England's arcade attractions?

[xelanoimis]

Hello everyone,

I'll be going to U.K on a one week vacation (15-22 august) and I'd like to know if there are some places an arcade games fan shouldn't miss there. Especially in London and Leamington Spa, where I'll be (or close by).

I'm talking about some retro gaming bar or club, some arcade gamers' event, some arcade builder's shop (I'm not building one yet), some meeting, or anything related to classic arcade cabinets. Well if not so classic, at least some new ones.

Thanks!
Alex

[grantspain]

here are some ,goodge street is known for more arcade heads
http://www.animejin.org.uk/lnshop.htm#05

you find that many arcades have closed down in the u.k or reformed to family entertainment centres,many video arcades actually are now slot arcades-sad

[ark_ader]

If you can jump on a train to Blackpool, we have a few.

Brighton should have some games, and let us not forget the world famous Trocadero.
http://www.londontrocadero.com/

I don't really see the point in looking at arcade games when you have the entire London to explore, with Harrods in Knightsbridge and all the Museums.

But if you find any let us know. 

[xelanoimis]

Thanks for the links. If anyone knows more...

[Egocentric]

Forget the North-East coast.

All arcades here are full of fruit machines with the odd shooter (res evil, silent hill, virtua cop) and dance mat crap to make it look like they are catering for kids. I live within 100 yards of 20 arcades and not a single joystick.

Like the above said, Trocadero is your best bet and even then your going to be swamped by shooters and "interactive" games with not a high score screen in sight

[grantspain]

shame you were'nt around london this weekend
http://www.battleofdestiny.com/

[Paulson]

 I was down in Torquay the weekend...gotta tell you that the video game is dead down
 there. I found a House of the Dead machine & nothing much else  Just crap fruit
 machines which are probably set on their lowest payout percentage.

[ark_ader]

I went to Lytham St Annes Pier On Tuesday, and its a stone's throw from Blackpool, and used to have a pretty good selection of arcade games.

They had lots of working pins like Addams Family, and a nice selection of vids like Star Wars Trilogy.  Very few gamblers too. It was a nice change to see some of the older pins working.

I will venture out to the Pleasure BEach to see if they have any vids, tomorrow.

[ark_ader]

Well Well I went to the Pleasure beach over the weekend, and I noticed two excellent cabs.

A Return of The Jedi and a butchered Defender cab.

I was trying to locate the manager of the arcade, to see if they were up for grabs, but I will try again next week as I couldn't locate him.  Hope they are cheap!!!

Also there is a newish game out, called Afterburner Climax.

Pretty good game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Burner_Climax

[Grasshopper]

I was trying to locate the manager of the arcade, to see if they were up for grabs, but I will try again next week as I couldn't locate him.  Hope they are cheap!!!

I thought you said you'd moved to California?

[ark_ader]

I was trying to locate the manager of the arcade, to see if they were up for grabs, but I will try again next week as I couldn't locate him.  Hope they are cheap!!!

I thought you said you'd moved to California?

Hello Grasshopper I'm back!



Las Vegas actually. 

It was 118F when I left. 

Much cooler here. 

[grantspain]

did you get deported like one of my mates

[ark_ader]

did you get deported like one of my mates

No I flew over de port so I didn't see it.

You need to change that avatar, Dr. Shipman he ain't and that other murdering bstard doesn't need any more coverage.

So your mates are still hiding in Spain? 

Do they miss home like Ronnie?   

[grantspain]

the avatar is a celebration of his capture mate,not a celebration of his war
my brother was out in bosnia

[grantspain]

changing my avatar as 2 peeps have said its in bad taste

[Level42]

Go to that games store that has that great NAMCO (NOT Midway) Galaxian cab. Regretfully running a 48in1, but still......a nice machine....

[xelanoimis]

I just got back from England. It was great fun, but didn't find too many arcades.
It saw the Namco station, but they only have recent games.

I did find a cabinet with quite a few retro games in it. It was at a Play2Win center (I think I've seen two stores, but only one had such a machine). I can give more details about the location if needed.

The problem was that it was to expensive to enjoy too much. It was 50p a game and £1 a double game. And I die a lot! Still, I had a few rounds of Cabal.

Also strange how few PC games they have in stores! Couldn't find a singe point'n'click adventure.

And I recommend "The Forbiden Planet" store. Not for arcades games, but for lots of cool movies (SW and so) toys and tones of fantasy and s.f .books and comics - some very cheap, reduced even to £1.