Best thing about the arcades OTHER than games

[Marcade]

Seeing as I seemed to cause a bit of a heated debate with my other post (what killed the arcades) I thought I'd try to level the karma a bit.

So other than the obvious, being games, what was some of the little things that "made" the arcades for you?

A vivid memory of mine was the going up to the person on the change kiosk and asking for "tens please", giving over a pound and waiting for them to depress the heavy machined button on their antiquated change machine, similar to a typewriter in appearance and waiting for the ten pence pieces to clang into the collection bin, that resembled a kidney dish, where I could get my grubby little mitts on the precious coins needed to play the games!

Carpets, always gaudy and unnatractive but always screamed arcade and welcome to me 

[elkameleon]

Oh yes, the soda stained, always gaudy carpets... The closest thing we have to arcades left around here is the local movie theater, they have a few (crappy) games.

[Donkbaca]

I would say centipede, since its not a game, its a novelty

[SammyWI]

I would say centipede, since its not a game, its a novelty

Funny.  When I first floated the idea of building a Mame cabinet to my wife, her one question was: Will it play Centipede?

Me: yes.

Her: Cool.

Disclaimer: I like Centipede too. 

The one thing I always remember about arcades was the sounds.  Just an overwhelming mix of game music and sounds.

[Tumerboy]

Depending on if we count it as a game or not. . . I grew up in Santa Cruz CA, and so my arcade of choice was the Coconut Grove at the Boardwalk.  This is a huge video arcade, but off to one side is the shooting gallery.  A counter with old fashioned light guns surrounded a seemingly random old west scene with bottles and cans, a piano, and various other things.  You'd aim at the little round reflectors, shoot, and something would animate.  I loved spending time there.

For things that really aren't games, Marini's candy store that was attached to the Arcade.  And the --bags of cream-filled twinkies--.  I remember one day when I was probably 9 or 10, walking up to the original TMNT Arcade game.  An older (remember I was 9) guy was standing there playing already.  He was only at Bebop, but as soon as I stepped up and tried to put in my quarter he threw a hissy fit, and told me he wanted to play by himself, and then proceeded to physically block the coin slots with his knees while he continued to try and play.  I was super confused and annoyed.  I probably wandered off to the Rampage or Operation Wolf machines.

ETA: My memory of Centipede isn't from the Coconut Grove, but from our local pizza shop.  My mom would take me there when I was really little sometimes, or we'd get take out from there or something, and they always had a Centipede machine in the back by the back door.  I remember when I was really young, being scared to death of the side art.  And later on I remember pretending to play, and then a little later actually playing, and liking it.

[elkameleon]

I ---smurfing--- love me some Operation Wolf!

[Donkbaca]

Operation wolf, another nice novelty

I like hotdogs

[wp34]

I would say centipede, since its not a game, its a novelty

Funny.  When I first floated the idea of building a Mame cabinet to my wife, her one question was: Will it play Centipede?

Me: yes.

Her: Cool.

+1

The main reason I got a trackball was so my wife could play Centipede.

[yotsuya]

Everyone I know likes Centipede. Still trying to figure out what makes it a novelty.

[Donkbaca]

Haha just messing with you guys. Except for the hotdog part, the arcade I remember most fondly as a kid was ten tokens for a buck and 25 cent fountain drinks and hot dogs.

So hot dogs are a non arcade game thing that was awesome about my favorite arcade

[yotsuya]

Haha just messing with you guys. Except for the hotdog part, the arcade I remember most fondly as a kid was ten tokens for a buck and 25 cent fountain drinks and hot dogs.

So hot dogs are a non arcade game thing that was awesome about my favorite arcade

Now that we're older, my wife's been having us eat these 97% Fat Free hot dogs....

I'd rather have the awesome ones from your youth!

[Thenasty]

"Best thing about the arcades OTHER than games"

Girls/Women/Chicks you know......   cause I try to show off that I could beat the hi-score  



ahh!!! youth, why did you have to end 

[DNA Dan]

Overpriced, cardboard thin, PIZZA by the SLICE.

[crashwg]

The hot chicks.  Oh, wait...


The arcade we went to as a kid had an anamatronic singing bear show.  I sure thought it was cool at the time.

[VanillaGorilla]

The reverse line-up of girls asses in Bon Jour Jeans with Goody combs stickin out of the back pocket....

[Rando]

The reverse line-up of girls asses in Bon Jour Jeans with Goody combs stickin out of the back pocket....

I used to love the boardwalk in NJ/Wildwood, so I remember neon short shorts and an airbrushed T with some type of Italian slogan.  Sandy floors in those arcades, I imagine the mechanics of the machines must have taken quite a beating.

Good times...

[EightBySix]

I would say centipede, since its not a game, its a novelty

Funny.  When I first floated the idea of building a Mame cabinet to my wife, her one question was: Will it play Centipede?

Me: yes.

Her: Cool.

+1

The main reason I got a trackball was so my wife could play Centipede.

+1

I would also add...

the smell. Must have been from those carpets. Oh wait, you said best... I meant most memorable. Hey, do any of you with a game room try to reproduce that authentic arcade aroma?

[Vigo]

I really, really try my hardest to enjoy centipede...I just can't find that much appeal. I guess part of it is I haven't figured out a strategy. Am I suppose to destroy those mushroom things, or try to leave them, or am I suppose to have a strategic layout for them?

[yotsuya]

You can build a channel using the mushrooms to try and center the centipede. You can also leave just enough mushroom to trigger the flea dive bomber for more points.

When I was a kid, I was bad at Centipede, but as an adult playing on my own cab, it's been fun practicing. I bet this is mainly because money is not a limiting factor. It's been a lot of fun.

[Donkbaca]

Or you can just play snacks n' jaxson, and leave cenitpede alone...

[danny_galaga]

The only thing of interest was the games. The places needed to be dark to avoid light glare on monitors. That made the places themselves pretty un appealing. There was absolutely no other reason I would be there.

[Thenasty]

The places needed to be dark to

Yeap I like it dark too, so when I grab/slap some Butt cheeks from the hotties, she won't know who done it 

[saint]

The overwhelming atmosphere. Dark, black lights, music, sounds from dozens of machines, glowing posters and artwork... Nirvana.

[Donkbaca]

+1 for Saintmeister.  The sounds...

[saint]

The overwhelming atmosphere. Dark, black lights, music, sounds from dozens of machines, glowing posters and artwork... Nirvana.

Oh, and a Slurpee! Must have a Slurpee with it all!

[Vigo]

The overwhelming atmosphere. Dark, black lights, music, sounds from dozens of machines, glowing posters and artwork... Nirvana.

Things that are neon, blacklight sensitive, or otherwise glow-in-the-dark are always a plus in an arcade setting.

[yotsuya]

I always enjoyed the different types of glow/lights from the different machines.

[Malenko]

searching all the coin returns for quarters/tokens
Kicking the excitebike machine at the roller rink for free credits
watching other people play

[DNA Dan]

+2 for sounds. I think that is why I enjoy the Hyperspin FE so much. Definitely gives one the smile factor.

(Also the fact that I've never tried anything else!)

[Donkbaca]

finding a coin return without a flap, so you can play with pennies

[Tumerboy]

For that matter, checking every coin return for quarters. . . and then FINDING one!

[Donkbaca]

Seeing my priest at the arcade, you could tell he was there because there was always someone in the parking lot washing his car..

[Mikezilla]

I really liked the dude in the arcade that would pay you $20 to wash his car in the parking lot with your shirt off.

Damn you got 20 bucks? I only got 10.

[Vigo]

For that matter, checking every coin return for quarters. . . and then FINDING one!

For me, when the arcades started getting lame and had multiple coin credits, checking coin returns turned into checking to see if half a credit was inserted in the game.

[Xiaou2]

Besides the typical answers (environment / sounds),  the only thing that really stood out was a certain kind of candy you could get using tickets.

 They were fairly hard but chewy spheres, a cherry flavor, hollow centered.. with an oriental themed box.

 It was only recently I thought to look them up.  Turns out they were called
 "Cherry Clan".

 The company that makes Lemonhead candies makes them under a different name "Cherry head", I believe.  Ive yet to get hold of them.. cause all I ever see are the Lemon ones.  However, Im skeptical they will be the same.  Lemonheads seem too soft compared to the candies I remember.  Maybe cause they were sitting around for ages before we got them..  but anyways, they were so much better that way.

 Ages later, when I worked for the arcade, we got entire boxes of mixed candies for a candy crane type machine.  The alternative flavored tootsies were pretty good.

 The candy crane machine was a really big hit with everyone.  Much more active than the claw prize cranes.  The payout was good/fair, and the prizes (handfull of candies) were much more worthwhile / enjoyable 


 Namco USA really ruined their arcades when they chose to put in TVs that looped commercials.  It was bad enough that they were too bright (lighting) , and with too much sun glare from the entrances / windows.  ugg.

[yotsuya]

Xiaou2-

I remember those as being called "Cherry Chan".

http://www.candywrappermuseum.com/cherrychan.html

And you are right, those were the best.

[pinballwizard79]

I really liked the dude in the arcade that would pay you $20 to wash his car in the parking lot with your shirt off.

The old Catholic guy?

[DNA Dan]

Yes they were called "cherry chan", then later renamed "cherry clan" Apparently some time in the 80's it became politically uncorrect to sell candy to children with cherries that had slanted eyes. 

You can find the same candy now called "cherry heads" here: http://www.oryans.com/cherryclans.html

The boston baked beans are good too. I really liked the "cherry chan" packaging. It was like you were an arcade ninja eating those things.

[RandyT]

I really liked the dude in the arcade that would pay you $20 to wash his car in the parking lot with your shirt off.

Damn you got 20 bucks? I only got 10.

That's because all you washed was his car.

[Xiaou2]

Nice!  Thanks Yotsuya  & Dan for the additional info.

I really liked the "cherry chan" packaging. It was like you were an arcade ninja eating those things.

     I felt the same way!  hehe   

 Cherry Head, is such a horrible name for a Candy too...

 Bring back the Chan / Clan   : )    They can use that girl Ninja driving in that car commercial to advertise it   heh

 Btw, I dont really like Lemonhead.  They taste like your eating window cleaner.