Table top Arcade Games

While many people are familiar with the large upright arcade games that became synonymous with the word, fewer remember the flat table top games. Table top arcade games took quarters just like the uprights did, but offered a slightly different gaming experience.

Cabinet Style

Most arcade games were in an upright cabinet. The screen would face a standing player, and the controls would be at a comfortable height for their hands from a standing position. Table top games had the screen facing directly at the ceiling, and were covered in a pane of thick, smooth glass. The table was low so players could sit and play. There were usually controls at both ends of the table. These types of arcade cabinets were also called "cocktail tables."

Games

Some games that required the user stand while playing, such as light-gun games, were never put on table top machines. Some of the most popular games of the '80s had no such restrictions. Some of the classic titles that did show up in this format were "Warlords," "Galaga," "Ms. Pac-Man" and "Pac-Man." There were also combination units that might have two games, often "Ms. Pac-Man" and "Galaga," loaded on the same table.

Controls

Typically, the controls on these tables are like those of an upright arcade console. Trackballs did appear on a few specific tables like "Football" by Atari. There were usually controls on both sides of the table to encourage two-player games. The orientation of the screen image would change to face the player whose turn it was. A few speciality cabinets also had four-sided controls for four player games.

MAME

Table top games are frequently recreated for MAME. MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. The MAME movement, which began in 1997, encourages gamers to create new machines that replicate the old-school gaming experience. MAME builders build a similar cabinet and control system as the original game, then install a monitor and PC components programmed with a special emulation software.