How old are arcade machines? That’s a tough question. Suffice to say that even before the advent of electricity there have been arcade machines of note. One of the forerunner of arcade machines was a device used as a magic act. Later arcade machines were simple devices which predicted the supplicant’s future much like a fortune cookie, with a small card coming out of the slot where your fortune is printed. Other machines are like magic 8-balls, they answer your question by pointing to a “Yes” or a “No” sign, or the “yes” or “no” bulb will light up. Either way, these arcade machines fit the novelty of the carnival atmosphere.
There are still a lot of working classic arcade machines. Some are permanent installations in carnivals or fun centers. There are others which are now housed in museums. The novelty of these arcade machines still show on the faces of kids and old timers alike whose faces light up whenever a coin is dropped in the slot and the machine works its magic.