Electronic Games#1982 Arcade Awards (1981)

The history of Electronic Games originates in the consumer electronics magazine, Video. Initially video games were covered sporadically in Deeny Kaplan's regular "VideoTest Reports" column. In the summer of 1979, Video decided to launch a new column to focus on video games. Arcade Alley became a regular column and would represent a journalistic first. Written by Bill Kunkel, Arnie Katz (initially pseudonymously writing as Frank T. Laney II), and Joyce Worley, the three writers became close friends and in 1981 they founded Electronic Games magazine.{{cite magazine|last=Kohler|first=Chris|title=Bill Kunkel, Original Gaming Journalist, Dies at 61|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/09/bill-kunkel-dies/all/1|magazine=Wired|access-date=1 March 2012|date=September 6, 2011}} The magazine was active from Winter 1981, during the golden age of arcade video games and the second generation of consoles, up until 1985, following the video game crash of 1983. The magazine was briefly revived during the 16-bit era in the early 1990s, but ended in 1995 and was renamed to Fusion.Katz, Arnie. "Power On: The End of an Era—Hooray!" Electronic Games. Pg. 6. July 1995. ISSN 0730-6687.

Initially, the release of the first issue was scheduled for October 15, 1981.Video. Volume 5, No. 6. Pg. 88. ISSN 0147-8907. September 1981. However, the release was postponed to October 29, 1981Video. Volume 5, No. 9. Pg. 65. ISSN 0147-8907. December 1981. and featured a slightly different cover than initially advertised.

File:Carol Shaw and Her Video Game Awards-cropped.jpg with several awards for River Raid (1982). Her "Certificate of Merit" from Electronic Games can be seen in the bottom left corner.]]

Electronic Games is notable for hosting the Arcade Awards, or Arkie Awards, the first "Game of the Year" award ceremonyWeston, D.B. "Greatest Moments in Video Game History" Page 47. Published 2011 simultaneously running in Video{{'}}s "Arcade Alley" column. The following games are the winners of the magazine's annual Arcade Awards. The awards for each year took place in the January of the following year. No single game was allowed to win more than one award in the same year.

According to the Winter 1981 issue of Electronic Games, the 1980 Arcade Awards (i.e., the first set of "Arkies") were announced in February 1980 and covered all hardware and software produced prior to January 1, 1980.[https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGames01Winter1981/page/n37/mode/2up The Arcade Awards – 1980] – Electronic Games Winter 1981, pages 38-9{{cite journal|title=Bally Awards|journal=Arcadian|date=1980-01-15|volume=2|issue=3|page=20|url=http://www.ballyalley.com/newsletters/arcadian/arcadian_vol_2/arcadian_vol_02_issue_03.pdf|access-date=2 February 2012}}

The 1981 edition of the awards reflects accomplishments during the 12 months of the preceding year.The Arcade Awards – 1981 – Electronic Games Winter 1981, page 39.

The third annual Arcade Awards were sponsored jointly by Video and Electronic Games and honored outstanding achievements in the field of

video games of the year 1981. The 1982 Arcade Awards were published in the March 1982 issue of Electronic Games.1981 Arcade Awards – Electronic Games March 1982, pages 46–49.

The 4th "Arkies" cover games published between October 1, 1981, and October 1, 1982, and were published in the January 1983 issue of Electronic Games.{{cite magazine |title=1983 Arcade Awards: These Are the Year's Greatest Games! |magazine=Electronic Games |date=January 1983 |volume=1 |issue=11 |pages=22–37, 120 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_01_Number_11_1983-01_Reese_Communications_US/page/n21/mode/2up}}

The 5th "Arkies" were published in the January 1984 issue of Electronic Games.1984 Arcade Awards – Electronic Games January 1984, pages 68–81.

The 6th "Arkies" were printed in the January 1985 issue of Electronic Games.1985 Arcade Awards – Electronic Games January 1985, pages 22–28.

Following the magazine's revival in 1992, it published the Electronic Gaming Awards in March 1993, where editors nominated several games for each category and the readers would vote which games win. The following were the winners and nominees for 1992.{{cite magazine |title=The 1993 Electronic Gaming Awards: Here are Your Votes for the Year's Best Games |magazine=Electronic Games |date=March 16, 1993 |volume=1 |issue=7 (April 1993) |pages=38–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-04/page/n37/mode/2up}}{{cite magazine|title=Electronic Gaming Awards|magazine=Electronic Games|date=January 1993|issue=38|pages=26–7|url=http://archives.tg-16.com/00_happy_new_year_1993.htm|access-date=5 February 2012}}

The following games were the winners and nominees for the EG Awards of 1993, with nominees chosen by editors and winners voted by readers.{{cite magazine |title=The Electronic Gaming Awards: Here are YOUR Picks for the Best Interactive Entertainment |magazine=Electronic Games |date=April 21, 1993 |volume=2 |issue=7 (May 1994) |pages=30–4 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-05/page/n29}}{{cite magazine|title=Electronic Gaming Awards|magazine=Electronic Games|date=February 1994|volume=2|issue=17|pages=32–51}}

From May 1982 onwards, the magazine carried out a reader poll in each issue to see which are the most popular games of the month among its readers, up until the January 1985 issue. The top-ranking games in these polls are listed below.

;May

• Console: Asteroids (Runner-Up: Missile Command)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Space Invaders)
• Arcade: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Asteroids)

;August

• Console: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Missile Command)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Jawbreaker)
• Arcade: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Tempest)

;September

• Console: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Missile Command)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Missile Command)
• Arcade: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)

;October & November

• Console: Defender (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Missile Command)
• Arcade: Tempest (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)

The games that were top-ranked the most in these 1982 polls were:

• Console: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Defender)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Missile Command)
• Arcade: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Tempest)

;January

• Console: Pitfall! (Runner-Up: Berzerk)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Donkey Kong (Runner-Up: Dig Dug)

;May

• Console: Pitfall! (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Donkey Kong

;June

• Console: Donkey Kong (Runner-Up: Zaxxon)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Donkey Kong (Runner-Up: Tron)

;July

• Console: Pitfall! (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Donkey Kong (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong Jr.)

;August

• Console: Donkey Kong (Runner-Up: Pitfall!)
• Computer: Pac-Man (Runner-Up: Star Raiders)
• Arcade: Zaxxon (Runner-Up: Joust)

;September

• Console: Donkey Kong Jr. (Runner-Up: Lady Bug)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Centipede)
• Arcade: Pole Position (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong Jr.)

;October

• Console: Donkey Kong (Runner-Up: River Raid)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Pole Position (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)

;November

• Console: Donkey Kong Jr. (Runner-Up: Zaxxon)
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Pole Position (Runner-Up: Q*bert)

;December

• Console: Donkey Kong Jr. (Runner-Up: Centipede)
• Computer: Miner 2049er (Runner-Up: Star Raiders)
• Arcade: Pole Position (Runner-Up: Q*bert)

The games that were top-ranked the most in these 1983 polls were:

• Console: Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Jr.
• Computer: Star Raiders (Runner-Up: Pac-Man)
• Arcade: Pole Position (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)

;January

• Console: Donkey Kong Jr. (Runner-Up: River Raid)
• Computer: Miner 2049er (Runner-Up: Star Raiders)
• Arcade: Dragon's Lair (Runner-Up: Star Wars)

;November

• Console: Pitfall II (Runner-Up: Miner 2049er)
• Computer: Zork I (Runner-Up: Buck Rogers)
• Arcade: Dragon's Lair (Runner-Up: Star Wars)

;December

• Computer: Zork I
• Arcade: Spy Hunter (Runner-Up: Track & Field)

The games that were top-ranked the most in these 1984 polls were:

• Console: Donkey Kong Jr. / Pitfall II
• Computer: Zork I (Runner-Up: Miner 2049er)
• Arcade: Dragon's Lair (Runner-Up: Spy Hunter)

;January

• Console: Pitfall II (Runner-Up: Q*bert)
• Computer: Miner 2049er (Runner-Up: Donkey Kong)
• Arcade: Star Wars (Runner-Up: Dragon's Lair)

There was no reader poll held for the March 1985 issue.

The twelve games voted by readers as part of the magazine's Hall of Fame up until January 1985.{{cite journal|title=Hall of Fame Winners|journal=Electronic Games|date=January 1985|volume=3|issue=35|pages=58–59 [58]|url=https://archive.org/stream/electronic-games-magazine-1985-01/Electronic_Games_Issue_35_Vol_03_11_1985_Jan#page/n57/mode/2up|access-date=2 February 2012}}

• Pong (1972)
• Space Invaders (1978)
• Asteroids (1979)
• Star Raiders (1980)
• Defender (1980)
• Major League Baseball (1980)
• Pac-Man (1980)
• Donkey Kong (1981)
• Quest for the Rings (1981)
• Miner 2049er (1982)
• Zaxxon (1982)
• Dragon's Lair (1983)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.gooddealgames.com/articles/Electronic%20Games%20Magazine%20First%20Cover.html Article on the first issue of Electronic Games]
• PDF magazine repository at [https://archive.org/search.php?query=Electronic%20Games archive.org]
• PDF magazine repository at [http://www.digitpress.com/library/magazines/electronic_games/electronic_games.htm digitpress.com]
• [https://archive.gamehistory.org/folder/39b2d5c8-8756-471f-af66-2e95396f2704?sortField=date&sortDir=asc Archived issues] at Video Game History Foundation

Category:Magazines established in 1981

Category:Magazines disestablished in 1994

Category:Defunct video game magazines published in the United States

Category:Defunct magazines published in New York City