London Casino Crew meets (RIP the Arcade)

[Illyrian]

I'm also heading down this thursday at the normal time. Will be awesome to see all you guys again!

[hzt]

I should be down.

[JDE]

I'll drop by tomorrow as well, armed with a shedload of stuff to donate to CeX.
If anyone wants a UK Xbox 360 or a region free PSP, then let me know.
And Astraea, can you make it tomorrow? It'll be good to meet you!

[dan76]

Oops, can't make it...

[Illyrian]

Got my hopes up, Dan

Anyway I am here now!

[spadgy]

Wicked time tonight. I picked up some cheap Lassie DVDs at CEX and got a new high score on Strikers 1999. I made the extend, and got to 1-7!

Shame to hear the sad news about how long we have left. CHI, what was the name of that fruit machine company that might be taking over Casino in a month?

[Skykid]

Shame to hear the sad news about how long we have left. CHI, what was the name of that fruit machine company that might be taking over Casino in a month?

Man, that's depressing.

[MX7]

We need to think of new hangouts. All I've come up with so far are

1) Spadgy's pad (supergun)
2) HZT's pad (big)
3) The Troc (actually an arcade, near the Casino)
4) The pub (we can get drunk and play STGs on our phones)
5) The Casino (it's a loosing battle, so let's just get into fruities instead. We can add DEAL OR NO DEAL £70 JACKPOT to the high score forum)

Also, JDE, what was that atrocious anime called that you mentioned yesterday? Something like 'punchman Joe' or something. Google yielded no results

Also, what should this thread be called after the Casino dies?

[JDE]

What was that atrocious anime called that you mentioned yesterday? Something like "Punchman Joe"?

It's "Chargeman Ken!". Feel the QUALITY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsoaHMOp5uM

Also, it's a bit too early to pronounce Casino dead: the new owners may keep some of the arcade machines, at least for a few months.
If the worst comes to the worst, I think we should talk to the owners of Las Vegas Amusements on Wardour Street and see if we can get one of our boards installed there.

[CHI]

CHI, what was the name of that fruit machine company that might be taking over Casino in a month?

Agora Amusements

[spadgy]

Some news just emerged that makes Casino's demise all the more gutting. Minutes ago it was confirmed that HMV is hours away from going into administration. No HMV means no GamerBase. That's right - the GamerBase that stole Casino's fighter crowd, driving a steak through the arcade's heart! No GamerBase means a load of fighting players looking for a new hangout. If only Casino had a couple more months in it, it might see the crowds return post-GamerBase. What gutting timing!

1) Spadgy's pad (supergun)

Always up for having you guys over!

[dan76]

As we've all said, with a bit of vision and effort Casino coiuld've kept going, but... well, it's not enough to have some machines and expect the money to roll in - it's not the 80's anymore (wish it was).

We should just meet up at the pub, that one Rupert took us to with the sofas in it. That way we could still have chips - always the highlight - play cards or something (bring a zombie board game Spadgy).

Edit: What's happening with Firebugs(?) place - isn't he supposed to be moving closer into town?

[DEL]

Aah, so the writing's on the wall

Big CHI wrote;

Agora Amusements

That'll mean fruit machines only then
We can't even cane those anymore either.

spadgy wrote;

That's right - the GamerBase that stole Casino's fighter crowd, driving a steak(STAKE ) through the arcade's heart! No GamerBase means a load of fighting players looking for a new hangout. If only Casino had a couple more months in it, it might see the crowds return post-GamerBase. What gutting timing!

I've said it all along - the NeoEmpire fighter crowd were never 'arcade-loyal', just game-loyal. I ressurected Goodge for those guys at least two times by getting John to bring in the latest fighting games, but they still drifted off after a while.

Goodge is/was always a good base of operations in the West End. Somewhere you could meet and chill-out, far away from the maddening crowd.

[spadgy]

far away from the maddening crowd.

That's the magic of the place! An oasis of piece right in the center of a bustling metropolis!

[Skykid]

I've said it all along - the NeoEmpire fighter crowd were never 'arcade-loyal', just game-loyal.

This is true.

So no Gamerbase, Funland, HMV, or Casino? Boy, the internet has really shafted the high street. I'll miss Casino greatly, really feeling the distance now.

[MX7]

Pinning all my hopes on that 'Loading' Cafe. If we can commandeer a cab there, it won't be too shabby at all.

[spadgy]

Doesn't matter. Me and MX7 are opening a record store with cabs in the corner. Well... we've had a five second chat about it on Twitter!

Anyway - I'm down tonight - may be a little late as I've just had an interview scheduled with some tech company in London scheduled for 6pm. Hopefully I'll be there by 7pm.

Also, if the engineer's around before I get there, could somebody get him to take out Strikers 1999?

Cheers!

[JDE]

I'll be a bit late tonight as well, due to a dentist appointment.
Should arrive around 8:00, maybe 8:30 if the traffic is bad.

[hzt]

I'll be there early :c

I forgot last week and went to bed or something.

[MX7]

On the tube :-0

[jugemscloud]

does anyone know a definate script as to dates for further downsizing? over on j+ dsyde who knows the owner well said that he has been told some video cabs would remain although they wouldn't be in the basement and the sf cabs are going into another arcade, nothing said about the business changing hands.

whats the line up of games at the minute as well?

[MX7]

Interesting, would be cool even if just one cabinet remained, just hope it's a shooter...

At the moment the Casino is down to bare bones. A lot of the arcade's own PCBs have been sold off to private buyers. Now Will has taken back his Strikers 1999, there are no user owned PCBs left Shooter-wise, there's Mushihimesama and Progear. Otherwise, there's the usual bunch of fighting games.

[Mills]

I may be able to convince Alaw Rawlinson to install some user own PCB's into the remain FAMILY LEISURE arcades at London West end. Watch this space. Er is shumps on facebook?

[CHI]

I may be able to convince Alaw Rawlinson to install some user own PCB's into the remain FAMILY LEISURE arcades at London West end. Watch this space. Er is shumps on facebook?

Don't bother, been there and done it! Plus, them final four cabs upstairs in Game Zone doesn't belong to them anymore!
There is a few Shmups on Facebook... look for the one with Akai Katana picture on it

[Mills]

I may be able to convince Alaw Rawlinson to install some user own PCB's into the remain FAMILY LEISURE arcades at London West end. Watch this space. Er is shumps on facebook?

Don't bother, been there and done it! Plus, them final four cabs upstairs in Game Zone doesn't belong to them anymore!
There is a few Shmups on Facebook... look for the one with Akai Katana picture on it

What, you saying that those cabs won't be there longer because they have been sold to new owners or something?

[CHI]

What, you saying that those cabs won't be there longer because they have been sold to new owners or something?

A bit of a long story which i'm going to skip explaining... But as far as i know, the cabs will be in Game Zone until the place will be refurbished, which no one knows when that's going to happen

But there will be a place for arcade lovers just outside of Zone 1 area, will cater for both shmuppers and fighters, still in process might take a month or so... Watch This Space

[spadgy]

Watch This Space

I heard about that!

Anyway, I'm down Thursday (tomorrow as I write this), about 6.30pm.

CHI - I've remembered to pack the antistatic baggies in my work bag, so I'll give you them tomorrow!

JDE - a massive thank you for helping me out over the weekend with your PC!

And very late - lovely to have you and your better half over at the weekend MX7. More of you should come over to mine to hang out.

Finally - sorry about the absence this week - some family woes, a tax return, magazine deadline and other shit swallowed up my life.]

I hope to see lots of you down there this week - we've only got so many trips left! I'll make it - unlike last week when I got stuck just around the corner at a pretty unexciting press event!

[jugemscloud]

cheers for the update on the games, i was hoping to get down next month, but have a big expenditure coming and a possible uni interview at the end of feb/start of march. hopefully i can get something sorted before its just a token machine sitting in there for history's sake.

[MX7]

[EDIT - CONTENT CENSORED FOR BEING TOO HOT FOR SHMUPS.SYSTEM11.ORG]

[JDE]

JDE - a massive thank you for helping me out over the weekend with your PC!

No problem, glad I could help!

Soon there will be a place for arcade lovers just outside of Zone 1 area, will cater for both shmuppers and fighters...

Really looking forward to this! It's a shame Casino is on the way out, but the London arcade scene is far from dead.