Comments on: The life and death of the American arcade http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 00:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Nword http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1632647 Nword Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1632647 Thanks, it was a great job for an 18 year old, and keeping the pinball machines working as nicely as possible was as much for my own gratification as anyone else's, I loved playing em. Thanks, it was a great job for an 18 year old, and keeping the pinball machines working as nicely as possible was as much for my own gratification as anyone else’s, I loved playing em.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1631944 noah django Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1631944  dude, that's awesome. a lot of the 90s NY rappers live in Atlanta.  I was djing a warehouse party for a friend once that Dinco D was at.  I dropped the instrumental to OCs Time's Up and he spat like 16 bars.  I wasn't the biggest LOTNS fan, but that was pretty cool.  Oh and Da Brat used to come to my regular gig, but she never said anything to me. /off-topic you are a good man to have given extra care to the pinball machines.  dude, that’s awesome.

a lot of the 90s NY rappers live in Atlanta.  I was djing a warehouse party for a friend once that Dinco D was at.  I dropped the instrumental to OCs Time’s Up and he spat like 16 bars.  I wasn’t the biggest LOTNS fan, but that was pretty cool.  Oh and Da Brat used to come to my regular gig, but she never said anything to me.
/off-topic

you are a good man to have given extra care to the pinball machines.

]]> By: cdh1971 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1631712 cdh1971 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1631712 I was a Commodore kid in the early '80's, I even was a JR. HS/Middle S sales rep (switched to MS 7th) for a Commodore shop on commission.  I called them Trash-80s and shit. However...I knew then, and I still consider them to be fine machines...not as good for gaming as the Vics, 64's et al sue to the Commodore's unique design, but still fun.  The TRS-80's were a great business machine and I knew of a few people still using them as such well into the mid 90's, not because of teh stubborn, or money issues, but because they still did exactly what they bought them for, including accessing BBS and services like Compuserve, and telnet/gopher. The main reason those folks switched was to use the WWW. Even then the old machines still found use as HAM teletypes and whatnot well into the naughts, again not cause of teh stubborn, but cause they worked. I was a Commodore kid in the early ’80′s, I even was a JR. HS/Middle S sales rep (switched to MS 7th) for a Commodore shop on commission. 

I called them Trash-80s and shit. However…I knew then, and I still consider them to be fine machines…not as good for gaming as the Vics, 64′s et al sue to the Commodore’s unique design, but still fun. 

The TRS-80′s were a great business machine and I knew of a few people still using them as such well into the mid 90′s, not because of teh stubborn, or money issues, but because they still did exactly what they bought them for, including accessing BBS and services like Compuserve, and telnet/gopher. The main reason those folks switched was to use the WWW. Even then the old machines still found use as HAM teletypes and whatnot well into the naughts, again not cause of teh stubborn, but cause they worked.

]]> By: stephen m http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1631659 stephen m Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1631659 galloping ghost? galloping ghost?

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1631056 IronEdithKidd Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1631056 You're preaching to the choir, here.  I went out of my way to find PS2 compilations of all my favorite old Namco, Atari and Activision games. You’re preaching to the choir, here.  I went out of my way to find PS2 compilations of all my favorite old Namco, Atari and Activision games.

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1631052 Jonathan Badger Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1631052 Maybe technically, but as an older GenX I think classic arcade culture really is only a memory of the earlier part. I'm talking Pac-Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Defender, etc. -- not the endless list of karate games with "secret moves" that the arcade turned into in the late 1980s and early 1990s before dying out. Maybe technically, but as an older GenX I think classic arcade culture really is only a memory of the earlier part. I’m talking Pac-Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Defender, etc. — not the endless list of karate games with “secret moves” that the arcade turned into in the late 1980s and early 1990s before dying out.

]]> By: Nword http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630992 Nword Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630992 I used to work in an arcade, the namco branded ones, I had some good memories, like playing Run N' Gun against Phife Dog (A tribe Called quest was in town, and they came to the mall my arcade was in), and making sure the pinball games were as clean and well maintained as they could be, because it was so much nicer when the playing field was polished to a high sheen. Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of my faves. I used to work in an arcade, the namco branded ones, I had some good memories, like playing Run N’ Gun against Phife Dog (A tribe Called quest was in town, and they came to the mall my arcade was in), and making sure the pinball games were as clean and well maintained as they could be, because it was so much nicer when the playing field was polished to a high sheen. Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of my faves.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630948 noah django Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630948  when I moved to Nashville in '87, the local corner store had some bingos.  didn't really get that they were different until I tried to play one.  very confused.  I think the owner was annoyed that I was playing it, too.  like i was gonna blab and bring heat down on him or something.  when I moved to Nashville in ’87, the local corner store had some bingos.  didn’t really get that they were different until I tried to play one.  very confused.  I think the owner was annoyed that I was playing it, too.  like i was gonna blab and bring heat down on him or something.

]]> By: gokid http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630934 gokid Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630934 There's a documentary on the Chinatown Fair arcade in NYC and its closing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCaKaM7kIb8 There’s a documentary on the Chinatown Fair arcade in NYC and its closing… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCaKaM7kIb8

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630932 noah django Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630932 huh.  I played a Black Knight table in the early 80s at the Black Sheep Tavern in Manchester, MI.  it was the first table I got the multi-ball on.  I doubt I was older than ten, so I don't remember the details.  I remember really loving that table's play, but also the art on the backboard was super sweet.  Never saw it again. huh.  I played a Black Knight table in the early 80s at the Black Sheep Tavern in Manchester, MI.  it was the first table I got the multi-ball on.  I doubt I was older than ten, so I don’t remember the details.  I remember really loving that table’s play, but also the art on the backboard was super sweet.  Never saw it again.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630928 noah django Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630928 well said.  pinball is the best. well said.  pinball is the best.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630910 nixiebunny Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630910 That's usually a local jurisdiction thing, designed to extract money from game operators into the coffers of City Hall. That’s usually a local jurisdiction thing, designed to extract money from game operators into the coffers of City Hall.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630909 nixiebunny Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630909 I was wandering around San Francisco's Chinatown late one night in 1982 when I saw an old, brightly lit storefront pinball arcade with a dozen wood-rail machines of the BINGO style, each with a 5x5 grid of out-holes in the middle of the field. The were being played by scruffy guys. It was like a time warp. I was wandering around San Francisco’s Chinatown late one night in 1982 when I saw an old, brightly lit storefront pinball arcade with a dozen wood-rail machines of the BINGO style, each with a 5×5 grid of out-holes in the middle of the field. The were being played by scruffy guys.

It was like a time warp.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630724 Donald Petersen Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630724 My local arcade was (barely) walking distance from my house, in a strip mall next to the 7-Eleven.  It wasn't particularly seedy, but when I'd go there (1981-1984 or so), money was a bit tight around our house, and I never got good enough at any of the games for my quarters to last very long.  It just wasn't a cost-effective form of entertainment for me.  Well, the pinball machines were, but other than Tempest, I never got very good at many arcade games.  I'd show up with $2 or $3 in quarters and leave 10 or 15 minutes later, heaving a sigh of dissatisfaction. My buddy Tom and I adopted the habit of playing on the two or three machines in our local donut shop / ice cream parlor.  That was more fun.  1943, Time Pilot, Contra, and (eventually) Xenophobe.  We actually spent enough time to get good at those. My local arcade was (barely) walking distance from my house, in a strip mall next to the 7-Eleven.  It wasn’t particularly seedy, but when I’d go there (1981-1984 or so), money was a bit tight around our house, and I never got good enough at any of the games for my quarters to last very long.  It just wasn’t a cost-effective form of entertainment for me.  Well, the pinball machines were, but other than Tempest, I never got very good at many arcade games.  I’d show up with $2 or $3 in quarters and leave 10 or 15 minutes later, heaving a sigh of dissatisfaction.

My buddy Tom and I adopted the habit of playing on the two or three machines in our local donut shop / ice cream parlor.  That was more fun.  1943, Time Pilot, Contra, and (eventually) Xenophobe.  We actually spent enough time to get good at those.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630717 Donald Petersen Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630717 I dunno.  Time was I would have argued strenuously in favor of Pinbot, but my brother has the Creature From The Black Lagoon machine in his home office (the one that's more of a Drive-In tribute than anything), and that's the most entertaining one I've ever played. I dunno.  Time was I would have argued strenuously in favor of Pinbot, but my brother has the Creature From The Black Lagoon machine in his home office (the one that’s more of a Drive-In tribute than anything), and that’s the most entertaining one I’ve ever played.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630680 bcsizemo Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630680 Cyber Sled was my game of choice.  One of the few more than a quarter games at the time.  I know it's been brought out on Playstation and Wii, but the dual stick configuration is just awesome for the way this game was setup.  I pumped many of dollars into those machines.  Whenever I go past an arcade I was look in hoping to find one sitting in the back corner.... Cyber Sled was my game of choice.  One of the few more than a quarter games at the time.  I know it’s been brought out on Playstation and Wii, but the dual stick configuration is just awesome for the way this game was setup.  I pumped many of dollars into those machines.  Whenever I go past an arcade I was look in hoping to find one sitting in the back corner….

]]> By: flickerKuu http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630569 flickerKuu Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630569 Why the heck does it say you need to have a permit per game in the article? Is that like a licensing fee from the video game maker or something? Sounds like opening an arcade is harder than opening up a nuclear power station. I love the people at the hearings who felt kids would deal drugs at the arcade, as if the cabinets create some sort of "dealing drug is ok" aura that say a playground wouldn't.  Why the heck does it say you need to have a permit per game in the article? Is that like a licensing fee from the video game maker or something? Sounds like opening an arcade is harder than opening up a nuclear power station. I love the people at the hearings who felt kids would deal drugs at the arcade, as if the cabinets create some sort of “dealing drug is ok” aura that say a playground wouldn’t. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630565 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630565 <blockquote>These stories feel very Gen Y to me</blockquote>We Boomers are still mourning the loss of places to redeem our S&H Green Stamps.

These stories feel very Gen Y to me

We Boomers are still mourning the loss of places to redeem our S&H Green Stamps.

]]> By: MrJM http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630529 MrJM Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630529 If you're ever in Chicago, LOGAN HARDWARE 2410 W Fullerton (between Western Ave & Artesian Ave)  All free, all the time. If you’re ever in Chicago, LOGAN HARDWARE 2410 W Fullerton (between Western Ave & Artesian Ave) 

All free, all the time.

]]> By: Emma Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630520 Emma Jones Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630520 Also, in Springfield, MO, (my hometown) there is a pay-as-you-enter arcade called 1984. You pay $5(?) at the entrance and you can play all you want on any game except pinball, which you need quarters for. Also, in Springfield, MO, (my hometown) there is a pay-as-you-enter arcade called 1984. You pay $5(?) at the entrance and you can play all you want on any game except pinball, which you need quarters for.

]]> By: George M. Anderson http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630482 George M. Anderson Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630482 There was an arcade here in Nashville that not only refurbished old games, but also built new stand-ups that can house new games using a console.  It's up to the new generation to make arcades relevant again, but with the stigma attached to young people gathering in groups I don't see it changing. There was an arcade here in Nashville that not only refurbished old games, but also built new stand-ups that can house new games using a console.  It’s up to the new generation to make arcades relevant again, but with the stigma attached to young people gathering in groups I don’t see it changing.

]]> By: Emma Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630475 Emma Jones Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630475 My dad used to take me and my brothers to the arcade at the mall. Aladdin's Palace. I got really good at skeeball when I was five. I was too short to reach most of the cabinets when it closed. That's okay, he took us to the go-kart place, too, and there was a small arcade there. Now (in Philly) I go to Barcade. Yeah, so it's not a 'real arcade' because it serves beer (lots of really expensive beer) but it's got quarter plays, and a lot of classic games. Great for a night out with the friends. I'd suggest it to anyone in the area if you have the extra cash. (21 and up, of course.) My dad used to take me and my brothers to the arcade at the mall. Aladdin’s Palace. I got really good at skeeball when I was five. I was too short to reach most of the cabinets when it closed. That’s okay, he took us to the go-kart place, too, and there was a small arcade there.

Now (in Philly) I go to Barcade. Yeah, so it’s not a ‘real arcade’ because it serves beer (lots of really expensive beer) but it’s got quarter plays, and a lot of classic games. Great for a night out with the friends. I’d suggest it to anyone in the area if you have the extra cash. (21 and up, of course.)

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630464 Felton / Moderator Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630464 <blockquote>does anyone remember Thexder?</blockquote> Yes!  I used to play it on a late-80's 1000SX.  I didn't get rid of that thing until about 2001 when the hard drive failed.

does anyone remember Thexder?

Yes!  I used to play it on a late-80′s 1000SX.  I didn’t get rid of that thing until about 2001 when the hard drive failed.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630460 Preston Sturges Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630460 Webb City in Sarasota ("World's Largest Drugstore!")  had the flea circus with a live chicken that played baseball IIRC. I don't know if any photos of that place exist, but it was huge. Webb City in Sarasota (“World’s Largest Drugstore!”)  had the flea circus with a live chicken that played baseball IIRC.

I don’t know if any photos of that place exist, but it was huge.

]]> By: Adair Thompson http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630453 Adair Thompson Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630453 Every once in a while Thexder pops back into memory. I didn't have a Tandy but I had friends with them, definitely awesome fun. He was a robot and a plane, a cool combo. Every once in a while Thexder pops back into memory. I didn’t have a Tandy but I had friends with them, definitely awesome fun. He was a robot and a plane, a cool combo.

]]> By: Gyrofrog http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630413 Gyrofrog Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630413 Just remembered the size of some of these places. Sometimes a mall arcade took up the equivalent of 3 Chess Kings, maybe more.  Those who grew up around D/FW may remember Forum Fair at Forum 303, which had a carousel and Skee-Ball along with video and pinball games.  Aladdin's Castle at Red Bird Mall seemed like it was the size of a Sears, though of course I'm misremembering. Just remembered the size of some of these places. Sometimes a mall arcade took up the equivalent of 3 Chess Kings, maybe more.  Those who grew up around D/FW may remember Forum Fair at Forum 303, which had a carousel and Skee-Ball along with video and pinball games.  Aladdin’s Castle at Red Bird Mall seemed like it was the size of a Sears, though of course I’m misremembering.

]]> By: Gyrofrog http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630401 Gyrofrog Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630401 What about 'FUK' and 'SEX'? What about ‘FUK’ and ‘SEX’?

]]> By: TheMadLibrarian http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630381 TheMadLibrarian Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630381 I've attended 3 colleges (yes, I did get my degree, nyah!) and every one of them had a game room with video and pinball games, sometimes pool tables too.  One of the video arcades I used to visit was the archetype -- smoky, dimly lit, pinball games on one side, video consoles on the other, and the center full of standalone and tabletop games, where you could set a drink on the game screen.  All were scarred with cigarette burns and cracked cabinets. It was populated mostly with local kids, with a sprinkling of thugs and gangstas, before that became popular. The back room was full of pool tables and was strictly off limits; persistent rumor had it that it was a center for local gangs, illegal betting rings and organized crime.  Several years later, the arcade was raided for the umpteenth time and closed down. I’ve attended 3 colleges (yes, I did get my degree, nyah!) and every one of them had a game room with video and pinball games, sometimes pool tables too. 

One of the video arcades I used to visit was the archetype — smoky, dimly lit, pinball games on one side, video consoles on the other, and the center full of standalone and tabletop games, where you could set a drink on the game screen.  All were scarred with cigarette burns and cracked cabinets. It was populated mostly with local kids, with a sprinkling of thugs and gangstas, before that became popular. The back room was full of pool tables and was strictly off limits; persistent rumor had it that it was a center for local gangs, illegal betting rings and organized crime.  Several years later, the arcade was raided for the umpteenth time and closed down.

]]> By: Jonathan Golub http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630368 Jonathan Golub Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630368 Another good arcade story... in the late '90s, an old friend and I decided to relive our arcade glory days at the arcade in NYC's Chinatown.  A dirty, dark place known for having a live chicken inside a machine that would dance or play tic-tac-toe when you put a coin in.  We went in and proceeded to play Galaga and Ms. Pac-man alongside a bunch of kids, until my friend turned to me and said, "Dude, this place smells like farts."  That was the end of that.   Another good arcade story… in the late ’90s, an old friend and I decided to relive our arcade glory days at the arcade in NYC’s Chinatown.  A dirty, dark place known for having a live chicken inside a machine that would dance or play tic-tac-toe when you put a coin in.  We went in and proceeded to play Galaga and Ms. Pac-man alongside a bunch of kids, until my friend turned to me and said, “Dude, this place smells like farts.”  That was the end of that.  

]]> By: kuang http://boingboing.net/2013/01/17/the-life-and-death-of-the-amer.html#comment-1630341 kuang Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206246#comment-1630341 And I'm a couple years younger,  still Gen X.  That "not feeling like you belong"  thats a hallmark. And I’m a couple years younger,  still Gen X.  That “not feeling like you belong”  thats a hallmark.

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