My Mall Has An Arcade Again... [Archive]

Rogmeister

10-31-2007, 05:45 PM

I went up to my mall today and was rather stunned to see an arcade open and running. There wasn't one the last time I was there. The games are spread out a bit and they do have some non-video type of games including air hockey and pool tables. Among the older games I saw: NBA Jam, Ms. Pac-Man (unfamiliar mazes and it plays too fast), Street Fighter II, Tekken 2. I also noticed that what was an EB Games store is now a Gamestop store.

I also stopped at a Circuit City near there and picked up 3 GameCube games:

Star Fox: Assault
Super Monkey Ball Adventure
Pikmin II
:cheers:

intvsama

10-31-2007, 06:23 PM

Is it an indie arcade, or is it a corporate 'cade? Indie 'cades are always the best, the owners and staff generally care more about the quality of the equipment and getting games that are actually fun. The downside is that indie 'cades rarely get brand new games 'cause they're so freaking expensive.

We just picked up a pair of Cruis'n World machines at Challenge Arcade today. Namco is selling machines STUPID cheap right now (if anyone's looking to buy check out www.namcoarcade.com). We picked up a Point Blank 2 in a 33" showcase cab for $250 and the pair of Cruis'n World machines set the 'cade back just a cool grand.

Namco keeps closing more and more locations and their prices are generally too freaking high so they never sell the equipment. From what I hear this sale's only running through November or so, so if you see something you want now, I'd call ASAP to make sure it's still available.

Rogmeister

10-31-2007, 07:13 PM

I think it's an independent place...it was called Game Station or something like that.

BydoEmpire

10-31-2007, 08:27 PM

That's a pretty cool change of pace. You don't hear about arcades OPENING very often!

Ed Oscuro

10-31-2007, 09:54 PM

Game Station sounds like the name of a chain...but I guess you'd be able to spot a chain arcade from a mile away. Good stuff, new arcades. Man, those need to make a comeback. It sucks gaming alone, you know.

Muscelli

10-31-2007, 09:56 PM

what mall were you at?

Rogmeister

11-01-2007, 09:55 AM

This is at the Fort Steuben Mall which is near Steubenville, Ohio.

mailman187666

11-01-2007, 10:47 AM

wow, I just checked out that namco arcade site and looked up thier used arcade games in my area. I can get a Marvel VS. Capcom full size for $100. I wonder how f'ed up it is. I wish I had more space and it wasn't such a pain in the ass to move arcade machines.

rbudrick

11-01-2007, 12:26 PM

Steubenville...wow. My GF is from that area (her family lives in Amsterdam). Next time I visit I might have to go there!

-Rob

Rogmeister

01-12-2008, 12:16 PM

I was up at the mall again today...and the arcade was closed. I don't know if it's just closed today for some reason or if it's already gone out of business. They do have a Lunar Mini-Golf place up there...in a dark room with phospherescent set-ups.

The 1 2 P

01-12-2008, 04:45 PM

I was up at the mall again today...and the arcade was closed. I don't know if it's just closed today for some reason or if it's already gone out of business. They do have a Lunar Mini-Golf place up there...in a dark room with phospherescent set-ups.

Yeah, that seems like the average lifespan of arcades these days. At one of the malls here the real arcade closed down awhile ago, but they have a mini arcade downstairs that functions more like a small Chucky Chesses. I smiled when I saw the old 4 player Spider Man arcade game along with a DDR and Soul Calibur game cabinets.

Rogmeister

01-12-2008, 05:42 PM

The sign's still over the entrance so I'm hopeful it was just a one-day thing, though I've only gone in there once or twice. I'll check again the next time I go up that way.

Dreamc@sting

01-12-2008, 08:06 PM

Not all corporate arcades are bad, I used to work for Namco Cyberstation and loved it...when no one was around I used to peg in free credits...this was when Soul Caliber 2 came out...yeah..good times..

But I know this wonderous feeling - a couple years back I walked upon a new indie arcade with a slew of great SNK cabinets..I almost peed myself...

Ponyone

01-12-2008, 09:26 PM

That namco site has a upright converted Nfl Blitz for 49.00 and a Tekken 3 for 99.99... wow.

That's all I've seen so far but he's right, they're silly stupid cheap.

Nirvana

01-13-2008, 02:28 AM

I swear, if I had a sweet arcade near me still, it'd be a sweet hangout.

You're lucky.

Chuplayer

01-13-2008, 08:38 AM

Not all corporate arcades are bad, I used to work for Namco Cyberstation and loved it...when no one was around I used to peg in free credits...this was when Soul Caliber 2 came out...yeah..good times..

But I know this wonderous feeling - a couple years back I walked upon a new indie arcade with a slew of great SNK cabinets..I almost peed myself...

Namco took over this mall arcade that was near me for-fucking-ever, didn't get Soul Calibur 2 even though it was out, and then closed the thing. Fuck.

Habeeb Hamusta

01-13-2008, 09:40 PM

was there no MVS cabs?...or atomiswave cabs?

The 1 2 P

01-13-2008, 10:27 PM

Namco took over this mall arcade that was near me for-fucking-ever, didn't get Soul Calibur 2 even though it was out, and then closed the thing. Fuck.

Namco owned the arcade down here too. We did get Soul Calibur 2 on time as well as Tekken 5, but the SNK games were pretty scarce.