Gameworks

[shmokes]

I went to Gameworks for the first time last weekend.  Had a blast.  Arcades may be disappearing, but I gotta admit, that was about as much fun as I've ever had at one.  I know that a lot of people are against these ginormous novelty games, but I think they're great, especially the games in the racing section. 

[ChadTower]

Is that like a Dave & Buster's?

[HaRuMaN]

Is that like a Dave & Buster's?

Yeah, we have one here in Phoenix (Tempe, really).  Two stories, bar & grill, lots of games - mostly new games and redemptions, but they have some old classics and some pins, too.

[ChadTower]

Sounds a little more useful than Dave & Buster's, then.  D&B has no classics beyond the usual Galaga/Ms Pac and no pins.

[massive88]

Gameworks is much better than Dave and Busters as far as our interests would go.

Last time I went to the one in Dallas we talked with the manager for a good 15 minutes about the state of arcades and more pointedly, at the absence of fighting games in D&B and the like.

He also said that Spielberg apparently was a founding member of gameworks in the 80's, but ended up having to sell his share due to pressure from crazy moms who though video games to be the work of the devil.

Anyway it seems all the Gameworks people still are really fond of Spielberg for helping start it out, which was interesting to me, for I didnt know he had such an impact on the industry.

[ChadTower]

the absence of fighting games in D&B and the like.

That's true, they do have that going for them.   

[massive88]

That's true, they do have that going for them.   

D&B drives me crazy.  Id prefer to see first fighting games, second classics, and you can never find either.  Hell finding any game that uses a joystick in a dave and busters is a miracle unto itself.  Then you think you finally have, and look up to find some stupid ticket redemption game.

Dont get me wrong, gameworks is still majorly shooting/driving/alternative input games, but at least they always have a classics section (at least the ones ive been to) and they have fighters on hand.

[HaRuMaN]

Another plus about Gameworks, I can actually get my wife to go there, and she's not a gamer. 

[ChadTower]

Another plus about Gameworks, I can actually get my wife to go there, and she's not a gamer. 

"So, we can go to Gameworks or Hooters.  Which would you prefer?"

[HaRuMaN]

"So, we can go to Gameworks or Hooters.  Which would you prefer?"

Actually, my wife doesn't mind going to Hooters, either.  She likes the wings. 

[shmokes]

The classics section at mine is still pretty damned small.  I don't think more than ten games or so.  There were lots of joystick games, from fighters to football to soccer.  But (and this is going to sound like blasphemy, and it's exactly this kind of thinking that has killed the arcade) I can play all of those games from a comfortable sofa on a big screen in my own home.  My favorite by far are the huge games.  I played a racing game in which the cockpit was completely suspended from above by an arm that moved the entire cockpit based on what was going on onscreen.  So.  Much.  Fun.  Stuff like that.  It was awesome.  I had already eaten just before going there, so I can't comment on the food, but they had a full bar with a couple of decent beers on tap.

[HaRuMaN]

The food is pretty decent, nothing special - just your standard bar fare.  Prices are pretty reasonable, and you can usually get a deal where you buy a meal and get a pre-loaded playcard.

[boykster]

Man I still remember going to the opening gala at GameWorks seattle back in '97....what a total blast!

[shmokes]

The funny thing about this being my first time there is that I've lived here for over a year now and Gameworks is literally a five minute drive away.   

[boykster]

'salright, I've lived in seattle the entire time GameWorks has been here, I've worked about a mile or 2 from it pretty much the entire time, and I've only gone a 1/2 dozen times over 11 YEARS

 

[Hemi]

Isn't D&B more of a place to take kids? I know Gameworks has a bar and is more of an adult place to play games.

[Ummon]

The classics section at mine is still pretty damned small.  I don't think more than ten games or so. 

That's a good size these days.  The Mesa one (you sure?...I thought the 10 south of Scottsdale was all in Phoenix...) also has a pin or two or few...I forget how many.

[ahofle]

Isn't D&B more of a place to take kids? I know Gameworks has a bar and is more of an adult place to play games.

D&B also has a bar and kicks the minors out at around 10pm if I'm not mistaken.  Definitely more of an adult place.

[shmokes]

The classics section at mine is still pretty damned small.  I don't think more than ten games or so. 

That's a good size these days.  The Mesa one (you sure?...I thought the 10 south of Scottsdale was all in Phoenix...) also has a pin or two or few...I forget how many.

I live in Miami, FL

[Ummon]

The classics section at mine is still pretty damned small.  I don't think more than ten games or so. 

That's a good size these days.  The Mesa one (you sure?...I thought the 10 south of Scottsdale was all in Phoenix...) also has a pin or two or few...I forget how many.

I live in Miami, FL

I mixed responses to you and H.