The Top Video Game Scenes in Movie History

There have been a number of movies over the last 30 years that feature key video game scenes, from cheap product placements to major storylines. TwitchGuru looks back at the history of video games on the big screen to find the most memorable moments.

Nice list - and snaps for reminding me of the underrated Catherine Mary Stewart...

It is pretty amazing how well that Tron footage holds up today, and The Last Starfighter is very nice as well. Some current day special effects folks could learn a thing or two from those movies.

It's all about the Video Toaster...and Dana Carvey. I grew up with an Amiga 500 and my dad and I dreamed of getting an Amiga 2000 with a VT. Those Amigas were amazing PCs.

Also, The Last Starfighter (the game) was altered and eventually released as Star Raiders II. More info here.

Rob Wright wrote:

Actually, look up "Project Epoc" in google. You may be pleasantly surprised that by 2015 (actually their goal is to hit market by 2008, yes folks, a gaming device that reads your brainwaves), this may very well be a mainstream reality. It is already functional and demonstrable and in development. As for hover boards, they're a bit impractical cuz if you lose your balance on a skateboard and fall that's one thing, but fall from a hoverboard and you might never get up..

Now, whether this device will also be used to put thoughts into your mind is a separate question entirely...

That project epoc thing looks pretty cool. Depending on the applications that come out for it, I might have to get one.

How about After Burner and I think it was also Missile Command in Terminator 2?
The movie and both games are great, surely deserved a place in the list.

I am trying to think of the first appearance of a Video/Computer Game in a Movie. I Believe the Computer Space Video Game machine that appeared in Soylent Green was the first. (Computer Space was the first Coin Op Video Game, ( I own one )).

Tron is still one of my favorite movies. It does not appeal as much to newer generations. (at least in my experience). I think you had to be the right age and be a Video Gamer to appreciate it.

I've been hooked on Video Games since 1972 when my buddy and I played "Table Tennis" on the original Odyssey Home Game System at the local Radio Shack, (until the clerks put the run on us . When the coin ops came out, I spent all my money pumping quarters into them. (Pong, Tank, Biplanes Gunfight).

By the time Tron came out, a huge Video Gamer base had been established. (Mostly people under 25). It was the right movie at the right time.

The Original Tron machine that was released with the movie was very well done. It was also one of the sharpest looking Coin Op Machines ever built. (Fluorescent Pin Stripes, Black Light lumination and Cool Scenes from the Movie on its sides).

Great Article by the way!

Sluggo

Wasn't there a tabletop Pong machine in one of the Airport movies? Or am I thinking of one of the endless spoofs...

But yeah, the Tron light cycle game was an amazing concept, and Armagetron has been a staple of my LAN parties for about 6 years... simple, addictive, hard, and anyone's piece of crap can run it.

I think the history lesson should have finished with movies BASED on video games, as this is the ultimate expression of the influence of video games on film. Titles such as DOOM, Mario Brothers, Final Fantasy, etc. Are there any other notables I'm missing?

Street Fighter.

Didn't they make a Silent Hill movie?

I know an Alice movie was suppose to be in the works but I haven't heard anything in ages. I think the Halo movie is still on.

My dream movie: A big budget production that is based on the plot of Baldur's Gate.

Although there was never a thermo nuclearwar game in the Wargames film, Introversion have recently released DEFCON, hugely influenced by the movie. I can't get onto the site at the mo' (www.everybody-dies.com) but I believe it's meant to be a decent enough game.

Domination may not be a real video game with lasers and electric shock feedback, but there is a freeware computer game named Dominate Game. Which is essentially risk online. Could be that the developer used the bond movie as inspiration for the title.

Maybe I'm reaching a bit here, but hey, what the hell, the game came to mind when reading the article.