While modern games often feature complex survival systems, classic arcade cabinets were pioneers of resource management mechanics through ingenious design limitations. The primary resource was always the player's limited supply of quarters, which translated directly into in-game lives and continues. Games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders forced players to carefully manage their remaining lives while navigating increasingly difficult stages.

Many arcade titles incorporated power-ups as temporary resources that required strategic timing. In Gauntlet, players managed health as a constantly depleting resource, shouting "Warrior needs food badly!" while coordinating with allies. Games like Dig Dug and BurgerTime used environmental resources strategically, requiring players to use limited traps or tools to defeat enemies.

Time itself became a managed resource in many arcade classics. Pressured by countdown timers in games like Bomb Jack or Crazy Climber, players had to balance speed against careful planning. The risk-reward system formed the core resource economy - players constantly weighed aggressive play for higher scores against conservative survival tactics.

These mechanics created tense, engaging experiences where every decision carried weight, proving that profound resource management could thrive within arcade limitations long before the survival genre officially existed.