What is Atlas Arcadia?
Atlas Arcadia is an archive of arcade history. Our mission is to preserve and document the historical record of arcade venues and artifacts, establishing a credible resource for enthusiasts, collectors, and historians. Using an interactive map, our community is able to catalog arcade locations, tokens, and collective memoriesy before it’s too late. Join us in our quest to create the world’s most comprehensive collection of arcade history. For as long as we remember, the legacy of the arcade lives on!
Why now?
We may already be too late! While there is already an established effort to capture the history of video games in general, the physical locations that birthed an industry and culture are not well documented. Many arcades that thrived in the Golden Age of gaming or later have been closed or demolished for decades. Often, the only record that exists is a tarnished token or a personal memory. We want to build a community resource to preserve these forgotten arcades, document history, and pay homage to a beloved pastime while we still can.
How can I contribute?
We’re glad you asked! We built a handy online map (or Atlas, if you will) that proudly displays documented locations, but we know many are missing. We’re asking for our community to add locations to our map by dropping a pin and sharing the name of a current or former arcade, gameroom, or family entertainment center that served customers with arcade games. You can also help by suggesting edits to existing locations, sharing photos, submitting tokens, and sharing memories of your favorite arcades by adding comments. Even if you don’t have something to add to the atlas, signing up for our newsletter or sharing our website with other people is a huge help.
Can I submit an arcade that's still open and operating?
Absolutely! We want Atlas Arcadia to be the ultimate arcade resource to document both the history of arcade culture, but also to feature locations still going strong so interested gamers know where they can get their vid and/or pin fix today. The more, the merrier!
Are submissions limited to branded arcade chains?
For every Chuck E. Cheese or Aladdin’s Castle there were five local, one-of-a-kind arcade gaming locations. While branded, stand-alone arcades are important, we’re actively trying to document the history of those lesser-known but still beloved arcades, gamerooms, and sketchy backroom establishments that housed gaming goodness! Was your childhood arcade actually in the back of a gas station? Was the best arcade in your hometown actually the local laundromat? These are the locations that are most at risk of being forgotten! Do your part to help document these vital memories.
Who's behind Atlas Arcadia?
Glad you asked! We’re a small but passionate group of individuals with a love for arcade games, locations, and history. Individually, we’ve operated arcade gaming establishments, produced video games and gaming podcasts, built community events, and led operations for industry titans. But deep down, we’re just adult-shaped kids trying to scrounge up a few more tokens to relive some great memories. Read more about us here.