Does anyone know..

[sandmountainslim]

the approximate year video games started costing 25 cents per play and around what year they increased to 50 cents and more? I recall playing Seawolf in the late seventies and I am pretty sure it cost a quarter per play and I think the Rolling Thunder machine I used to play was 25 cents in the late 80's , of course I could be mistaken on one or both accounts Any info appreciated.

[Lost Monkey]

the approximate year video games started costing 25 cents per play and around what year they increased to 50 cents and more? 

859920[/snapback]

 

The first machine I ever saw that took $.50 was Zaxxon. I didn't play it until I saw one for $.25 some time later.

 

When I was younger (mid-late 70's) I remember there still being (older) pinballs with $.05 and $.10 coin boxes, but I don't think I ever saw a videogame for less than a quarter.

[Dr Galaga]

I think the 50 cent games rolled in during the mid80's.

Yea, I remember playing some 10 cent and 2 plays for a quarter pins in the late 70's/early 80's (my '71 pinball machine is a 2 for 25 cents).

[Ralph3]

Dragon's Lair was the 1st game to go 50 cents back in 83.

[+FujiSkunk]

Dragon's Lair was the 1st game to go 50 cents  back in 83.

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And video games actually started at a quarter, if I'm not mistaken. In the interviews for the Atari arcade collections, I believe Nolan Bushnell mentions quarters when talking about how the first Pong's coin bucket overflowed shortly after it was unveiled.

[Cassidy Nolen]

There are a few books out there that cover the changeover from dime to quarter play. I had a Paddle Ball (Pong clone, and a VERY good one at that) that had a dime play coin mech and door. By the early 70's most games were a quarter (em, pins, target, etc).

 

As for the first 50 cent games, I can think of MACH 3, Dragons Lair and Pole Position. Seemed around here, if it talked, it cost 50 cents. I remember Tron at Ground Round was 50, IIRC.

 

C

[tillenterprises]

I specifically remember Dragon's Lair, and then later on Mach 3 as the first 2 games that I saw for 50 cents/play. I remember thinking, "Wow- this Dragon's Lair game has got to be good for 50 cents (I was already blown away by the graphics). I dropped a couple quarters in, and got killed before I ever got into the castle. I think that was the first last time I played the real coin-op. I guess I didn't understand why the character didn't move in the direction I moved the joystick with free movement- I didn't know at the time that the game was just a series of memorizations. I took the rest of my quarters and headed back to the safe confines of Pac-Man and Galaga. I did like Mach 3, though!

[Flack]

Dragon's Lair was the first one I ever saw. It was also the first game I ever saw that made you pay to continue even if you didn't die. I remember watching this guy play the game halfway through and then a screen popped up that said something to the effect of, "Great, you're halfway there -- insert another 50 cents to continue!"

[Stingray]

I don't remember seeing any that were 50 cents before Dragons Lair. I also don't ever remember seeing any that were less than a quarter ever, including the early black & white stuff.

 

-S