Flashback Arcade: Seaside Heights NJ

[TOK]

Heard about this place a couple of times, and visited it today. I kind of steered my wife toward Seaside based on this information, even though I just spun it to her as "I hear it has a great boardwalk!" 

I wasn't exactly sure where it was at, and initially thought it went out of business. There are at least 5 arcades on Seasides boardwalk filled with cranes, slots and Deal Or No Deal but none of them have old stuff except for Flashback. This is located in the back of the Carousel arcade by the Salt Water Taffy place. Its a little bit out of the way, since its in the rear part of another building full of redemption machines. I'm sorry I didn't bring my camera on the boardwalk to get pics, but other people have, and the pics are easily found with google. There is also a video on Youtube.

I played a lot of stuff... Tempest, Robotron (in a Defender cab but with correct Robotron Wico's), Asteroids, Mr. Do, Donkey Kong, Stargate and a Gyruss that needs some monitor work. I heard they had a Defender, but they only have the Stargate now and that is what I played the most. Here are some of the games they have that I didn't get a chance to play:
Frogger (needs monitor work)
Super Mario Brothers, but not a Playchoice. Just some NES based thing? Not even sure. Funny hearing that music in an arcade though.
Galaga
Spy Hunter sit down
Rampage
Mr. Do's Castle
Ultracade that was busted. It was a showcase with a huge projection screen, would have liked to play it.
Sinistar (this machine is beautiful, almost too nice to be on the floor)
Centipede and Millipede
Kung Fu Master

There are a bunch I'm forgetting... They have a bunch of pins too.

I felt the place could have used a couple vert shooters, but it appears they are pretty consistently sticking to a 1983 and earlier theme, very evident in the total lack of late 80's/early 90's fighting games.

My wife thinks I'm nuts. I have a MAME cab with a dedicated Stargate layout at home, but freak out and play it over and over when I an example in the wild with gunky buttons and the rest of the control panel appearing to be made of cigarette burns.
She took the kid and went shopping for an hour while I hung out in there.

[arzoo]

I've been to the Flashback arcade many times - always fun! I just wish they would keep the games in better working condition.

[Donkey_Kong]

Did the Super Mario Bros. look like this? vs. super mario bros
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10371

[TOK]

Did the Super Mario Bros. look like this? vs. super mario bros
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10371

Thats the one! I thought there was an arcade version of it at one time, but kept thinking it was only Playchoice 10.
Thanks for the info.

[TOK]

I've been to the Flashback arcade many times - always fun! I just wish they would keep the games in better working condition.

I didn't find anything terribly broken. The DK feels like it has millions of plays on it. The stick feels like there is nothing inside, but it worked. I've played at so many places and found old games with sticks that wouldn't hit diagonals and stuff that I was pretty happy with Flashback. There were a couple machines that were cosmetically ugly, and the couple that could use some monitor help, but there was nothing on the floor that was plugged in yet unplayable.

For the first time ever, I'm looking forward to going back to the shore! 

[Ummon]

Shopping for an hour. I'd make a special trip on the weekend alone!

Here are some of the games they have that I didn't get a chance to play:
Frogger (needs monitor work)

Galaga
Spy Hunter sit down
Mr. Do's Castle
Sinistar (this machine is beautiful, almost too nice to be on the floor)
Centipede and Millipede

You missed them?!

...but it appears they are pretty consistently sticking to a 1983 and earlier theme, very evident in the total lack of late 80's/early 90's fighting games.

Good!

Super Mario Brothers, but not a Playchoice. Just some NES based thing? Not even sure. Funny hearing that music in an arcade though.

You don't remember this?

[TOK]

Super Mario Brothers, but not a Playchoice. Just some NES based thing? Not even sure. Funny hearing that music in an arcade though.

You don't remember this?

Not really. I probably saw it way back then, thought "who the hell would pay to play an NES game in an arcade?" and forgot about it.
Felt the same way about Playchoice.

[RoomTenONine]

Super Mario Brothers, but not a Playchoice. Just some NES based thing? Not even sure. Funny hearing that music in an arcade though.

You don't remember this?

Not really. I probably saw it way back then, thought "who the hell would pay to play an NES game in an arcade?" and forgot about it.
Felt the same way about Playchoice.

I remember a "standalone" SMB in one of the Dual VS. cabinets with Excitebike.  These were unlike the Playchoice cabs where it was a timed NES clone.  These were "better than an NES" arcade quality versions.  I also remember SMB2 in a Unisystem VS. cab by itself.

See here for details: http://www.gamersgraveyard.com/repository/nes/history/nes_arcade.html

[Ummon]

Super Mario Brothers, but not a Playchoice. Just some NES based thing? Not even sure. Funny hearing that music in an arcade though.

You don't remember this?

Not really. I probably saw it way back then, thought "who the hell would pay to play an NES game in an arcade?" and forgot about it.
Felt the same way about Playchoice.

Yeah, though I didn't have or play an NES, I do remember thinking the same.

[extendedplayarcade]

Ah the good old days of Seaside Park.  I grew up in Toms River for but lived in Seaside Park for a year.  It was great.  That arcade is on the southern most part of the boardwalk and technicaly in Seaside Park.   It is located on Funtown Pier.  It is a lot more mellow-er (not much though) on that side of the amusement part of the boardwalk.

Casino Pier is the other pier that is in Seaside Heights.  It gets a lot more traffic on that Pier because they have all the rides.  Funtown has rides too but they aren't as good as Casino Pier.  Funtown pier also doesn't go out over the ocean as much as Casino Pier does.  You can also Fish off of Casino Pier. 

I saw someone mention they use to go to coin castle and lucky leos.  My friend from high school relative owns lucky leos and we use to be able to get to play for free before it opened and after it closed.  There was also the Hersey's Arcade as well that always had some of the newest games They also owned the Hersey Inn as well.   I went to school with the Hersey's as well.  I don't think any relationship to the chocolate bar but I bet they wish the did.

I worked on the boardwalk for 3 years when I was a kid.  I worked a Kohr's ice cream.  I was the guy that made the ice cream. Yes the orange and vanilla ice cream swirl place.  It was a great job.  Met tons of chicks.  Played tons of games on my lunch hour and even brought my surfboard to work and surfed before and after work.  What a life.  I will always keep it in my memories. 

Those memories is what got me to buy all the pinball and arcade games in my years.  I always wanted my own game room.  I remember thinking "wow how cool would it be to have these games in my house"  My parents even bought me a real pinball machine from a guy that had a stand on the board walk.  It as great.  It was called Blue Chip but it was very old and boring but exciting to a kid that was 12.  I kept that machine for like 18 years and it never broke.  I actually sold it for 3 times of what my parents paid for it.  Great stuff but feel bad it is gone.

Brent Dolan
www.extendedplayarcade.com

[Ummon]

 There was also the Hersey's Arcade as well that always had some of the newest games They also owned the Hersey Inn as well.   I went to school with the Hersey's as well.  I don't think any relationship to the chocolate bar but I bet they wish the did.

I had an instructor whose name was Fenske. He said, 'yeah, not quite'.

[grichard]

I grew up in Jersey and remember summers down the shore more than fondly - especially now that I live in the midwest.

Someone sent me this youtube video of a shirtless guy playing galaga at the Jersey shore this summer, no idea which part, and it kind of made me miss Jersey more than ever.

http://www.youtube.com/v/ChumLD7D8lg&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1

[javeryh]

I've spent a lot of time at Seaside growing up but I haven't been there in ages.  I'd love to take the kids one day.