For decades, arcade machines have captivated players with the challenge of topping the leaderboard. But how do these cabinets, often unplugged and moved, remember the coveted high scores? The answer lies in non-volatile memory.

In the golden age of arcades, game data was stored on the main printed circuit board (PCB). Many classic games used a combination of battery-backed CMOS RAM or non-volatile memory like EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). A small battery on the PCB provided a trickle of power to the RAM chips, preserving the scores when the machine was off. If that battery died, the memory was wiped clean, which is a common issue for collectors today.

Newer methods evolved to use pure EEPROM or flash memory, which do not require a battery to retain data. The game's software handles the leaderboard logic—recording initials, sorting scores, and determining if a new score qualifies for the list. This system ensures that even after a power cycle, the reigning champion's initials remain displayed, ready for the next challenger to attempt a takeover.