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Do Arcades like the one depicted in the film even exist anymore?

posted 11 years ago by Christopher_Robin_1955
18 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen an actual dedicated Video Game Arcade anywhere since the late 90's. The closest thing I've seen in recent years are small little game areas in restaurants and hotel lobbies, but nothing like the real Arcades that used to be around during the 80's thru the mid 90's.

If there still are any of these types of places around anywhere that would be awesome, Anytime I see a place that says "Arcade" these days, It's usually a Gambling Arcade.

The Beast is not Dead

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 11 years ago

About a mile down the road from me there's a place called Scene 75 that's a massive indoor entertainment center with Laser Tag, Go-Carts and a large arcade, including some old school games--http://www.scene75.com/. And there's a franchise called Dave and Buster's that's part restaurant, part arcade/entertainment center--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_%26_Buster's--They always have a selection of old school arcade games. And I'm pretty sure Chuck-E-Cheese restaurants still have arcade games. But strictly a dedicated arcade? None in my area that I'm aware of. It's a shame too, because while it's neat to go to places like Scene 75 or Dave and Buster's, it's just not the same as going to an actual video arcade.

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[–] bagofants 11 years ago

8 Bit Arcade in Renton, WA and Ground Kontrol in Portland, OR. Both are bars that are also full arcades featuring new and old games. There's also Game Over in Lincoln City, OR and Level Up in Eugene, OR, but I haven't been to either of those. But they're out there if you look.

[–] ebossert 11 years ago

Japan still has some big ones. Last time I was in Kyoto I strolled into one and was totally shocked.

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[–] kyoya21 11 years ago

Absolutely! Arcades are coming back in way to bring people together socially but also preserve the social event of getting together to play games. "Barcades" are also growing, popping up in cities and towns around the world.

Try FunSpot in Laconia, NH where the American Classic Arcade Museum has been established: http://www.classicarcademuseum.org/ and http://www.funspotnh.com/

The Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, IL should also be checked out:
http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/

[–] oregon-5 11 years ago

I think the 'mall' arcade is a dead concept, taken over by the newer 'bar-cades' There are 3 in Eugene, as mentioned. In the Portland metro area, there are 4 Wunderland arcades. You have to pay admission, but games are only a nickel apiece
(usually 2 to 4) because they are newer. They also have movie theaters attached playing sub-run films.

[–] ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch 11 years ago

"I think the 'mall' arcade is a dead concept, taken over by the newer 'bar-cades'"

^This. I was just at one of the local long serving arcades at the local mall, saddest sight you ever want to see, but they still have alot of old school games there, some still there since the place opened.

'When there's no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.'

[–] bagofants 10 years ago

"I think the 'mall' arcade is a dead concept..."

While dying, I don't think it's quite dead yet. It's certainly not the "mall arcade" I think of. What it has become is a place to train our children to become future gamblers. Chunking quarters and tokens into machines masquerading as a game to be rewarded with tickets which can be exchanged for pencil erasers and penny candy. The worst is the bull dozer gamer, where you roll coins in front of the other coins in hopes that it will push off more coins than you put in. If that's not a casino training ground, I don't know what is. They're even in the kid oriented pizza chains, like Chuckie Cheese, and let's face it; noody goes there because the pizza is good! There's usually a few real games back in the corners, but you can bet they don't pay out tickets!

[–] averagejoeman2013 11 years ago

The closest thing around is usually when you have an arcade in conjunction with another avenue of entertainment. We have them locally in movie theaters, minature golf parks, and a local water park. And to a lesser degree, they have a couple in some restaurants.

I believe the reason they dont have regular arcades they way they used to (our mall had 2 of them..0 now) is because they are not economically feasible any more. With the price (and convenience) of consoles and pcs making prices cheap, who would invest thousands for a full sized game, rent, staff, maintenance etc..for a game that makes only a tiny amount each play? Also realize you would be relying on the fact that a kid would have to drive to play and spend as much money to play a game for a short while it as he/she could to buy it outright for less and play from the comfort of his/her home for weeks/months on end?

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[–] damonikastephens 10 years ago

Still have an arcade at my local mall. But yeah I still don't see any local arcades (unless you count the gambling ones. There's like two of them here).

[–] Leesha92 10 years ago

In Australia there is a chain of videogame arcades here called TimeZone. While they are no where near as numerous as they used to be, just about every major city has a couple spead out around the suburbs, and big huge shopping centres have one as well. It's still popular, especially with the 10-14 year old boy crowd. Bowling alleys here also usually have a small space set or even a small room set aside for arcade type video games.
Crown Casino in the city of Melbourne also has its own videogame arcade area on the top floor, complete with a laser tag arena.

[–] Jag85 10 years ago

There's a big one in Central London called Namco Station. There used to be an even bigger one in Central London called Trocadero Fun Land (formerly called Sega World) but it closed down some years ago.

[–] johncg25 10 years ago

Yes, go to the Jersey Shore and there are a bunch of them still there. All over. Even when I was a kid some were pretty empty, so some of them shut down, but the ones that are still there were doing better business and are probably still doing fine.

As for "barcades" I have no idea, but seems like it might be a good idea.

[–] DeRo64 10 years ago

There are a few, especially in coastal areas, but they're a dying breed.

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[–] jmarkoff2 10 years ago

There are at least two in Eugene, Oregon, within walking distance of downtown.

EDIT: And within these last 8 hours I just went out and got back from one of them to see the burlesque theatre show in its courtyard with lots of striptease, stunt work, and magic.

And I shamelessly give free advertising to the show's star whom I admire, by posting her website here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008324837572

[–] andybob-3 10 years ago

Go to the forums at Klov.com, me and a gazillion other coin operated arcade game and pinball collectors are on there, doing our best to preserve them.

Oh and another plug for Funspot arcade up in Laconia New Hampshire, they hold the world's record for the biggest collection of classic arcade video games.