Artwork
Video arcade games were first deployed as lone machines in bars. By the height of the industry these games had to compete with dozens of titles. Marketing developed side art, bezel art, marquees and kick plates to try and collect your quarter.
Marquees
These back lit banners tried to make the game pop in a row of similar machines.
Photos: Marquees
Bezels
Glass or Plexi was used to separate the player from the video image. This protected the electronics from soda, beer, food, spit, sneezes and the overly curious. Marketing added art to enhance the appeal, add depth to the title’s storyline or give instruction on how to play.
Photos: Bezels
Shrouds
Curved screens were safely tucked behind flat, bezel artwork. The open gap between the two was filled by a shroud. Most often these were black paper and plastic bits designed to hide the internal components. Occasionally the marketers added art to enhance the game.
Photos: Shrouds
Sides
Nearly all upright cabinet featured great artwork. One wonders why when the operators packed them in rows.
Photos: Sides
Fronts
The coin door area was barren for years. Marketing eventually discovered the side by side arrangement in most arcades was hiding their biggest artistic draw. The front was a great place to place some differentiation.
Photos: Front Art
Cabinets
The cabinet is the wood under the art. It gets damaged. I gathered files on any major cabinet repairs in this section.
Files: Cabinet