The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, Told by Their Creators

Arcades once ruled the world. They were the place where eager gamers went to discover the latest releases and marvel at the new technology that powered them. Titles like Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Mortal Kombat became cultural phenomena, earning millions in revenue and remaining instantly recognisable icons to this day. Coin-operated video games led the way for decades, with home computer and console games aspiring to be ‘arcade perfect’. 

Author Paul Drury has spent over twenty years talking to the programmers, game designers, artists and musicians who made those seminal arcade titles. Here they share the stories of their creation, in their own words. Amongst the 120 classic coin-ops featured, you’ll discover how Ms. Pac-Man was once a man called Otto, who actually created Donkey Kong, how Q*bert learned to swear and what really happened on the night when the very first Pong machine was placed in Andy Capp’s Tavern.

Along with these firsthand accounts, you will find personal photos, design sketches, coding notes and all manner of ‘behind the scenes’ material, giving a unique insight into the creativity, imagination and ingenuity that brought these games to life. Also included is concept art, licensed from The Strong National Museum of Play, showing the original plans for such Atari classics as Star Wars, Paperboy, Gauntlet and many more.

With a foreword written by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell and an Afterword by Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender and Robotron, this is the definitive text on the first thirty years of the arcade industry. As with all our books, it includes high-quality paper, thread-sewn binding and each copy is shrink-wrapped. The hardback cover features a foil blocked illustration and inside you will find a series of arcade cabinet illustrations by artist Adam Rufino.

“Hearing the OG story is always fun. Going from nothing to something feels a bit like magic, and Paul has captured that magic in all these stories.”  Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari

“A very well researched account of how a new industry was created.” Al Alcorn, creator of Pong

"Hear how legendary digital alchemists turned a blank screen into videogame gold, all in their own words.” Eugene Jarvis, creator of Defender and Robotron

"Relive the stories behind our favourite games, together in one place." Ed Logg, creator of Asteroids and Gauntlet

Includes contributions from:
Abiko, Akira Fujita, Akira Nishitani, Akira ‘Akiman’ Yasuda, Al Alcorn, Alan Gray, Alan McNeil, Andy Walker, Betty Ryan, Bill Adams, Bob Flanagan, Brian Colin, Dave Sherman, Dave Staugas, Dave Theurer, Dave Thiel , Dennis Harper, Doug Macrae, Ed Logg, Ed Rotberg, Eric Ginner, Frank Gasking, Franz Lanzinger, Fukio ‘MTJ’ Mitsuji, Gary Goldman, Gary Vincent, George Gomez, Hirohisa Komanome, Hiroshi ‘Hiro’ Kawaguchi, Hiroshi ‘Onijust’ Tsujino, Hiroyasu Machiguchi, Hisao Oguchi, Howell Ivy, Jack Haeger, Jamie Fenton, Jeff Lee, John Newcomer, John Ray, John Salwitz, John Szczepaniak, John Tobias, Jonathan Hurd, Kazuma Kujo, Kazunori Sawano, Kenichi Yokoh, Kenji Kataoka, Kenzo Tsujimoto, Kevin Bayliss, Koji Mitsunaga, Koji Obata, Kouichi Yotsui, Larry DeMar, Lyle Rains, Makoto Uchida, Mark Pierce, Mark Turmell, Martyn Carroll, Masaaki Kukino, Masamoto Morita, Masanobu Endou, Matt Householder, Michitaka Tsuruta, Mike Hally, Minoru Kanari, Nolan Bushnell, Owen Rubin, Peter Robinson, Professor Yoshihiro Kishimoto, Robert Weatherby, Ron Milner, Roy Ozaki, Ryuichi Nishizawa, Scott Morrison, Scott Tsumura, Seiichi Nakakuki, Shigeru Yokoyama, Shinichiro Okamoto, Steve Mayer, Steve Wozniak, Takashi Oda, Takeki Nakamura, Tim Skelly, Tokuro Fujiwara, Tomohiro Nishikado, Toru Iwatani, Toshihiro Nagoshi, Toshinobu Komazawa, Warren Davis, Wendi Allen, Yasuhiko Tanaka, Yoshihiko Ota, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, Yoshiki Ooka, Youji Ishii, Yu Suzuki, Yutaka Kounoe, Yutaka Sugano.