[y2richie]

Bit of a reminiscing thread so get your pipes out gentlemen for a smoke lol. The arcades were a special place for me as a kid. Getting some coins saved up and playing games like Gauntlet, Paperboy and Joust at the fayre (what century did I live in again? lol). Heading down the pier on holiday for a game of Bomb Jack and Mikie, pouring coins into Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Master at Butlins Minehead LOL! Maybe even a fight on the pitch n putt afterwards.

I find it interesting that the technology at home has taken over these days and possibly since the early-mid 90s. Arcades used to be packed cos the conversions on home computers weren't that great. I mentioned Gauntlet to a 20-something gamer a few years ago and he didn't know what it was! I was horrified and felt quite ancient! Much like the wizard in Gauntlet lol. Incidentally, I always need food badly.

I went to the London Trocadero a couple of years ago with my brother and it wasn't very busy. They even still had an ice hockey game like NHL on the Megadrive (the one where they copied the Madden sound effects). These arcades will be known as 'museums' before too long hehehe.

Think of all the 80s movies that had arcades in them too. Remember the classic Tron? I loved that film and game in the arcades.
[youtube]OcHFWMq9LSc[/youtube]

Or the Popcorn - Hot Butter music on Pengo?
[youtube]0hdDKxfrAbs[/youtube]

Post your arcade memories or favourites from back in the day...

[Haggler]

Originally Posted by y2richie

Arcades used to be packed cos the conversions on home computers weren't that great.

This is one of the main reasons i believe, technology has moved on and it seems a bit expensive to shovel pound coins into arcade cabinets nowadays when you can get a similar experience at home, having said that i went to an arcade a few weeks ago whilst on holiday (something i haven't done for at least a decade) and had a bash on Mario kart arcade gp with my eldest which i hasten to add was fantastic (far superior) even compared to 360 and ps3 stuff and the wheel virtually shaking out of your hands was an awesome experience, however on the downside and having qualified for the next race i was well peeved at being asked to insert more £1 coins.

*Edit* Will post a few clips of my retro arcade recollections later.

[y2richie]

Originally Posted by Haggler

it seems a bit expensive to shovel pound coins into arcade cabinets nowadays when you can get a similar experience at home

Aye but don't forget that in the 80s, there was another recession and my family had no money, low paid or part time jobs but I still managed to get the coins saved up for a few games. Sometimes watching others play. Although not as fun, that was part of it - to see how far someone could get. The alternative was Dixons for a bit of Frank Bruno's Boxing on the Spectrum lol.

I snipped your comments but I did take stock of what you were saying. I haven't seen some of the newer arcade games but I bet there are some greats. I saw a Star Wars game that I got hooked on (sit down cabinet with great surround sound). I'll try and find a clip. Love to own this!

[youtube]BppchZBcFkk[/youtube]

[kingcobbler]

Most vivd memories of arcade culture was nto the playing but the watching.

There was always some god like creature hogging the machine for hours for his 10pence worth. always fun watching an expert at pac-man, defender or track and field and then trying very unsucessfully to following their footsteps.

GReatest ever moment was easily the firswt day ona holiday many many years ago when a crowd of more than 20 people were watching 2 "gods" playing Dragons Lair and Space Ace.

Oh the days!!

[y2richie]

Great stuff! Dragon's Lair was just incredible. To think there was a game with those graphics! The phrase 'laser disc' was always banded about. "It's on laser disc", "it's a laser disc". I probably said it too and didn't even know what one was!

Track & Field two player in the arcades. Coupla mates going hellbent for leather smashing the A B buttons to win 100m sprint. Loads of banter. Great fun.

Does anyone remember the 1980s British TV show where they answered trivia questions and also played various Track & Field events? It was like two teams of 3 kids sitting behind desks like a panel/quiz show. I haven't been able to remember the name of it.

[Haggler]

YouTube - Galaxian (Namco 1979)YouTube - Phoenix Arcade game
YouTube - Gorf (Midway 1981)YouTube - Moon Cresta [1980] Video Games Jeux Juegos Videogiochi

As promised my personal top 4 dinner money guzzlers from yesteryear.

[SIK]

Ahhh, Memory Lane here I come....

I did most of my early arcade gaming in Nottingham (born and bred) at Space City and Cascade. I remember a mate and I would get the bus into town (early 80's here, we were about 12-13) early on a Saturday morning so we were at Space City before 9am (when it opened). Often the owner would come along with the keys and open up then we'd rush in and go around and switch all the machines on for him. Then as a reward he'd give us free credit on any game we liked so we'd usually have a 2 player game of Mr Do, Joust or Robotron.

I remember spending loads of cash into a Salamander machine in the mid-80s in Cascade. I also used to watch the better guys playing to try and see how they'd get through the later levels. It was the first game I ever completed in the arcade, I remember shaking like a nervous wreck at the end of the final level.

[y2richie]

Nice one Haggler! Loved those shoot'em ups! and the term "dinner money guzzlers" hehe.

SIK - I used to enjoy going out in Nottingham (early 90s - Rock City). Salamander - what a great game too!

[scartlead]

YouTube - Daytona USA (1994 - arcade version) by Sega - Beginner gameplay

YouTube - Sega Rally Championship - 3:31.63 (Arcade Ver)

These games cost me a complete fortune, well to a 16 year old anyway ! lol

looking back at them now, its easy to see how home machines have excelled over the years and as mentioned earlier you can graphically / Sound have a much better experience at home. Though at the arcades sitting in those cabinets sure was addictive !

[CAS FAN]

I must admit that I spent a large part of my youth playing coin op's, mainly through the 80's and early 90's. There was always something special about going down the arcades as a kid and (although i've owned a cab for many years now) back then owning an coin op machine was just a dream.

As has been said, the arcade conversions we had (at least until the Megadrive came out) were often poor relatives to the arcade originals. Back then, if you wanted high end gaming then the arcades were the place to be!

Anyway, here are a list of the seminal arcade titles of my youth...

Star Wars
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Gauntlet
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Double Dragon
[youtube]S0-2xhQAO9k[/youtube]
Outrun
[youtube]RJvRbfUioTs[/youtube]
Afterburner 2
[youtube]PkkQNDvKEdg[/youtube]
R-Type
[youtube]GFxuI7cBFhQ[/youtube]
Super Hang On
[youtube]yHGt4Zy-l6c[/youtube]
Crackdown
[youtube]PoaPd9gph9w[/youtube]
Operation Wolf
[youtube]yTiQ_jHinN8[/youtube]
Golden Axe
[youtube]0gOKT5KHsuI[/youtube]
StreetFighter 2
[youtube]hDPYRCMgEJ0[/youtube]
Wec Le Mans
[youtube]Q0oWddbzW0w[/youtube]
Daytona USA
[youtube]0EkAVmBVmVE[/youtube]
Sega Rally
[youtube]lGBF7tJhHMU[/youtube]
Ferrari 355
[youtube]lfuxWdQhR_4[/youtube]

There's plenty of other games which got my cash (TMNT, Mortal Kombat, Rampage, Chase HQ, Thunderblade, Power Drift, Galaxy Force, Salamander, Super Monaco GP, Monaco GP, Super Sprint, Firefox etc. etc.) but the above were the ones that most jumped to mind. Sure i've missed loads though .

[SIK]

As this was the late 70s/early 80s and most games only let you use 3 letters in the High Score charts my mates and I all had our own nicks. I was SIK and my mates were D.J, RAT and BOX (and we all still use those names whenever we play!) It was great being able to go into an arcade in Nottingham and check the hi-score tables to see if any of my mates had been in and set a score then try and beat it.

D.J actually had an original, full-size Midway Space Invaders machine in his house when he was 14-15 years old which he bought. He then sold it for £25 to get a Raleigh Burner BMX bike.

We like to remind him of this fact every now and then just to see the look of shame, regret and disbelief on his face when he thinks of how much it would be worth now....

[y2richie]

CAS FAN - Can I ask how much arcade cabinets generally cost to own including shipping? (ballpark figure)

Looking at these replies, I can see that I was never much into racing games! I mean I love seeing them again on here but I never played them. The only racing game I got hooked on in the arcades was Super Sprint due to its bird's eye view and simple graphics.

Star Wars - Hearing that tinny music again makes me think it's still ground-breaking! What a classic that was!

When I first played Gauntlet, I thought I'd discovered something so amazing, everybody has to play it at least once in their lives lol. Gauntlet 2 was even better. I remember playing co-op with older lads and they were getting a bit arsey if I didn't follow their orders. "LEAVE THE TREASURE! IT'S MINE!"

Outrun. Anyone remember the C64 version that came with a separate tape with the music on it LOL! Can you imagine that now?

Never heard of Crackdown until recently! Looks really good. Golden Axe was so much fun.

[y2richie]

A couple more faves...

Bloody Silvia's got herself kidnapped... again
[youtube]Il24F1_TBao[/youtube]

Class music
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The Beatles - Hard Day's Night on the soundtrack
[youtube]1-JJAkfSdJw[/youtube]

WWF WrestleFest
[youtube]17kicJxzAGM[/youtube]

Bombjack - played this loads too!
[youtube]VYtMOqpwyus[/youtube]

[fatkitty]

What about `Karate Champ` ? Anyone remember that..two dudes in red and white suits with the twin joysticks? An the sound of `Full Point` when you flying kicked yer mate in the face..ha ha..happy days..Even though I have a 360 and the likes of Fallout 3,i still enjoy firing up my xbox and playing mame on my hi-def screen..my kids look at me and say `what is that rubbish`?..but last week I challanged my 10 year old to beat my score on Galaxian and he was on it for about an hour (and no he did`nt beat it!!)