Anybody either live at Blackpool or get there occasionally ?

[kennyrh]

When i first got into arcades back in 1984, Blackpool was the Mecca. Never seen so many shooters and other great games in my life.

I was there a few years ago and was horrified to find that most of the good arcades have gone fruit machine and the rest of 'em haven't bothered to bring much in by way of new machines.

Just wondered what the arcade scene is like nowadays . . .because I promised myself that I wouldn't waste my time on a four-hour coach trip for nothing ever again !!

[pixelcorps]

its a fate suffered by most british arcades.... there's virtually nothing in the north west...

[bcass]

Blackpool used to be a truely magical place for arcades in the 80's/90's. I'd dare not ever go back, would sooner keep those cherished memories.

[df0notfound]

didnt see any shmups, has a few oddities like that massive 8 player "biggest arcade machine ever" usual bunch of driving games and trash, no shmups as far as i saw anyway

[Marc]

I went a few weeks ago and found a place on the front just up from the Pleasure Beach which had:

Darius 2 triple-screen
JPN Enduro Racer 2-player link (didn't even know Enduro WAS 2-player)
Xybots
Paperboy (with handlebars!)
SF II Turbo
Out Run - A transplanted sit-down. Wheel was loose, pedal loose, and gear shift floppy. AND I FUCKING LOVED IT. Seriously, the minute I sat down my face broke out in this huge shit-eating grin and it was just like being eight all over again. What a game.

There were a couple more, but those are the ones I remember.

[Trevor spencer]

i went to blackpool 14 years ago with my family and i spent the whole week in the arcade learning SFII Champ ED it was fucking excellent

but i dont think id like to go now just because i think it would be a big disapointment

shame really

[kennyrh]

I went a few weeks ago and found a place on the front just up from the Pleasure Beach which had:

Darius 2 triple-screen
JPN Enduro Racer 2-player link (didn't even know Enduro WAS 2-player)
Xybots
Paperboy (with handlebars!)
SF II Turbo
Out Run - A transplanted sit-down. Wheel was loose, pedal loose, and gear shift floppy. AND I FUCKING LOVED IT. Seriously, the minute I sat down my face broke out in this huge shit-eating grin and it was just like being eight all over again. What a game.

There were a couple more, but those are the ones I remember.

Bloody 'ell . . .I remember THAT place from donkeys years ago - especially the Darius II. They must have hung on to those machines forever.

There's another place further up just past the middle pier that had the same games in all through the 80s and 90s. Ancient selection as I recall.

I suppose that's the only places you're ever gonna find . . .especially for decent shmups . . .the ones that just keep the old machines going and manage to stay in business long enough. But if you can't keep going in Blackpool then . . . .

[theevilfunkster]

I went a few weeks ago and found a place on the front just up from the Pleasure Beach which had:

Darius 2 triple-screen
JPN Enduro Racer 2-player link (didn't even know Enduro WAS 2-player)
Xybots
Paperboy (with handlebars!)
SF II Turbo
Out Run - A transplanted sit-down. Wheel was loose, pedal loose, and gear shift floppy. AND I FUCKING LOVED IT. Seriously, the minute I sat down my face broke out in this huge shit-eating grin and it was just like being eight all over again. What a game.

There were a couple more, but those are the ones I remember.

Darius 2 triple screen!!!! Right, I'm going there as soon as possible.

Do you know if they still have the R360 and the Ridge Racer where you sit in an MX5?

[Guardians Knight]

do we have a second mackem on the boards? Hello from the first one!

[kennyrh]

Mackem ?? . . .'fraid not, mate.

Naturalised mackem ?? . . .maybe. I lived in East London until 1976 then moved to Sunderland where I've lived ever since.

Best memories of Sunderland arcades are - back in the eighties - Mag Max and Starforce which, despite its' age, is still one of my fave schmups today.