Arcades in Texas?

[8bitgamer]

I need info on some of the better arcades in Texas. I'm talking about real, larger arcades with a nice mix of classic and modern cabinets.

I already know of Tornado Terry's in Keller.

Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Gapporin]

Arcade UFO - Austin, TX. (http://www.arcadeufo.com/) Primo, top-notch stuff there. I don't know if they have a good selection of classic arcade machines, but they've certainly got the modern covered.

[Steve W]

I already know of Tornado Terry's in Keller.
What's that place like, by the way? I've driven past it but have never gone inside. It seems too kiddy from the website, and I hate being around children.

There's a Tilt Arcade in The Parks Mall in Arlington and one in the West End off downtown Dallas, there's the Nickelrama arcade in Garland, and Nickel Mania Arcade in Addison. I can't verify the last one, but the one in Garland was there when I drove past it earlier in the year. And there's supposedly a bar that models itself on the Barcade in New York somewhere in Dallas, but I'm not sure where it is. There's also an arcade in the mall in Waco, I'm not sure if it's a Tilt or not.

[8bitgamer]

What's that place like, by the way? I've driven past it but have never gone inside. It seems too kiddy from the website, and I hate being around children.

It draws a lot of kids, but it does have some cool games. Last time I was there, I played Mr. Do! and Metal Slug. I like that one price lets you play unlimited games.

[channelmaniac]

They don't have old games, but I do love to go to Dave & Busters. :D

I wouldn't mind trading some refurbed arcade game boards for a bunch of tickets as I'm saving up for the jukebox.

[Steve W]

It draws a lot of kids, but it does have some cool games. Last time I was there, I played Mr. Do! and Metal Slug. I like that one price lets you play unlimited games.

By the way, not too far from Tornado Terry's is Bosses Pizza, on Main Street. They've got a Ms. Pac-Man, a Phoenix, and a Virtua Fighter. And one more that I can't recall. They've also got good cheese on their pizzas.

[Damaramu]

Here in Houston, we have Planet Zero. It's a great little arcade with a ton of Japanese cabinets featuring a slew of fighting games, both current and classic.

It's where I played Street Fighter IV for the first time months before the console release. They also have a decent variety of shooters, sit down racing games (like F-Zero), and some various music games.

They also host tournaments and what not and sell Asian snacks (mostly Japanese) and toys.

Have a look at some pics of the place HERE (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=87656279&albumId=1535665).

Their website is coming soon.


We also have the Dave & Busters and Tilt arcades...but they're mostly meh.

[Steve W]

I just can't get into those Japanese style arcades... If that one's anything like one that used to be in the Irving Mall in Irving, Texas years back, it's all Atomiswave fighting games and rhythm games with a couple more modern(ish) shoot-'em-up cabs thrown in to mix it up. At that Irving arcade I played Planet Harriers there, the only time I've ever played it. And that was the only game in the place I was interested in. I don't like fighting games in the least, and I have no rhythm whatsoever. Not too long afterward, that arcade closed, so apparently a whole lot of other people don't like those kinds of games either.

[Ryaan1234]

Meh, there's not too much in the way of arcades here in Waco. There's a Tilt's at the Richland mall with a decent selection of modern stuff (fighting games and shooters and etc.), but there's almost nothing with a good selection of old school arcade stuff. There's a pizza place called "Papa Rollo's" that has a Super Mario Bros cabinet (yeah... not "Mario Bros." but "Super Mario Bros.") I think that it's some sort of Playchoice cabinet now that I think about it.

Anyways, there's this arcade called "GameWorks" that I went to for my senior band trip. It was in this giant mall in Grand Prarie... I think. I can't remember where it was now, but they had a GIANT selection of Sega cabinets. They had mostly modern stuff, as well as Frogger and a few other old-school games.

[Steve W]

Anyways, there's this arcade called "GameWorks" that I went to for my senior band trip. It was in this giant mall in Grand Prarie... I think. I can't remember where it was now, but they had a GIANT selection of Sega cabinets. They had mostly modern stuff, as well as Frogger and a few other old-school games.
It's not in Grand Prairie, it's in Grapevine. It's located on the West end of Grapevine Mills Mall. I went into it a year or two ago, wasn't overly impressed with the place.

Being that you're in Waco, have you ever gone up to West and visited the Green Door Arcade? I found it on Google Maps, but I haven't had the chance to go down there and see. Hell, I don't know if it's still in business, it looks like a bunch of nondescript empty storefronts in the Street View on Google Maps. I'd love to find it there, and discover that it's an oasis of old school arcade cabs in some sleepy little Texas town. Play a few games, get some Czech food...

[Ryaan1234]

It's not in Grand Prairie, it's in Grapevine. It's located on the West end of Grapevine Mills Mall. I went into it a year or two ago, wasn't overly impressed with the place.

Being that you're in Waco, have you ever gone up to West and visited the Green Door Arcade? I found it on Google Maps, but I haven't had the chance to go down there and see. Hell, I don't know if it's still in business, it looks like a bunch of nondescript empty storefronts in the Street View on Google Maps. I'd love to find it there, and discover that it's an oasis of old school arcade cabs in some sleepy little Texas town. Play a few games, get some Czech food...
Ah okay then it was Grapevine. I knew it was G-something.

I haven't visited that arcade in West but now that you mention it I might try to drop on by the next time I'm that way. I will also get some kolaches.....

I <3 kolaches. mmmmmm..... The Little Czech Bakery is the best.

[The-Bavis]

I hesitated for years about going into Tornado Terry's. I've been there twice now and it is a good time. If you go soon after they open, there are very few people in there - so less kids. It has never been swamped with kids when I've been there.

The first time I went, I took my son. The next time my wife wanted to go because we had such a good time. Now they both want to go back sometime over the holidays. It's a good time.

Bosses pizza is also good food!

Apparently there is/was an arcade in the Six Flags Mall. I thought that mall had closed years ago since when I was last in there in 1998, it was all but abandoned. There was a huge bunch of cabs for sale on Craig's List for a while from there. So, it might be gone now.

[Steve W]

I hesitated for years about going into Tornado Terry's. I've been there twice now and it is a good time. If you go soon after they open, there are very few people in there - so less kids. It has never been swamped with kids when I've been there.

That's the kind of information I want to know. I really don't like kids, partly because I have an aversion to loud noises and kids don't seem to have any comprehension of volume control. And mostly because they're annoying and so many parents don't want to punish their children because they don't want to be the 'bad guy', so kids run around like apes and destroy everything they touch since they never get any kind of negative reinforcement to teach them differently.


Apparently there is/was an arcade in the Six Flags Mall. I thought that mall had closed years ago since when I was last in there in 1998, it was all but abandoned. There was a huge bunch of cabs for sale on Craig's List for a while from there. So, it might be gone now.

Yeah, the arcade is long gone. Along with the Foley's building that used to be on the North end of the mall. The whole neighborhood has been declining for a couple decades or so. The last time I went to Six Flags Mall (at least a couple years now), the only interior shop that was a recognizable name was GNC, everything else was a generic locally owned shop.

[Super Strange]

There's a Tilt Arcade in The Parks Mall in Arlington and one in the West End off downtown Dallas, there's the Nickelrama arcade in Garland, and Nickel Mania Arcade in Addison

Unfortunately, Tilt in the West End closed a long time ago.

[Steve W]

Unfortunately, Tilt in the West End closed a long time ago.
Really? Dang. I thought it was still open, according to the info I found on Google Maps. Oh well.

Anyone around Dallas know if that "Barcade" style bar is still around? I can't remember its name for the life of me. I know it was in a bad neighborhood, from what I recall on Google Maps.

[98PaceCar]

It's not in Grand Prairie, it's in Grapevine. It's located on the West end of Grapevine Mills Mall. I went into it a year or two ago, wasn't overly impressed with the place.

Being that you're in Waco, have you ever gone up to West and visited the Green Door Arcade? I found it on Google Maps, but I haven't had the chance to go down there and see. Hell, I don't know if it's still in business, it looks like a bunch of nondescript empty storefronts in the Street View on Google Maps. I'd love to find it there, and discover that it's an oasis of old school arcade cabs in some sleepy little Texas town. Play a few games, get some Czech food...

Green Door Arcade? Are you SURE it's a video game arcade? Sounds a bit like a reference to an old school porno title. Might want to make sure of what it is before showing up with a roll of quarters in hand (they may only accept dollars and bigger!)!

[Super Strange]

Is it Barcadia?
http://www.barcadiadallas.com
I just called them and they're still open. Not sure if it's the same one you're talking about though.
Henderson is not the best area in Dallas, no, but there are worse.

But yes, the whole West End Marketplace closed down in 2006. Well, it actually just reopened with the Bodies exhibit. But Tilt was closed before the rest of the building shut down. They moved some antique store down there or something really lame.

[Steve W]

Green Door Arcade? Are you SURE it's a video game arcade? Sounds a bit like a reference to an old school porno title.
According to the single review on Google Maps, it's an actual arcade, just one with a suspicious name. The review said they didn't have a lot of arcade games there but enough to keep her kids occupied for a couple hours. It's got me interested enough to want to check it out the next time I have to drive my mom down there to visit her friend.


Is it Barcadia?
http://www.barcadiadallas.com
I just called them and they're still open. Not sure if it's the same one you're talking about though.
Henderson is not the best area in Dallas, no, but there are worse.
Yes, that's the one. And I only checked out the neighborhood with Google Maps a couple of years ago, and it looked dumpy. But then again, with the fish eye lens camera Google uses for Street View photos, just about every area looks dumpy.

I had no idea that Barcadia was such a nice looking place. I assumed it was a dive that had a bunch of arcade games thrown into it. Hell, that place just about looks respectable. I'm not big on being around people who drink, but I might have to go in there some time soon. Although I have to question their taste. Why Donkey Kong Jr., but not the original? Or maybe I'm the only one who thought the sequels to DK were fairly weak in comparison. But at least the place is redeemed by having a Star Wars Arcade cab and a Black Knight Pinball.

[motley6]

I think the main attraction at Barcadia are the women that come there on Thur-Sun nights, not their Ms. Pac-Man and Street Fighter machines. It's a great bar, but far from a traditional arcade.

San Antonio used to have a place called Diversions Game Room on San Pedro near Northstar Mall. I don't know if they are still open but they had a decent mix of old and new.

[The-Bavis]

That's the kind of information I want to know. I really don't like kids, partly because I have an aversion to loud noises and kids don't seem to have any comprehension of volume control. And mostly because they're annoying and so many parents don't want to punish their children because they don't want to be the 'bad guy', so kids run around like apes and destroy everything they touch since they never get any kind of negative reinforcement to teach them differently.


I mean, it is an arcade. The games are turned up just like they were back in the day, so it is particularly jarring at 10 a.m. when the place is empty and you fire up a machine. Once a lot of the machines are going, it's less noticeable. No guarantees about bratty kids not being there, but the two times I went the kids were reasonable.

I use Aurcade.com to try and find arcades nearby, but even it isn't great (yet?) because it also lists a lot of weird places like dentists offices. Worth a shot to see if there's a small set of games somewhere near you.

[Steve W]

I use Aurcade.com to try and find arcades nearby, but even it isn't great (yet?) because it also lists a lot of weird places like dentists offices. Worth a shot to see if there's a small set of games somewhere near you.

Thanks for that site, I never knew about it. Sadly, they're a bit outdated. For example, the arcade inside Valley View Mall in Dallas is closed I believe. And man, there's a whole lotta arcade games in Denton. Who knew? Other than the local that chronicled them all for that site.

[The-Bavis]

Just posting here because Craigs List would make it appear as though the arcade in Six Flags Mall is/was still open for the time being. They are having another big sell-off like they did a month or two ago.

Just thought I'd let people know so they might stop by before it's gone. If anyone does, let us know what it's like and if it's on the way out!

[Steve W]

There's an arcade in Six Flags Mall? The last time I went into that place was at least a couple of years ago, and there wasn't one. Maybe it's a revived arcade rather than the one that used to be there from the golden age of arcades. I wonder where in the mall they're hiding it. I wish I weren't hobbling around on a crutch from a work injury, I'd go up there and see.

I remember the heyday of the Six Flags Arcade. Shoot, I remember in the late '80s and early '90s that they had two arcades, one close to the middle of the mall and one back behind the food court. I've always liked an oddball game called Solar-Warrior, and they had one for sale there in the early '90s for something like $200. I remember really wanting it, even though it had developed severe graphical glitches. And on the next visit, it had been sold off. :(

[The-Bavis]

There's an arcade in Six Flags Mall? The last time I went into that place was at least a couple of years ago, and there wasn't one. Maybe it's a revived arcade rather than the one that used to be there from the golden age of arcades. I wonder where in the mall they're hiding it. I wish I weren't hobbling around on a crutch from a work injury, I'd go up there and see.

I remember the heyday of the Six Flags Arcade. Shoot, I remember in the late '80s and early '90s that they had two arcades, one close to the middle of the mall and one back behind the food court. I've always liked an oddball game called Solar-Warrior, and they had one for sale there in the early '90s for something like $200. I remember really wanting it, even though it had developed severe graphical glitches. And on the next visit, it had been sold off. :(

I thought I had mentioned it in this thread earlier. I only know of it because of Craig's List. In the ads he states to come by and see the games that are for sale. I last went to that mall in 1998 and I had no idea why it was even open and then I saw the mass of people at the Subway in the food court. That was about 1 of 5 things in there at the time. I assumed the whole place had been demolished and then I started seeing these ads.