I miss arcades

[Bigfoot]

Sure, I've got a small arcade that's part of a go-kart park where I play DDR at, but most of their games are redemption(tickets)...boring.

There's a Mario Bros/Donkey Kong/Donkey Kong Junior cabinet that I recently started playing on after I get done with DDR so I can cool off. My friend and I played what felt like an hour trying to get the high score. I've never seen most of the levels because back then DK Jr. just seemed so hard, so I'd give up on the first stage. :P

There's a pretty nice arcade about an hour from where I live, but sadly it's going to be shut down due to high expansion or some crap. The owners are going to retire after they shut it down instead of relocating. Sad :[

Anyone have any really nice arcades in their area? I'm sure people in California have pretty sweet arcades since there are a million locations that have DDR/ITG/etc machines. Or anyone here in Japan? I know the arcades over there are pretty sweet. I know Evilhead is off the top of my head, but I havne't seen him post in a while.

[FR]

I miss arcades.

I don't miss the paying part.

[Txai]

I miss the arcades we had here. I especially miss the Metal Slug ones.

But people is so bad they had taken it from us.

[Flare4War]

Vegas arcades are the only fun ones because you can have drinks while you peruse them. That and they are fucking huge.

[JCvgluvr]

Usually once a year, we go to see my extended family down in Chicago. Next to the Woodfield mall they have a Gameworks, which is filled to bursting with arcade games. They've got a ton of stuff. Off the top of my head, I can remember a Metal Slug 5, MvC2, tons of assorted light gun games, F-Zero AX, classics like DK, Dig-Dug, and Pac-man, as well as 4 Mario Kart Arcade machines that were only made available in Japan! They let you use credits on a gameworks card instead of the usual quarters, so its all about swiping instead of inserting. Yeah, that place is pretty great...:smile:

[SLyGeN]

Just south of the SF Bay in California here.. there aren't many dedicated arcades around me. The bowling alley has a small array of racers and pinball machines, and Golfland has one.. and the LaserQuest (laser tag) has a small corner of arcade games.. and then you've got your Chuck E. Cheese, but I don't know where the closest one to me is.

But the closest dedicated arcade I know of is on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Fun place, but by now all the games are old news.

I dunno if its still around, but there was a relatively local Nickel arcade called Nickel City.

I used to go to them all the time as a kid, and all of my saved up tickets are worthless since they're shutting down. Fuck you, Smokin' Token. Fuck you.

edit: oh, and DnB. Hey, I guess there are still a number of em around. I just don't participate.

[Fenrir]

I live in Osaka.

I can throw a rock and hit an arcade.

[FR]

I live in Osaka.

I can throw a rock and hit an arcade.
Sounds awesome.

I miss your old samus sig.

[Brycepops]

Usually once a year, we go to see my extended family down in Chicago. Next to the Woodfield mall they have a Gameworks, which is filled to bursting with arcade games. They've got a ton of stuff. Off the top of my head, I can remember a Metal Slug 5, MvC2, tons of assorted light gun games, F-Zero AX, classics like DK, Dig-Dug, and Pac-man, as well as 4 Mario Kart Arcade machines that were only made available in Japan! They let you use credits on a gameworks card instead of the usual quarters, so its all about swiping instead of inserting. Yeah, that place is pretty great...:smile:

When I went with my parents to Vegas a long time ago, we stopped by the Gameworks that was there. Shit was crazy.

http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/gameworks.html

[Triad Orion]

Fenrir, you lucky jerk.

I must say, I was never too big into the arcade scene until I got older. When I was in college there was a miniature golf course with a pretty good arcade, and from then on I loved playing in arcades. I think I really fell for one of the Aerofighters Assault shooters on a multi-game arcade cabinet. Lots of good times...

I really wish there was a decent arcade nearby here. Wouldn't mind going there every once and awhile.

[SoloGamer]

I miss your old samus sig.
The orange one? :<

Being in SoCal, there's plenty of arcades around here. There's two within walking distance of my house, one of which is part of a mini golf course. Most of the nearby malls have arcades as well.

Also, walk into any local fast food joint around here and you'll likely bump into a Neo Geo with a Metal Slug, a Samurai Shodown, and an occasional KoF.

[Raziellink]

About a 100 miles north from me is a themepark which has a small arcade. Everytime i visit, it´s completely empty. Which is stupid, because they got some of the best games there.

House of the Dead 2, Crazy Taxi, 4 Sega Rally cabinets hooked up, Virtua Cop, aaaaaaaaaand.....Time Crisis 2! They get more games every year, but it´s been a while since i´ve been there.

I always go there for two reasons. The go-karts, and Time Crisis.

Speaking of arcade games. I nearly bought Killer Instinct last week. However, the cabinet was trashed, and the seller asked way to much money. Shame, having the arcade version of KI in your living room kicks ass. :P

[TheSnowStorm]

I recently went to a mini-arcade a while back ago in a movie theater. I reflected on my younger days of when arcades were dying out, but were still a bit big. I take arcades over online play since you can see the person you are fighting against and any attempt at talking shit could result in an ass beating.

[LuketheXjesse]

Also, walk into any local fast food joint around here and you'll likely bump into a Neo Geo with a Metal Slug, a Samurai Shodown, and an occasional KoF.

Holy cow that is cool.

Every CiCi's pizza I've been to has a tiny arcade, and the one here used to have an arcade with one of those NeoGeo collections, with Metal Slug 2! Which in turn always made me really eager to go to CiCi's.

But time moves on. Now the only good thing is a Mrs. Pac-Man/Galaga combo.

There's also this place called Funstation, but how that place hasn't run out of business yet is beyond me.

[EdgeCrusher]

About a 100 miles north from me is a themepark which has a small arcade. Everytime i visit, it´s completely empty. Which is stupid, because they got some of the best games there.

House of the Dead 2, Crazy Taxi, 4 Sega Rally cabinets hooked up, Virtua Cop, aaaaaaaaaand.....Time Crisis 2! They get more games every year, but it´s been a while since i´ve been there.

I always go there for two reasons. The go-karts, and Time Crisis.

Speaking of arcade games. I nearly bought Killer Instinct last week. However, the cabinet was trashed, and the seller asked way to much money. Shame, having the arcade version of KI in your living room kicks ass. :P

I know how you feel about time crisis. I ended up buying time crisis 3 used with 2 guncon 2s, and crisis zone, but they wont work on my HDTV. So I have to use my shitty 25" tv in the bedroom, but damn its still fun.

[HideousBeing]

Sologamer, where do you live in socal? I live in Escondido, and I can't find a single arcade. Funny this thread should pop up. I've been conducting gaming cafe searches looking for any place I could go to get a challenge --with no success. It doesn't help that I don't know which keywords to use...

[FR]

The orange one? :<
http://remod.cakearmy.org/images/smilies/icon_oneeye.gif

[Broken]

I love to look for arcades whenever I travel somewhere new.

The ones that stick out the most in memory:
Florida -

(Orlando)
The World's Largest McDonald's (or whatever). They have DDR extreme, PIU pro, some awesome drum game, and an F-Zero AX machine(very nice arcade cab).


Space World Arcade(or whatever that place is called in Disney World). They have some awesome fire-fighter game (I believe it's called "Real Heroes" or something quirky like that.) Also, some other oddball machines that I can't recall anymore, and I think a DDR machine.

Pizza Planet Arcade: This place was pretty nice. It has a Pump It Up New Xenesis machine, an Afterburner Legends Machine, A donkey kong jr. machine was upstairs as well. And then there is a random tekken 5 arcade cab in the corner

Maryland -
(Anne Arundel County)

Dave & Busters (aka "The last real arcade chain on the planet" ) -
It had the following:
Pump It Up Pro machine
Tekken 5 arcade machine
A massive Virtua Tennis Machine
Assorted other machines (house of the dead 2&3, racing games, etc. Nothing else of note)

Virginia -
(Fairfax County)

Fun & Games -
A very nice traditional arcade:
ITG & DDR Supernova machines
SC2, SF:III TS, Tekken 5 cabs, and some assorted japanese arcade games like Raiden or something.

Those are all of the arcades I've visited that I thought were pretty nice.

ps:
Tekken 5 arcade cabs are teh sex. They have like two twenty inch lcd screens back to back with surround sound speakers and really nice arcade parts. :}

[Red9]

...Pizza Planet Arcade...


Don't lie to me...that's a movie.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/1543607237_6ad9ba74d0.jpg?v=0

I actually haven't seen any arcades here in Misawa...:{

[Brushfire]

Really, d00d just goto Shimoda Mall, it is a decent arcade. I mean it is where I play.

[Broken]

Don't lie to me...that's a movie.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/1543607237_6ad9ba74d0.jpg?v=0

I actually haven't seen any arcades here in Misawa...:{

Believe it or not Pizza Planet is an actual restaurant. And it has a pretty nice selection of arcade games.

I'm not sure if you were serious or not, but I am.

[Native Jovian]

Space World Arcade(or whatever that place is called in Disney World).
Do you mean DisneyQuest? DisneyQuest is pretty cool because you pay for a ticket to get in but don't have to pay for any of the actual games, which is awesome. Sadly, the last time I was there (which was... oh, maybe ten years ago) their actual arcade game selection wasn't too great -- most of the focus was on weird "virtual reality" game/ride things. Maybe that's changed, though.

Dave & Busters (aka "The last real arcade chain on the planet" )
Is that any good? There's one (relatively) close to me and I keep meaning to get some friends together and check it out, but I've never actually been. Booze and video games never go badly together.

[JAXX]

I live in Portland OR, there's this sweet arcade downtown I go to quite often (mainly to play street fighter games against people in the flesh, there aint nothing like it) called Ground Kontrol (http://www.groundkontrol.com). Flippin tight, has every classic arcade game you can think of, mainly 70's 80's and 90's, not too many new machines.

It turns into a bar at 5, at the bar you can play nes games. Awesome atmosphere, they have a stage where they have shows and "Rock Band Tuesday", where tons people come to get smashed and play rock band, flippin hilarious.
Best arcade I've ever been to.

Too bad next gen online game play has killed off most arcades, it's fun playing SFIV againts someone across the country, but it's just not the same when they're not right next to you, that and when someone mops the floor with your ass you can give em the finger, sure you can flip off the tv but we all know you're not accomplishing anything.

[DjSammyG]

Can't find a single one near chicago.

[Ronyn]

There aren't many reasons to visit Utah, but if you're looking for an arcade it's a good one. Besides the mall chains that are still around, there's a chain of Nickelcades all over the Wasatch front. They don't fix broken machines worth a damn, but for the money it's a great, disturbingly nostalgic good time.

[richter]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3115759799_ab3b4700d5.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gxlinc/3115759799/)

I'm lucky enough to have a bunch of arcade cabinets at work :D The middle one is actually a class Donkey Kong cabinet now. Woo!

I do kind of miss arcades too, but there are a decent amount in CA... not like the old days tho...

[Red9]

Really, d00d just goto Shimoda Mall, it is a decent arcade. I mean it is where I play.

That's all slots and crane games.

[The Coop]

A part of me misses the old days. Riding my bike to a local arcade with a pocket full of quarters, seeing how long I could get those quarters to last, deciding if I wanted to try a game I'd never played before when I only had a few quarters to spend, the sounds of different games filling the air... good times.

Then there's the other part of me. The one that does not miss the loud mouthed morons banging on machines, the smoke-filled rooms, dickheads who drop a quarter into the game you're in the middle of playing without asking if they could join (and then beat you out of the game because they're better with a given character), busted buttons and joysticks that work sporadicly at best... a major bullshit feat to be sure.


These days, it makes me happy to see so many compilations coming out. No driving and wasted gas to play some of my old favorites, no dealing with busted cabinets or asshole-ish people, no wondering why every game is fifty-cents (or more) now regardless of how old it is... just a quick trip to Gamestop or Game Crazy, $20, and I'm good for years of play time.

[Fenrir]

http://remod.cakearmy.org/images/smilies/icon_oneeye.gif

You mean this one right?
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/LokiSeraph/Random/89hzk2t.png

I think that was Bummerdude's work.

It seems I have a thing for awesome blondes.

[FR]

You mean this one right?
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/LokiSeraph/Random/89hzk2t.png

I think that was Bummerdude's work.

It seems I have a thing for awesome blondes.

Yes, I love that sig. It made me laugh so hard when I first saw it.

[Kizyr]

The best arcades I've seen have been in Tokyo, naturally. Besides that, I've seen some great ones in Las Vegas (in casinos or on their own) and Orlando.

Oh, and I'm going to DisneyQuest this Friday. Looking forward to it already.

There were a few arcades that I liked growing up in part for nostalgia's sake. There were the skating rinks I went to when I was in middle school, and Tilt (which was at a now-closed mall in Nashville) that I went to a lot in high school.

I don't like Dave & Busters or anything that uses a card system. Unfortunately, it seems that every arcade has moved to a card system, so I suppose I'll just have to deal with it. But, the cards are just an ingenious way of gradually upping the price to where you're paying $1.25 per game without realizing it. Hell, Japanese arcades are still generally 100yen a game (unless the price has gone up in the last 4 years?).

Oh, the one main thing I miss about arcades in general is the lack of pinball machines. You almost never find them anymore, and (until DDR) they were my favorite games at any arcade. KF

[JCvgluvr]

Can't find a single one near chicago.

Dude, read my post.

[Broken]

Do you mean DisneyQuest? DisneyQuest is pretty cool because you pay for a ticket to get in but don't have to pay for any of the actual games, which is awesome. Sadly, the last time I was there (which was... oh, maybe ten years ago) their actual arcade game selection wasn't too great -- most of the focus was on weird "virtual reality" game/ride things. Maybe that's changed, though.


Is that any good? There's one (relatively) close to me and I keep meaning to get some friends together and check it out, but I've never actually been. Booze and video games never go badly together.

I don't believe it was Disney Quest. I just checked out some pictures of Disney Quest and it doesn't look like the place I remember. Someone who visits DW more often would probably know the exact name of the place, but it was in Future World, which I believe was in the Magic Kingdom (So, it wasn't MGM studios, or the animal kingdom, or epcot - I've never been to epcot). The most concrete memory I have of the place is that it is right next to a go-kart track. It wasn't the most impressive arcade, anyway, so let me not waste anyone else's time discussing it.

Dave and Buster's was enjoyable for me and I simply went to play a few games. I didn't pay for my tickets, so I probably didn't feel the sting of paying for over-priced arcade games. At the same time, you would preferably go there for a party or some sort of get together, and eat, play, drink, all that good stuff. I'd definitely recommend giving the place a shot.

[Brushfire]

That's all slots and crane games.

You must break out your machette, and hack your way past the crane and photobooths, to the nougat-y center where the actual games are. Also don't bother going up the stairs to the gambling den.

[Txai]

Pinball machines are approved as well.

[Bigfoot]

You know what sucks? I went to play DDR yesterday, and to my surprise, the DK/DK Jr./Mario Bros machine is now broken. :\ The machine turns on, but nothing boots.

[Brushfire]

Hey Bigfoot, you will be happy to know that DDR X is out over here in Japan.

But they changed the annoucer guy. >_<

[Bigfoot]

Hey Bigfoot, you will be happy to know that DDR X is out over here in Japan.

But they changed the annoucer guy. >_<

Yeah, and from the videos I've seen, he says stuff very frequently. That was at a test location, so hopefully they changed it.

He says ridiculous stuff like psycola(I think) and COMBO WOMBO! haha

[Kizyr]

I went to DisneyQuest like I mentioned that Friday. ...it was like four floors of heaven. They even had a Marble Madness machine, and a bunch of classic games, and pinball (though a rather limited selection). Many of the racing games were a bit broken, unfortunately.

It was fun though. I could definitely spend an entire day there without getting bored. Sort of wore myself out on DDR though--didn't realize I'd atrophied so much at that. KF

[relyanCe]

TILT just opened an arcade in my crappy mall.

They have old SNK v Capcom crap all up in that place! It fricken owns!

Except the DDR game is broked =(

I wear my Akuma shirt and go get the #1 high score on any game with akuma in it rather regularly.

[Bigfoot]

TILT just opened an arcade in my crappy mall.

They have old SNK v Capcom crap all up in that place! It fricken owns!

Except the DDR game is broked =(

I wear my Akuma shirt and go get the #1 high score on any game with akuma in it rather regularly.

Which one is it? Is it Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000? That's what we have here now in place of what used to be a MvC2 before it fried.

[SoloGamer]

Which one is it? Is it Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000? That's what we have here now in place of what used to be a MvC2 before it fried.

CvS != SvC

I remember playing SvC Chaos a ton at my local mini-golf arcade, trying to beat Mr. Karate. Then it disappeared for a while, only to reappear in the nickel arcade section several months later. Unfortunately by then, it had already come out on the Xbox, and I had already grown tired of it.

[Bigfoot]

Oh, so it is different. My bad. :P

[SoloGamer]

Yeah, Capcom made the two Capcom vs SNK games (2000 being the first), and SNK made SNK vs Capcom, which graphics wise, looked more like a KoF game (which I personally enjoyed).

[relyanCe]

It has svc chaos and svc 2000, except chaos is bogus because they wired a tekken control board to it, ergo you can't do anything :?

svc I win without game-overing, because Akuma is the MAN.

[Neo Samus]

Usually once a year, we go to see my extended family down in Chicago. Next to the Woodfield mall they have a Gameworks, which is filled to bursting with arcade games. They've got a ton of stuff. Off the top of my head, I can remember a Metal Slug 5, MvC2, tons of assorted light gun games, F-Zero AX, classics like DK, Dig-Dug, and Pac-man, as well as 4 Mario Kart Arcade machines that were only made available in Japan! They let you use credits on a gameworks card instead of the usual quarters, so its all about swiping instead of inserting. Yeah, that place is pretty great...:smile:

Wait, wait, wait....Gameworks has an AX machine????? Holy crap I need to go ASAP!!! I haven't been there in about 4 years. Love that place, 8 player Indy 500 is so much fun.

There's another nice arcade in the Chicagoland area called Nickel City (used to be called Super Just Games years ago) all games are nickel priced. The most expensive game, from the last time I went, was 30 cents, and that was DDR. They also have a large free play area with classics like, Track and Field, Soul Edge, Super Off-Raod and many others. It's in Northbrook (or Deerfield on the boarder) on Waukegan Rd. (Rt. 43).

[Deathtank]

I remember (not so long ago) going in bus in a 1hr travel to the city to play vs matches with a friend Guilty Gear XX reload, we spent lots of money but heck! it was fun! few people plyed it but it was cool to see some people gather around us just to watch us play! :lol:
Sadly its closed now. :sad:

[Broken]

Here's some bad news for anyone into arcades living in the New England area and gamers in general. Tokyo Game Action is closing. I've never been to the place before but have heard nothing but good things about the venue. Unfortunately, it looks like due to various acts of god, the place is finally closing its doors.

http://www.tokyogameaction.com/

Not to make light of this (because it is in fact very sad), but I believe they are auctioning off their wares in order to pay off bills, so now would be a good chance to pick up some excellent arcade cabs if anyone is a collector. It would be awesome if some rich philanthropist bought everything up and re-opened the place. :)

[m68030]

In college a few years back, I got a major itch to play Marvel vs Capcom 2 on a real cabinet, as did a friend of mine so we made the following journey:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=University+of+South+Carolina+(Columbia+Hall)&daddr=Jessamine+Mall,+Sumter,+Sumter,+South+Caroli na+29150&hl=en&geocode=FXrRBgIdzLIr-yFIVB5gCs5SeQ%3BFWkHBgIdEJo1-yn3qWwUqWj_iDGE5Sl0YM24ww&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.975402,-80.697739&sspn=0.338236,0.727844&ie=UTF8&ll=33.972976,-80.6987&spn=0.338245,0.727844&t=h&z=11

With about $20 worth of quarters. When we arrived we discovered that our local arcade, Aladdin's Castle, had been closed about a month.

We went back to his parent's house and settled for the DC version. It just wasn't the same.