Initially video games were covered sporadically in Deeny Kaplan's regular "VideoTest Reports" column.

Written by Bill Kunkel, Arnie Katz (initially pseudonymously writing as Frank T. Laney II), and Joyce Worley, the three writers became close friends and in 1981 they founded Electronic Games magazine.

The magazine was briefly revived during the 16-bit era in the early 1990s, but ended in 1995 and was renamed to Fusion.

[5] However, the release was postponed to October 29, 1981[6] and featured a slightly different cover than initially advertised.

According to the Winter 1981 issue of Electronic Games, the 1980 Arcade Awards (i.e., the first set of "Arkies") were announced in February 1980 and covered all hardware and software produced prior to January 1, 1980.

The twelve games voted by readers as part of the magazine's Hall of Fame up until January 1985.