Gameworks

[Agent Davis]

I now work for Sega!  Well sort of.  I just got a new job last week working at Gameworks (Sega Gameworks, LLC.).  For those unfamiliar, Gameworks is a cross between a sports bar, restaurant, and a family entertainment center (Slogan: Eat, Drink, Party, and Play).  Its actually a joint venture between Universal Pictures, Dreamworks, and Sega.  Steven Spielberg was one person behind its creation.  Supposedly its similar somewhat to Dave & Busters (though I've never been).

Anyways.... getting down to how it relates to you all... arcade games.  As you would expect, there are only a handful of "classics."  Being the atmosphere that it is, we have mostly Gun and Driving games (in fact, I've never been anywhere that had more of either (though I'm sure there are plenty of places that do)), a couple fighting games, and some interactive sports games (hoops, football throw, air hockey).

Perks are I get a two hour timecard any time I come in (unlimited play for 2 hours), and I also sometimes will play with guests while I'm working.  That's right, I get paid to play games  

So far its been fun.  I will post a full games list in a few days.

[Hoagie_one]

the gameworks by my house has a small section with classic games.

they have ms pacman, DK jr, and a few others.

[Agent Davis]

Which one would that be?  I work at the Gameworks in Columbus, OH.

[Hoagie_one]

auburn hills Michigan

[ntjedi]

I like the D&B in Michigan better.  It seems like less kiddies but I must say that recently they got rid of the restriction about being under 21 after a certain time.  I miss those days...

[Hoagie_one]

To be honest, i dont go into Dave and busters or Gameworks much anymore.  The style of games that i liked are gone now.  Its just drivers adn shhooters now....and ticket win games.

[Tahnok]

The only GameWorks I have been to is the one in Las Vegas, but I think that one is exceptionally big and high tech. They had some pretty cool games that I had never seen before. I don't think I saw a single classic in the entire arcade.

[Effayy]

The only GameWorks I have been to is the one in Las Vegas, but I think that one is exceptionally big and high tech. They had some pretty cool games that I had never seen before. I don't think I saw a single classic in the entire arcade.

Yeah, that was fun.  It's the only Gameworks I've ever been to as well.  It was a few years ago now, but I remember seeing a game with a *huge* screen, and these chairs on hydraulics that you literally mount into and rise above the ground.  I think it was a mech game, but it wasn't in use when I was there, so I couldn't see how exactly it worked.

They also had a fighter I believe where you stand in a "blue-screen" room, and it would translate your movements into the movements of the character in-game.   I didn't have time to try any games in there, mind you.  I was with my girlfriend who doesn't see the wonder in technology at all. Poor girl.

- FA

[RacerX]

Hey, Agent Davis, if you have it, be sure and play Turret Tower.  But only if you don't have a heart condition and aren't pregnant!  

[thumbninja]

I forget the name of the last big arcade I tried to get into. It was at Arundel Mills Mall outside of Baltimore MD. The reason I say "try" is becasue I was wearing jeans.

They have a ****ing dress code.  

Needless to say, I'm not interested in playing videogames in some place I have to get dressed up for.

Now I live near Rehoboth Beach DE, so I can ge a good fix at the old-school arcades on the boardwalk.  

[Stormy151]

We have a Gameworks in Tempe, at the Arizona Mills mall, and they have a few classic games, Robotron, Tron, Space Invaders, Gorf, Dig Dug, Ms Pac and a couple others.

And YES, they have a dress code.  Nothing about jeans, but they do not allow baseball caps turned backward.  Not sure what that's about...

[namzep]

I went to a Gameworks at the Grapevine Mills Mall down in Grapevine, TX (close to Dallas).  This was probably 5 years or so ago but I too noticed that the classics were few and far between with too many fighters/driving games.  They also had that game with the hydrolic chairs and it cost like $2 or $3 to play.  Pretty crazy price, if you ask me.

[Setabs]

I went to a Gameworks at the Grapevine Mills Mall down in Grapevine, TX (close to Dallas).  This was probably 5 years or so ago but I too noticed that the classics were few and far between with too many fighters/driving games.  They also had that game with the hydrolic chairs and it cost like $2 or $3 to play.  Pretty crazy price, if you ask me.

Yup been there.  Its fun they have like four classic games on generic wood cabinets that have 20" monitors.  you also have to sit down at them and the  monitor is like 3" from your face.  

[Magnet_Eye]

I have been to the Gameworks in Seattle a few times while on vacation visiting friends....pretty huge place, with lots fo crazy games, including the 2 story hydrolic game with 4 "vertical screens."

also, on the second floor they had about 20 old skool games.

I had a lot of fun there, and they have a lot of new interesting games you don't see anywhere else.

good times. I always liked to go on a sunday at 10pm, when you get 2 hours unlimited play for $10. though i havent been up there in a few years now.

 

[Agent Davis]

Ok, to respond to a few questions/comments.

I personally love gun and driving/racing games and so do many people.  We're in the business of making money, and the simple fact is that people wouldn't play the classics very much if we did have them.  Our video games are geared towards an adult population, and that crowd loves racing and gun games.  Sure, there'd be a niche that would play the classics, but I don't think having those games would be profitable.  

We also have a separate section for ticket games which is what most the kids play.

There is no dress code at my Gameworks (Columbus - Easton Town Center).  At 10 p.m. we go to 18 and over.  That's due to the fact that on Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights there is more of a party atmosphere.

Sky Pirates is the hydraulic game.  You move up and down attempting to puncture the other balloons by dropping on them with yours.  Running this is one of my main jobs.

Ok, so I wrote down all the games and here they are:

Racing/Driving (wheels)

18 Wheeler
Crazy Taxi (x3)
Cruisin' World (x2)
Daytona USA 2 (x4)
F355 Challenge (x2) -  3 monitors, awesome
Hydro Thunder
Indy 500 (x8) - Our main racing attraction.  Full Motion Cockpits.
Need For Speed GT (x2)
OutRun 2 (x2)
Rush 2049 (x2)
Sega Rally Championship (x2)
Sega Rally 2 Championship (x2)
Smashing Drive (x2)

Racing/Driving (other)

Alpine Surfer
Arctic Thunder (x2)
Downhill Bikes (x2)
Final Furlong (x2)
Harley Davidson and L.A. Riders (x2)
Motor Raid (x2)
Rolling Extreme (x2)
Sega Ski Super G (x2)
Sega Water Ski
Star Wars Racer Arcade (x2)
Top Skater (x2)
WaveRunner (x2)

Gun

Brave Firefighters (hoses not guns)
Crisis Zone
Crossfire
Gunblade (x2)
House of the Dead
House of the Dead 2 (x2)
House of the Dead III (x2)
Jurassic Park III
LA Machineguns
Operation: Thunder Hurricane
Police 911
Quick and Crash (x2) -  not video. shoot at mechanical items that have sensors
Teraburst (x2)
The Lost World (sit-down style)
Time Crisis 3 (deluxe size)

Other

Air Raid/ Air Strike/ Beach Head 2000 (3-in-1 full motion cockpit)
Asteroids (generic wood cab)
Beach Head 2002 (360 degree VR)
Blitz 99
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Dance Dance Revolution USA
Derby Owners Club (HUGE game where each person has there own monitor to raise, breed, and then race on the big monitor)
Gauntlet: Dark Legacy (x2)
Golden Tee Fore! 2003
Gorf (generic wood cab)
Guitar Freaks
Hang Pilot
Hollywood Bowling (full size bowling simulator)
Kick-It-Pro
Monkey Ball (with banana joystick)
Mr. Driller
Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga (reunion cocktail)
NBA Showtime:  NBA on NBC
EA PGA Championship III
Power Home Run Derby
Rampage: World Tour
Skins Game
Sky Pirates (see above)
Sports Jam
Star Wars Starfighter (full motion cockpit)
Star Wars Trilogy Arcade (x4)
Tekken 4
Tekken Tag Tournament
Tokyo Wars (x2) (2-player tank battles)
Turret Tower (full motion 360 degrees)
Virtua Tennis
Virtual Arena (detects your movements to the screen (tekken 1 I think))
War: Final Assault (x4) - FPS
World Series 99

[enchntr]

I've been to the Gameworks at Easton twice so far...once with my 3 year old and once just to eat.

Have to say, I was somewhat disappointed with the gaming selection for my son.  Mostly gun games, and the only game that I would let him play with the gun was the fire hose game, and that was too heavy.

Yes, it's definitely adult oriented, but he liked Pod Racer as he's into Star Wars (takes after the old man)...and he played the Ms. Pac Man upstairs.  Then again, his attention span is rather limited, so I finished most of the games he started.

The food though is really good.

[brained]

That must be a pretty cool job!!  

pretty cool!! they just opened a Gameworks, yesterday in my country, I'll go and check it out! to see what they got!!