[citation][nom]troger5troger5[/nom]What kids need to understand is that when these types of games came out, the only way to play them was to ask mommy and daddy, or who ever had a car, to take them to the mall or arcade room. Once there, you may be waiting in line for a bit to drop all your allowance into an arcade machine. Thing was you didn’t care because these machines were like gods from the future and you worship their greatness.[citation][nom]troger5troger5[/nom]What kids need to understand is that when these types of games came out, the only way to play them was to ask mommy and daddy, or who ever had a car, to take them to the mall or arcade room. Once there, you may be waiting in line for a bit to drop all your allowance into an arcade machine. Thing was you didn’t care because these machines were like gods from the future and you worship their greatness...[/citation]
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Dude you are 100% correct. The word "arcade" does not have the same meaning now as it did back when the video game revolution started. I would save, borrow, steal...whatever it took to get a bag full of quarters and then to beg mom to take me to the arcade Saturday afternoon. It was a(and here is the important word of the day) privilege to be able to go to the arcade and to play these games. It was a time (most likely only once a week) where you could go and enjoy a true arcade experience. It was not something that was demanded every single day of your life.
I love the arcade so much I got me a job at one when I was a teenager. Best.Job.Ever. It was the classic arcade. Dark, every wall filled with standups, pinball alley. the newest games were showcased near the entrance, volumes were cranked up, huge crowds standing around to watch. I remember Dragon's Lair release extremely well. 2 monitors were mounted on top of the game itself so everyone in the massive crowd around it could see the gameplay. Kids would show up with rolls of quarters waiting for an hour just to play the game. Classic arcade.
I enjoy places like Dave & Busters but it has nothing on the originals. Places like Yesterday's and Starcade. Stop at the pizzeria next door and get you a "big as your head" slice of pizza and a large drink for $1.50 and then go get the weekend special of 150 tokens for $20. Life was good.