Taito: The Company That Helped Build the Arcade Industry
Why Taito Matters
When people talk about arcade history, names like Atari, Williams, Midway, Sega, and Namco usually dominate the conversation.
But one company quietly helped shape the entire arcade industry from the beginning:
Taito.
From inventing some of the most influential arcade games ever made to creating entirely new genres, Taito's impact on gaming can still be felt today.
Without Taito, the arcade industry we know today might never have existed.
The Early Days of Taito
Taito was founded in Japan in 1953 by Ukrainian businessman Michael Kogan.
Long before video games, the company imported and manufactured:
vending machines,
jukeboxes,
amusement equipment,
and coin-operated entertainment devices.
By the 1970s, Taito had become one of Japan's leading amusement companies and was perfectly positioned for the rise of electronic gaming.
That timing would change entertainment forever.
Space Invaders Changed Everything
No discussion about Taito can begin anywhere else.
In 1978, Taito released:
Space Invaders
The game became an international phenomenon.
Its impact is difficult to overstate.
Space Invaders:
helped create the arcade boom,
established high-score competition,
popularized video arcades worldwide,
and introduced millions of people to electronic gaming.
Legend has it that the game became so popular in Japan that demand for coins temporarily surged.
Whether entirely true or partially exaggerated, the story illustrates how massive Space Invaders became.
Many historians consider it the most important arcade game ever made.
Taito's Greatest Arcade Games
While Space Invaders gets most of the attention, Taito produced an incredible lineup of arcade classics.
Space Invaders (1978)
The game that started it all.
Its simple concept:
move left,
shoot aliens,
survive,
created one of the most addictive gameplay loops ever designed.
Qix (1981)
One of the most unique arcade games ever created.
Players draw lines to capture territory while avoiding enemies.
Even decades later, Qix feels unlike anything else.
Elevator Action (1983)
Part spy thriller.
Part action game.
Players navigate office buildings, use elevators strategically, and complete missions while avoiding enemy agents.
The game remains a fan favorite among collectors.
Bubble Bobble (1986)
One of the greatest cooperative arcade games ever made.
Its charming design and multiplayer gameplay helped it become a worldwide hit.
Many players still consider Bubble Bobble one of the best arcade games of the 1980s.
Operation Wolf (1987)
Before modern light-gun shooters existed, Operation Wolf delivered an action movie experience unlike anything players had seen.
The mounted Uzi-style controller became an arcade icon.
Rastan (1987)
A fantasy action game featuring massive enemies, giant weapons, and incredible sprite artwork.
Many arcade fans still regard Rastan as one of Taito's finest creations.
Puzzle Bobble (1994)
Puzzle Bobble
Known to many players as Bust-A-Move.
Simple.
Competitive.
Addictive.
A perfect example of Taito's ability to create timeless gameplay.
Ice Cold Beer
The game: Ice Cold Beer
Unlike most arcade games, Ice Cold Beer doesn't use a joystick.
Instead, players control a horizontal bar with two handles and carefully guide a steel ball through a vertical obstacle course.
The concept sounds simple.
The execution is incredibly challenging.
Even today, few games attract attention quite like Ice Cold Beer because spectators immediately understand what's happening.
People stop.
They watch.
They cheer.
That's exactly the kind of social arcade experience that helped make arcades special in the first place.
Why Taito's Legacy Still Matters
Taito helped establish many of the ideas we now take for granted:
high scores,
arcade competition,
cooperative play,
action shooters,
puzzle gaming,
and the social nature of arcade entertainment.
More importantly, Taito focused on creating games that were easy to understand but difficult to master.
That philosophy remains at the heart of great arcade design.
Experience a Piece of Arcade History
At Deep 6 Arcade, preserving arcade history means preserving the companies that helped build the industry.
Whether it's legendary games like Space Invaders or unique experiences like Ice Cold Beer, Taito's influence can still be felt throughout arcade culture today.
Nearly fifty years after the release of Space Invaders, the company's creations continue to entertain new generations of players.
And that's a legacy few companies can match.
