Games of Our Lives, Part 1

In the late 1970s, a black-and-white arcade cabinet with simple blocky invaders caused such a sensation in Japan that an urban legend claims it created a nationwide coin shortage. That game, Space Invaders, is where the IGN Game Scoop! crew begins "Games of Our Lives, Part 1," a sprawling journey through the best game from each year, starting in 1978 and ending in 1999. Host Damon Hatfield, alongside Nick Lamone, Sam Clayborne, and Justin, each pick their personal game of the year, revealing how the medium evolved from single-screen arcade challenges to sprawling 3D worlds.

The Arcade Era: From Vectors to Personalities

The early years are defined by rapid technological leaps and the dominance of the arcade. 1978's Space Invaders is the clear starting point, a game that, despite its primitive black-and-white presentation, introduced the concept of a high-score chase and a looming, escalating threat. 1979's Asteroids is a default pick, notable for its vector monitor that drew crisp, bright lines rather than a standard TV raster, and its unique "hyper space" panic button. The jump to 1980's Pac-Man is described as "crazy" in retrospect: full color, distinct character AI, cutscenes, and music appeared in just two years. 1981 brings Donkey Kong, the game that introduced Nintendo to the mass market and, as Sam notes, "there might not be a Nintendo of America without Do