Watch Nick Arcade

Nick Arcade was a game show that aired on Nickelodeon from 1992 to 1997. Hosted by Phil Moore, the show featured two teams of two kids each who competed in a video game tournament, with the winning team advancing to the final round to compete for the grand prize. The show was notable for its use of technology, as it was one of the first game shows to incorporate video games as its primary feature. Each team would compete in a number of video game challenges, which included classic games like Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, and Donkey Kong. The kids would play the games on a massive screen that was divided into four quadrants, with each quadrant displaying the game from a different perspective. This allowed the players to see the game from multiple angles and gave the audience at home a close-up view of the action.

The challenges were divided into three rounds, each with a different theme. The first round was called the "Video Challenge" and featured three different games, with each game being worth a certain number of points. The second round was the "Data Blast" round and featured two games, with each game being worth more points than in the first round. Finally, the third round was the "Video Zone" round, which featured a single game worth a lot of points.

In between the rounds, the teams would participate in a series of physical challenges, which often involved getting slimed or being doused in water. These challenges were designed to give the teams a chance to earn extra points and break up the video game action.

The winning team of each episode would then move on to the "Video Zone," which was a virtual reality game show set. The team would enter the set and play a game on a green screen, with their movements being projected onto the giant screen behind them. The team would have to navigate through a virtual world and collect points by solving puzzles and avoiding obstacles. The team with the highest score at the end of the "Video Zone" round would win the grand prize, which could include anything from video game consoles to trips to theme parks.

Nick Arcade was a show that was truly ahead of its time, as it introduced the concept of video games as a spectator sport long before esports became a thing. The show was also notable for its use of technology, as it was one of the first shows to use green screen technology and CGI elements in a game show setting. The show's success led to a number of spin-off products, including video games, board games, and even a line of comic books.

Overall, Nick Arcade was a beloved show that was influential in the world of gaming and technology. It introduced a generation of kids to the joys of video games and showed them that playing games could be both fun and competitive. The show's legacy lives on, and it will always be remembered as a pioneering show that paved the way for the future of gaming.

Nick Arcade is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (98 episodes). The series first aired on February 1, 1997.