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What ruined the "arcade generation"?
97thruhiker:
First post, been lurking around the site since last summer. I think its a combination of whats been said already in this thread. Yes, consoles and computers played a major role. I'm 35 and when I was a kid I had an Intellivision, Atari 2600 and Apple II+. The games were fun but they only made me want to go to the arcade. Fire up a 2600 emulator and play pacman or donkey kong and then play them on Mame. They were fun but the arcade had them beat. Over the last five to ten years the home systems caught up to the quality and variety offered at the arcade.
Additionally its a generational thing as mentioned in a previous post. Arcades were the place to be in the early 80's. They were new and exciting and something our parents didn't understand. Another example from that time would be skating rinks. I hated them (couldn't skate well but went for the girls!) but they were popular and we lined up around the building on a Friday night to get in. How many skating rinks do you find today?
Hey Ray B! I can totally relate to your post about Weirs Beach. My dad's side of the family is from Laconia NH. While I did not live in NH we would take a trip up there every year in the summer. That arcade on Weirs Beach (across from the duck pin bowling place if I remember correcty) was incredible. I remember walking in there in and seeing Dragon Lair being played for the first time. Great memories. I gew up in Maryland and used to go to Kings Dominian every summer. They used to have a huge arcade right by the Rebel Yell rollarcoaster. Went back several years ago and it was gone with a water park in its place. Oh well.
DarkKobold:
I still love some arcade games today. If I had the cash.... I'd so get
http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/machines/driving-riding_games/Star_Wars_Racer_Arcade_%28Twin%29_1594.html
and
http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/machines/shooting_games/House_of_Dead_3_%28DX%29_2469.html
Funny story about Star Wars racer. I was at the last Kzoo Super Auction, and they had one. Needless to say, I played it until the bidding got there. At one point, I could almost get first on the first race. I was sweating bullets, and one person walked up and said, "Hey, you know there is a back to the seat" Apparently I had been driving the whole time hunched forward. Such a fun game. I'd kill to get the deluxe or twin one.
GGKoul:
--- Quote from: RayB on February 28, 2005, 03:32:43 pm ---Imagine this sight:
When I was 11 my family went to "Old Orchard Beach" in Maine. It's a small beach side town. Very similar to Weirs Beach or Hampton Beach in New Hampshire.
Anyways, it had several HUGE arcades (with everything from 60's electro mechanical games, to the latest vids).
Well imagine the sight of something like 10 Pac Man machines side by side in one arcade, and all of them being played. Now THOSE were the days!
--- End quote ---
GGKoul:
Whenever I find an area.