Throwback photos from old video game arcades

Here's a collection of classic photos from arcades in America, London and even Iran.

Lance Cartelli

Sept. 20, 2017 12:06 p.m. PT

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John Cougar

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

Here's John Cougar, known today as John Mellencamp, posing in front of a Q-Bert arcade game in 1983 in Detroit.

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Bettmann/Getty Images

Boy vs. Krull

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

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Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images

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.

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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.

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Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images

Playing Pac-Man

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

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Universal Images Group

Steve Strange playing The Invaders

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

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Us Festival arcade

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

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Denver Post

Pac-Man was serious business

Things get heated at a Pac-Man machine in 1983.

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Video Battle Centre

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

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Hanging out at the arcade

A group of friends pose in a Chicago arcade in 1987.

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Playing at the amusement arcade

Gamer Ian Pollard plays Defender at a London arcade in 1983.

Atari International Asteroids Tournament

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

Atari International Asteroids Tournament

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

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Seth Perlman/Getty Images

Gaming in Colorado

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

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

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.

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

A full house playing Pac-Man

Nowinski then zoomed out to snap a group of youths playing simultaneously at the same Pier 39 arcade.

Gathering to play in Santa Cruz, California

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

Gathering to play in Santa Cruz, California

An arcade in Santa Cruz, Calif., in 1981.

Inside the Atari International Asteroids Tournament

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

Inside the Atari International Asteroids Tournament

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

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

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.

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

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.

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Kids playing at the arcade

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

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Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images

Gaming in Iran

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

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Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

Pick your favorite

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

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Dave Buresh/Getty Images

Up close with Dragon's Lair

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

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Duane Howell/Getty Images

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.

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Colin McConnell/Getty Images

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.

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Throwback photos from old video game arcades

John Cougar

Boy vs. Krull

Playing Pac-Man in Times Square

Personal arcade

Playing Pac-Man

Steve Strange playing The Invaders

Us Festival arcade

Pac-Man was serious business

Video Battle Centre

Hanging out at the arcade

Playing at the amusement arcade

Atari International Asteroids Tournament

Gaming in Colorado

Pac-Man on the Pier

A full house playing Pac-Man

Gathering to play in Santa Cruz, California

Inside the Atari International Asteroids Tournament

Chuck E. Cheese arcade

Galaxian and Astro Blaster

Kids playing at the arcade

Gaming in Iran

Pick your favorite

Up close with Dragon's Lair

A young man's game? Maybe not.

Burton Cummings playing Tempest

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