Videotopia - Rochester NY

[Xiaou2]

 I finally got around to visiting Videotopia.  Its currently located in
Rochester NY, at the Strong Museum.

 Videotopia is a traveling exhibit that goes to various Museums.  There
are over 100 games in there.. and many of them are extremely rare pieces.

 I was worried that the games would mostly be a bunch of crappy 3d games...
but I was pleasently surpriesed to see almost all of the games as good oldie
classics.  And even more shocked to see so many rare games.

 You pay $10 to gain entry... and they toss in 4 free tokens.  There are change
machines inside, where you can purchase more tokens.   Almost all the games
are a single token.  Only a few of the sit-downs are 2 tokens.   There is also a
bulk token discount at the changers.

 Also, if you pay $20 at the door, you can get a special pass to visit the show
any time from now until its end,  which I believe is in November.

 
 The games were in pretty good shape.  Everything I played was playable... with
exception to  Empire Strikes Back - where the Toe cable button was not working.
There definitely were other issues here and there... but overall, things were good.

 The Space itself was also very nice.  The layout has that classic arcade
feel.  The lighting wasnt too bright... yet not pitch black either.  The
temperature was very nice in there too.

 Here is a list of the games via the list:

 Air Battle (sega)
 APB
 Arabian
 Asteroids
 Asteroids Deluxe
 Avalanche
 Battle Zone
 Berzerk
 Black Widow
 Blaster
 Blasteroids
 Break Out
 Bubbles
 Charly Chuck's
 Cosmic Chasm
 Crater Raider
 Crystal Castles
 Cyber Sleds
 Defender
 Stargate
 Dig Dug
 Disc's of Tron (Environmental!)
 Dominos
 Donkey Kong
 Donkey Kong Jr.
 Donkey Kong 3
 Dragon Spirit
 Eliminator
 Exterminator
 F-15 Strike Eagle
 Fire Truck
 Food Fight
 Football  (Atari XO)
 Frogger
 Galaga
 Galaxian
 Galaxy Rescue
 Gauntlet
 Gauntlet Legends
 Gorf
 Gravitar
 Gumball Rally
 Gun Fight
 Hot Rod
 Indiana Jones
 Joust
 Klax
 Liberator
 Lunar Lander
 Marble Madness
 Missile Command
 Ms. Pacman
 Night Driver
 Pacman
 Panorama Race Drivin  (3 Monitor Cockpit version!)
 Paperboy
 Popeye
 Prop Cycle
 Q*Bert
 Quantum
 Quick & Crash
 Radar Scope
 Rampart
 Red Baron
 Road Blasters
 Road Runner
 Robotron
 Rootbeer Tapper
 Stun Runner
 Super GT (Sega)
 Shark Jaws
 Sinistar (Cockpit!)
 Sky Diver
 Space Attack
 Space Duel
 Space Encounters
 Space Harrier
 Space Invaders
 Space War
 Sprint
 Star Blade
 Star Trek (Cockpit!)
 Star Wars
 Tac / Scan
 Tank II
 Tempest
 Tetris
 The Empire Strikes Back
 Time Traveler
 Track & Field
 Tranquilizer Gun
 Tron
 Virtual Racing
 VS. Super Mario Bros.
 WarLords (2 player standup)
 Warrior
 Xevious
 XyBots
 Zaxxon
 Zektor
 Zoo Keeper


 I recall some games not being there, and some others that were there that
were not on the list.  It does state that games are subject to change.

 I will be returning - probably next weekend.   I only got in a few hours today.
Will try to get some nice pics.. and maybe even a video uploaded to youtube.

 If you are even half the classic fan as me... then I highly recommend you come and
see/play these beauties.   There is nothing like seeing the original machines with
the correct controls.

---- 

 Cant get enough?   Visit  'Fantasy Raceways'.  Rodger has quite a few great
classics there.  (in addition to a giant slot car track)   Hes got 3 pinball machines
as well.


 More later...

[CrazyKongFan]

I had planned on stopping there while on the way to Funspot about 2 weeks ago, but when I went thru Rochester, it was only about 8am and I didn't feel like waiting several hours until they opened Maybe this summer, if I get a chance to get out that way again. Although looking at their site, it says the exhibit runs from May 30th thru Nov 1st. I was in Rochester on May 28th, so it may not have been open yet anyway.

[Ummon]

All the major vectors, and a rare one, Quantum. Sweet.

[rick6668]

Been 3 times already.  I'm a member there for my kids, so my admission is free each time.

Really nicely done.  They also have a couple of machines that quiz you on video game facts that are mostly displayed as part of Videotopia.  You need to get 6,7 or 8 correct before you get 3 wrong to get free tokens, but they are NOT easy questions.  They recycle after a while, but I can't tell you how may times I got 5 correct and 3 wrong and got nothing.

If you're in the area check it out!