Microsoft Arcade
Microsoft's compilations of newly written classic arcade games for Windows.
Microsoft Arcade is a series of classic arcade game compilations released by Microsoft between 1993 and 2000. The games were newly written versions programmed specifically for Windows, not ports of the original arcade code, and each ran in a small window or a large window with a border. Players could customize options such as the number of lives and bonus levels, and the included Microsoft Help files contained history of the original arcade games' development.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Microsoft
- Platforms
- Windows, Mac OS
Facts from the source article.
Microsoft Return of Arcade
Released in April 1996, Microsoft Return of Arcade included four Namco arcade games: Dig Dug (1982), Galaxian (1979), Pac-Man (1980), and Pole Position (1982). It sold 335,176 copies in 1996, making it the 8th best-selling PC game that year. In 2000, to celebrate Pac-Man's 20th anniversary, Microsoft re-released the compilation as Return of Arcade: Anniversary Edition, adding Ms. Pac-Man from Revenge of Arcade but no other games from that set.
Microsoft Revenge of Arcade
Released in 1998, Microsoft Revenge of Arcade contained five Namco titles: Mappy (1983), Motos (1985), Ms. Pac-Man (1982), Rally-X (1980), and Xevious (1983). Both follow-ups officially required Windows 95 or later, though the demo for Return of Arcade is a 16-bit program that runs in Windows 3.1 with WinG. These games do not work on 64-bit versions of Windows.
Reception
Computer Gaming World in 1993 called Microsoft Arcade's adaptation of its five games "nearly flawless," praising the hints and strategies in the WinHelp files and the boss key. The magazine liked Battlezone most but noted it had been done better since by games like Spectre. Despite finding the games "made obsolete by technology," it predicted success due to nostalgia and wished for updated graphics and gameplay. Microsoft Arcade was named best computer arcade game of 1993 by Computer Games Strategy Plus. In the United States, Return of Arcade debuted at position 16 on PC Data's computer game sales rankings in April 1996, rose to 10th in May, and peaked at #5 during its top-10 run through August. It remained in the top 20 until November. PC Data reported 1996 sales of 335,176 units and revenues of $9.5 million. Next Generation criticized the PC version of Revenge of Arcade, stating that with the exception of Ms. Pac-Man, all the games were past their sell-by date and the compilation was "callously cashing in on people's misremembered childhood memories."
More in Microsoft Franchises
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced