10 Great Forgotten Arcade Games We Want Revived

1. Tapper Finally, we reach the end of our journey with a game that most likely has the most potential of actually seeing a resurrection, Tapper (also known as Root Beer Tapper in arcade games for the many game players) was first released by Bally Midway in 1983 with a cabinet that featured a brass rail at the bottom you would expect at a traditional bar, as well as brass drink holders and an ashtray to complete the 'at the watering hole' experience. In the original version you're a bartender, serving Budweiser to patrons coming into your bar at four separate bars on the game screen. The game play was to serve patrons beers before they could get to your kegs of Bud and to clean up after the thirsty drinkers, scooping up their empty mugs before they slide off the end of each bar. You can collect tips, and reach bonus levels with the overall goal of each 'level' being to empty the bar of customers by satisfying them with filled mugs of beer. As you advance from level to level, more customers come in and they get harder to satisfy at each separate bar, especially when it comes to keeping up with empty mugs. The first versions of the arcade game came with what I must say were some of the coolest versions of a joystick-actual beer taps with the Budweiser logo on them used to pour the drinks during game play, but as the game gained steamed and was ushered into arcades and out of bars, the game became Root Beer Tapper and from then on forward was sanitized from it's origins related to alcohol being served by the player. Now, I know what you're thinking, this game hasn't been forgotten, in fact, as Root Beer Tapper it has enjoyed numerous port translations and back in 2011 there was even talk of a brand spanking new version of the game being developed after a mobile version, Tapper World Tour, enjoyed a new life with a new generation of players. But here is why and how Tapper makes numero Uno on my list of forgotten games: as stated, since Tapper made its way out of smoky 80s bars and into arcades full of kids, it's mostly been found as Root Beer Tapper, the sanitized, while still admittedly fun version of the game. Well I say that's good and all, but what I want to see is a true resurrection of the original Tapper-with it's brass bar and drink holders beside the controls. I want Budweiser or some other brewing company sponsoring it, because that's how it was first imagined-you as the player serving cold glasses of familiar brands of beers you might be drinking at that time; yes, that's another perhaps obvious aspect of a new Tapper that would have to go hand in hand with the original cabinet coming back. The machines would have to go back to bars and other places where adults would be the audience, I'm not advocating this 'R' version of Tapper for anyone under 21, after all there's TONS of other choices for gamers under 21 to play. No, this new/old Tapper would be for the big kids, those of us who grew up spending our allowances in arcades and staying up past bedtime with our NES and Sega Genesis consoles. Don't think there's this audience I speak of? Oh, they are most certainly there, and I think a Tapper brought back with all the 'adult' themes to it would be right up many curious older gamers aisle. There would be no messing with the graphics, no messing with the game play, just bring it all back like it was when the first cabinets were released and suddenly all those Golden Tee and various hunting games you see n the corners of bars seem like plain janes. Kids under 21, stick to your Root Beer Tapper, but older players like me, a resurrection of Tapper in its original glory just might be the next thing you're competing with your friends over at your local watering hole.