C|net - Throwback photos from old video game arcades

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1. John Cougar
In the 1970s and '80s, arcades were some of the most popular spots.

2. Boy vs. Krull
Hardcore gamer Jason Dallaire, 11, tries his skill against Krull in Seattle in 1983.

3. Playing Pac-Man in Times Square
Remember those barrettes? A girl plays Pac-Man at an arcade in New York's Times Square in 1982.

4. Personal arcade
For the rich or famous, arcades were anywhere you wanted them to be. Here, director Steven Spielberg poses with a Maneater arcade game at his Universal studios office in 1975.

5. Playing Pac-Man
Some kids had to get creative to see the Pac-Man screen at this New York arcade in 1982.

6. Steve Strange playing The Invaders
Steve Strange, a Welsh pop singer, is photographed playing The Invaders at London's Club Hell in 1980.

7. Us Festival arcade
At the 1982 Us Festival in Devore, California, this casually dressed man seemingly has a whole arcade to himself.

8. Pac-Man was serious business
Things get heated at a Pac-Man machine in 1983

9. Video Battle Centre
Here's the entrance to the Video Battle Centre, a London arcade, in 1979.

10. Hanging out at the arcade
A group of friends pose in a Chicago arcade in 1987.

 

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11. Playing at the amusement arcade
Gamer Ian Pollard plays Defender at a London arcade in 1983.

12. Atari International Asteroids Tournament
A woman watches someone play at the Atari International Asteroids Tournament in San Francisco in 1981.

13. Gaming in Colorado
Gamers Brien Mynheir (foreground) and David Weaver play Defender at a Golden, Colorado arcade in 1983.

14. Pac-Man on the Pier
Photographed by Ira Nowinski, here's a young man playing Pac-Man at San Francisco's Pier 39 arcade in 1981.

15. A full house playing Pac-Man
Nowinski then zoomed out to snap a group of youths playing simultaneously at the same Pier 39 arcade.

 

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16. Gathering to play in Santa Cruz, California
An arcade in Santa Cruz, Calif., in 1981.

17. Inside the Atari International Asteroids Tournament
Here's an overhead shot of the Atari International Asteroids Tournament.

18. Chuck E. Cheese arcade
In 1981, Nowinski took this photo of young people playing Wizard of Wor and Star Castle at a Chuck E. Cheese in San Mateo, Calif.

19. Galaxian and Astro Blaster
At the same Chuck E. Cheese, there was also Galaxian and Astro Blaster along with Wizards of Wor and Star Castle.

20. Kids playing at the arcade
Kids in 1982 play various arcade games, such as Asteroids and Pac-Man.

 

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21. Gaming in Iran
At an Iranian arcade in 1994, a boy plays a Sega racing game.

22. Pick your favorite
At the Santa Cruz arcade, there were multiple games to play, such as Star Castle, Scramble and Asteroids.

23. Up close with Dragon's Lair
Here's a classic photo of the Dragon's Lair arcade game in July 1983.

24. A young man's game? Maybe not.
Arcade games aren't just for young people. Check out these two business-suited men playing Pac-Man in Glendale, Colorado in 1985.

25. Burton Cummings playing Tempest
The Guess Who's singer, Burton Cummings, plays the Tempest video game at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto in 1982.