Did you hit the arcades?

I always had a console, but as a kid from the 90's and early 2000's, I used to play some games in the arcades around the block. As I said in another post, the first game I ever saw was the arcade machine of Street Fighter II and got hypnotized, but I was too young to even know what was going on... so my arcade fever came with Street Fighter Zero 2! I spent all my allowance on that machine so I quit it hahaha!

Then on high school came The King of Fighters and I used to skip a lot of classes to play it. They had KOF00 and KOF01 there, so I'd play both until KOF02 got released, then the fever hit me hard! I also liked playing Crusin' USA and Time Crisis, for the fun of using the steering wheel and the pistols! I still like to play them anytime I find them around somewhere.

But what about you guys? Did you have your arcade times, or only played in home consoles?

Yup, a lot. Wasted a lot of money on them, can't name them all but surely more than 50 title over 10 years of gaming... till I discovered MAME lots of years ago and I'm still getting my coins back. That's I don't think retro-gaming is "illecit" after all...

Haha yes, MAME is great. It's mostly where I play my 2D fighters.

I used to be in arcades a lot, especially when my console breaks and i had to wait to either be fixed or buy a new one.

I Hitted the arcades when i was a kid, I Was playing KOF 2002+Other KOF Game series, Where i decided to play with one of my aunts (Who are dead now), Leona Heidern was one of her Favorite Characters, Also in my childhood i have played a game called "Let's Go Jungle" at the Hotzone Amusement center on a Shopping mall (BarraShopping, at Barra da Tijuca, West zone of Rio de Janeiro).

Last time at the arcades now, I Played KOF 2002 to beat Angel (I Lost at attempt to use Iori & Choi) but i won using K9999.
And i also played Let's Go Jungle with my dad at Hotzone, ParkShoppingCampoGrande (Another multiplan shopping mall, But this time in Campo Grande).

I could only play Sunset Riders in one ocassion at one arcade. They were on the verge of extinction when I started to play video games

When I was 8, I started to go to the Arcades, but school got in the way when I go older. I've yet to try out Beercade HQ in Chicago, Cheesie's off the Belmont Brown, Red and Purple lines has Classic arcades, too. I was introduced to Mame by a classmate in 2003 and I've been on Mame ever since.

Double Dragon in 1990s, some Japanese fighting games in 1990s, Beastorizer and Tekken 3 in 2000s. The arcade machines are quite rare in Russia.

2024 will be the year i'll be definitively hit the Arcades thanks to the ushering of a supermarket+shopping mall hybrid they'll usher near my home, and of all attractions it'll have an arcade called PlayToy Park!!!

I often go to a gaming cafe (just got back) and they have arcades and you don't need to put in a coin to play because you pay one price for an hour.
They have some SNK classics, like Puzzle Bubble, Metal Slug X, Windjammers, Magical Drop and Spin Masters, which I beat a few months ago.
They also have Street Fighter 3rd Strike, Marvel VS Capcom and Super Gem Fighter: Mini Mix.

And I also tried Kof '94 on emulator but it's quite difficult.

yes, at the young age i been playing a lot of arcades with friends.
which was one of the greatest times in my teenage days.
but unfortunately, my arcade local shutdown years ago due that consoles took over their business and moved elsewhere.

Yep i sure did. That's how i played SF2 and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs for the first time. All thanks to my cousin.

Arcades never go out of style. When I was a child I had a lot of fun and I really wanted to go play video games and spend time in the Arcades, in fact it was a dream for me to be able to have my own arcade to play video games whenever I wanted. I didn't have any console at that time, since they were too expensive at the time... And today too, hahaha.
My first arcade game was Mortal Kombat 2, a game I still play to this day and can freely play on my Sega Genesis. Still, the experience of playing at n Arcade is never forgotten, it would be great to see more places where these games can be played, because they are still enjoyable.
And I have to admit, arcade games are pure gold, they are still fuc.... addictive and enjoyable no matter how many years go by.

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Originally Posted by Mighty Stymie

Arcades never go out of style. When I was a child I had a lot of fun and I really wanted to go play video games and spend time in the Arcades, in fact it was a dream for me to be able to have my own arcade to play video games whenever I wanted. I didn't have any console at that time, since they were too expensive at the time... And today too, hahaha.
My first arcade game was Mortal Kombat 2, a game I still play to this day and can freely play on my Sega Genesis. Still, the experience of playing at n Arcade is never forgotten, it would be great to see more places where these games can be played, because they are still enjoyable.
And I have to admit, arcade games are pure gold, they are still fuc.... addictive and enjoyable no matter how many years go by.

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Yes, graphisms never gets old

Yes, and it hit me back. ;(

Jokes aside, i do remember playing some pinball game, Tekken 5 on arcade machine, but where i live, arcades are pretty much non-existent? Or maybe rare. I don't know if pinball counts as arcade, but it was one of my favorite memories.

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Originally Posted by Gomamon

Yes, and it hit me back. ;(

Jokes aside, i do remember playing some pinball game, Tekken 5 on arcade machine, but where i live, arcades are pretty much non-existent? Or maybe rare. I don't know if pinball counts as arcade, but it was one of my favorite memories.

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There's a Tekken 5 Arcade cabinet on ParkShoppingCampoGrande at Campo Grande, which's near my home in Bangu where i live, plus, the supermarket+shopping center hybrid that'll usher in near my home (Guanabara) will have an Arcade called PlayToy Park.

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Originally Posted by pomba gira

There's a Tekken 5 Arcade cabinet on ParkShoppingCampoGrande at Campo Grande, which's near my home in Bangu where i live, plus, the supermarket+shopping center hybrid that'll usher in near my home (Guanabara) will have an Arcade called PlayToy Park.

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Yeah, and i read somewhere that you played it this year. On "last game you played" or "what are you playing right now" thread, i am not sure.

I was mostly a console kid, N64, PS2, Gameboy Advanced, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii were pretty much my childhood. Going to arcades were pretty rare, but I know that I went once or twice, don't quite remember them though.

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Originally Posted by Nina ♥

I was mostly a console kid, N64, PS2, Gameboy Advanced, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii were pretty much my childhood. Going to arcades were pretty rare, but I know that I went once or twice, don't quite remember them though.

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In Brazil where i live Arcades were very familiar back then especially when it comes to The King of Fighters.

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Originally Posted by pomba gira

In Brazil where i live Arcades were very familiar back then especially when it comes to The King of Fighters.

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There aren't many arcades around where I live unfortunately, I don't know about in the past though, where I live is pretty empty of many things haha.

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Originally Posted by Nina ♥

There aren't many arcades around where I live unfortunately, I don't know about in the past though, where I live is pretty empty of many things haha.

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In late 2000s Arcades used to exist near my home, but now they're returning in 2024 as part of a supermarket and shopping center hybrid that they'll usher in near my home (Supermercados Guanabara), with the arcades being called PlayToy Park.

I frequently visit the one a few towns from home. It's got a lot of old stuff to play, and I love it there!

I had plenty of arcade experiences as a kid but by the time I was a young teenager it was mostly all gone. I tend to remember the mall arcades as being usually in a sorry state by my time, but they were still there. Lots of memories in hotel game rooms and movie theater lobbies and such though--you used to find games everywhere. I did play a ton of the PS1 Namco Museum games as a kid, and got really into games that I only found out later were never in the US at all, like Toy Pop or Phozon. Huge Namco fan to this day.

Metal Slug too sticks out as a game that whenever I would come across it, it would just blow my mind. It still does, really. The visuals, the variance and depth in animation, the cartoon style, coupled with the violence in that game was just totally crazy to me when I first ran into it.

I have for sure hit a few arcades in the 2010's, but not so much anymore I think. I also did that in the oughts too if I'm not mistaken. (I'm 21, so you'll know where I'm coming from).

Went a few times, played virtua fighter and tekken :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Neigdoig

I have for sure hit a few arcades in the 2010's, but not so much anymore I think. I also did that in the oughts too if I'm not mistaken. (I'm 21, so you'll know where I'm coming from).

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Did you spend a lot of coins ?

Last time i hit the arcades was at PlayToy Park on Jardim Guadalupe, i have l played Aero Fighters/Sonic Wings 2, Neo Geo Cup '98, Daytona USA, entered the bumper cars, got some tickets to switch into stuff with my sister, etc; They also had Nicktoons Nitro on it.

Fun fact: the same Geesen/Game Center/Arcade/Aakeedo on Jardim Guadalupe will also usher in the supermarket+shopping center hybrid near my home (Supermercados Guanabara) except alot bigger (just like the bumper cars'll be) due to the upcoming supermarket+shopping center hybrid's space;

Also fun fact, not only PlayToy Park (Brazilian Geesen/Aakeedo/Arcades)'ll be ushered on Guanabara (the supermarket+shopping center hybrid that will usher near my home on Catiri street or at the Brazil venue), it also includes:

Giraffas:(Brazilian food chain);
Parmé (Brazilian pizza chain);
Bob's (Brazilian fast food chain);
Ragazzo (Brazilian Italian fast food chain);
CASA&VIDEO (Brazilian store with home stuff);
Americanas (former Lojas Americanas; Brazilian konbini or convenience store);
McDonald's;
KFC;
ReiDoMate (Brazilian coffee chain);
Droga Raia (Brazilian drugstore);
Fábrica do Bolo Vó Alzira/Grandma Alzira's Cake Factory (Brazilian cake store);
Sorvete Itália (Brazilian ice cream chain);
Casas Bahia (Brazilian electronic store);
Xiaomi Mi Store;
Cinesystem Cinemas (Brazilian movie theater chain);
Nino's Pizzaria (Same Brazilian Doujin/Indie pizza fast food chain near my home that'll get a unit here).

Fun fact: My sister didn't liked PlayToy Park cuz the games or attractions are well behaved or lack adrenaline to her despite some units having dangerous attractions for her, but life'll change after she goes to Guanabara's upcoming unit.

Well.. I have a lot of memories with arcade machines back in 80s and 90s and at the beginning of the new millennium as well.. I don't know from where I should start..

There's many arcade games I played but I wasn't that good at them anyway I do remember the only game I did well at it was Marvel vs Capcom (I choose Megaman because he's my favorite of course and Jin even though I didn't even know who is Jin at that time but I choose him anyway just to try him out) I defeat every team I face until I reached Onslaught I remember a lot of people gathering around me to see if I will win or not but sadly I lost in the second form I felt like I disappoint them XD..

Other games I remember trying: Waku Waku 7, Gunbird 1 & 2, Metal Slug 2, Red Earth, Fighters Impact, X Men vs Street Fighter, KOF 97,... and many more that I can't remember all of them at the moment..

Now where I live arcade is no longer exist.. it disappeared from every place I know the only thing left is memories only :(

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Originally Posted by ++Sparky++

Well.. I have a lot of memories with arcade machines back in 80s and 90s and at the beginning of the new millennium as well.. I don't know from where I should start..

There's many arcade games I played but I wasn't that good at them anyway I do remember the only game I did well at it was Marvel vs Capcom (I choose Megaman because he's my favorite of course and Jin even though I didn't even know who is Jin at that time but I choose him anyway just to try him out) I defeat every team I face until I reached Onslaught I remember a lot of people gathering around me to see if I will win or not but sadly I lost in the second form I felt like I disappoint them XD..

Other games I remember trying: Waku Waku 7, Gunbird 1 & 2, Metal Slug 2, Red Earth, Fighters Impact, X Men vs Street Fighter, KOF 97,... and many more that I can't remember all of them at the moment..

Now where I live arcade is no longer exist.. it disappeared from every place I know the only thing left is memories only :(

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Although arcades no longer exist in Bangu where i live, but next year 2024 they'll return as the same PlayToy Park from Jardim Guadalupe in the supermarket+shopping center hybrid near my home at both Catiri street and the Brazil venue in Bangu where the works start in 2024 after both Adonai and Assaí Atacadista's usherings (past year for Adonai while this year for Assaí) in Bangu with Dom Atacadista also programmed for the next year; Other than PlayToy Park, other stores in the supermarket+shopping center hybrid inlcude:

Giraffas;
Parmé;
Bob's;
Ragazzo!;
CASA&VIDEO;
Americanas;
McDonald's;
KFC;
ReiDoMate;
Droga Raia;
Fábrica do Bolo Vó Alzira;
Sorvete Itália;
Casas Bahia;
Xiaomi Mi Store (not sure if it's a physical store or a kiosk maybe);
Cinesystem Cinemas;
Nino's Pizzaria.

Total 1+15 stores totalizing 16.

NOTE: PlayToy'll be more than just a generic Arcade where you can also do parties unlike GamePoint, it'll include indoor games like the Bumper Cars (it'll be big, twice as big as Guadalupe's), Bowling, Labamba or Lost in Space.

Fun fact: The supermarket+shopping center hybrid near my home is confirmed to have only 16 stores because the space is extremely wide and the fact that PlayToy and Cinesystem will be alot bigger thanks to their space; Plus: the bumper cars will be an improvement in size.

Only when I was on holiday. I remember playing Final Fight, The Punisher and some other scrolling beat-em-up whose name I can't remember but which ends with one of the playable characters living out his dream to own a hot dog van.

Here's my concept for the supermarket+shopping center hybrid near my home:

1st storey'll be the parking lot, coupled with the gas station, PlayToy (arcades) itself and a ramp for the 2nd storey;
2nd storey'll be the stores on a corridor coupled with the supermarket itself;
3rd storey'll be the food court coupled with the movie theater itself.

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Originally Posted by pomba gira

Here's my concept for the supermarket+shopping center hybrid near my home:

1st storey'll be the parking lot, coupled with the gas station, PlayToy (arcades) itself and a ramp for the 2nd storey;
2nd storey'll be the stores on a corridor coupled with the supermarket itself;
3rd storey'll be the food court coupled with the movie theater itself.

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Is this what will actually happen? Or just an idea?

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Originally Posted by Gomamon

Is this what will actually happen? Or just an idea?

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Will actually happen this year, month unknown.

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Originally Posted by pomba gira

Will actually happen this year, month unknown.

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Awesome.

Officially confirmed that Bangu Shopping in Bangu where i live will get or have a brand new Geesen/Game Center/Aakeedo/Arcade called Game Station（ゲーム・ステーション）years after Magic Games no longer exists in the same shopping center (and it will be alot better than MG); Plus, the concept will be very similar to HotZone; In fact: I think it might have Bumper Cars, a Russian Mountain and a Carousel.

Arcades were my life when I was growing up and now I'm 42.....still feels like yesterday, anyways, I can't be sure but I think Street Fighter II The World Warrior or maybe Final Fight were my first arcade games. Everything is a blur at this point but I also remember enjoying Killer Instinct 1, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and X-MEN and Mortal Kombat. It was always a good time when the parents would take me out to Chuck E. Cheese and I'd get pizza and shovel loads of quarters into the arcades they had back then. Been ages since I last saw a Chuck E. Cheese. I'm thankful for home gaming now but being in an arcade was just something else for sure.

Fun fact: Realengo where i live has a neighborhood far from it called Jardim Sulacap (or Sulacap for short) and it has a shopping mall called Parque Shopping Sulacap with Neo Geo Family arcades with Bumper Cars.

I'm not sure if this counts, but I went to several different casinos in the Black Hawk-Central City, CO area earlier today. I actually won $19 from playing a Tabasco-sauce slot machine (Yes, that is really a thing), but I wasn't so lucky most of the time, either I won a little or nothing. There are sadly no actual arcades in the area, but one of the casinos did have an arcade room when visited back in 2019, but its closed now. Interestingly enough, way back when, I do remember playing Arctic Thunder (That snowmobile racing game from Midway, if anybody remembers), in the basement/lower floor of one of the casinos, which is the earliest memory of me playing an arcade game.