Bullwinkle's Family Food & Fun in Santa Clara was a kick ass over the top arcade that threw Chuck E. Cheese to the floor, I miss it dearly. The big upstairs TILT in the Vallco Fashion Park mall in Cupertino always brings back great memories, first place I played Virtua Racing, Time Traveler on the Sega Hologram system and others. They had a four player cocktail Hot Rod in the back corner, not to mention the big pneumatic shooting gallery - I imagine it's what the Nintendo beam gun shooting ranges in the 1970's were like although the one at TILT was like a setpiece from Pirates of the Caribbean (the ride, not the overhyped film series).
Alas though, my favorite would have to be the old hole in the wall Galaktican Arcade that used to be over on Prospect in San Jose up until about oh, ten years ago. Small, always hopping until well into the early morning, complete with what one could I suppose consider underage hookers outside at the front door.
Still do have the Golfland in Milpitas however, I swear - that place hasn't changed a bit. The games may come and go but the atmostphere of a crowded arcade remains the same.![]()