| Modern arcade games have been around since the | | | | being Ryu, who was only one of two characters (the |
| 1970s, although the more popular ones that most | | | | other being Ken) available for play in the first street |
| people are familiar with were created in the 1980s | | | | fighter. The ten other characters shown in the game |
| and early 90s. Currently, arcades are not as thrilling as | | | | could not be controlled by the player. The first Street |
| they once were, especially since home consoles and | | | | Fighter did not develop much of a following, although |
| computer games nearly rule the video game market. | | | | it set the stage for sequels, all of which would gain a |
| Many of the popular arcade games have been | | | | better following than the original. |
| transferred to a console setting, so if you still want | | | | Specifically, Street Fighter II initiated a strong fan |
| to play a classic arcade game, you can do so from | | | | base and essentially launched the fighting game genre |
| the comfort of your own home. | | | | in to widespread popularity. This was because eight |
| Of the many arcade games that have been invented, | | | | characters could be played, and each had their own |
| there are a few that warrant in depth analysis due to | | | | unique fighting style. The variety of characters |
| their monumental impact. Mortal Kombat, created by | | | | enabled enhanced and prolonged game play, and |
| Ed Boon and John Tobias, was released in arcades in | | | | some people even credit the game with extending |
| 1992. It was a response to the hit game Street | | | | the arcade era by a few years. |
| Fighter II, which at the time was one of the highest | | | | Rampage allowed up to three players to play at |
| acclaimed fighting games. What made Mortal Kombat | | | | once, controlling various monsters with the purpose |
| special, and controversial, was the incredible amount | | | | of destroying cities. The three monsters included a |
| of violence. By pushing a unique combination of | | | | giant gorilla (George), a gigantic lizard (Lizzie), and a |
| buttons, players could perform fatalities, which were | | | | large werewolf (Ralph). Players could destroy buildings |
| intensely graphic ways of killing one's opponent. | | | | by punching, kicking, or jumping on them. You could |
| The games developers did this on purpose, as a way | | | | also climb buildings and eat people and food along the |
| to generate controversy and thus publicity for the | | | | way. Resistance was provided in a variety of forms, |
| game, and their plan worked quite well; in fact, | | | | such as police, helicopters, tanks, and the army. |
| almost too well. Due to Mortal Kombat and a few | | | | In addition, if you tried to eat the wrong thing, like an |
| other games like it, the Entertainment Software | | | | electrical appliance, you would take damage and fall |
| Rating Board, commonly known as the ESRB, was | | | | off the building. When one's life ran out, the monster |
| created to give ratings to games (such as E, T, and | | | | would revert in to a naked human and walk |
| M). Mortal Kombat has been released on several | | | | embarrassingly off the screen. If multiple players |
| different consoles, and two film adaptations have | | | | were participating, another monster could even eat |
| been made. | | | | their human comrade. Several sequels have been |
| Street Fighter was conceptualized more than five | | | | created, including some of the Playstation 2, |
| years before Mortal Kombat, and was developed by | | | | Gamecube, and Wii. No new installments are set to |
| the well known Japanese company Capcom. The | | | | come out in the near future. |
| game features several characters, the most popular | | | | |