[OT] Video games (Was Re: [vox] silicon valley computer stores)

[Bill Kendrick]

On Fri, Oct 17, 2003 at 10:37:49AM -0700, p@dirac.org wrote:
> heh.  you can keep the classic computing hardware.  i'll take the
> classic gaming hardware.

That, too. :^)  There's a place in Dublin that sells arcade systems.
Mike & Daphne tried to take me there, but they were closed (it was Sunday)


> if i were bill gates, i'd have my own personal arcade and stock it with
> classics like asteroids, space invaders, defender, gorf (anyone remember
> that?), tron, dragon's lair, joust, etc.

I have the first three for my Atari XL and Atari 2600.
I've played Gorf on 2600, and at least once in the arcade.
Which Tron?  "Tron"?  Or "Deadly Discs"? :^)  I've never played the latter.
The former kicked my ass and sucked my pockets dry of quarters.

I have DL for my Atari Jaguar (hey, it's got a CD drive!)
I'm interested in checking out the GameBoy remake.  I wonder how good it is?
(Not that I LIKE the game that much, mind you :^) )

I have Joust for my XL.  Has anyone else noticed how similar Mario Bros is
to that game?  Someone should sue Nintendo.  (Either that, or someone should
make the next Joust game:  Super Joustio Brothers ;^) )


> i'd hire people to play games all day, so when i walk in, there would be
> the dark and noisy "beep beep zap zap" atmosphere of a classic arcade
> room of the late 80's...

You need to name it "Flynn's" :^)


<snip> 
> i'd hire big guys to stand around with big money changer belts that you
> have to wait around 10 minutes for to get your tokens.

Wow, by the time I hit arcades, they were all mechanical.
(The token dispensing... not the big guys)


<snip> 
> and there would be loudspeakers pumping out classics like "you spin me
> round" and "she blinded me with science".

I'm trying to think back, and I don't really remember the local arcade
("Space Station" in the Triangle shopping center in Novato) playing any
music.  Thank god... loud music irritates me when I'm trying to play
classic video games.  :^)


-bill!