Beginning with Space Invaders in 1978, arcade games began to appear everywhere.

By 1982, there were 13,000 dedicated arcade locations across North America.

It was the Golden Age of Arcade Games, generating $3.2 billion dollars in 1983.

By 1985, revenue had fallen 97%. Atari declared bankruptcy. Arcades closed.

Most of the old games were converted or destroyed. A few were packed into warehouses where they remained, largely forgotten, for at least another decade.

This is the story of arcade video games, and their second life in basements and garages all across the country.

 

The Space Invaders: In Search of Lost Time, a feature-length documentary coming in April 2013.

What’s your favorite game?