Eventually, and especially after the release of the extremely popular Space Invaders, video games came to dominate these rooftops, and soon the entire amusement area was moved inside. With the development of video gaming technology in the 60’s and 70’s, these department stores were some of the first places to snap up the new machines, placing them on the roof along with all their other games. These would contain a variety of small stands, kiosks, and games primarily aimed at children, while some of the bigger stores could support small rides as well.

In Japan, this included most prominently rooftop amusement areas.

While initially just a place to shop for a variety of goods and clothing, department stores began to branch out into new styles of entertainment come mid-century. In Japan, like the West, the turn of the 20th century saw the blossoming of department stores, or large amalgamations of local stores underneath one giant roof. The history of arcades can be traced back to the development of department stores.

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