Dan Counsell
Jul 18, 2017
Over the last few years I've rediscovered my love of old video games. It all started when I stumbled across people building and playing MAME arcade cabinets on YouTube. These things are essentially PCs running an emulator inside something that looks and feels like a classic arcade machine.
The best thing about a MAME-based setup is that once you're in a game, you forget all about the fact it's running on a PC. It feels just like the real thing. Loading up Street Fighter II on one of these takes me back 20 years, it's insane.
I know the graphics in these old games aren't often up to much when compared to today's standards, but they still have a certain charm and style that only old video games can. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I still really love the way they look (and play). Perhaps best of all is the fact that there are no in-app purchases. These games were made to be tough, but enjoyable.
Yes, you could argue that arcade games are pay-to-play and similar to mobile games with in-app purchases. However, I think there's one big difference. If you're skilled at an arcade game you could play for hours on one credit, whereas games with IAP often just block your progress unless you're willing to pay more money. It's a subtle difference but it's a big one. Arcade games rewarded those with skill, mobile games reward those with deep pockets.
Along with re-playing a lot of these old games from my childhood, I've also been watching some great documentaries on the origins and history of arcade games. I've compiled a list below in release order, with the most recent being at the top.
If you're into designing, building, or even just playing games, then all of these documentaries are worth watching.
1. Man vs Snake: The Long and Twisted Tale of Nibbler (2015)
The inspiring and outrageous true story of one man's quest for the highest video game score ever recorded. Tim McVey sets out to reclaim the Nibbler high score he set as a teenager in the 80s, now 40 years old, he hasn't touched the game since. It covers very similar ground to The King of Kong (2007, see below) and, while perhaps not quite as good, it's still a great documentary in its own right.
2. Nintendo Quest (2015)
Gaming enthusiast Jay Bartlett hits the open road with best friend Rob McCallum on a mission to track down all 678 officially licensed NES games in just 30 days, with no online purchases allowed. It can drag a little in places, and it's a shame we don't see more of the haggling when Jay closes a deal, but it's still a fun watch. If you're into Nintendo, this one's essential.
3. Atari: Game Over (2015)
A crew sets out to dig up the Atari 2600 cartridges of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial that were supposedly buried in a New Mexico landfill back in the 80s. It's much better than you'd expect from what is essentially a documentary about digging up rubbish, packed with great history on Atari's rise and fall along the way.
4. The King of Arcades (2013)
This documentary follows arcade owner Richie Knucklez as he rides a wave of 80s nostalgia and chases his dream against the odds. The story arc feels a little off at times, there's not really much of a "rise and fall" to speak of, and I think it would have been stronger if it had leaned harder into Richie's genuine love and craft for restoring arcade machines. That said, it's still a great watch.
5. Indie Game: The Movie (2012)
A documentary following indie game developers as they pour themselves into their work and release the games out into the world. This one isn't strictly about arcade games, but it resonated with me so much I had to include it. If you've ever shipped an app of your own, you'll find plenty here to relate to. Well worth your time.
6. Ecstasy of Order - The Tetris Masters (2011)
Super-fan Robin Mihara made it his mission to legitimise Tetris as a competitive sport, summoning the greatest players from across the country to battle it out at the 2010 Classic Tetris World Championship in Los Angeles. The dedication on show here is something else, many of these players have been at it for over 20 years. Impressive and crazy in equal measure. After watching, I immediately went and played Tetris myself.
7. Tilt: The Battle To Save Pinball (2009)
In 1998, the designers at Williams Electronic Games were faced with a choice: come up with something new, or watch the world's largest pinball manufacturer close its doors forever. It's not the strongest documentary of the bunch, and it hasn't aged especially well and can drag in places, but the people at its heart are so talented and so passionate that it's worth watching for them alone.
8. Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade (2007)
1982's video game world champions share their philosophies on joysticks, groupies, and life in this more personal, in-depth look at arcade history. It shares a lot of DNA with The King of Kong and Man vs Snake, a lot of the same faces turn up, and some of the same archive footage gets a second outing. Worth watching if you just can't get enough of the 80s.
9. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
Billy Mitchell sets a Donkey Kong record score that many believe will never be broken… until 2003, when recently-unemployed Steve Wiebe learns about the record, sets out to beat it, and does. What follows is a cross-country battle between the two men for a place in the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records as the undisputed king of the arcade. Even if you're not into gaming, this is a great documentary; if you are into gaming, you're going to love it. After Indie Game: The Movie, this is probably my favourite of the bunch.
10. The Wizard (1989)
A classic 80s film featuring classic 80s actors and plenty of classic gaming, this one actually inspired real-life Nintendo tournaments after its release. Okay, so it's not strictly a documentary, but it's a film about gaming in the late 80s, which is close enough for me. The perfect family-friendly watch for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
That's it
There's a bunch of really good documentaries on this list that are worth watching even of you're not into gaming. If you were going to watch only one or two, I'd highly recommend The King of Kong, closely followed by Indie Game: The Movie. Both are absolutely fantastic.