Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Yes, I'll admit it . . .I'm am arcade game geek. If i'm anywhere near the seaside or any decent arcades, you'll find me armed with me notebook and pen because I'm the video game equivalent of the trainspotter.
I became hopelessly seduced by arcades in 1984 and for the past 25 years I've kept a hard back book with the names and makers of every video game I've ever seen. The total runs to about 1350 now, although it's slowed down considerably in the past 5 years.
I remember Blackpool back in '84 and how it seemed like video game nirvana . . .a weeks holiday wasn't long enough to see 'em all. Sadly a pale shadow of the eighties last time i was there a few years back.
So . . .if anybody else is as sad as me and wants to share some experiences - feel free to expand this thread.
I became hopelessly seduced by arcades in 1984 and for the past 25 years I've kept a hard back book with the names and makers of every video game I've ever seen. The total runs to about 1350 now, although it's slowed down considerably in the past 5 years.
I remember Blackpool back in '84 and how it seemed like video game nirvana . . .a weeks holiday wasn't long enough to see 'em all. Sadly a pale shadow of the eighties last time i was there a few years back.
So . . .if anybody else is as sad as me and wants to share some experiences - feel free to expand this thread.
Shoot, dodge, collect . . .it's the ONLY way to be !!
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Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Having some tokens from those arcades that hailed from the 1980s-1990s are cool momentos to keep and cherish. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Yeah its always exciting going to a new seaside town and entering an old neglected arcade hoping that maybe...just maybe...they have some long forgotten classics at the back. I've never been to Blackpool, but Great Yarmouth back in the late 80's to mid 90's was amazing.
Most of the time I leave kind of disappointed, not having made any grand discoveries, but now and again I strike gold. Brave Firefighters in Southend was a real find for me. If I find a cab/game that interests me I like to take a photo, which is pretty trainspotter-ish I suppose.
I've been on the look out for Planet Harriers for years. I've heard reports that its not actually that great, but I really want to play it. I've even been eyeing up the twin sit down unit on Coinopexpress for a while. Im lucky that my girl likes arcade games but I think that may be one purchase too far.
Most of the time I leave kind of disappointed, not having made any grand discoveries, but now and again I strike gold. Brave Firefighters in Southend was a real find for me. If I find a cab/game that interests me I like to take a photo, which is pretty trainspotter-ish I suppose.
I've been on the look out for Planet Harriers for years. I've heard reports that its not actually that great, but I really want to play it. I've even been eyeing up the twin sit down unit on Coinopexpress for a while. Im lucky that my girl likes arcade games but I think that may be one purchase too far.
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Well . . .a bit before the advent of the internet and youtube, there was no way to record much about video games so keeping a written record was the best I could do.PC Engine Fan X! wrote:Having some tokens from those arcades that hailed from the 1980s-1990s are cool momentos to keep and cherish. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Magazines sometimes carried some pics and you had the console conversions of some games but that was about it.
I even tried hiring a movie camera but the resulting movies were too flickery to be of any use. Arcade owners were a bit wary of me filming anyway.
No . . .I've never come across one either. If it's a japanese only release then those are pretty rare to see outside of London. The greatest jap machines I found were Parodius and Thunderforce AC in Soho.jase25 wrote: I've been on the look out for Planet Harriers for years. I've heard reports that its not actually that great, but I really want to play it. I've even been eyeing up the twin sit down unit on Coinopexpress for a while. Im lucky that my girl likes arcade games but I think that may be one purchase too far.
Shoot, dodge, collect . . .it's the ONLY way to be !!
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
one of my fondest holiday memories as a kid was a trip to Seahouses (Northumberland) which at the time (mid 80's) has several arcades. I remember playing Starwars and Tron and was hooked. In later years I remember playing On ivan 'ironman' Stewarts super off road racer and Spacegun. yep Seahouses has some great memories.
Another good place in the early to mid 90's was the Metrocentre in Gateshead. I remember playing such classics as Power Drift, Hard Drivin, The Simpsons, TMNT and a weird 3d flight sim with a motion tracking helmet.
My 2 earliest memories of arcades from the early 80's (when I was just a toddler) was being allowed to 'help' my older brother play a tabletop Space Invaders in a hotel in Exeter and also help him play Pole Position in the topicana in Weston Super mare
I also used to spend many a weekend in Whitley Bay, squandering my pocket money on a combination of ikari warriors, double dragon, 1943 and laser quest.
good times
Another good place in the early to mid 90's was the Metrocentre in Gateshead. I remember playing such classics as Power Drift, Hard Drivin, The Simpsons, TMNT and a weird 3d flight sim with a motion tracking helmet.
My 2 earliest memories of arcades from the early 80's (when I was just a toddler) was being allowed to 'help' my older brother play a tabletop Space Invaders in a hotel in Exeter and also help him play Pole Position in the topicana in Weston Super mare
I also used to spend many a weekend in Whitley Bay, squandering my pocket money on a combination of ikari warriors, double dragon, 1943 and laser quest.
good times
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All Your Shmups are belong to us!
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Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
My arcade experiences - the same one's which have me in love with the collecting scene today - were all from seaside towns. Primarily, my grandparents lived in Skegness, and we visited them three times a year, often for summer or Christmas. It's not a place I could recommend for anything except the main strip (about 1, 1/2 miles approx) just behind the seafront which literally had eight massive arcades dotted down it's length, and 10-15 more round other streets and further down the beach.
When I was a kid it was magical. At 10p a go I used to be able to make a pound last for hours! (I learned to get good at games properly to make my money go further).
Here's some of what specifically remember playing back then and the names of some of the arcades, most of which are sadly no more. The arcade listed aren't definitive (they had tons!) but only what I remember specifically visiting each place to play over the years:
Harrison's Amusements & Ice Rink (pic looks way older than I think it actually is. Early 80's I reckon.)

Star Wars (Upright)
Space Harrier
Pac Land
Dragon's Lair
Paperboy
Gun.Smoke
Wonderboy
(Fun City - little place opposite Harrison's, had a kids high slide next to it, and that's all I can find a pic of.)

Star Wars (Cockpit)
Blood Bros
Carrier Airwing
Tron
Altered Beast
Off Road
Hotel Bar (Just a little down the road. Sometimes used to go in there with the family when we were kids and sit in the lounge area - always empty. Had a pool table and only one arcade:)

Space Invaders (original)
Skegness Pier (Massive place - about six huge rooms, but oddly I never spent much time there)


Punch-Out
Cosmo Gang (Original)
Ghost Hunt
Raiden
Mad Dog Mcree
Darkstalkers
The Punisher
Funland (Opposite the Pier amusements arcade - my absolute favourite of them all. Spent more time there than anywhere else!)
Race Drivin'
After Burner
Outrun
Chase H.Q.
Space Harrier
S.T.U.N Runner
Final Fight
Street Fighter 2
Beast Busters
Crime Fighters
Vendetta
Mercs
Eswat
Aliens
Sunsetriders
Super S.P.Y. (or whatever that 007 Data East rip off is)
Narc
Robocop 2
Robocop
Golden Axe
Numan Athletics
Ninja Gaiden
The Simpsons
Operation Wolf
(Lings/Oasis Amusements: next door to Funland was this hidden little place

Whac a Mole
Whac a Croc
Undercover Cops (JP version - the first time I distinctly remember seeing Japanese text in an arcade)
Virtua Cop
Botton's (a free to enter amusement park just to the right of the pier).

Star Wars (Cockpit)
Some really old stuff - can't remember the names.
Sengoku
1942
Lucky Strike (big place at the end of the main strip - opened a little later than the others. Remember this place for making me fall in love with the Neo.Geo jingle.)
EDIT: BITES THE DUST
Its seems a fire in 2007 has put Lucky Strike out of the picture forever.
BEFORE:

AFTER:

Virtua Fighter
World Heroes
Fatal Fury
League Bowling
Rail Chase
Tower Cinema and amusements

Final Fight (JP version - I remember being distinctly surprised when I saw Jessica in her bra. I was about seven at the time and used to watch all the attracts when my money was gone.
Winthorpe (On the seafront, about 2 miles down)
Operation Thunderbolt
Double Dragon
Street Fighter ('89)
Aliens
Pole Position
Super Hang On
Sonic Blast Man
Mortal Kombat
World Heroes 2
Time Crisis
TMNT
Gauntlet
Rampage
Final Fight
There are tons more I can't sit think of now (it would be stupid to try to name them all anyway, lol). Somewhat sadly, these memories are partly responsible for what's made me into the gaming geek I am today, and why I love retro so much.
As you can see I didn't play shmups much when I was a kid.
Man, I really enjoyed writing that. Nostalgic... and really sad when I think they're all but gone.
When I was a kid it was magical. At 10p a go I used to be able to make a pound last for hours! (I learned to get good at games properly to make my money go further).
Here's some of what specifically remember playing back then and the names of some of the arcades, most of which are sadly no more. The arcade listed aren't definitive (they had tons!) but only what I remember specifically visiting each place to play over the years:
Harrison's Amusements & Ice Rink (pic looks way older than I think it actually is. Early 80's I reckon.)

Star Wars (Upright)
Space Harrier
Pac Land
Dragon's Lair
Paperboy
Gun.Smoke
Wonderboy
(Fun City - little place opposite Harrison's, had a kids high slide next to it, and that's all I can find a pic of.)

Star Wars (Cockpit)
Blood Bros
Carrier Airwing
Tron
Altered Beast
Off Road
Hotel Bar (Just a little down the road. Sometimes used to go in there with the family when we were kids and sit in the lounge area - always empty. Had a pool table and only one arcade:)

Space Invaders (original)
Skegness Pier (Massive place - about six huge rooms, but oddly I never spent much time there)

Punch-Out
Cosmo Gang (Original)
Ghost Hunt
Raiden
Mad Dog Mcree
Darkstalkers
The Punisher
Funland (Opposite the Pier amusements arcade - my absolute favourite of them all. Spent more time there than anywhere else!)
Race Drivin'
After Burner
Outrun
Chase H.Q.
Space Harrier
S.T.U.N Runner
Final Fight
Street Fighter 2
Beast Busters
Crime Fighters
Vendetta
Mercs
Eswat
Aliens
Sunsetriders
Super S.P.Y. (or whatever that 007 Data East rip off is)
Narc
Robocop 2
Robocop
Golden Axe
Numan Athletics
Ninja Gaiden
The Simpsons
Operation Wolf
(Lings/Oasis Amusements: next door to Funland was this hidden little place

Whac a Mole
Whac a Croc
Undercover Cops (JP version - the first time I distinctly remember seeing Japanese text in an arcade)
Virtua Cop
Botton's (a free to enter amusement park just to the right of the pier).

Star Wars (Cockpit)
Some really old stuff - can't remember the names.
Sengoku
1942
Lucky Strike (big place at the end of the main strip - opened a little later than the others. Remember this place for making me fall in love with the Neo.Geo jingle.)
EDIT: BITES THE DUST

BEFORE:

AFTER:


Virtua Fighter
World Heroes
Fatal Fury
League Bowling
Rail Chase
Tower Cinema and amusements
Final Fight (JP version - I remember being distinctly surprised when I saw Jessica in her bra. I was about seven at the time and used to watch all the attracts when my money was gone.
Winthorpe (On the seafront, about 2 miles down)
Operation Thunderbolt
Double Dragon
Street Fighter ('89)
Aliens
Pole Position
Super Hang On
Sonic Blast Man
Mortal Kombat
World Heroes 2
Time Crisis
TMNT
Gauntlet
Rampage
Final Fight
There are tons more I can't sit think of now (it would be stupid to try to name them all anyway, lol). Somewhat sadly, these memories are partly responsible for what's made me into the gaming geek I am today, and why I love retro so much.
As you can see I didn't play shmups much when I was a kid.

Man, I really enjoyed writing that. Nostalgic... and really sad when I think they're all but gone.

Last edited by Skykid on Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die
ChurchOfSolipsism wrote: ALso, this is how SKykid usually posts
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
@Skykid: I had the dubious pleasure of visiting Skeggy a few weeks ago. While it was depressing to see so many hideously overweight people being attacked by wasps, I would still venture that it is still worth a visit, even today. The Pier is pretty awesome, with some interesting titles like Final Furlong, Dance Dance Revolution X (which I've wanted to play for ages), shit loads of light gun games and so on. Hardly the Mecca it used to be, but I certainly enjoyed it 

Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Wow, that's weird man - never met anyone who actually went there apart from me. Although my grandparents haven't been there for a long time now, we actually went back about 3 years ago for a weekend break (and I secretly wanted to see what was left of the old arcades), but it was kind of sad.MX7 wrote:@Skykid: I had the dubious pleasure of visiting Skeggy a few weeks ago. While it was depressing to see so many hideously overweight people being attacked by wasps, I would still venture that it is still worth a visit, even today. The Pier is pretty awesome, with some interesting titles like Final Furlong, Dance Dance Revolution X (which I've wanted to play for ages), shit loads of light gun games and so on. Hardly the Mecca it used to be, but I certainly enjoyed it
I think all of those obese alcoholics were always there, just didn't notice them when I was kid. It is after all, a good old working class holiday destination.

Although a lot of the arcades are still there, they're crowded with gambling machines now. It was really a shame, but... that's the way it goes eh?

Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die
ChurchOfSolipsism wrote: ALso, this is how SKykid usually posts
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Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
There was this Modesto, CA based arcade called the "Regency Game Palace" that used tokens on all the arcade cabinets and pinball machines. Sometimes, if you put in a five dollar bill into the token dispenser, it would give you between 50-70 tokens at a time. So with all those tokens, if I played the right games, I could easily make a fiver last for about 2 1/2 to three or more hours. (This was better than watching a bargin matinee movie because of the interactive entertainment factor as well.) ^_~
And the best thing was walking inside the Regency Game Palace just before they flipped on the main power switch and getting in front of a pinball machine when it was finally turned on. Upon the power being turned on, some pinball machines would display two credits...if you were quick enough, you could play the two games without the need for tokens anyways. Otherwise, the CPU would cancel them and that would be the end of the "two free credits" for the day. (I tried turning off the respective pinball machine that would give the two intial credits upon being powered up for the day and turning it back on but the dot matrix display wouldn't display the the two free credits...it only came on when turned on first thing in the morning and no other time whatsoever.) ^_~
So from 1988 to June of 1994, the RGP arcade had a great run while it lasted. Upon it's very last couple of days of remaining open due to losing it's lease, they had a 1,000 tokens for $10 blowout sale. Crazy if you were to ask me. ^_~
Among some of the the cool arcade shmup titles that were available for play at this particular RGP arcade were:
Data East's Vapor Trail
Capcom's Area 88
Capcom's U.N. Squadron (sequel to Area 88 shmup title)
Capcom's Forgotten Worlds
Galaga -- Bally Midway version upright
Video System Co.'s Turbo Force -- three player PCB version with three Happ joystick setup
Capcom's 3 Wonders: Chariots
Banpresto's Space Fortress Macross -- from U.S. arcade distributor Fabtek
Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden II -- just made it's debut back in February of 1994 courtesy of Fabtek (even had a "New Game" sign placed on top of the cabinet to promote the fact that it was a brand new arcade shmup title as well)
Plus this RGP was the place to be for pinball wizards, no less than 12 to fifteen machines lined up for your enjoyment -- a mixture of Bally Midway, Williams, and Gottlieb pinball tables. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
And the best thing was walking inside the Regency Game Palace just before they flipped on the main power switch and getting in front of a pinball machine when it was finally turned on. Upon the power being turned on, some pinball machines would display two credits...if you were quick enough, you could play the two games without the need for tokens anyways. Otherwise, the CPU would cancel them and that would be the end of the "two free credits" for the day. (I tried turning off the respective pinball machine that would give the two intial credits upon being powered up for the day and turning it back on but the dot matrix display wouldn't display the the two free credits...it only came on when turned on first thing in the morning and no other time whatsoever.) ^_~
So from 1988 to June of 1994, the RGP arcade had a great run while it lasted. Upon it's very last couple of days of remaining open due to losing it's lease, they had a 1,000 tokens for $10 blowout sale. Crazy if you were to ask me. ^_~
Among some of the the cool arcade shmup titles that were available for play at this particular RGP arcade were:
Data East's Vapor Trail
Capcom's Area 88
Capcom's U.N. Squadron (sequel to Area 88 shmup title)
Capcom's Forgotten Worlds
Galaga -- Bally Midway version upright
Video System Co.'s Turbo Force -- three player PCB version with three Happ joystick setup
Capcom's 3 Wonders: Chariots
Banpresto's Space Fortress Macross -- from U.S. arcade distributor Fabtek
Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden II -- just made it's debut back in February of 1994 courtesy of Fabtek (even had a "New Game" sign placed on top of the cabinet to promote the fact that it was a brand new arcade shmup title as well)
Plus this RGP was the place to be for pinball wizards, no less than 12 to fifteen machines lined up for your enjoyment -- a mixture of Bally Midway, Williams, and Gottlieb pinball tables. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
I can say I have lots of good memories in arcades, also at most of the Seaside arcades over here. I can just remember most of them, usually spending way too long on a game, while people were either tired of waiting for me to finish, or just happy to see how I play.
Beat almost all the Time Crisis series machines in Blackpool in one day not too long ago, getting 1st place on every machine too
I don't recommend there though, but some of the arcade's staff were going crazy over my plays...
The rest of my arcade time has been playing all the lightgun games in all the local places that used to have them, well some still do, but they are all in such poor conditions, I just can't enjoy it much.
Have been thinking about going to Skegness in the past, since it seems to still have some arcades, but its quite a bit far from here. All the places on this side of the country just seem to have just one good gun game, and that's about it.
Beat almost all the Time Crisis series machines in Blackpool in one day not too long ago, getting 1st place on every machine too

The rest of my arcade time has been playing all the lightgun games in all the local places that used to have them, well some still do, but they are all in such poor conditions, I just can't enjoy it much.
Have been thinking about going to Skegness in the past, since it seems to still have some arcades, but its quite a bit far from here. All the places on this side of the country just seem to have just one good gun game, and that's about it.
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Is there much in Blackpool these daysSmraedis wrote: Beat almost all the Time Crisis series machines in Blackpool in one day not too long ago. . . .

It was awesome in the 80s but I was there a few years back and, well, disappointed was putting it mildly . . .

Shoot, dodge, collect . . .it's the ONLY way to be !!
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Don't bother, it's a shadow of its former self. It used to be an arcade haven, most I found last time were the odd turtles four player cab, some modern gun games (quite a few in Lucky Strike) and this really cool Ninja beat-em-up (that no-one can name) in Ingoldmells further down the road.Smraedis wrote: Have been thinking about going to Skegness in the past, since it seems to still have some arcades, but its quite a bit far from here.
That was about it.

Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die
ChurchOfSolipsism wrote: ALso, this is how SKykid usually posts
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
I think my post shows that there isn't, and if it is a good game, it doesn't work...kennyrh wrote:Is there much in Blackpool these daysSmraedis wrote: Beat almost all the Time Crisis series machines in Blackpool in one day not too long ago. . . .![]()
I expected that to be honest, I'd just be happy with somewhere that has the older lightgun games, and ones that work, I don't like that there are no Crisis Zone machines anywhere near here anymore.Skykid wrote:Don't bother, it's a shadow of its former self.
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Me either, the TC series was the first gun series I learned to 1CC in an arcade. I did them all, and I remember going back to Skegness and we couldn't fathom how my name stayed at the no.1 spot for years on end (must have battery backed scores). I can finish all except 4 - gave up on that (don't like it.)Smraedis wrote:I expected that to be honest, I'd just be happy with somewhere that has the older lightgun games, and ones that work, I don't like that there are no Crisis Zone machines anywhere near here anymore.Skykid wrote:Don't bother, it's a shadow of its former self.
Updated my memory lane nostaliga post with pics! Lucky Strike: burned to the ground.

Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die
ChurchOfSolipsism wrote: ALso, this is how SKykid usually posts
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
I started learning the series about the time when TC2 was appearing everywhere, so then I could play at least one game at every arcade.
They do save scores quite well too, and I see machines in places with my names on, when I've never played the game there, and that has happened quite a lot too.
They do save scores quite well too, and I see machines in places with my names on, when I've never played the game there, and that has happened quite a lot too.
It has to be because I haven't played on itSkykid wrote:and I remember going back to Skegness and we couldn't fathom how my name stayed at the no.1 spot for years on end

Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Ha ha - hey mofo, where were you when I came 2nd place at the London Namco Wonderpark championship for TC2?Smraedis wrote:It has to be because I haven't played on itSkykid wrote:and I remember going back to Skegness and we couldn't fathom how my name stayed at the no.1 spot for years on end
And I started playing on 1.

Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die
ChurchOfSolipsism wrote: ALso, this is how SKykid usually posts
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Oh if I had only known
actually back then, I wasn't that great at the games, couldn't score too high either.
I played the first one a bit before 2, but found it a bit hard to learn, but when TC2 had a scoring system, I was hooked
and then all the TC1 machines started to go.

I played the first one a bit before 2, but found it a bit hard to learn, but when TC2 had a scoring system, I was hooked

Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
That's excellent - you actually go on what you see with your own eyes, like a real Trainspotter!That's bloody excellent!kennyrh wrote:Gamespotting.
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Stangely enough I saw one just today . . .in a NE coastal town called South Shields, near where I live.Smraedis wrote:Oh if I had only knownI was hooked
and then all the TC1 machines started to go.
Gawd, it looks positively ancient now - well, compared with, say, Sega Rally which has aged a lot better, i think

Shoot, dodge, collect . . .it's the ONLY way to be !!
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Ah, it's such a great game though.kennyrh wrote:Stangely enough I saw one just today . . .in a NE coastal town called South Shields, near where I live.Smraedis wrote:Oh if I had only knownI was hooked
and then all the TC1 machines started to go.
Gawd, it looks positively ancient now - well, compared with, say, Sega Rally which has aged a lot better, i think
Always outnumbered, never outgunned - No zuo no die
ChurchOfSolipsism wrote: ALso, this is how SKykid usually posts
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
It would be nice to catalogue every arcade machine in the UK. There's certainly books and sites that do that for the skateboarding spots.
My wife turned up back home really drunk the other night and had (perhaps to take the piss out of me) returned with a photo on her camera of a highscore of hers - from a 1942 cab somewhere in London. Hang on....
...Juno in Shoreditch was the place. I love 1942, but maybe not enough to go to Shoreditch
My wife turned up back home really drunk the other night and had (perhaps to take the piss out of me) returned with a photo on her camera of a highscore of hers - from a 1942 cab somewhere in London. Hang on....
...Juno in Shoreditch was the place. I love 1942, but maybe not enough to go to Shoreditch
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Coincidentally (I hadn't seen this thread before now,) I just put up a Blog post last night that has some reflections on the small portions of my youth that I was able to misspend in various arcades, and the decline of the arcades around here. This was originally going to be a post on PAX (which I attended last weekend,) but the intro ended up getting too long and got split off to its own post.
http://thesledgehammer.wordpress.com/20 ... st-arcade/
http://thesledgehammer.wordpress.com/20 ... st-arcade/
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Very interesting read Vexorg. Some of those machines you had certainly WERE obscure
But, to take up a point you made re arcades - it does seem ironic that most arcades now concentrate mainly on the huge dedicated cabs for racers and shooters that must cost an absolute fortune to install and maintain. Then again, that must be where the money is otherwise they wouldn't do it.
Up until a few years ago we had a small arcade in an obscure seaside town near me that had the likes of Gradius and Ridge Racer for 10p a go. They even had an old Space Invaders Deluxe cab.
Thank god for MAME is all I can say . . .

But, to take up a point you made re arcades - it does seem ironic that most arcades now concentrate mainly on the huge dedicated cabs for racers and shooters that must cost an absolute fortune to install and maintain. Then again, that must be where the money is otherwise they wouldn't do it.
Up until a few years ago we had a small arcade in an obscure seaside town near me that had the likes of Gradius and Ridge Racer for 10p a go. They even had an old Space Invaders Deluxe cab.
Thank god for MAME is all I can say . . .

Shoot, dodge, collect . . .it's the ONLY way to be !!
Re: Gamespotters . . .the thread for Arcade game geeks.
Fuck, the decline of the arcade has been the saddest thing I've personally witnessed in 27+ years of gaming. Even my grotty hometown of Wigan had two superb arcades, containing at various points:
Street Fighter 1 (stick & buttons) - The loudest cab in the place. The music and SFX on this take me right back even to this day.
Road Blasters
OutRun
Saboten Bombers
Vulcan Venture
R-Type
Contra
Track & Field
Operation Wolf
OutRunners (the most underrated sprite racer, nay, racer full stop of all time)
Strider
MK 2
Afterburner II
SF II Hyper / Super SF II
Cisco Heat
Super Sprint
Badlands
Rolling Thunder
Thundercross 2
Now I think, there really where machines dotted around everywhere. I miss the social aspect, a player doing well at SF II or OutRunners would always have someone waiting to challenge them, people constantly clocked what other people were doing, and it was a nice vibe to be a part of.
What's the first coin-op you guys ever played? I can say with absolute certainty that mine was a cocktail 'Check Man' by Konami.
Street Fighter 1 (stick & buttons) - The loudest cab in the place. The music and SFX on this take me right back even to this day.
Road Blasters
OutRun
Saboten Bombers
Vulcan Venture
R-Type
Contra
Track & Field
Operation Wolf
OutRunners (the most underrated sprite racer, nay, racer full stop of all time)
Strider
MK 2
Afterburner II
SF II Hyper / Super SF II
Cisco Heat
Super Sprint
Badlands
Rolling Thunder
Thundercross 2
Now I think, there really where machines dotted around everywhere. I miss the social aspect, a player doing well at SF II or OutRunners would always have someone waiting to challenge them, people constantly clocked what other people were doing, and it was a nice vibe to be a part of.
What's the first coin-op you guys ever played? I can say with absolute certainty that mine was a cocktail 'Check Man' by Konami.
XBL & Switch: mjparker77 / PSN: BellyFullOfHell