Arcade games

[bartholomew]

Hi

Can anyone explain what arcade games are?

[rojash]

Is this a windup?

[Skids]

They are games played in an arcade. Or is that too complicated?

[andy hughes]

They are computer-based games that have their origins as 'paid-for' machines in amusement arcades. Those that are now made for the home computer market, or are new versions of retro games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Pac Man' are known as 'arcade games' because that is from where they originate.

[Octavius]

We didn't have playstations and x-box's in the old days, although we did have home consuls (Atari etc) we usually went to an amusement arcade to play space invaders etc (rather than Horace Goes Skiing or Frogger) 

[Skids]

The phrase you are looking for, Andy Hughes, is 'coin-op' machines. Short for coin-operated.

[brachiopod]

rojash, there a couple of regular posters here who are learning English.

They often post questions about specific senses of words or phrases that they have come across in their reading. A dictionary will not always provide the definitive answer to a certain word or phrase used in a specific context.

Taken literally, and by looking up the words separately, 'arcade game' could be interpreted as 'a sport or pastime played in a covered walkway lined with shops'  when we know it to mean a coin-op computer game.

I'm sure our questioner knows exactly what one is, but didn't know that this is how we refer to them in English.

Cut 'em some slack !!

[rojash]

Blimey Brachiopod, I only asked!

[Clare A]

Well said, brachiopod. It's all too easy to assume that everyone sees the world as you do yourself.

(As 'one' does, rather than 'brachiopod' does!)

Heck! I've had rather more wine than I expected would affect me! Leasht I'c'n shtill shpell...

[Clare A]

Are you good at ot?

dn't get stopped. Could have been something to do with being in my own sitting room! Yeah, fine...