What games are considered a "classic"?

[Inky]

I was thinking of putting a pack of classic arcade games together for my MAME install on my laptop, but that got me to thinking "what games are considered classic?"

 

Some games are no brainers.. Pac-Man, Galaxian, Space INvaders.. But then you go further down the timeline, and there are games that were popular at your local arcade that may not have been popular across the country.

 

So my questions

 

1) what criteria would YOU use to define a classic game

 

2) What games would be on a classic list

 

3) For what others have posted, why wouldn't some of thier entries on the list be considered classic?

 

This is all strictly opinion. There are no right or wrong answers. Except mine

[STICH666]

Anything pre-1995 that has never been done before with the exception of Racers, Fighters and Shooters.

 

 

Asteroids

Galiga

Gorf

Arkanoid

Donkey Kong

Q'bert

Space Invaders

Mortal Kombat

Street Fighter 2

Revolution X (everyone says it's shit but It was so much fun)

Crusin' USA

San Francisco Rush

Race Drivin'

The list goes on.........

Edited January 26, 2009 by STICH666

[atarian63]

I was thinking of putting a pack of classic arcade games together for my MAME install on my laptop, but that got me to thinking "what games are considered classic?"

 

Some games are no brainers.. Pac-Man, Galaxian, Space INvaders.. But then you go further down the timeline, and there are games that were popular at your local arcade that may not have been popular across the country.

 

So my questions

 

1) what criteria would YOU use to define a classic game

 

2) What games would be on a classic list

 

3) For what others have posted, why wouldn't some of thier entries on the list be considered classic?

 

This is all strictly opinion. There are no right or wrong answers. Except mine

 

Pleiades is an uncommon fun one that is classic. Rare and good from the period.

 

Defining is probably age related, for me classics are the games from the Heyday that really got arcades going then popularized them. 1978-1985, after that too me it's all 2nd wave, then the fighting wave, then the Sim wave and so on.

 

 

I think Stitch666 got it right on classics. Try system16.com then look at brands and board type and you can see the progression from each manufacturer. Kinda fun too!

I would add

Galaga

Moon Patrol

Moon cresta

 

Heck, here is the list from my 48 in 1 jamma board.

 

Ms Pacman / Galaga / Frogger / Donkey Kong / Donkey Junior / Donkey Kong 3

Galaxian / Dig Dug / Crush Roller / Mr. Do / Space Invaders / Pac Man

Galaga 3 / Gyruss / Tank Battalion / 1942 / Lady Bug / Burger Time

Mappy / Centipede / Millipede / JR Pacman / Pengo / Phoenix

Time Pilot / Super Cobra / Hustler / Space Panic / Super Breakout / New Rally X

Arkanoid / Qix / Juno First / Xevious / Mr. Do's Castle / Moon Cresta

Pinball Action / Scramble / Super Pacman / Bomb Jack / Shao-Lin's Road / King & Balloon

1943 / Van-Van Car / Pacman Plus / Dig Dug 2 / Amidar / Zaxxon

Edited January 26, 2009 by atarian63

[yuppicide]

I consider a classic game is any game which I found in an arcade in my youth that I enjoyed.

 

Examples:

 

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom - Very fun game. It talked. It was always broken. It would get fixed and break again right away. Wish I knew what the problem was. Most games in the bowling alley were broken.

 

Mappy - One of my favorites of all time. I could play a long time.

 

I wanted to say Mr. Do!'s Wildride since I loved it, but it's toooooo short.. only 3 screens.

 

Tempest is classic, but no fun without the proper controls.

[Deteacher]

I agree with Yuppicide. Anything that was in the arcades when I was a youth, I would consider a classic. So, pretty much anything from 1978-1985, I would consider "the classic years."

[maximebeauvais]

Ms Pacman / Galaga / Frogger / Donkey Kong / Donkey Junior / Donkey Kong 3

Galaxian / Dig Dug / Crush Roller / Mr. Do / Space Invaders / Pac Man

Galaga 3 / Gyruss / Tank Battalion / 1942 / Lady Bug / Burger Time

Mappy / Centipede / Millipede / JR Pacman / Pengo / Phoenix

Time Pilot / Super Cobra / Hustler / Space Panic / Super Breakout / New Rally X

Arkanoid / Qix / Juno First / Xevious / Mr. Do's Castle / Moon Cresta

Pinball Action / Scramble / Super Pacman / Bomb Jack / Shao-Lin's Road / King & Balloon

1943 / Van-Van Car / Pacman Plus / Dig Dug 2 / Amidar / Zaxxon

 

This look like a very good list for ''classic'' games.

 

I will add:

Arabian

Kung fun Master

Karatechamp

track n field

hypersport

and probably more !!!!

[Cassidy Nolen]

Bronze Age 1971-1979

Golden Age 1980-1984 (just past the crash)

Pre-JAMMA 1985-1992

Modern Era (Conversions) 1992-1999

Post Modern (its all fighters, touch screens, DDR variants, racers or redemption) 1999-present

 

 

I would count anything pre-84 classic. Anything after had the advantages of the Golden era experience (both pre and post crash). Operators were still holding onto some pretty antiquated concepts in 83 about profits so that explains why we saw so many classic era games around so late in the 80's/90's. The boom for arcades returned in the form of conversions. Gremlin had the right idea, followed by Nintendo. The big boom was fixing busted Defenders and making Street Fighters out of them. They raked in another 20 grand on each cabinet. Makes sense....like repairing an old car to get a few more years out of it and adding a new steering wheel

 

CN

[Dr Galaga]

I would consider anything before the mid 80's (I think Cassidy nailed it on the head with pre 1984). Heck, the only games on the KLOV Top 100 after this date that I enjoy playing is Gauntlet and Out Run, but I wouldn't consider them classics.

[atarian63]

Bronze Age 1971-1979

Golden Age 1980-1984 (just past the crash)

Pre-JAMMA 1985-1992

Modern Era (Conversions) 1992-1999

Post Modern (its all fighters, touch screens, DDR variants, racers or redemption) 1999-present

 

 

I would count anything pre-84 classic. Anything after had the advantages of the Golden era experience (both pre and post crash). Operators were still holding onto some pretty antiquated concepts in 83 about profits so that explains why we saw so many classic era games around so late in the 80's/90's. The boom for arcades returned in the form of conversions. Gremlin had the right idea, followed by Nintendo. The big boom was fixing busted Defenders and making Street Fighters out of them. They raked in another 20 grand on each cabinet. Makes sense....like repairing an old car to get a few more years out of it and adding a new steering wheel

 

CN

So sad to do that to defenders but to an op it makes good sense, ironically a defender is now worth more that a street fighter. Much more.

[rpgfaker]

Let's see I'll just ramble on about stuff I regularly dumped my allowance into weekly...

 

Asteroids, Donkey Kong Jr., Dragon's Lair, Star Wars: The Arcade Game, Dig Dug, Robotron, Elevator Action, Ms. Pac Man, Galaga, Space Invaders, Wizard of Wor, Missile Command, Tempest, Moon Patrol, Pole Position, Jungle Hunt, Tron...

 

That's about all I can remember as my classics list

[Fort Apocalypse]

joust

battlezone (but it isn't quite the same without the 2 sticks)

major havoc

space fury

tag team wrestling (hey, it's funny)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_arcade_games

[Stan]

1) what criteria would YOU use to define a classic game

 

2) What games would be on a classic list

 

3) For what others have posted, why wouldn't some of thier entries on the list be considered classic?

 

1. Well, for me, a classic game has to have a few things. First off, graphics that either push the envelope or show off the maximum capabilities of whatever CPU is being used. Gameplay should be easy to grasp and timeless. The more complicated, generally the quicker it gets old whereas games with simpler ideas behind them have a long-lasting appeal. Sound should also do the same as the graphics, depending on the chip used and what sounds are available.

 

2. For arcade titles, I would generally place any groundbreaking or defining title in there, or at least something that uses a traditional format well, perhaps in a unique way. For example you have classic old shooters like Space Invaders, and then you have derivative games like Black Widow, which are awesome. Games I would put in there, offhand and taking from several eras real quick, would be:

 

a. Avalanche

b. Galaga

c. Gauntlet

d. Tecmo Knight

e. Tiger Road

f. Splatterhouse

g. The Simpsons

h. Dragon's Lair

 

3. No opinions here. My list was put together fast and I agree with what everyone else listed. I'm sure I could list a ton if I took time, I tried a quick sampling.

[yuppicide]

I would say there are a lot more classic games, but each person defines classic differently.

 

For example, I love Jungle Hunt (or Jungle King as my local pizza place had), River Patrol, 720, Marble Madness, Death Race, Zoo Keeper, etc.

 

But, one game I consider classic is a Super Mario Pinball machine.. only one reason I consider it classic though.. the place that had it turned the volume all the way up and you could hear it from VERY far away. The place was huge, had newer arcade up front, classics further back, more even further back, then stuff like batting cages way in back. My friend would play it on purpose to annoy people.

[Inky]

I would say there are a lot more classic games, but each person defines classic differently.

.

 

 

I feel though that there is a solid core of classic games that most would agree upon..

 

Galaga

Ms. Pac Man

Asteroids

Battlezone

Missile Command

Pac-Man

Space Invaders

Galaxian

Frogger

Zaxxon

Defender

Robotron

Q*Bert

Joust

Tempest

 

I think most everyone would agree that these games are classics.