Arcade Scene, U.S.A.; Just How Bad Is It?

[YoshiM]

Even in malls that are hopping in my home state, arcades have withered away. Heck, the Sheboygan Aladdin's Castle used to get the latest games up until around the mid 90's. That's pretty good for this backwards city. Lately the only BRAND NEW games is some 3D Double Dragon clone whose title escapes me (Demolition Fist I think) and Time Crisis 3. The rest of the games are from late 90's are either racers, fighters or gun games. Beyond those titles (and the staple Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga) are a buttload of redemption games. It's still around but it's not as good as it used to be.

The Fond du Lac Forest Mall had an arcade by Kohls that had some killer games in the early to mid 90's. Older, but cooler. It was the only place I saw an Afterburner sit-down cab and Steel Thunder(? the helicopter game that had the complex controls OF a helicopter). That place eventually changed its inventory to 80% fighting games in the mid 90's and then it closed. A Time Out was opened perhaps 2 years ago (or so) and had a good selection of titles but that was recently phased out and all that's left is a bunch of kiddie rides.

The Washington (?) mall in Green Bay (it's more down town) used to have an arcade called Tilt! that had an awesome mix of everything. It actually stuck to its guns by not going heavy on the redemption and not getting rid of some of the older classics. It too folded up. Another mall, Bay Square (I believe) has a dingy arcade that has nothing BUT older classics. The only real redemption machines I saw were skee ball, which is okay by me. The place remodeled and I don't know if this places exists yet. Oh, they will also build you cabs with like 5 selectable games for maybe $1,000 (if memory serves).

Green Bay also had a huge place called Game World. Had air hockey, foosball, arcade games of varying vintages, pizza and an indoor go-cart track. Their building is up for lease now.

Local bowling alleys used to be little meccas of gamedom but even they have scaled back. Typical games you'd find is a racing game, maybe a shooter, a carnival style gun game (or that Police Trainer) and a redemption machine or two (usually cranes).

One game, or actually one series of game is by far popular and that's Golden Tee. I see that machine everywhere EXCEPT in arcades. Usually they are found in bars or restaurants.

[YoshiM]

Even in malls that are hopping in my home state, arcades have withered away. Heck, the Sheboygan Aladdin's Castle used to get the latest games up until around the mid 90's. That's pretty good for this backwards city. Lately the only BRAND NEW games is some 3D Double Dragon clone whose title escapes me (Demolition Fist I think) and Time Crisis 3. The rest of the games are from late 90's are either racers, fighters or gun games. Beyond those titles (and the staple Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga) are a buttload of redemption games. It's still around but it's not as good as it used to be.

The Fond du Lac Forest Mall had an arcade by Kohls that had some killer games in the early to mid 90's. Older, but cooler. It was the only place I saw an Afterburner sit-down cab and Steel Thunder(? the helicopter game that had the complex controls OF a helicopter). That place eventually changed its inventory to 80% fighting games in the mid 90's and then it closed. A Time Out was opened perhaps 2 years ago (or so) and had a good selection of titles but that was recently phased out and all that's left is a bunch of kiddie rides.

The Washington (?) mall in Green Bay (it's more down town) used to have an arcade called Tilt! that had an awesome mix of everything. It actually stuck to its guns by not going heavy on the redemption and not getting rid of some of the older classics. It too folded up. Another mall, Bay Square (I believe) has a dingy arcade that has nothing BUT older classics. The only real redemption machines I saw were skee ball, which is okay by me. The place remodeled and I don't know if this places exists yet. Oh, they will also build you cabs with like 5 selectable games for maybe $1,000 (if memory serves).

Green Bay also had a huge place called Game World. Had air hockey, foosball, arcade games of varying vintages, pizza and an indoor go-cart track. Their building is up for lease now.

Local bowling alleys used to be little meccas of gamedom but even they have scaled back. Typical games you'd find is a racing game, maybe a shooter, a carnival style gun game (or that Police Trainer) and a redemption machine or two (usually cranes).

One game, or actually one series of game is by far popular and that's Golden Tee. I see that machine everywhere EXCEPT in arcades. Usually they are found in bars or restaurants.

[dhorgan]

Here's the situation in Central Florida:

I've been able to find a grand total of TWO arcades in Central Florida. One place called Rocky's Replay, which wouldn't be too bad if they didn't allow smoking, and another place called XS. They're kind of nifty, (one of those places that gives you credit cards to play the games) but they have a nightclub in the building and you have to deal with DJ's. (Playing DDR whilst listening to DJ Generic and his Phat Beats sucks.)

What really stinks is that about a year ago there was a arcade that specialized in old arcade machines not too far from my house. (And when I say old, I mean they had pre Space-Invaders games there) Unfortuantely, 60% of them didn't work at any one time, and whoever was fixing them didn't do a very good job. So they wound up closing.

And whoever said it was right. The majority of the games are DDR-style, racing, fighting, or gun-based.

Sigh.

[dhorgan]

Here's the situation in Central Florida:

I've been able to find a grand total of TWO arcades in Central Florida. One place called Rocky's Replay, which wouldn't be too bad if they didn't allow smoking, and another place called XS. They're kind of nifty, (one of those places that gives you credit cards to play the games) but they have a nightclub in the building and you have to deal with DJ's. (Playing DDR whilst listening to DJ Generic and his Phat Beats sucks.)

What really stinks is that about a year ago there was a arcade that specialized in old arcade machines not too far from my house. (And when I say old, I mean they had pre Space-Invaders games there) Unfortuantely, 60% of them didn't work at any one time, and whoever was fixing them didn't do a very good job. So they wound up closing.

And whoever said it was right. The majority of the games are DDR-style, racing, fighting, or gun-based.

Sigh.

[Sotenga]

It's horrendous in most places... but...

I thought all hope was lost when Playland closed down. Then I discovered the arcade in my market. Samurai Shodown V, Operation Wolf, and a sit-down Outrun cabinet, among many other games. There is hope... it's a very faint glimmer, but there could be a renaissance of the golden age of arcades.

Oh, and there are three arcades in Hershey Park also. The biggest one has many classic games, like Golden Axe, 1942, Shinobi, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and once again, Outrun. Too bad the cabinet there is stand-up, but the market's a closer drive for me anyway. But seriously, that giant arcade is impressive.

And now, the EGCX is going to be hosted in my home state... I love Pennsylvania.

Forgot one more hot spot for arcades... Wildwood. The boardwalk is full of good arcades, and this one restaurant, Duffers, also shares an arcade and a miniature golf course. They make some excellent food, and I loved their milkshakes, but the main reason I came there was to jam on Buster Bros. Good times... good times.

[Sotenga]

It's horrendous in most places... but...

I thought all hope was lost when Playland closed down. Then I discovered the arcade in my market. Samurai Shodown V, Operation Wolf, and a sit-down Outrun cabinet, among many other games. There is hope... it's a very faint glimmer, but there could be a renaissance of the golden age of arcades.

Oh, and there are three arcades in Hershey Park also. The biggest one has many classic games, like Golden Axe, 1942, Shinobi, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and once again, Outrun. Too bad the cabinet there is stand-up, but the market's a closer drive for me anyway. But seriously, that giant arcade is impressive.

And now, the EGCX is going to be hosted in my home state... I love Pennsylvania.

Forgot one more hot spot for arcades... Wildwood. The boardwalk is full of good arcades, and this one restaurant, Duffers, also shares an arcade and a miniature golf course. They make some excellent food, and I loved their milkshakes, but the main reason I came there was to jam on Buster Bros. Good times... good times.

[Gamereviewgod]

The US has an arcade scene?

[Gamereviewgod]

The US has an arcade scene?

[VinnyT]

Whoever said Southeastern Michigan forgot to mention the best arcade i've ever been too, MArvelous Marvins! About 500 machines and some acient( as in, penny-arcade type of machines). He even has his meters up on the wall to show how much power the place is sucking up. Nice pizza too.

The only other place I can think of that is a nice,big arcade, is in Cedar Point in Ohio. They have what must be about 700 machines, half from Euclid Beach. It even has a copy of SEGA's first EVER game, which is some type of submarine game I believe.

[VinnyT]

Whoever said Southeastern Michigan forgot to mention the best arcade i've ever been too, MArvelous Marvins! About 500 machines and some acient( as in, penny-arcade type of machines). He even has his meters up on the wall to show how much power the place is sucking up. Nice pizza too.

The only other place I can think of that is a nice,big arcade, is in Cedar Point in Ohio. They have what must be about 700 machines, half from Euclid Beach. It even has a copy of SEGA's first EVER game, which is some type of submarine game I believe.

[SoulBlazer]

There was a small aracde growing up in my hometown of Amherst NH that I used to go to as a kid. Fun place to spend some time. And I recall my folks taking me to a Chuck E Cheese a few times as well.

When I started going to college at Plymouth State College in Plymouth NH you can imagine my joy at finding there was a Funspot in Weirs Beach not very far away. My friends and I would go there at least twice a month. The selection of classic games can't be beat and they had some nice new games as well. Plus in the summer you could play mini golf outside as well.

Now I live in Rhode Island, and a small arcade at the Rhode Island Mall close to me closed down a few months ago. It was typical of most arcades -- DDR machines, redemption games, fighters. I still go to the Dave and Busters in the Providence Place Mall, though. They have some really unique games (Konami has a firefighting game, for example, and Sega has a airplane 747 simulation) that just could never be done in the home market. I also LOVE playing Sega's Star Wars Triliogy Arcade there. Plus they have a good ammount of ticket and gambling machines, as well as some skiball. You can get drinks at your machine as you play and there's a nice restruant and pool table/bar area in there as well.

I wonder sometimes how Dave and Busters stays open, but it must be because they have so much under one roof and because a lot of their games are unique and just not playable at home.

[SoulBlazer]

There was a small aracde growing up in my hometown of Amherst NH that I used to go to as a kid. Fun place to spend some time. And I recall my folks taking me to a Chuck E Cheese a few times as well.

When I started going to college at Plymouth State College in Plymouth NH you can imagine my joy at finding there was a Funspot in Weirs Beach not very far away. My friends and I would go there at least twice a month. The selection of classic games can't be beat and they had some nice new games as well. Plus in the summer you could play mini golf outside as well.

Now I live in Rhode Island, and a small arcade at the Rhode Island Mall close to me closed down a few months ago. It was typical of most arcades -- DDR machines, redemption games, fighters. I still go to the Dave and Busters in the Providence Place Mall, though. They have some really unique games (Konami has a firefighting game, for example, and Sega has a airplane 747 simulation) that just could never be done in the home market. I also LOVE playing Sega's Star Wars Triliogy Arcade there. Plus they have a good ammount of ticket and gambling machines, as well as some skiball. You can get drinks at your machine as you play and there's a nice restruant and pool table/bar area in there as well.

I wonder sometimes how Dave and Busters stays open, but it must be because they have so much under one roof and because a lot of their games are unique and just not playable at home.

[boatofcar]

The only arcade left near my hometown in WV is in the mall. It is a Tilt!, and aside from DDR, or whatever clone of it it is, all the games are constantly for sale.

A little OT: besides the Dragon's Lair games, what was the first game that you remember was 50 cents?

[boatofcar]

The only arcade left near my hometown in WV is in the mall. It is a Tilt!, and aside from DDR, or whatever clone of it it is, all the games are constantly for sale.

A little OT: besides the Dragon's Lair games, what was the first game that you remember was 50 cents?

[jaydubnb]

The arcade scene here is teh suck. All of my old hotspots are dead (place in Bay Ridge, mall at Kings Plaza), just a shadow of their former greatness (Coney Island/Astroland), or one of those high priced arcades where everything costs $1 and/or you have to buy credits on those annoying swipe cards (Times Square).

The only place that has the old, early 90s feel is the China Town Fair. Lots of fighters, some shooters, some puzzlers, DDR (of course) and always some good competition . I'll have to swing by this week to see if Slug V is there!

[jaydubnb]

The arcade scene here is teh suck. All of my old hotspots are dead (place in Bay Ridge, mall at Kings Plaza), just a shadow of their former greatness (Coney Island/Astroland), or one of those high priced arcades where everything costs $1 and/or you have to buy credits on those annoying swipe cards (Times Square).

The only place that has the old, early 90s feel is the China Town Fair. Lots of fighters, some shooters, some puzzlers, DDR (of course) and always some good competition . I'll have to swing by this week to see if Slug V is there!

[lostsage]

it crappy in new mexico. the only half way decent arcade i've been to here is hinkle family fun center. it has current games (star wars e:1 pinball machine too), nickle arcade full of half broken old school games.

been up to denver, and they had an awesome arcade (or at least the best i've seen so far). dave and busters, but the price is insane. still have no problem dropping 50 bucks on games alone.

[lostsage]

it crappy in new mexico. the only half way decent arcade i've been to here is hinkle family fun center. it has current games (star wars e:1 pinball machine too), nickle arcade full of half broken old school games.

been up to denver, and they had an awesome arcade (or at least the best i've seen so far). dave and busters, but the price is insane. still have no problem dropping 50 bucks on games alone.

[Flack]

Check out this review of Cactus Jack's, an arcade less than five miles from my house.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/view...ghlight=cactus

There are three malls near my house, each of them with decent arcades as well.

[Flack]

Check out this review of Cactus Jack's, an arcade less than five miles from my house.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/view...ghlight=cactus

There are three malls near my house, each of them with decent arcades as well.