Arcade Games

Pac-Man, Frogger, and more classic arcade games

Television Programs As Arcade Games: Gilligan's Island

Here on Gilligan's Island...

One television show that was popular in the 1960s is "Gilligan's Island". It aired between 1964 and 1967. The show told the story of a group of people who go for a day trip and end up being stranded on a deserted island. The episodes show how they cope with life on the island and various attempts for them to leave. Quite a number of people are stranded on the end, but it always ends with the person not helping everyone leave the island.

The show had Bob Denver playing the role of Gilligan, Alan Hale, Jr, played the role of “The Skipper” and Jim Backus was cast to play Thurston Howell, III. He is the rich millionaire that is stranded with his wife.
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Television Shows Turned Arcade Games: The Fonz

Oh Happy Days!

"Happy Days" is one hit television show that many people will remember. It aired on ABC television from 1974 to 1984. The original series was the brain-child of Gary Marshall and it showed the perfect live in America during that time.

The show was based in Wisconsin and the main focus of the show was the Cunningham family. The father Howard was acted by Tom Bosley. The mother Marion was acted by Marion Ross. The son Richie was acted by Ron Howard, with the younger sister Joanie, played by Erin Moran. Richie was also friends with Arthur “the Fonz” Fonzarelli, played by Henry Winkler. The show was quite popular during its run, so it would be natural that an arcade game would be created about it.

Sims: Second Version of The Arcade Game

One of the most popular games of this century is “The Sims”. It is a great game that was created during the time when action games were more popular, but it was well received. However, it grew quickly in popularity for gamers wanting a different type of “action”.

The Sims or simulation game was created to give the gamer fun in controlling the life of simulated people. The “Sim” lives within a virtual world, and has all of the same needs and wants as anyone living on planet Earth. It is up to the gamer to help the “Sim” achieve everything from its basic needs for food and going to the bathroom, to more complex needs such as their career aspirations.

In the same way we each have a personality, Sims are also created with different personalities, and you are guaranteed to encounter a Sim personality you dislike in this virtual world, as you would within the real world. Read more about Sims: Second Version of The Arcade Game

Television Programs as Arcade Games: Dr Who

Everyone is familiar with the popular television show, "Dr Who". As one of the most popular television series that was created into an arcade game, it would be this television show. The official licensed game was called “Dr. Who: The First Adventure”. It is based on the episode of Dr. Who in which the doctor is played by Peter Davidson. Dr. Who was a popular British science fiction television show that was imported to television stations around the world.

In the television show, Dr. Who is able to travel through time. He also has the ability to move through space. Dr. Who is not fully human and not fully alien. These characteristics give him the ability to go through time travel. In the arcade game, the Doctor does travel using the TARDIS as in the television show. It is quite an elaborate game as the gamer must find a key to unlock levels of the game. Read more about Television Programs as Arcade Games: Dr Who

Television Programs As Arcade Games: Bill Cosby From The The Cosby Show

One popular television program that featured Bill Cosby is The Cosby Show. This show revolutionized television because it showed an upper middle class black family. Bill Cosby played the father and the mother was played by Phylicia Rashad. It aired on NBC for eight seasons and won Emmy, Golden Globe and NAACP awards during its run on prime time. The Cosby’s had 5 children and each episode portrayed the daily life of being full-time parents and full-time professionals. Even though only re-runs are shown, it is still the third-longest running sitcom in the United States. Read more about Television Programs As Arcade Games: Bill Cosby From The The Cosby Show

Television Programs As Arcade Games: Murder She Wrote

One of the most popular television series is now an arcade game. Airing on CBS and running for 12 seasons, the television show “Murder She Wrote” was quite popular. The show was based on a detective story and mystery writer called Jessica Fletcher, played by actress Angela Lansbury. It had over 200 episodes created from its start in 1984. After it ended in 1996, another 4 television movies were made. After retiring from English, Jessica Fletcher travels and writes about the numerous mysteries she’s solved.

Television Programs As Arcade Games: ALF

One television show that many people would remember watching, but not remember that an arcade game was created for it is ALF. This television show aired during the mid-1980’s for a short four year season. The plot of the show involved an alien from the planet Melmac who had become stranded on Earth when his spacecraft crashes. He is discovered by the Tanner family and is taken in to live with them. Through the series the alien ALF is played by a puppet.

The arcade version of this television show is a little like Pac-Man. ALF is in a maze and he must avoid the neighbors to avoid being killed. There are also other areas within the maze and these can result in death also. As ALF moves around the maze he eats or collects pizza pies. The maze that ALF has to navigate through will contain other great things such as parts to his spacecraft.

The SIMS Arcade Game

With the advent of the EA games the SIMS, there was also an arcade version of this game created. The SIMS is a virtual reality game in which single players buy a plot of land that either has a house or the player can build a house. A virtual family can be placed in the house.

It will then be the player’s job to take care of their simulated family. This might seem easy, but each SIM will have personality traits just like a regular human being. Therefore, your SIMS will get hungry, tired, bored and lazy. Just like the people in our real lives.

Arcade Games Come to the Big Screen

Last summer media insiders revealed that the popular arcade game Space Invaders was going to be made into a film. Arcade game junkies will be pleased to know that there are more arcade based movies being made. Read more about Arcade Games Come to the Big Screen

Legend of Zelda Theme on the iPad

Happy 25th birthday, Zelda

Did you know there's an organ app for the iPad now? True story; keyboard apps weren't enough for at least one developer, so they went out and simulated the organ's dual set of keys for the tablet. And one game fan went out and bought it to use on his recreation of the original Zelda theme song.