The Rebirth of the American Arcade: Do You Miss Them?

by thezilch Posted 2012/08/07 22:00:00

Related Topics: Games, Arcades, Video Games, Alcohol, Arcade

491 votes
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	Yes	364 votes	74%
	No	127 votes	26%

During the late '80s and through the '90s, arcades were all the rage for some gaming outside of your parents' house. Soon after, systems like the SNES and the Internet as we know it today took birth, which provided much cheaper and more portable entertainment. Arcades are on a rise, but do you miss them?

ARSTECHNICA.COM reports:Nostalgia and alcohol fuel a gaming comeback.

arstechnica reports nostalgia alcohol fuel gaming comeback

+26

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Libertys Martyr 2012/08/08 03:30:30

Yes

+13
I know video games ruined my life...

... It's a good thing I have 2 extra lives.
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More polls by thezilch

the judgebigdogeagle 2012/08/09 02:52:18

Yes

I used to work at Malibu Grand Prix. When Donkey Kong first came out & Pacman 1980.but the games that come out now,just take your quarters to fast & they are too much.Unless I find a Playboy pinball game. That about it.

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The Elitist Libtard SodaJerk 2012/08/09 02:40:17

Yes

When I was a kid, It was my motivating factor to get all my homework done. So I could run down the street, And make sure my top score in Mortal Kombat was still in tact.

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bryguy 2012/08/09 02:29:23

No

Overpriced and usually low tech garbage.

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America... to bryguy 2012/08/09 04:28:21

+1
yes because a quarter is over priced

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☆WillTh... to America... 2012/08/09 12:40:26

+2
hey bryguy also said Chivalry is a sexist concept and compared holding a door open for women is the same as holding the door open for white people.

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wpsark_... to ☆WillTh... 2012/08/09 21:41:32 (edited)

lol, I wonder if he's ever had a girlfriend. Sounds a little disgruntled

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sammanilla 2012/08/09 02:21:46

Yes

I miss arcades before computers, and they weren't just games.

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us 2012/08/09 02:11:03

Yes

I haven't been to a arcade in a long time. Best game I like is Ms pac man.

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Freedom 2012/08/09 01:52:28

Yes

Yeah! They were fun!

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Sean McDonald 2012/08/08 22:48:35 (edited)

Yes

+5
I grew up as kid the 90s/early 00s with consoles but I used go the arcade at my local mall (unfortunately their wasn't many arcades left) man those fun times I am glad to hear arcades are coming back

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Mvr to Sean Mc... 2012/09/27 20:15:41

Pole Position. Always late for class playing this one.

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Alexis82 2012/08/08 22:35:09

No

Its just casinos for the underage..

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freakoutnow... cuz mom's here 2012/08/08 21:28:50

Yes

They are still out there but I'll just say what I miss about places like the arcade. I miss the era when not almost everyone had a game console at their house, you had to go out to do most things to have fun, and when video games and other types of entertainment & technology had more charm and novelty to them. Going out to the arcade is a lot like going out to see a movie. Can we play games or watch movies at home now? Yes but it's not the same experience as going out to do it as opposed to staying at home.

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Rubyking 2012/08/08 20:25:43

No

it was before my time

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bob 2012/08/08 20:09:37

Yes

+1
I enjoy playing pin ball Machines

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TasselLady 2012/08/08 19:57:59

No

No wonder people in this nation's brains are turning to crap. They spend too much time playing this crap instead of doing something useful. Some kid ended up in the hospital after playing a war game 4 days straight. Dehydration and other bad stuff. And these people are supposed to be our future? Scares the !#$!#$2 out of me!

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jim to TasselLady 2012/08/10 08:54:04

No one said anything about doing it to excess did they? No. The topic was about old school arcades where you actually went out and mingled and played along with other people. That is nothing like what that one kid did, holding up in his room. Is it? No it isn't. Next time read the damn article.

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TasselLady to jim 2012/08/10 20:26:33

Oh please. I guess you get off by attacking people online because they DARE share their opinion. I read it. Doesn't change anything. People get addicted to these games, and I've watched people do it including some friends of mine. It's as if they'll DIE if they don't get to go to the arcade. Those games just as addictive as the stuff they have today. I have a right to express my opinion. If you don't like it too bad. Get over it.

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jim to TasselLady 2012/08/12 06:08:14

"Oh please. I guess you get off by attacking people online because they DARE share their opinion."

Oh gee here we go with that wonderfully over used phrase "get off". Yeah that's all I live for is attacking opinons. Please, If you can't stand to have your opinion scrutinized maybe places like Sodahead aren't for you. Get over yourself.

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FordCrews 2012/08/08 19:40:56

Yes

Hate they got where they cost so much a play, there was just something perfect about the twenty five cents for a 3 minute diversion.

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Portholus 2012/08/08 19:39:06

Yes

+1
Spent many an hour playing in one arcade or another and I do miss the old games but you just can not find them anymore.

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John Walker II 2012/08/08 18:38:13

Yes

Heck yea...

On my last trip back to my home town I made it a point to revisit the time-out arcade.

I was pleasantly surprised to see they actually expanded a bit...

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chas 2012/08/08 18:02:58

Yes

+1
even though they took in many of my "quarters" in the 1970's !!!!

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brian.southworth.921 2012/08/08 17:59:35

No

+1
I can play them at home cheaper.

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unaff 2012/08/08 17:12:54

No

+1
Because they're still out there!

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Squatch 2012/08/08 16:49:03

Yes

+3
They were a lot of fun. I still have a blast when I take my 4 y/o to Chucky Cheese

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T J 2012/08/08 16:48:55

Yes

+1
It made for a good hangout spot. And it got people out of the house.

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dePSyChO 2012/08/08 16:44:46 (edited)

Yes

They're popular in Asian countries and lots of games are still made for them (first, anyway, before being ported). I hope they come back to us.

Well, I hope they come back with newer games. I don't want to only play DK/Mario/Galaga/Pacman, etc. There are newer, better games out there.

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bob h. 2012/08/08 16:03:13

No

+3
I bought my wife a full size pinball machine for Christmas. She went nuts, and the cat hated it.

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Faith ~American Patriot~ 2012/08/08 15:54:44

No

We still take our daughter to the arcade : )

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KeithL 2012/08/08 15:48:34
gnice123 2012/08/08 15:32:17

Yes

I do kinda miss the social aspect of gathering around a game like street fighter 2 to see something you hadn't seen yet while getting your ass handed to you by superior players

Greg P.

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genevieve cloquet 2012/08/08 15:22:49

No

A little bit. I already have game consoles in the house, so I think I'm good.

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glass_butterfly ~YSU~ 2012/08/08 14:54:41

No

I have one in my house, and I don't have to pay hundreds of dollars in quarters to finish a game. I like having a set price for a game being able to play it as many times as I want and not having to take turns with some random person, on your favorite game. There are no closing hours either, you can play when ever and how ever you please.

Arcades were cool when I was a kid, but getting your own video game console was ever cooler!

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Titanium X 2012/08/08 14:34:38

No

Losing tokens, standing in line to play in a crowded room? Naaa ! I like the comfort in my own home while playing my games.

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Professor Wizard 2012/08/08 14:28:49

Yes

+2
I was in my 20's in the 80's... Arcades were a blast for entertainment. Not to mention, I got a few good dates with women I met in the Arcades.

Although Arcades are coming back - - I don't believe the environment will ever be like it was in the 80's. It just isn't going to be the same.

Same with Disco's... they are gone, never to return - - but there are some awesome memories made in them.

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Q 2012/08/08 14:28:03

Yes

+1
I have a lot of fond memories from hanging out at arcades back in the mid to late seventies and even the early eighties back was pinball was still dominant and the early video games were changing the arcade scene.

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Mm to Q 2012/08/10 06:48:12
YepIDidItSo 2012/08/08 13:53:39

Yes

We have one in our local mall but it sucks

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✞Knight of Honor 2012/08/08 13:46:10 (edited)

Yes

+1
From what I've read anyway, but it was before my generation. I've grown up on the consoles.

They were cool from what I've seen.

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