Non video arcade games are exactly what they say they are, games that are not played on a video screen. This does not mean that these are limited to only pinball machines. As a general category, these will include every type of coin operated game that is not played on a video screen. The non video category will generally be broken down into three major types, single player skill, multi player competitive and pinball machines.
The single player skill category will include some of the more familiar carnival games such as skeeball, Rapid Fire Basketball and various shooting gallery games. These attraction of these challenges is based on the individual’s personal performance. The player’s ability to advance to more difficult levels, or achieve a high score is not affected by a competitor, it is based on personal achievement. Your ability is measured against the same criteria in every game, how high you score in the amount of time provided, or before you use up all of your turns (for example the fixed number of balls provided during skeeball). Also included in this category are Pachinko machines, although your success here is based mainly on luck.
The more common type of non video arcade games are the multi player competitive games. The arcade games that fall into this category will include (but are not limited to) foosball, air hockey, electronic darts, table top shuffle board, and coin operated pool tables. In addition to the ability of the single player (or team) to obtain a high score, the there is also the more immediate satisfaction in being able to defeat your friends in head-to-head competition.
Pinball machines, naturally are also included in the non video arcade game category, but they also have the added distinction of being able to be both a single player skill game and a multi player competitive game.
Non video arcade games may not be as technologically advanced, but they are every bit as exciting and competitive.
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