In 1909, the first arcade game was invented–that game was skee ball. The objective of this popular game was to throw a heavy brown ball down an alley in an effort to make it into a 10, 20, 30, 40, or the elusive 50 point pocket. Over a century later, arcade games have been developed into a 3D, surround-sound experience–often costing players much more than just a dime. At Fun Planners, we pride ourselves in providing the ultimate event experience. We are the Orlando event management experts who’re going to take you back in time to visit the old games and compare them to their modernized, upgraded cousins.
- Skee Ball and Sink It! Skee ball, meet your modern-day cousin, Sink It. One appears to be inspired by bowling, the other from a popular college party game called Beer Pong. Like the old-school game, which is still present in arcades today, the objective is to land a ball in a designated opening. Where these two mainly differ is how the player lands the ball in the designated cup or opening. Skee ball takes a rolling approach while Sink It requires players to bounce or shoot balls into the appropriate cup.
- Whac-A-Mole and Hit the Hero on Virtual Hero. Originally taken from a Japanese creature-whacking game, Whac-A-Mole is one of the most well known arcade games of all time. This 1971 classic has been given a new and upgraded makeover for virtual aficionados looking for a more personalized whacking experience. The Orlando event management team at Fun Planners offers a Virtual Hero attraction with three unique games attached to it. One of the games is Hit the Hero. In this game, using virtual software, players can attached their face to the body of a hero. This game can be uploaded or sent to an IPhone or IPad, and players must then hit their likeness as quickly as possible–like Whac-A-Mole, except you’re hitting yourself.
- Space Invaders and Big Buck Hunter HD 42’. Another one of the most popular arcade games of all times, Space Invader, is a shooter game in which players pilot a small ship and shoot aliens floating on the top of the screen. Space Invaders (1978), meet the 36-year evolution of yourself, Big Buck Hunter HD 42’. Another first person shooter game in which players shoot at high definition targets or big game animals. The main upgrade, besides graphics and improved depth perception, is that players win by wielding a large plastic gun instead of relying on the old-school joystick. This gun must be aimed, fired, and even reloaded, similarly to the real thing. Present-day games bring a more realistic quality to the traditional shooting game.
- Pac-Man and Pac-Man Battle Royal DELUXE. Everyone knows who Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man are. This game has barely evolved since it’s original creation, and for good reason–this is the most successful video game of all time. Since this game is a 1980s pop-culture phenomenon, it only makes sense to upgrade the amount of players and the interactivity with the original design. Pac-Man, meet your present-day version, Pac-Man Battle Royal Deluxe. This new version allows for four individual players to use a 54’’ LED-lit screen. Not only is it a showstopper, but players are actually battling one another as well as Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde.
Arcade games have excited and amazed us for over a century. With the constant evolution of gaming, it’s always good to take a look back at where it all began. If you’re looking for an Orlando event management team to supply the games for your next event, contact Fun Planners. We provide a variety of pinball machines as well as 80s arcade games, or a plethora of quality, modern arcade games to fit your event desires. If you’re a gamer, share this post and tell us of other gaming evolutions you’ve noticed. We love games and we’d love to hear about your favorites and where they came from.
