Calling all UK shmuppers . . .

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:51 pm

Does anybody here live near a decent arcade or know where to find one ?

Even the seaside resorts where I live have very poor selections of games . . .I think the death knell may soon be sounding for dedicated arcades.

Certainly, shmups seem to be a thing of the past . . .

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:07 pm

You should try and get to London. There are at least 2 very nice arcades there. The Casino Arcade and the Trocadero (hmm, not sure about the last name and it's spelling).

Both have several shmups. Last april (when the London shmup meet took place) there was Mushi, Progear no Arashi, Strikers 1945, etc at the Casino arcade. I remember the Trocadero one having at least DoDonpachi 2 (or is it called 3?).

I am sure either DEL or Elbarto can give you more info on the locations of the arcades and most recent games line ups of both places.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:11 pm

I live in Redcar (Teeside) and the arcades here used to be really good in the 80's - mid 90's hey day but now the arcades are all but empty of games still have one or two like Warzaid (Konami gun shooter) Virtua Cop 3 Time Crisis. I have been to the 'arcade' at Teeside Park which is interesting as the sign above the door actually mentions 'video games in here' but they are all gun shooters/driving games have Outrun 2 though which is cool. I know of a pub near Poole which has a cab running 'Metal Slug 1' which sits weirdly in the corner overhung by stuffed fox/deer heads i think it is called 'the hunters arms'. I think these are the only ones i have come across lately. also, the amusements on saltburn pier have one or two games most notably a 3d ninja game i think it is by Namco. No shmups whatsoever though.

elbarto · Post by **elbarto** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:21 pm

Super Laydock wrote:I am sure either DEL or Elbarto can give you more info on the locations of the arcades and most recent games line ups of both places.

Casino
Tottenham Court Road, right next to Goodge St. Tube Station

Shooters:
Mushihime-sama, Night Raid, Strikers 1945 & Plus, Raiden Fighters Jet (really dodgy monitor), Progear, Slugs 3 & 4, couple of multi-game emu cabs.

Other games of interest:
Mighty! Pang, Puzz Loop 1 & 2, quite a few fighters, Soprano's Pinball machine.

Play2Win
Oxford Street, opposite Rathbone Place.

Shooters:
Raiden Fighters, DoDonPachi II: Bee Storm

I'm not sure what's going on with the Trocadero right now, might be closing, might be getting a refit.. I'm not the person to answer that.

I'm pretty sure I remember DEL mentioning a Mushi cab somewhere near Angel Tube Station, but I might be wrong.

gingerj · Post by **gingerj** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:28 pm

Do they ever get rid of the units? If so you reckon they'd sell em'....

takohiko · Post by **takohiko** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:34 pm

There's an R-Type Leo on the first floor of Affleck's Palace in Manchester, along with Wonderboy (crap monitor) and a few pinball machines - I live in Hull now though, only arcade games I've seen were on the top floor of the Princes Quay shopping centre, and a few more in the students union. all racing and gun games, of course.

Ex_Mosquito · Post by **Ex_Mosquito** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:19 pm

Theres an R-Type 2 cab in a kebab shop in Cardiff.

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:20 pm

elbarto wrote:
Super Laydock wrote:I am sure either DEL or Elbarto can give you more info on the locations of the arcades and most recent games line ups of both places.
Casino
Tottenham Court Road, right next to Goodge St. Tube Station

Shooters:
Mushihime-sama, Night Raid, Strikers 1945 & Plus, Raiden Fighters Jet (really dodgy monitor), Progear, Slugs 3 & 4, couple of multi-game emu cabs.

Other games of interest:
Mighty! Pang, Puzz Loop 1 & 2, quite a few fighters, Soprano's Pinball machine.

Play2Win
Oxford Street, opposite Rathbone Place.

Shooters:
Raiden Fighters, DoDonPachi II: Bee Storm

I'm not sure what's going on with the Trocadero right now, might be closing, might be getting a refit.. I'm not the person to answer that.

I'm pretty sure I remember DEL mentioning a Mushi cab somewhere near Angel Tube Station, but I might be wrong.

Okay cheers mate . . .as i mentioned in another thread I'm down in London for the day on Wednesday so I'll definitely be taking those in.

Be worth it just for a bash at Mushihimesama and DoDonpachi II.

Bit disappointing that casino have still got the games I saw there 3 or 4 years ago . . .but hey, anything's better than nothing.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:29 pm

theres a machine running Prehistoric Isle in Leos in Redcar (dodgy night spot) lots of drunk people though

Ord · Post by **Ord** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:40 pm

Just to let you know, there is sweet fuck all in Edinburgh!

Leeram · Post by **Leeram** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 8:56 pm

I live in Normanby, Middlesbrough, which is 5 mins from Redcar. Last time I was there one of the sea front arcades had Pilot Kids (I think that was it's name).

I often work in Leeds and Mill HIll Amusements had Gigawing 2 in. A brand spanking new machine (well, new to the arcade anywhere) it was as well. I had no pennies though so I'm hoping it's still there next time I show up cos I'll have my bag of gold in tow.

I have visited the london arcades and the problem with Casino is that monitors were kncackered. That was quite a while ago now though so guess they could have been fixed. Mushi was playing in a Mortal Kombat cab if I remember correctly.

Obviously I've been to the arcade in the pictures at Teesside Park, and for a quid a go of everything they can kiss my big fat 20 stone arse!

Cheers

Leeram

DEL · Post by **DEL** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 1:44 pm

kennyrh - Might see you at Casino on wednesday evening if you're boarding a late train back home.

Regs, DEL

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:11 pm

Gotta be back at Kings X for just after 6. So not sure what time I'll be visiting Casino as I will have my daughter in tow.

Be nice to see the old place again after a few years . . .

sjewkestheloon · Post by **sjewkestheloon** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:36 am

takohiko serious??? i'm off to manchester this thursday to visit the missus so i'll be popping in for my first arcade shmup experience...

do you know from which entrance you need to go in to get to it?? the place always confuses the hell out of me. i tend to get lost in the second hand hats

fuse · Post by **fuse** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:48 pm

DC906270 wrote:I know of a pub near Poole which has a cab running 'Metal Slug 1' which sits weirdly in the corner overhung by stuffed fox/deer heads i think it is called 'the hunters arms

Blooming 'eck, I live in Poole and didn't know that

More importantly, I didn't know of Casino in London at all... everytime I've been up there I've just stuck to the Troc/Las Vegas/Namco, and haven't really had my eye caught by any shmups there - will be calling in at Casino next time though, cheers for the headsup.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:14 pm

I mean the Poole near Leeds

I think there is also a Poole in Dorset???

fuse · Post by **fuse** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:19 pm

Ahh nuts, yeah. The one in Dorset is where I live

In a way it's re-assuring though, you had me worried for a sec I didn't know a pub in the area!

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:17 pm

fuse wrote:
DC906270 wrote:I know of a pub near Poole which has a cab running 'Metal Slug 1' which sits weirdly in the corner overhung by stuffed fox/deer heads i think it is called 'the hunters arms
Blooming 'eck, I live in Poole and didn't know that

More importantly, I didn't know of Casino in London at all... everytime I've been up there I've just stuck to the Troc/Las Vegas/Namco, and haven't really had my eye caught by any shmups there - will be calling in at Casino next time though, cheers for the headsup.

Fuse . . .where's the Las Vegas arcade in London ??

I was just down and didn't run across that one.

Any idea what's at Namco Wonder park cos i didn't have time to go ??

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:12 pm

oh i forgot, in Newcastle there's a studenty pub (the name escapes me but it'll come to me) that has a Raiden 2 arcade machine in, not a bad pub in terms of wankers, its fairly quiet.

I'm sure there must be loads of scope for some entrepnurial type to open an arcade up here in the north east, anyone fancy pitching in a few quid?

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:27 pm

Well GK . . .

. . .one of my mates tried to run an arcade called The Point in Newcastle a few years ago. Had some decent machines in too . . .but with the overheads and general lack of bodies - well, you can guess the outcome.

As much as my heart would like to think there was scope for another, my head tells me that the days of traditional games arcades are over.

Even Whitley Bay is crap now. Haven't been to the South Shields amusement area in a while so don't know what it's like there now - but I'm not looking forward to finding out.

Pedro Lambrini · Post by **Pedro Lambrini** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:31 pm

Ord wrote:Just to let you know, there is sweet fuck all in Edinburgh!

I concur! Edinburgh is pish for games

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:53 pm

kenny

i was in south shields not long ago and i can tell you there is nothing worthy the metro fare there to play, only the same old bullshit sega rally etc.

there used to be kombat zone in the centre of newcastle which was mint and always full of people dunno why he closed, it was way before my shooter fetish kicked in tho so i dunno what proper games he had, i just went in to play the new tekken at the time

The name of the pub i was talking about was the Trent and i was there today having a bash, its actually Raiden 1, its on thomas street or somthing, fairly close to the hospital if anyone wanted to check it out, also had the table version of moon base too but that didnt look like it worked, foxy barmaid tho...

takohiko · Post by **takohiko** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 11:07 am

sjewkestheloon wrote:takohiko serious??? i'm off to manchester this thursday to visit the missus so i'll be popping in for my first arcade shmup experience...

do you know from which entrance you need to go in to get to it?? the place always confuses the hell out of me. i tend to get lost in the second hand hats

yep, seriously. suppose I'm a bit late now, though. anyway, I'm not exactly sure what entrance you have to use - just go to the first floor (there's a Pac-Man on the stairs on the second/third also, by the way) and wander around until you see the pinball machines, it's tucked away between them.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:23 pm

Pedro Lambrini wrote:
Ord wrote:Just to let you know, there is sweet fuck all in Edinburgh!
I concur! Edinburgh is pish for games

Add Glasgow to that list as well

Post by **Icarus** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:13 pm

Guardians Knight wrote:i was in south shields not long ago and i can tell you there is nothing worthy the metro fare there to play, only the same old bullshit sega rally etc.

there used to be kombat zone in the centre of newcastle which was mint and always full of people dunno why he closed, it was way before my shooter fetish kicked in tho so i dunno what proper games he had, i just went in to play the new tekken at the time

The name of the pub i was talking about was the Trent and i was there today having a bash, its actually Raiden 1, its on thomas street or somthing, fairly close to the hospital if anyone wanted to check it out, also had the table version of moon base too but that didnt look like it worked, foxy barmaid tho...

Yup, there's sweet FA in Geordieland. There used to be the Kombat Zone, Orbit 1 and all the groovy stuff in Metroland, but they disappeared over a decade ago.

Metroland had all my old faves like R-Type, Nemesis, Raiden and Dragon Spirit, and was pretty good for all the new stuff, until they remodelled and turned it into fruitmachine land >_<

I remember the Kombat Zone as well (was on Clayton St. IIRC) and it had Raiden Fighters if I recall. First time I got to play it, did shit (using Endeavour), then saw someone destroy the game with the Slave O_O

I'm surprised the Trent House (up near the Haymarket) still has the Raiden cab there. Last time I saw it was a few years ago, thought they would have removed it since then. Might have to pop in after Uni sometime and check it out. ^_-

gingerj · Post by **gingerj** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:32 pm

The key to opening up an successful arcade, is to not be a greedy git. Over in .jp, arcades are still popular because they're so cheap to use, whereas over here you're looking at £1+ for a credit, which is utterly sutpid, I've heard that its more like £0.20 over in .jp. You'll get more custom if your not being so damn greedy. Plus arcades in the UK are so down loud, you've got crappy music being pumped out REALLY loudly on top of all the music/noise from the cabs.

People need to make arcade gaming cheaper over here, not where it costs you £10 in 10 minutes....

Pedro Lambrini · Post by **Pedro Lambrini** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 3:53 pm

freddiebamboo wrote:
Pedro Lambrini wrote:
Ord wrote:Just to let you know, there is sweet fuck all in Edinburgh!
I concur! Edinburgh is pish for games
Add Glasgow to that list as well

Now official: Scottish central belt is shite!

fuse · Post by **fuse** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:29 pm

kennyrh wrote:Fuse . . .where's the Las Vegas arcade in London ??

I was just down and didn't run across that one.

Any idea what's at Namco Wonder park cos i didn't have time to go ??

Namco I'm not too sure... they usually have a couple of SNK/Capcom fighters and a Metal Slug on rotation, but I've not been there for ages so wouldn't like to say for certain. There'll be lots and lots of new flashy cabs as ever though, I'm sure.

As for how to find LV, it's right near Troc - my mate drew this diagram recently for someone else, should point you in the right direction.

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:53 am

Yeah fuse . . .I know it now - I'd just forgotten the name. Actually, a few years ago before the fruit machines, that place used to be a shmuppers paradise.

Only arcade I've EVER seen a Parodius cab and it also had Toaplan's V-Five, Vimana and another one I've never seen called Strahl . . .and those were just the highlights.

Last time I was in - about 4 or 5 years ago - there was very little that didn't pay out prizes or money.

So . . .is it still worth a visit ???

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:54 pm

I'm surprised the Trent House (up near the Haymarket) still has the Raiden cab there. Last time I saw it was a few years ago, thought they would have removed it since then. Might have to pop in after Uni sometime and check it out. ^_-

i might see you in there sometime Icarus, i wonder if it's any good in two player mode with two competent players....

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Calling all UK shmuppers . . .

Calling all UK shmuppers . . .

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