News:

Click here for the 2006 news archive page.

02-15-2007: Interview with Peter Hirschberg Added to the Interviews Section

Peter Hirschberg is a true child of the 1980s. Currently a software engineer for AOL, Peter is the owner of the Luna City Arcade, one of the best known home arcades in the country. Peter also founded the one-of-a-kind Retro Arcade Radio, a musical celebration of the 1980s gaming scene. Peter caught up with the High Scores Arcade to discuss Retro Arcade Radio, the Luna City Arcade and his critically acclaimed debut work as a CGI artist for the Sundance film "Chasing Ghosts".

02-09-2007: Pac-Man On TV!! Article Added to the Articles Section

Note: This article was originally printed in the Scholastic Magazine "Hot Dog", issue 17, from 1983. I reproduced it here to preserve it since it has been out of press for almost a quarter of a century. As always, there's no intention to violate copyright, only to preserve arcade history before the pieces of it become unavailable.

When Pac-Man popped up on TV last fall, a lot of people thought it was a weird idea. Who ever heard of turning a video game into a cartoon? Well, actually, it's the other way around. The Pac-Man video game was designed to be a lot like some Japanese cartoons!

Here's the story. Many video games were invented... Click here to read the article.

02-08-2007: Numerous Games Added to the Tips and Tricks Section

I added 24 new games to the Arcade Tips and Tricks Section. Which ones? You'll have to check it out to find out! Click here to go to the Arcade Tips and Tricks Section to look for your favorite games.

02-06-2007: A Final Farewell To Arcades Article Added to the Articles Section

* Note: This VERY controversial article has stirred up quite a buzz in the arcade and pinball community. So much, in fact, that I decided to post it here. Credit for this article belongs to Ryan Smith of PopMatters.Com.

It’s difficult to write a eulogy for the arcade, that once ubiquitous quarter-eating staple of malls, bowling alleys and college campuses everywhere. Like Saturday morning cartoons and the NHL, it still exists, but has been slowly fading from the American consciousness since its 1980s heyday.

Still, I felt compelled to write a lament of sorts after learning recently that the plug is literally being pulled... Click here to read the article.

02-04-2007: House of the Dead II and Initial D Tips added to the Tips and Tricks Section

I added new tips and tricks for the games House of the Dead II and Initial D today. Did you know there are three alternate endings to House of the Dead II? Do you know how to turn off your headlights and race in the dark in Initial D? Click here to find out how!

02-01-2007: Donkey Kong and Star Wars Trilogy Arcade Tips added to the Tips and Tricks Section

I added new tips and tricks for the games Donkey Kong and Star Wars Trilogy Arcade today. Do you know how to turn Donkey Kong's face brown? Do you know how to warp levels on DK? Click here to find out how!

01-30-2007: MAME The Night Movie Added to the Videos Section

MAME The Night by Grand Master Peter. This video is from the "Flovies" section of the PowerStrike web site at www.powerstrike.net and is the work of Grand Master Peter. The video has all of the great 1980s elements: music from the Chicago 17 album, a music video, characters from classic arcade games and more! Check out the PowerStrike site to see more great "Flovies". Click the icon to the left to view the video.

01-29-2007: Why We Play Games Article Added to the Articles Section

There exists some ephemeral quality that separates gamers from the rest of humanity, some thing that makes us, us and them, not us. I've never been able to quite put my finger on it, but it is inescapably there.

Today, in hopes of moving closer to that essential quality of gamerosity... Click here to read the article.

01-25-2007: Arcade Trivia 1980 Game added to the Trivia Section

I wrote a new trivia game today dealing with arcade games from 1980. The game, along with other trivia games, can be played by clicking on the Trivia Games link to the left. Do you know which game was the first to use color vector graphics? Click here to play!

01-24-2007: Geek Trivia: On A First Game Basis Article Added to the Articles Section

Somebody, somewhere is going to publish an article (and probably already has) proclaiming November 29 as the "birthday" of arcade video games—and that person is going to be wrong.

It's an easy mistake to make... Click here to read the article.

01-23-2007: Arkanoid, Burgertime, Raiden X and Super Mario Bros. 2 added to the Virtual Arcade

Another great round of classic arcade games has been added to the Virtual Arcade, bringing the total number of games in the arcade to 39!. Click the icon to the left to go to the Virtual Arcade to play these and all of the other great games.

01-22-2007: Super Breakout added to the Virtual Arcade

The Atari classic Super Breakout has been added to the Virtual Arcade section of the site. Click the icon to the left to go to the Virtual Arcade and play Super Breakout and all of the other great games.

01-21-2007: Puzzle Bobble added to the Virtual Arcade

I've added an arcade quality version of Puzzle Bobble to the Virtual Arcade. Click the icon to the left to go to the Virtual Arcade and play Puzzle Bobble and all of the other great games.

01-20-2007: Frogger and Missile Command added to the Virtual Arcade

I've added arcade quality versions of Frogger and Missile Command to the Virtual Arcade. These game are playable online and are hosted right here on the High Scores Arcade site. Click the icon to the left to go to the Virtual Arcade and view all of the games that can be played here.

01-18-2007: PLAY! - A Video Game Symphony added to the Videos Section

PLAY! - A Video Game Symphony. PLAY! A Video Game Symphony is a symphony world-tour featuring music from blockbuster video games such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Daytona USA and more. The music is performed by some of the finest world-class orchestras and choirs. All concerts take place in classy, prestigious venues. Graphics on large screens suspended above the orchestra accompany the scores, highlighting memorable moments from the video games. Click the icon to go to the videos section to view a live performance from the concert series.

01-16-2007: ShowBiz Pizza Commercial Added to the Audio Section

ShowBiz Pizza Commercial. Great pizza and great games, ShowBiz Pizza was once of the staples of the 1980s gaming scene. Click the icon to hear the commercial.

01-15-2007: Pac-Man Pasta Commercial Added to the Audio Section

Pac-Man Pasta Commercial. Audio from the Pac-Man Pasta Commercial from the 1980s. Boy, only the lucky kids got this stuff! Click the icon to hear the commercial.

01-13-2007: Designing Arcade Computer Game Graphics Book Added to the Articles Section

This excellent resource was written by Ari Feldman in 2000. This book is now out of print and available for electronic distribution. I've added the book to the articles section as a zip file. Download the file and Unzip it and you will find each chapter of the book in its own PDF file. Click here to check check it out.

01-13-2007: New Links Added to the Links Section

I've added some great links to the links section, and as always, I'll be adding new links all the time. Click here to check them out.

01-11-2007: Why Build Your Own Arcade Machine? Article Added to the Articles Section

For years the thought crossed my mind about having my own arcade machine at home. I always dismissed it because I figured that it was either too expensive to buy or far too complicated to build.

Well, as I've recently discovered... Click here to read the article.

01-10-2007: Arcade Machine Building Tips for Gamers Article Added to the Articles Section

n a recent conversation with my friend and expert arcade machine builder, Emily, I discovered some secrets that had previously kept me from building an arcade machine and also from thinking that I could afford to do so. Emily shared with me some key tips... Click here to read the article.

01-07-2007: Star Wars Trilogy Arcade - The Entire Game Video Added to the Site

Star Wars Trilogy Arcade - The Entire Game. This is a video of me playing the entire game from start to finish at the Syzygy Arcade. I couldn't find this anywhere else on the internet, and this game is so visually gorgeous that I thought people might enjoy watching it. I almost made it all the way through the game on one credit but the "Death Star II" mission got me. It's still a great run through the game and a real piece of eye candy. The video has minor scanlines and open air microphone audio but still is pretty good. Enjoy!

Click the icon to go the video page and view the video.

01-05-2007: Star Wars: The New Hope Video Added to the Site

Star Wars - The New Hope. This has little to do with video games except for being about Star Wars, but so many people liked it that I thought I'd post a mention of it here. My son is 1 1/2 years old and I showed him a toy lightsaber recently. He loved it so much that I showed him Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi fighting with them in Star Wars. He liked it so much that he constantly played with the toy lightsabers in the house. I videotaped him and I banging them together and added a Star Wars introduction, lightsaber sound effects, music and end credits. The end result is very cute and looks so much better that just taping it with the camcorder and filing it away.

This has little to do with video games except for being about Star Wars, but so may people liked it that I thought I'd post a mention of it here.

Click the icon to view the video.

01-05-2007: Genesis: Lifeforce Revealed Added to the Video Section

Genesis - Lifeforce Revealed. From the Internet Pinball Machine Database: An animation feature is found under a dark tinted window in the middle of the playfield. It is called the "Regenerator" and it holds the "Lifeforce". When "Lifeforce" is lit, a full-stroke shot on the Vari-Target launches the unveiling of the Lifeforce robot. This sequence uses an onslaught of flashers around the robot and behind the translite, to the music of Bach's Toccatta & Fugue.

Click the icon to go the video page and view the video.

01-04-2007: Pac-Man Cartoon Theme Song Added to the Audio Section

Pac-Man Cartoon Intro Music. From the original 1980s Hanna-Barbera cartoon, this is the original title theme song. It should sound very familiar to players of the 1984 Pac-Land arcade game - it's the same song! Click the icon to go to the audio page to hear the song.

01-02-2007: Computer Space - Mint Warehouse Find Video Added to the Videos Section

Computer Space - Mint Warehouse Find. John Robertson of Flippers.Com originally posted this video on his site. It does not appear to be available any longer and I didn't want this great video to disappear into obscurity. Click the screen shot to the left to view the video.

01-01-2007: Happy New Year from the High Scores Arcade!

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful new year. Thanks for your continued support and interest in the High Scores Arcade , and I'll look forward to seeing you in 2007!

"Arcade and Pinball Anthology"