Arcades Today... are there any?

[OTTOgd]

There are a tonne of tours on YooToob but this was a great Funspot video that c0nn0r just published. (ref: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29917)

[jasonec]

The original arcade place you see in that mini documentary on Funspot is actually still there - it's 2 min away from Funspot on Lakeside Ave - it's called Tower Hill Tavern now, and the block of stuff right next to it is called Half Moon Penny Arcade & Pizza and it's definitely worth checking out!

[SaraAB87]

There is also an arcade at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. They also have a permanent dedicated pinball exhibit in addition to the arcade games. The machines are maintained well, you have to pay $14 to get in per adult then pay for tokens but tokens are cheap at 20 cents per token (5 for $1 US), and each game takes only one token but its not too far from the southern ontario area in Rochester, NY plus its a giant museum full of games and toys, so there is a lot to love there besides the games. They have a little room on the second floor that is designed to resemble a proper 80's arcade along with games scattered throughout the museum. In the summer they usually have an exhibit featuring more games in some form so its best to go during the summer months as they usually have more games out on the floor than normal.

You should be able to find a few other places in the USA that do the pay one price deal and play as much as you want, I know of boss battle games in indianapolis as well they have cheap rates and a good selection of games. There is also the Galloping Ghost in Chicago. Depends on where you are traveling to, the ghost is also a huge arcade.

[jasonec]

There is also an arcade at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. They also have a permanent dedicated pinball exhibit in addition to the arcade games. The machines are maintained well, you have to pay $14 to get in per adult then pay for tokens but tokens are cheap at 20 cents per token (5 for $1 US), and each game takes only one token but its not too far from the southern ontario area in Rochester, NY plus its a giant museum full of games and toys, so there is a lot to love there besides the games. They have a little room on the second floor that is designed to resemble a proper 80's arcade along with games scattered throughout the museum. In the summer they usually have an exhibit featuring more games in some form so its best to go during the summer months as they usually have more games out on the floor than normal.

You should be able to find a few other places in the USA that do the pay one price deal and play as much as you want, I know of boss battle games in indianapolis as well they have cheap rates and a good selection of games. There is also the Galloping Ghost in Chicago. Depends on where you are traveling to, the ghost is also a huge arcade.

I second that - I went there in 2014, and it was amazing! Not far to drive either - could be a day trip easily.

[jacksona2]

I just came back from NYC and they have 3 "barcades". I only got to check out 2 of them . They had a couple of titles you don't see too often like anteater , escape from the planet of robot monster, Indiana jones , slither, mystic marathon, moonwalker, splatterhouse, firetruck. Plus good food and beer. Definitely worth checking out if your there .


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[jasonec]

If you are ever in LA, check out "82" - my favorite barcade - it's hard to describe, but it feels more "real" than the others....

[SaraAB87]

There is also an arcade at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. They also have a permanent dedicated pinball exhibit in addition to the arcade games. The machines are maintained well, you have to pay $14 to get in per adult then pay for tokens but tokens are cheap at 20 cents per token (5 for $1 US), and each game takes only one token but its not too far from the southern ontario area in Rochester, NY plus its a giant museum full of games and toys, so there is a lot to love there besides the games. They have a little room on the second floor that is designed to resemble a proper 80's arcade along with games scattered throughout the museum. In the summer they usually have an exhibit featuring more games in some form so its best to go during the summer months as they usually have more games out on the floor than normal.

You should be able to find a few other places in the USA that do the pay one price deal and play as much as you want, I know of boss battle games in indianapolis as well they have cheap rates and a good selection of games. There is also the Galloping Ghost in Chicago. Depends on where you are traveling to, the ghost is also a huge arcade.

I second that - I went there in 2014, and it was amazing! Not far to drive either - could be a day trip easily.

If you go directly to the museum from the Niagara area its a very straight and easy drive, you will have no trouble finding it just don't miss the museum entrance. There is a lot more at the museum now since they opened up a dedicated pinball exhibit so there is another room of games plus all the others they use in the temporary exhibits. Last year's space exhibit was great.

[Carrman]

In Toronto, already mentioned Tilt is great if you go at a decent time, it gets packed at night, they also have skee ball and a coupe of classic console stations.
Get Well is another bar with about 8 or so machines, their sister bar The Greater Good has a handful as well as skee ball.
Cabin Fever, Junction City Music Hall and 3030 Dundas are great pinball spots, 5-9 machines in each spot.
House of Targ in Ottawa is a great place. During the day, it can be filled with kids. B'Day parties etc. are pretty popular there but after 9pm or so, it's a live music venue and bar/perogie place.

Arcade culture has been making a public come back and I hope it stays that way! I just don't think that it's viable for a business to rely on quarters these days but using it to get folks in for food and beverage seems to be working for a few places.


http://www.tilttoronto.com/
http://www.getwellbar.com/
http://www.blogto.com/bars/the-greater-good-toronto/
http://www.cabinfeverco.ca/
http://www.3030dundaswest.com/#about
http://www.junctioncitymusichall.com/
http://www.houseoftarg.com/


And here's a map of all the pinball locations in Toronto:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 00001&z=12

[nes_pimp]

Don't forget that arcade in the Skylon Tower. It's mostly Sega stuff, but they have a solid 30 or 40 games spanning the mid 80s through late 90s. Definitely worth the hour of driving.

When was the last time you went there? I was there two years ago and they had about 10 arcades. It looks as though they once offered a ticket redemption for many of there other games (similar to the Great Canadian Midway) but have long since shut down.
Arcade machine are all over the Falls, but there isn't a lot of games from the 80's or early 90's.

One place I would love to visit one say is Galloping Ghosts.

[jasonec]

Don't forget that arcade in the Skylon Tower. It's mostly Sega stuff, but they have a solid 30 or 40 games spanning the mid 80s through late 90s. Definitely worth the hour of driving.

When was the last time you went there? I was there two years ago and they had about 10 arcades. It looks as though they once offered a ticket redemption for many of there other games (similar to the Great Canadian Midway) but have long since shut down.
Arcade machine are all over the Falls, but there isn't a lot of games from the 80's or early 90's.

One place I would love to visit one say is Galloping Ghosts.

Sarah has some recent walkthroughs (several parts) on her Youtube channel:

[SaraAB87]

I think the skylon tower is trying to pick themselves up

I did not visit 2 years ago so I had no idea what it was like back then, but they certainly don't have just 10 games.

However they don't have anything before 1985, their oldest games are Hang On and Space harrier in cockpit forms, then it gets newer from there. There are also quite a few unique redemption games over there that I have not seen anywhere else, and certainly not in NY state at least. If you are looking for older classics made before 1985 its not the place to go. Marineland also has an arcade with some vintage games and pinball in it and a massively large 8 player Indy 500 game that I would love to get my hands on. Its simliar to the skylon though as they don't have anything before 1983 which I know some people are looking for. But visiting Marineland for a local is ethically questionable and VERY expensive just to see their arcade and the rest of it is not worth going to, and again, I don't want to get into a huge debate about it here but its ethically questionable to give that place money.

I am a bit biased towards the skylon since its my favorite but its totally worth checking out, there are times they have free parking too, I haven't paid in a very long time. The galaxy force II super deluxe cockpit is totally worth checking out as I believe it to be the only one running in the whole world in a public place.

There are some vintage games in the back of the great canadian midway too, but those are mainly vintage redemption games.

If you are looking for pinball there is none better than Pocketeer in Cheektowaga, NY, its near the Walden galleria mall in Buffalo, NY, they have over 40 pinball machines and they are constantly adding more, I don't know how many they have now but its a lot. They also have a few arcades and a few redemption, pool (its a bar type place), its definitely worth a visit if you are coming over the border but they don't have classic arcades.

If you are desperate and you are in Niagara, NY there is a place here called the Four Seasons movie theater. It is behind the Big Lots and Burlington stores in the falls. Just drive into the plaza and drive behind the big lots and its right there. I think you might like this place, Last time I checked they only had 4 classics but they were centipede, outrun, asteroids and Pac man and they all worked. I can't guarantee these specific games are still there. The classics are in the lobby and you can just walk in and play them. I don't think they would mind if you did this. They take american quarters so be prepared. The movie theater is totally rustic and looks just like it came out of the 1980's.

[jacksona2]

In Toronto, already mentioned Tilt is great if you go at a decent time, it gets packed at night, they also have skee ball and a coupe of classic console stations.
Get Well is another bar with about 8 or so machines, their sister bar The Greater Good has a handful as well as skee ball.
Cabin Fever, Junction City Music Hall and 3030 Dundas are great pinball spots, 5-9 machines in each spot.
House of Targ in Ottawa is a great place. During the day, it can be filled with kids. B'Day parties etc. are pretty popular there but after 9pm or so, it's a live music venue and bar/perogie place.

Arcade culture has been making a public come back and I hope it stays that way! I just don't think that it's viable for a business to rely on quarters these days but using it to get folks in for food and beverage seems to be working for a few places.


http://www.tilttoronto.com/
http://www.getwellbar.com/
http://www.blogto.com/bars/the-greater-good-toronto/
http://www.cabinfeverco.ca/
http://www.3030dundaswest.com/#about
http://www.junctioncitymusichall.com/
http://www.houseoftarg.com/


And here's a map of all the pinball locations in Toronto:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 00001&z=12

Get well also opened up another bar with the same barcade concept called "greater good". https://g.co/kgs/W3xXsG


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[jasonec]

I'm pretty sure that when it comes to arcades, you're going to have to settle on a barcade (or drive a long way )

[jacksona2]

I'm pretty sure that when it comes to arcades, you're going to have to settle on a barcade (or drive a long way )

I do like the aspect of being able to drink right at the machine . I think I am going to go to the tournament at "grinkers" next year . It's a barcade with over 200 classics all in mint condition . Has anyone been ?


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[nes_pimp]

Don't forget that arcade in the Skylon Tower. It's mostly Sega stuff, but they have a solid 30 or 40 games spanning the mid 80s through late 90s. Definitely worth the hour of driving.

When was the last time you went there? I was there two years ago and they had about 10 arcades. It looks as though they once offered a ticket redemption for many of there other games (similar to the Great Canadian Midway) but have long since shut down.
Arcade machine are all over the Falls, but there isn't a lot of games from the 80's or early 90's.

One place I would love to visit one say is Galloping Ghosts.

Sarah has some recent walkthroughs (several parts) on her Youtube channel:

If you look in the back ground of the video you can see what looks like a Simpsons and WWF game.