-D

[NE146]

My relatively consistent favorites:

Space Invaders (of course)
Robotron 2084
Joust
Donkey Kong
Defender/Stargate
Tempest

I'll figure out the other 4 later... (to be edited!)

[le geek]

Some of the ones that seem to be the most popular/remembered:
Ms. Pac-man
Galaga
Centipede
Defender
Frogger
Asteroids
Donkey Kong


It's hard to think of many others than non videogame enthusiasts would consistently remember fondly...

My 10 favorites
Time Pilot
Gyruss
Mr. Do!
Tron
Berzerk
Star Wars
Centipede
Dig Dug
Marble Madness
Spy Hunter

Cheers,
le geek

[Griking]

My Top 10. Not in any Order;

Mr Do!
Stargate
Star Wars: Arcade Game
Rally-X
Track & Field
Gyruss
Millipede
Ms Pacman
Joust
Punch Out

Honorable Mentions;

Ladybug
Astro Blaster
Time Pilot / Time Pilot '84
Donkey Kong
Robotron
Crazy Climber

[stonecutter]

I use to like Arabian a lot also, noit sure the year though. Also Tapper, again, what year I dunno. I think Arkanoid was afer 84? but I would list it as well.