Shmup sighting (Phoenix, AZ)

Post by **undamned** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:49 pm

Just found a Zero Gunner 2 cab at the "Eatza Pizza" on the NW corner of 35th Ave. and Glendale Ave. More and more I'm thinking that food establishments are the place to look for shmups.

-ud

DJ Incompetent · Post by **DJ Incompetent** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:01 pm

Movie Theaters are also great places to look.

I've found Zero Gunner 2, Strikers Plus, Solar Assult, Several different Raidens. Then there's Galaga....always, always Galaga....

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:17 pm

I saw a 19XX machine in a Dish Pizza restaurant in Kansas City, MO about a year ago. First arcade shmup cab I'd seen in a while.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:46 pm

Golf Land in South Pheonix has a buttload of great stuff - i believe Strikers 3 is there.

howmuchkeefe · Post by **howmuchkeefe** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:23 pm

I might have to drop by that Chuy's on McKellips in Mesa soon and see if they still have Progear there.

BBH · Post by **BBH** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:37 pm

I've never seen a Zero Gunner 2 cab in person, but there's quite a few Zero Gunner 1 cabinets out there...

GateofThunderforceIII · Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:46 pm

For fellow shmuppers at or near San Diego, Mission Valley Mall's Tilt Arcade has ESPGaluda. Sad to see it doesn't have any high score entries whenever I go and play. Then I leave it filled with high scores with my initials. Too bad 2P side's slow-mo button craps out sometimes. Great arcade place...also has Soul Calibur III Arcade, House of the Dead 4, Scud Race, CvS 2, Tekken 5 DR and Virtua Fighter 4 Evo. Used to have Mars Matrix but they got rid of it. Thanks to PaCrappa and one other (who's name I don't recall) who mentioned this about a year ago when I first got here. All other arcades here seem to suck.

gunbird18 · Post by **gunbird18** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:22 am

Our movie theater used to get Raiden Fighters 2 in quite a bit, as they rotated games every so often. There is an actual "arcade" in Columbia, MO that had Viper Phase 1. We apparently have Seibu Fever here in MO.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:27 am

Ah man I found this arcade downtown that has 2 Ketsui's, 2 ESPGaluda IIs, DDP, DOJ, DOJ Black Label, Ibara, Ibara Black Label, Dangun Feveron, 2 Pink Sweets', Guwange, ESPrade, Battle Bakraid, Battle Garegga, Batrider, Raiden Fighters Jet, Raiden DX, Raiden III, Viper Phase One, 19XX, G-Stream, 2 Shikigami no Shiro III's, 2 Triggerheart Exelica's, Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga, Giga Wing 2, Strikers 1945 II, Strikers 1945 III, Strikers 1945 Plus, Sonic Wings Limited, Truxton II, Detana! Twinbee, Gradius III, Gradius IV, Prehistoric Ilse 2, Salamander 2, Blazing Star, Darius Gaiden, G-Darius, Shienryu, Fire Barrel, Dragon Spirit, 4 Senko no Ronde DX's, Thunder Dragon 2, Layer Section, and some other shooters I can't remember! You guy's gotta check it out next time you're in Japan!

:guffaw!:

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:47 am

Since my shmup hangout closed down about two years ago, I haven't really found a lot of them outside of my own collection. I know of one place in the area with a Dimahoo, and I think the Gameworks in Seattle might still have a Raiden Fighters (which I happen to own myself.) Beyond that, I'm not sure what's out there.

CodeMonkey · Post by **CodeMonkey** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:06 am

There used to be a Raiden II(I think, been a really long time) in a tiny little bar called Targy's on the top of Queen Anne hill. I will have to go by there one of these days to see if it is still around.

Post by **undamned** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:41 am

DJ Incompetent wrote:Solar Assult

Did you ever play it? If so, was it any good?
-ud

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:41 am

Bus stations might be a good place to look, actually. One locally has Twin Cobra and a really really sweet Data East pinball table, among others.

Good call on pizza places.

A hockey rink in Richmond has Scud Race (the Super GT version) I need to go there with quarters someday.

Varuna · Post by **Varuna** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:56 pm

The Laundromat I use has three machines:

Strikers 1945 Plus
Raiden Fighters 2
Twin Eagle 2.

I'm never bored while doing my laundry.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:26 pm

The Engine Room, a really dirty club in Houston (but, Porcupine Tree played there) has a Storm Blade, of all shmups.

Damocles · Post by **Damocles** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:41 pm

Good find on the Zero Gunner 2 cab. The real question, however, is whether or not you kicked ass on it.

marril159 · Post by **marril159** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:42 pm

Castles N' Coasters has Raiden Fighters, along with craploads of other stuff... but Phoenix area arcade enthusiasts should already know that

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:02 pm

Well, the shmup sighting scene, other then Galaga, stinks in the Denver area. There is Nickle-A-Play out in Aurora, but the place looks like you'd have to take penacillin for a month after you go there. (Haven't checked out their location up in Arvada.) It had a few shmups, forget which ones, and a Starblade arcade cab. Dave & Busters out here doesn't have squat...other then Galaga!

I played Aero Fighters at a local Marriot where there was a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering, but that was back in '97. Before that, I'd probably have to go back at least 5 years.

DJ Incompetent · Post by **DJ Incompetent** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:00 pm

undamned wrote:
DJ Incompetent wrote:Solar Assult
Did you ever play it? If so, was it any good?
-ud

It worked well enough. You needed to be a little forceful on the button to make the thing select a powerup. I haven't checked back to see if the machine is still there after a year.5 . After playing that Zoradius mini-game on ZOE2, that's about all the 3D gradius fix I'd ever need.

Damocles wrote:Good find on the Zero Gunner 2 cab. The real question, however, is whether or not you kicked ass on it.

I went long enough on .50 to piss my girl off as I made us late to the movie. On two occasions.

I'm not dating that one anymore.

GateofThunderforceIII · Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:49 pm

Nut and Busters?!! That place BLOWS!! If they don't have Virtua Cop 3, then their best game is the shooting alley (if they have one) where you shoot real targets with a rifle. WAY too many gun video games and it seems they're always filled with Need For Speed Undergrounds. BLECK!! It's the dave4shmups of arcades. Just kidding dave!!!!

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:57 am

GateofThunderforceIII wrote:Nut and Busters?!! That place BLOWS!! If they don't have Virtua Cop 3, then their best game is the shooting alley (if they have one) where you shoot real targets with a rifle. WAY too many gun video games and it seems they're always filled with Need For Speed Undergrounds. BLECK!! It's the dave4shmups of arcades. Just kidding dave!!!!

Hey now!

I LOVE Virtua Cop 3! It's the best light gun game I've ever played, and it's also the only game with bullet-time that I've seen that doesn't just use that effect to look cool.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:23 am

Is Solar Assault such a rare game?

I know an arcade here that has it, I've went there once, but didn't play it.

Problem is SO damn far away from my home, it's just not worthy

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:37 am

Shatterhand wrote:Is Solar Assault such a rare game?

I know an arcade here that has it, I've went there once, but didn't play it.

Problem is SO damn far away from my home, it's just not worthy

That's a great question; I just REALLY wish that Konami had released it on the PS1. IMO, they should release games like that either in another comp, or on XBLA.

@DJ, how does Zoradius play? I've read it described as "Gradius III in First-Person". Unfortunately, no vids of it on Youtube.

HayakawaKen · Post by **HayakawaKen** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:56 am

Solar Assault felt like Space Harrier/Night Striker, except with the usual Gradius powerups. They had one machine here in San Antonio at Gameworks for quite a while till the monitor went kaput. Other odd titles here were Wyvern Wings, which was at an old mall arcade, and I remember the arcade chain here used to carry all sorts of shmups like Viper, Hotdog Storm etc.. it was the first place I ever played Giga Wing... sadly those have been reduced to Raiden Fighters 2 and sTrikers..

GateofThunderforceIII · Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:36 am

Speaking of Wyvern Wings, the bowling alley at McChord Air Force Base, Washington State of all places had one when I left. Of course, I've put in a couple of quarters and it never worked. Plus, it also had Raiden Fighters! I remember playing it in front of my boss during one of our "breaks" and he asked if I've played the game before. Guess I was doing good. Also, the old BX had Strikers III. Don't remember if it was brought over to the new BX. It just hit me...not bad for a military base full of Madden loving, GTA obsessed LAMERS.

kccttzj · Post by **kccttzj** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:30 am

DJ Incompetent wrote:Movie Theaters are also great places to look.

I've found Zero Gunner 2, Strikers Plus, Solar Assult, Several different Raidens. Then there's Galaga....always, always Galaga....

I notices you live in Ypsi. Are any of those games in that area?

The only shooters I've come across are Raiden Fighters Jet, Strikers 1945 II, and an Ultracade machine with Truxton II and a few other shooters. I know a few people that had come across some other ones, but they were pretty far away. It sucks though because I used to play Strikers 1945 II before or after work, but they moved the machine to another locaton. There's so many places that have arcade machines, so I always make sure to look and see what they have if I notice them.

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:36 pm

NTSC-J wrote:Ah man I found this arcade downtown that has 2 Ketsui's, 2 ESPGaluda IIs, DDP, DOJ, DOJ Black Label, Ibara, Ibara Black Label, Dangun Feveron, 2 Pink Sweets', Guwange, ESPrade, Battle Bakraid, Battle Garegga, Batrider, Raiden Fighters Jet, Raiden DX, Raiden III, Viper Phase One, 19XX, G-Stream, 2 Shikigami no Shiro III's, 2 Triggerheart Exelica's, Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga, Giga Wing 2, Strikers 1945 II, Strikers 1945 III, Strikers 1945 Plus, Sonic Wings Limited, Truxton II, Detana! Twinbee, Gradius III, Gradius IV, Prehistoric Ilse 2, Salamander 2, Blazing Star, Darius Gaiden, G-Darius, Shienryu, Fire Barrel, Dragon Spirit, 4 Senko no Ronde DX's, Thunder Dragon 2, Layer Section, and some other shooters I can't remember! You guy's gotta check it out next time you're in Japan!

:guffaw!:

Wow, we had no idea shooters were so much more popular in Japan. I feel so much better knowing that there isn't a single shooter cab within 50 miles of me. Thanks!

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:16 pm

GateofThunderforceIII wrote:Speaking of Wyvern Wings, the bowling alley at McChord Air Force Base, Washington State of all places had one when I left. Of course, I've put in a couple of quarters and it never worked. Plus, it also had Raiden Fighters! I remember playing it in front of my boss during one of our "breaks" and he asked if I've played the game before. Guess I was doing good. Also, the old BX had Strikers III. Don't remember if it was brought over to the new BX. It just hit me...not bad for a military base full of Madden loving, GTA obsessed LAMERS.

Oddly enough, I was down at McChord just a few weeks ago (I went to go play the golf course on base with someone) although I never got out to the BX when I was there. In my very limited experience with them, I've actually found that shmups on military bases aren't that hard to find (I know the PX over at Fort Lewis had a Raiden DX last time I was there, and the bowling alley there generally had 1 or 2 as well.

kjs77 · Post by **kjs77** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:50 pm

I saw a Strikers cab at a sports bar called Deadbeats in Scottsdale. Then while I was in Vegas over the week I played a shmup called Mars Matrix at New York New York's arcade. In the near future I'm going to have to take a trip out to Golfland. I haven't been there in years and would like to see what shmups they have that Castles doesn't.

DJ Incompetent · Post by **DJ Incompetent** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:16 pm

kccttzj wrote:
DJ Incompetent wrote:Movie Theaters are also great places to look.

I've found Zero Gunner 2, Strikers Plus, Solar Assult, Several different Raidens. Then there's Galaga....always, always Galaga....
I notices you live in Ypsi. Are any of those games in that area?

Um...not so much. Zero Gunner was in a Kalamazoo theater when I was colleging at Western. Solar Assult was in another at the same city. Strikers was at some cinema near Grand Rapids when I was still with that girl. Raiden something was in Kzoo as well.

Come to think of it, There's a Raiden DX at Showcase Cenema by US23 on Carpenter. But the P1 stick doesn't let you move diagonal.
Strikers Plus would be at this place called Putters on Washtenaw.
There may still be a Solar Assult in Brighton at somethin' called Blasters off Grand River. $10 says that place has to be out of business by now.
Raidens...uhhh...I think I saw a Jet at Buffalo Wild Wings in Ann Arbor and the Ypsi-Arbor Bowling place a little bit down Washtenaw from the Putters. You know Pinball Petes right? South University A^2? They got the Raiden 2 and Fighters 1, probably still with the vortex sucking broken screens. I think an Aero Fighters 2 is there also. I don't remember being able to shoot though.

So where are you located? Where are your games at? Let us pool our knowledge 'n such.