Amusement arcade facts for kids
An amusement arcade is a fun place where people go to play different kinds of games. You might hear it called a video arcade or just an arcade. These places are filled with exciting games like video games, pinball machines, and sometimes even slot machines. It's a great spot to challenge your friends or try to beat your own high score!
The Start of Arcades
The very first amusement arcades were known as "penny arcades." They first opened way back in the 1800s. These early arcades had games called "bagatelles." These games were a bit like billiards or pinball.
Penny arcades were very popular at amusement parks and fairs. People loved playing them until about the 1950s. Around that time, newer types of games started to appear. These new machines often tested a player's skill or chance, like shooting galleries.
The Rise of Video Games
In the late 1970s, something big happened: video games came to arcades! These new video arcades became super popular, especially in the early 1980s. Young people loved spending time there.
However, by the late 1990s, many video arcades started to close down. This was because home video game consoles became much better. They could offer games that were just as good, or even better, than the ones in arcades. But in Japan, arcades stayed very popular. There, they are often called "game centers."
Images for kids
-
Early machine at Wookey Hole Caves
-
Two traditional amusement arcades on Great Yarmouth sea front, 2011
-
Facade of VR arcade in Manhattan
-
The Donkey Kong video game was popular in video arcades during the 1980s
-
Daytona USA, by Sega. Two player version, although up to eight could be linked for multiplayer racing
-
A cocktail cabinet or tabletop arcade machine
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Salón recreativo para niños
