Arcade Nostalgia Meets the Modern Web: Featuring Matt Cannon’s ‘Air-Hockey’
There is a specific sound that defines a childhood summer. The low, mechanical hum of a blower motor followed by the sharp clack of a plastic puck hitting a side rail at high speed. For many of us, Air Hockey was a test of reflexes, a staple of the arcade, and for some lucky families, the centerpiece of the garage or basement.
At Scott Price Media, we are thrilled to feature a stunning digital tribute to this classic in our Free To Play section: ‘Air-Hockey’ by Matt Cannon.
A Quick History: From Air Tables to Arcades
Air Hockey actually didn’t start as a game. In the 1940s, “air tables” were industrial tools used to move heavy cargo on a cushion of air. It wasn’t until 1969 that a group of engineers at Brunswick Billiards. Phil Crossman, Bob Kenrick, and Brad Baldwin began experimenting with a low-friction surface for recreation. source: wikipedia.org.
By 1972, the game as we know it was born. Over the decades, it evolved from simple wooden frames to the neon-soaked, infrared-scoring powerhouses of the 90s arcades. We saw four-player tables, “glow-in-the-dark” editions, and even barrier tables designed to keep the puck from flying into the pizza plates of nearby onlookers.
The Personal Connection
For our founder, Scott Price, this feature is more than just a tech showcase. Scott has been a gamer his entire life, and some of his fondest memories involve the family air hockey table we had back in the day. Whether it was a rainy Saturday or a competitive holiday gathering, that table was always the heart of the action. It’s that spirit of accessibility and pure fun that we look for in the games we feature.
Going Digital: The Matt Cannon ‘Air-Hockey’ Pen
Fast forward to today, and the game has moved from the heavy plywood tables of the 70s to the browser. Matt Cannon’s implementation on CodePen is a masterclass in modern web development. Using a combination of HTML5 Canvas, CSS, and JavaScript, Matt has managed to capture the “feel” of low-friction physics that made the original so addictive.
What makes this feature extra special for the developer community is the transparency. All the information on the game, including the source code, is available directly on the page. Whether you want to play a quick round against the AI or dive into the JS to see how the collision logic works, it’s all there for you to explore.
Ready to play?
Check out Matt Cannon’s Air Hockey on the Scott Price Media – Free To Play page, or head over to CodePen to see more of Matt’s work at @matt-cannon.
Scott Price Media. Bringing the best of the web to your screen, one puck at a time.
