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Gonna nab some quarters from my change bucket, ride my bike up to the mall....


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Posted
10 minutes ago, locodos said:

Mappy (table top @ Pizzahut) > Defender

 

Team Tailgunner 

Honorary mention in the laserdisc era:  Badlands  Straight up Japanese fever dream version of the wildwest.  Also basically impossible.

 

There was a whole host of great laserdisc games from that era. Cobra Command, Mach 3, Cliff Hanger, Freedom Fighter, Super Don Quixote, Mad Dog McCree. 

https://www.giantbomb.com/laserdisc/3015-8905/games/

Posted

If these new arcades no longer use quarters, how do you reserve a spot to play?

Putting a quarter on the edge of the screen is the only legitimate way to establish who plays next. 

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Posted
8 minutes ago, F250 said:

If these new arcades no longer use quarters, how do you reserve a spot to play?

Putting a quarter on the edge of the screen is the only legitimate way to establish who plays next. 

You log into the app and reserve your spot on line.  The app will text you when your turn at a machine is next, and then when your turn is beginning. You have 60 seconds to swipe your card at that machine before it moves on to the next player in the queue. 

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Posted
6 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

You log into the app and reserve your spot on line.  The app will text you when your turn at a machine is next, and then when your turn is beginning. You have 60 seconds to swipe your card at that machine before it moves on to the next player in the queue. 

Negged.

In fact, I've taken to rewarding businesses with my repeat patronage if they DON'T hammer me with some version of "download our app!"

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

You log into the app and reserve your spot on line.  The app will text you when your turn at a machine is next, and then when your turn is beginning. You have 60 seconds to swipe your card at that machine before it moves on to the next player in the queue. 

That sounds terrible. 

It doesn't allow for the veto when the goofy kid wants a turn. "Fuck off Funkhouser, we have something going on here, come back later." Granted, that was more of a thing at Stop N Go and not arcades. 

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, F250 said:

That sounds terrible. 

It doesn't allow for the veto when the goofy kid wants a turn. "Fuck off Funkhouser, we have something going on here, come back later." Granted, that was more of a thing at Stop N Go and not arcades. 

Well I made it all up using my extensive knowledge of corporate data mining. Would you put it past them?

Edited by Pato del Muerto
It’s all computer!
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Posted
36 minutes ago, F250 said:

That sounds terrible. 

It doesn't allow for the veto when the goofy kid wants a turn. "Fuck off Funkhouser, we have something going on here, come back later." Granted, that was more of a thing at Stop N Go and not arcades. 

Stop N Go at Steck and Mesa.  Lots and lots of Street Fighter.  And Funkhouser definitely never got a turn, the neo maxi zoom dweebie.

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Posted (edited)

Grew up in Southeast Amarillo (not the swanky southwest side). There was a Toot n Totum (local convenience store chain) about a mile from our house we'd ride our bikes to, taking shortcuts down alleys and vacant lots,  dodging crazy dogs, and angry old people who didn't like us riding across the lot next to their house. At the Toot n Totum, or as we referred to it, Fart and Fetchum, they had a little room with a couple arcade games that would rotate. I remember playing Spy Hunter, Tiger Heli, 1942. When we ran out of quarters, we'd shoplift a few pieces of super bubble (allegedly),then ride out into that hot, dry, dusty wind like the badasses we were, now headed for the lot that had the sweet jumps.

Edited by Grande Mart
clarification
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Posted

IMG_1110.thumb.jpeg.36a8ab8868ad1d71c4e746a52a550e4d.jpegIMG_1111.thumb.jpeg.26d6dd769fbac7f75c29bf17de6b089b.jpeg

Never been all that much into pinball, but thought these two were interesting when i went to the local pinball bar near where I live now in Portland. 

First one probably would have drawn protesters in Amarillo, and I thought the second was interesting trying to capitalize on Apollo-Soyuz 

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Posted

Cool place in Asbury Park, NJ I’ve hit up a couple of times, has a great collection of old pinball and arcade games… 

IMG_8759.thumb.jpeg.8257e6c5cc096fe42f7221199b598c75.jpeg

We loved playing this one or some variation too… 

IMG_8760.thumb.jpeg.de76e09c3dfa69416998298d60c73081.jpeg
 

Posted
40 minutes ago, MissingInAction said:

Quasars in Georgetown. Got my first over the jeans handy out back and the high score on 1942 inside.

Was the handy was from the dude that bet you that you couldn't set the high score on 1942?

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Grande Mart said:

Grew up in Southeast Amarillo (not the swanky southwest side). There was a Toot n Totum (local convenience store chain) about a mile from our house we'd ride our bikes to, taking shortcuts down alleys and vacant lots,  dodging crazy dogs, and angry old people who didn't like us riding across the lot next to their house. At the Toot n Totum, or as we referred to it, Fart and Fetchum, they had a little room with a couple arcade games that would rotate. I remember playing Spy Hunter, Tiger Heli, 1942. When we ran out of quarters, we'd shoplift a few pieces of super bubble (allegedly),then ride out into that hot, dry, dusty wind like the badasses we were, now headed for the lot that had the sweet jumps.

Well fuck! I know exactly where this was located. You went to Tascosa High, unless you moved. Fart and Fetchum indeed.

I usually didnt get to play the game as I was getting a cartoon of cigs for my grandma, one of the grumpy old folks you described above.

I once punched a kid for taking my younger cousin bike and ended up, no joke, fighting his dad. 

He was fat and really slow. 

Edited by BurntEyes
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Posted
1 hour ago, Grande Mart said:

Grew up in Southeast Amarillo (not the swanky southwest side). There was a Toot n Totum (local convenience store chain) about a mile from our house we'd ride our bikes to, taking shortcuts down alleys and vacant lots,  dodging crazy dogs, and angry old people who didn't like us riding across the lot next to their house. At the Toot n Totum, or as we referred to it, Fart and Fetchum, they had a little room with a couple arcade games that would rotate. I remember playing Spy Hunter, Tiger Heli, 1942. When we ran out of quarters, we'd shoplift a few pieces of super bubble (allegedly),then ride out into that hot, dry, dusty wind like the badasses we were, now headed for the lot that had the sweet jumps.

Now I want to take a walk outside to scavenge for some glass Coke bottles to turn in at the convenience store to collect the deposit money. That will be enough to get me a Dr. Pepper and some M&Ms plus a round of 1942. 

Damn, life was so much simpler as a kid.

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Posted (edited)
2 minutes ago, MissingInAction said:

Tekken was my favorite at that arcade on the drag. Forgot the name of it.

I was unstoppable with the drunken boxer... well until the asians got out of class anyway.

And his name was...

Einstein's, right there by the cult recruiting office of Space Lizard Central aka Scientology.

Edited by BurntEyes
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Posted
1 hour ago, Grande Mart said:

Grew up in Southeast Amarillo (not the swanky southwest side). There was a Toot n Totum (local convenience store chain) about a mile from our house we'd ride our bikes to, taking shortcuts down alleys and vacant lots,  dodging crazy dogs, and angry old people who didn't like us riding across the lot next to their house. At the Toot n Totum, or as we referred to it, Fart and Fetchum, they had a little room with a couple arcade games that would rotate. I remember playing Spy Hunter, Tiger Heli, 1942. When we ran out of quarters, we'd shoplift a few pieces of super bubble (allegedly),then ride out into that hot, dry, dusty wind like the badasses we were, now headed for the lot that had the sweet jumps.

 

21 minutes ago, BurntEyes said:

Well fuck! I know exactly where this was located. You went to Tascosa High, unless you moved. Fart and Fetchum indeed.

I usually didnt get to play the game as I was getting a cartoon of cigs for my grandma, one of the grumpy old folks you described above.

I once punched a kid for taking my younger cousin bike and ended up, no joke, fighting his dad. 

He was fat and really slow. 

If it was summer in the late 80s/early 90s, there’s a decent chance I was around as well. Used to spend most of the summer at my grandparents house on Wayside Dr off Western. 

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Posted
13 minutes ago, BurntEyes said:

And his name was...

Einstein's, right there by the cult recruiting office of Space Lizard Central aka Scientology.

Einstein's was by Texas Textbooks and the Coop. You're thinking of Le Fun next to the Scientology building. 

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Posted

Truckstops in the 80's.  Among other niceties, to which I was not granted access, were pins and arcade games typically available.  Our dad drove a truck and would rack up credits on Six Million Dollar Man or Eight Ball Deluxe, "Stop talking and start chalking!" when you took too long to plunge the ball.  My older borther and I loved mop up duty playying out the credits.  $6MMan is the first game I ever fell in love with 1- because of the theme and 2- becaus eit was the first game that I played with the post between the flippers to keep you from losing it.

Aladdin's Castle. Sikes Senter Mall. Wichita Falls, TX  was the classic 80's arcade across from the 6-plex theater in the mall.  Everything from Xaxxon to 10 Yard Fight to Crossbow to Dragon's Lair. Pinballs during that era were Gold Wing, Cyclone, "Hey you with the face!" and F-14 Tomcat, among many, many others.

In the late 80's/ early 90's, Family Fun Place, South Plains Mall. Lubbock, TX.   Black Knight2000.  First game I could beat with regularity, in that I would show up with a $1 and leave with $.50 after playing for 2 hours.  LOVED that game. 
Putt-Putt, Lubbock, would get coupons out of the phone book( that in and of itself dates this one,) 40 tokens for 5 bucks.  John Elway's Quarterback for days.  Loved that it had continuous stats/ rankings.  Pinball machine was Space Shuttle.  Would beat the living hell out of the center ramp and one of the first games I learned with multi-ball.

I enjoy many of the assorted modern places and really like the ones where they have 20-30 pins and a set entrance fee for the day.  When I am on the road for work( which is a lot,) after restaurants, I am looking at places to play pinball.  I have benefitted from the resurgence of popularity of pins and arcade games.

Not a fan of the card readers, redeemable games, and the fru-fru bullshit these days; but if it drives more revenue to get the good games in there, then cool.

Posted

Its been too long but my google search of shitty parts if Amarillo produced this image. It was in there cause I remember Ninth, S Bell and Smiley Street for some reason.

fi5tfz6em8kd1.thumb.jpeg.d9abc71e6851e7068d064ef1a29b4ae2.jpeg

6 minutes ago, mdmost said:

Einstein's was by Texas Textbooks and the Coop. You're thinking of Le Fun next to the Scientology building. 

God dammit! Time and memory loss suck. 

Posted

The Denton arcade was Michael's Game Room, and they gave you a free T-shirt if you set a high score on any game, and they reset the machines at the start of every month, so the place would be packed with kids on the first day of every month, which is how I got my shirt on Centipede.  Those shirts were huge status symbols in elementary school!

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, F250 said:

Was the handy was from the dude that bet you that you couldn't set the high score on 1942?

Goddammit, a bet's a bet!

Edited by Brisketexan
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Posted
3 hours ago, Grande Mart said:

Grew up in Southeast Amarillo (not the swanky southwest side). There was a Toot n Totum (local convenience store chain) about a mile from our house we'd ride our bikes to, taking shortcuts down alleys and vacant lots,  dodging crazy dogs, and angry old people who didn't like us riding across the lot next to their house. At the Toot n Totum, or as we referred to it, Fart and Fetchum, they had a little room with a couple arcade games that would rotate. I remember playing Spy Hunter, Tiger Heli, 1942. When we ran out of quarters, we'd shoplift a few pieces of super bubble (allegedly),then ride out into that hot, dry, dusty wind like the badasses we were, now headed for the lot that had the sweet jumps.

Username does not check out 

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Posted
On 7/2/2025 at 3:21 PM, NorthLoop said:

btw if you ever are in the Pikes Peak/Colo Springs area, Manitou Springs has a whole city block that's basically nothing but old arcade games and kids old quarter slot rides. It's pretty fuckin cool. Except I got Covid there. 

Next time in Fayettenam, hit up Arkadia Retrocade.

https://www.instagram.com/arkadiaretrocade?igsh=MTU3dDk1dmw2cTJ2bg==

$5 gets you all you can play.

 

I destroyed my 8 yo at NBA Jam.

 

(but you'll definitely get covid there too)

 

Posted (edited)

Much love to those early 80s classics, but eventually the Yesterday's in the Temple Mall closed the doors on its dim, smoky hive of scum and villainy.

We held on for a while at Mazzio's Pizza where we were treated to some of the last great gasps of 2D sprite gaming, much of it via the venerable Sega System 16 and variant boards:

Space Harrier - Videogame by Sega | Museum of the Game

image.jpeg.8f79b25026a32bcca5cb1a6fbce8e9dd.jpeg

image.jpeg.fa77570d8a2086955869cf49f30fdfc9.jpeg

image.jpeg.5a3de57627f0a830754b64cc2da309fd.jpeg

image.jpeg.ccec386ecb51f011bfe337356a9c4f7d.jpeg

Sega Genesis Shinobi Arcade Port Gets ...

Alas, all things fade and turn to myth, and the best games forbade continues on the final level.

Edited by Damor
muledick

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