AWESOME ARCADES

Not so with arcade machines – every penny spent on making them was geared towards ensuring that they were really, really good at running games. As a result, they technologically outstripped anything in the home. “That was the main allure of arcades – being able to spend a few coins to play something that was so far more advanced than the microcomputer and console titles of the period,” says Julian Rignall, an arcade expert who went on to a career in games journalism. “Games were all a quantum leap ahead of what was available for home systems and they all delivered stunning gameplay experiences that were immersive, addictive and tremendously exciting. That was an incredibly strong draw for any red-blooded gamer.”