Classic arcade machines from the golden age of gaming employed sophisticated yet constrained approaches to create dynamic in-game AI behavior. Unlike modern systems, these machines operated within severe hardware limitations, typically using 8-bit processors with minimal memory. Developers implemented finite state machines as the primary AI architecture, where characters transitioned between predefined behaviors based on player actions. Pattern-based systems formed another cornerstone, with enemies following carefully designed movement patterns that created the illusion of intelligence. The infamous Pac-Man ghosts demonstrate this perfectly, with each ghost following specific algorithms - Blinky's aggressive chasing, Pinky's ambushing tactics, Inky's unpredictable behavior, and Clyde's random movements. Memory constraints forced developers to use procedural generation and clever programming tricks. Many arcade games employed difficulty ramping systems where AI behavior became more aggressive as players progressed, achieved through simpler means like increasing enemy speed or reducing reaction times rather than complex decision trees. The hardware itself contributed to perceived AI dynamics through sprite flickering when too many characters appeared on screen, which developers sometimes incorporated as intentional gameplay elements. These technical limitations ultimately shaped the distinctive, pattern-based challenge that defines classic arcade gaming and continues to influence game design principles today.