Anyone near Mall of America?

[Big Papa Husker]

Just wondering because I may be going there soon. The last time I was there was in 2001, so I was wondering if anything changed.

Then there were a few games stores:

Funcoland
Gamestop
EB (near Circuit City Express)
EBX

Are all those stores still there?

[Ed Oscuro]

highly doubt the Funk'o'tron is still there.

The others, oh yeah. Probably a bunch of 'em. There's multiples of the same chain in there for some stuff. o_O

[mosesshirai]

I used to live in the Arctic(MN) and there isn't much hope for you beyond the mall either.

There is a great record store downtown Mpls called: Let it be.

I also heard they have a more exciting rollercoaster now at MOA.

Laters
:hmm:

[dbiersdorf]

I was just there like a week ago, I only live about 15 minutes away.

They have -

GameSpot (That only sells new games)
GameSpot (That sells all games)
EB Games (Which I think only sells new games too)

[RJ]

I'm a 20 min drive from the Mall. The Funcolands turned Gamestops- there's two, on in the North wing & one in the East (IIRC- I really should have it memorized by now!) EBX is gone, EB Games is still there, on the 1st level.


I used to live in the Arctic(MN) and there isn't much hope for you beyond the mall either.

That's BS. I have at least a half-dozen places to visit.

And knock off the Arctic remarks. We're sick & tired of hearing it this week.

[FlufflePuff]

I used to live in the Arctic(MN) and there isn't much hope for you beyond the mall either.

That's BS. I have at least a half-dozen places to visit.

And knock off the Arctic remarks. We're sick & tired of hearing it this week.

Agreed, tons of places, even near the mall to find good games. Look in the phone book for "Pawn America." Good findings to be had there and one is near the mall. Also, it isn't that cold. Just don't stand outside with exposed flesh for more than a minute or two ;)

[Big Papa Husker]

What the hell happened to EBX? I like that better than the POS small store down on the first level.

[jslithy]

Forget those stores in the MOA, they're just like everywhere else. If you're near the Mall, you have to check out Discland (822 W 98th St Bloomington). They've got everything from the 2600 to the latest systems. Last time I went, I found a bunch of Saturn games I've been looking for.

[Flack]

I haven't been to the MOA in years. The last time I was there was the winter of ... jeez, '96? I was still with the FAA back then and was helping the two offices there upgrade their clients to Windows 95. I stayed at the Days Inn near the mall and ate either at the mall or TGIFridays everyday. Is that place that sells alcoholic slushies (Fat Tuesday) still there? That place was great! I loved seeing the Lego stuff there -- when I went they had a huge dinosaur exhibit made of Legos (I have lots of pictures of it too!). I also remember really digging that Starlog store; I left with a holographic Darth Vader poster I still have.

I found a record store there called Down in the Valley or something like that (I'm pretty sure it had the word Valley in the name). I picked up a couple of rare White Zombie records (vinyl) that week at that place. If this dates the trip, I remember it was the week the single "I'm Just a Girl" from No Doubt came out, and I picked that CD up also that week.

[Big Papa Husker]

Yeah, I have a lot of memories from MOA. I remember going to EBX looking for games and the employees were telling me about the good games. Both Lunars came up, along with Suikoden I and II (which were $29.99), Valkyrie Profile. Sadly, I bought the GH FF7 instead. I kick myself for not buying any of those games :(

[imanerd0011]

I've never been there, but I do remember how SWEET it looks in Mighty Ducks 2. Fulton Reed seemed to love it! lol

[vincewy]

Forget those stores in the MOA, they're just like everywhere else. If you're near the Mall, you have to check out Discland (822 W 98th St Bloomington). They've got everything from the 2600 to the latest systems. Last time I went, I found a bunch of Saturn games I've been looking for.

Do they have a website? If anyone is on the St Paul side, check out HI-Score (http://www.hiscoregames.com), just like Discland, everything from 2600 to current system, the Maplewood location is just 1.5 blocks north of 3M right out of the I-94 Century Ave exit, but most items are in Stillwater store, there used to be a store called Games To Go at Lyndale right out of 494 exit, plans are on the way to set up another game store at the very same location (it was torn down to build even bigger shopping facilities).

[mosesshirai]

[And knock off the Arctic remarks. We're sick & tired of hearing it this week.[/quote]

Wow I was just kidding man. relax. I know its cold there. I grew up there.
Keep warm. I miss the snow but not the really cold days.

Whoever pointed out the pawn america's. Good call. I forgot all about them. I got a psone with a couple of games for $50 years ago there. Man I can't believe I forgot about them.

Wasn't there a "games to go: in St. Louis Park of off Hwy 100 and Excelsior Blvd?

I remember they had a display of all 5 Namco collections back in the day.

"N-A-M-C-O" Man that would look sweet on my shelf now.

[Neil Koch]

Is that place that sells alcoholic slushies (Fat Tuesday) still there?

No, it got shut down after a Mardi Gras party where girls were standing on tables and taking off their tops... apparently the people in Camp Snoopy didn't like it much.

It's a shame, because that was the only bar there that I liked.

[jslithy]

Forget those stores in the MOA, they're just like everywhere else. If you're near the Mall, you have to check out Discland (822 W 98th St Bloomington). They've got everything from the 2600 to the latest systems. Last time I went, I found a bunch of Saturn games I've been looking for.

Do they have a website? If anyone is on the St Paul side, check out HI-Score (http://www.hiscoregames.com), just like Discland, everything from 2600 to current system, the Maplewood location is just 1.5 blocks north of 3M right out of the I-94 Century Ave exit, but most items are in Stillwater store, there used to be a store called Games To Go at Lyndale right out of 494 exit, plans are on the way to set up another game store at the very same location (it was torn down to build even bigger shopping facilities).

No, I don't think they have a website.

I remember going to Games to Go when I was younger. I was sad to see it wasn't there anymore. They were the only store around that carried all the latest imports.

[vincewy]

Wasn't there a "games to go: in St. Louis Park of off Hwy 100 and Excelsior Blvd?

I remember they had a display of all 5 Namco collections back in the day.

"N-A-M-C-O" Man that would look sweet on my shelf now.


Nope, Games To Go was on Lydale (Richfield), unfortunately the owner was a real @$$ (you know that word) who let go a good/knowledgeable manager (Paul manages Hi Score - Maplwood now), and replaced with a few employees who were actually thieves, putting valuble items the store got on eBay and raked in a lot of $ in their own pocket, sooner or later the store had to go, plus the clientele in that areas are mostly jerkoffs, some had the nerve to steal games and had their parents bringing back for return/refunds, I was hoping they'd never bring any stores back in that area.

There's a dif store on Excelsior in SLP, I got a brand new Neo-Geo Gold system for $120 back in 1997, damm, should've bought all 3 they had in stock, it was like a clearance house where merchants cleaned up items and sold them cheaply there, nearby was a game store that had classic items (this is the store you were talking about), unfortunately it was shut down soon enough that I never had chance to see what they had before moving to MN.

[s1lence]

I hate the MOA, the place to Run for your Life. The game stores there suck.

Gamestops and EB games are all that are left now.

[dbiersdorf]

Wasn't there a "games to go: in St. Louis Park of off Hwy 100 and Excelsior Blvd?

You're thinking about "It's All About Games" or something like that, they went out almost 3 years ago. Heh, and I remember the place, I walked up there with my cousins and we almost got kidnapped when we were lik 8. x_x

[Big Papa Husker]

Wasn't there a "games to go: in St. Louis Park of off Hwy 100 and Excelsior Blvd?

You're thinking about "It's All About Games" or something like that, they went out almost 3 years ago. Heh, and I remember the place, I walked up there with my cousins and we almost got kidnapped when we were lik 8. x_x

Was that in a bad part of town?

[ubikuberalles]

I was at MOA just last August during one of my longest road trips in a while (Albuquerque->Omaha->MOA->Duluth->Tulsa (OKGE)->Abilene->back to ABQ). I didn't stay long (I had a room reservation in Duluth and I wanted to get there before midnight) and so I was in Terminator mode. I bought Christmas presents at the Vikings NFL store and at the Lego store (which is awesome!). As a result I didn't get much opportunity to check out the Gaming scene (saw the GameStop store but didn't bother going in).

I love to just wander around the MOA just to check out the variety of stores in the place. The carts at the MOA are always interesting especially when they got someone demoing the products.

[Iron Draggon]

Hey, are any of the rides inside that place any good? It still has a miniature amusement park in the middle of it, right? I wish it was alot closer to me!

[nintendan]

Isn't this the place where Twin Galaxies has video game tournaments once a year?? It's at some store called Sam Goode or something like that??? Anyonw know?

Nintendan

[dbiersdorf]

Was that in a bad part of town?

Oddly enough, not really, I could never see that happeneing again, the guy was just a pyscho, but hey, that's a whole other story.


Hey, are any of the rides inside that place any good? It still has a miniature amusement park in the middle of it, right? I wish it was alot closer to me!

Um, not really, they are all fairly weak, I mean you'll have fun doing the Roller Coaster, Log Shoot, and a few other rides (like the Mighty Axe) once or twice. But nothing like a Six Flags or anything like that.

[Big Papa Husker]

Hey, are any of the rides inside that place any good? It still has a miniature amusement park in the middle of it, right? I wish it was alot closer to me!

When I went in 2001, the minigolf was converted to some stupid little kids cereal store where you could mix a lot of cereal.... real stupid.

Is that KBToys still there?

[mosesshirai]

My wife bought me my first year anniversary present at that KB. It was an N64 with Zelda and an Extra Purple controller I believe. I hope its still open

Laters

[Neil Koch]

Camp Snoopy's rides suck (but it is really meant for little kids).

KB is still open.

The big events take place at the Sam Goody rotunda (if there are any wrestling fans, it's where the first WCW Nitro took place).

My parents live about 2 miles from the MOA so I spent a lot of time there when I was younger.

[RJ]

Yeah, that Fat Tuesday's was the best. Always enjoyed a Swamp Water or an Octane 151. They had dispensers all the way across the wall behind the bar. Shame it shut down. I dont even visit the bars there anymore, though the big sports bar isnt too bad.

They always have something going on in the Sam Goody rotunda- the central location of the Mall itself. I stumbled upon the TG show(s) by accident, & I planned to go last year w/ a buddy but they cancelled it for some stupid reason. I was pissed.

The cereal place is gone/closed now too. Camp Snoopy is aimed at little kids more or less, so adults would probably enjoy Valleyfair more.

The store in Richfield was "It's About Games" & that was my first visit to a game store closing- what a frickin' madhouse. People were on cell phones calling home asking what games they should grab. Big cardboard boxes scattered around full of games to dig through. IIRC everything was at least 50% off. I exercised willpower & only came away w/ Ridge Racer Type 4, NINJA: Shadow of Darkness, & Kagero: Deception 2.

I really gotta start spending more money at these things...