# Video Arcades

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 11, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682 "2002-03-11T20:48:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682/1 "2002-03-11T20:48:18Z")

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Where does the word “arcade” come from when used to refer to a video game establishment?

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**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682/2 "2002-03-11T22:03:10Z")

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probably from this:

> [@](#):
>
> arcade
> 
> n 1: a covered passageway; often between streets with shops or stalls 2: a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns

ganked from [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com)

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**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682/3 "2002-03-12T19:06:28Z")

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OK, so how many arches have YOU seen in a VIDEO arcade? I am well aware of the ORIGINAL definition of arcade. What I want to know is: why is a video game establishment called an arcade?

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682/4 "2002-03-12T20:02:53Z")

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The video arcade at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has plenty of arches.

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**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-arcades/97682/5 "2002-03-12T20:03:31Z")

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The shops or stalls part, probably, fairs used to have older style games (pre-video games) and early pinball machines in rooms, and the owners probably figured they were like shop arcades.

And, yes, i HAVE seen arches in video arcades, thank you very much!