A Man, A Quarter, A Dream
By: Bob Mackey
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February 8, 2008
If you’re less than 20 years old, it’s very probable that you aren’t familiar with the concept of the traditional arcade, outside of its depictions in various media during the reign of these adolescent entertainment parlors. As hard as it is to believe, the 12 year-old child of today sitting down to watch The Last Starfighter (if such a thing could happen) will find the beginning of the movie far more outlandish than the rest: “I buy the space aliens and explosions and everything, but I can hardly believe that someone would actually pay a quarter to stand up and play some crappy video game. Now it’s off to have sex, as we modern 12 year-olds are prone to do!”
Yes, at the age of 25 I have recognized the fact that I am indeed ancient, and our younger generations will never believe my tall tales of “video game amusement dens,” “dial-up,” and “bubble tape.” But it’s their loss, for they will never know of the wild times when measuring tools were occasionally made of gum.
But maybe these kids aren’t so unfortunate; arcades, as unlikely as it may seem, are still around in some capacity. They most certainly died in the late 90s, but a wave of modern “barcades” like Jillian’s and Dave and Buster’s have swooped in to pervert the corpse of our once-beloved dark, smoky dens of truancy. If you’re a fan of barcades, then your idea of fun is on par with the average 45 year-old dad, who doesn’t mind paying four dollars for a domestic beer as long as he can use a terrible point system to purchase one game of Ms. Pac-Man for two dollars to relive those crazy college days where he met his coke dealer next to the Donkey Kong machine. And that’s how you were born.
So while it’s depressing that barcades are the last living remnant of the old arcade, they do have their charms; what other place are you encouraged to get drunk in front of other people’s children, outside of McDonald’s birthday parties? But even though barcades have this unique feature, I still find myself mourning my ol’ stomping grounds in the greater Youngstown area. Where were the best arcades in the area and what the hell happened to them? Though literally few in number, these locations hold a special place for our inner, and, at times, outer nerd.
Fun and Pizza
Location: The Boardman Plaza
Current business in location: Vacancy, echoes of children’s laughter (it sounds heartwarming, but it’s actually creepy).
Legacy: ????-1998ish
Fun and Pizza wasn’t just the best arcade in the area; it was where I had the one and only official birthday party of my entire life—and while I was unfortunate enough to get a TurboGrafx-16 (if you have to ask, there’s a reason) on that day, the memories I have of this arcade are far more important than those of the console that time forgot. Fun and Pizza was an amazing place because, like Chuck-E-Cheese, they promised to give you fun and pizza, but unlike the rat’s nest, Fun and Pizza was missing the bullshit and nightmares that usually come with gigantic, animatronic animals. Instead of investing in a robot band that had to “power down” between every few songs and appear dead and freakish to its child audience, Fun and Pizza instead chose to spend its budget on the newest and best arcade games North America had to offer. Sure, some of their investments were stinkers, like Sega’s inexplicably-odd hologram game Time Traveler, but, for the most part, their NBA Jams and Street Fighters were always up to date, as was the style at the time. Not to mention the fact that the entire right wall of the place was filled by an army of pinball machines, even when pinball was considered passé and the sport of madmen and dadmen. It was here, in 1991, that I witnessed the rise in price of some games from 25 to 50 cents—and while I experienced no physical changes, I truly became a man.
Today, Fun and Pizza is empty, with its brick façade showing that life once existed within its walls. But for now, there is neither fun nor pizza.
Fun N Games
Location: The Southern Park Mall, JCPenney Side (Petitioners’ Row)
Current business in location: Some place with workout equipment? It was too depressing to look at for more than three seconds.
Legacy: ???? – 1998ish
Much like Fun and Pizza, Fun N Games also had a brick façade; I guess masonry is some sort of subtle indicator of electronic entertainment. Unlike Fun and Pizza, though, Fun N Games was much more accessible, what with being located in the mall and everything. It was hard to trick your parents to drive you to a single location just to play video games, but with a trip to the mall, they could easily abandon you in a dark room full of strangers while they went to buy cigarettes and lottery tickets and complain about you behind your back. Fun N Games is where I believe my first arcade experience was at the age of four or five; I’m pretty sure that the place even predates me. I may not be able to remember what my dad’s face looks like, but I can clearly recall early childhood memories of playing Rampage. These experiences made the transition into being raised exclusively by television much easier. Thanks, Fun N Games; you delivered what you promised in tandem.
Fun N Games might not have had the selection of Fun and Pizza, but when you’re kid there’s nothing more empowering than walking into a room overflowing with a sybaritic orgy of video games that you have complete access to. Sadly, this magic is gone now, but if you go into the former location of Fun N Games, you can see the mirrored walls and ceiling that hint at what it used to be. Some say, if you look into those mirrors really hard, you’ll see brief glimpses of Fun N Games’ majestic history, or maybe just some dumbass squinting. Your call.
Both Fun and Pizza and Fun N Games were the best arcades in the area, but it’s always possible that I’m forgetting others. If so, please let me know with words. And if not, I’m interested in hearing your mournful tales of lost arcades, because one day Ken Burns is going to make a movie about this and I officially call first dibs.
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Comments
Oh my! You're missing Pocket Change Park. I can't find any info on when it opened or closed, but the Trumbull County kids will remember this now-defunct arcade in the now-defunct Kahunaville in the Eastwood Mall. Pocket Change Park was my world for at least 2 years.
my ignorance comes from the fact that i never really went to the eastwood mall before the year 2000. on that note, that kahunaville has the dirtiest bathroom i've ever been in.
i'm a little sad that i can't find any internet info on fun and pizza aside from the time i mentioned it in a 2005 jambar article. that place shouldn't be lost to history--plus, i don't think anything has been in its location since.
I used to go to fun and pizza with my father almost every saterday!
They had Mk 3 on a big screen. I would be layin cats out like "BLOW, FINISH HIM, FRIENDSHIP!!!!"
P.S. At least you didn't get a virtual boy for your birthday.
did you? there are support group for that, you know.
It's okay, Bob. The only reference to Pocket Change Park (other than enough tickets to get a batallion of green Amry men) was in a message posted to the Idora Park forums. *le sigh* Maybe you've found your calling? "Defend Arcades"? "I Will Blog Arcades"?
coming soon: my orwellian "us versus them" stance on video arcades.
"did you? there are support group for that, you know."
No but I had a friend who did. You could only play it for like 20 mins. After 20 the game forced you to turn it off, to save your eyes.
_________
Also I hate barcodes. They aren't very specific. Like in arcades you know 25 cents = one token. So, $5 = 20 tokens, and each game was either 1 or two tokens.
With bar codes 5 dollars might equal 107,300 points and each game might take from 50,505 to like 70,445. I don't understand how the ratio of dollars, points to game pans out. Because of this, I always end up never knowing what games I can play.
hviz tipped me off to this:
AKRON PINBALL FEST
100 machines on freeplay for 13 hours: $12
when?!
seriously; i live 15 minutes from akron.
Yeah when?
sorry...March 1!
"coming soon: my orwellian "us versus them" stance on video arcades."
This is great. I'm being compared to the likes of some truly amazing people. Orwell, Winston Churchill, who's next? Obi-wan?
Fuck yeah.
And you should all take a peak into the world of Youngstown Galaga League. It's coming soon. I'll keep you posted.
-m
the main difference here is that orwell knew how to spell four-letter words.
lol
My fault. Peek. Sorry. Eat shet, betch.
-m
And if you're sweet enough to name that reference, I'll give $.25 to play yourself a betchin' game of Galaga.
-m
Oh Man! Galaga? Really? Well then it's a good thing that that isn't a dated vertical shooter that's been outdone by at least 20 freeware vertical last year alone!
they had a galaga machine at the nyabinghi. my dentist as a child had milliipede. pizza hut had ms pac man. ages 5-26 were sweet.
i miss Operation Wolf
thanks for reminding me of a time we will never live again. ='(
Also deeply missed: toy prizes actually INSIDE cereal boxes.
Galaga is by far the best vertical shooter ever. Sure, if you like updated graphics engines, and unpixelated design, maybe not. But I dig the vintage. But as far as game play goes, it's by far the best.
-m
"And if you're sweet enough to name that reference..."
No takers? Damn.
-m
"Galaga is by far the best vertical shooter ever."
Alright now stay with me here. In order to prove that claim, you would have to play every vertical shooter ever, otherwise you would never know whether or not Galaga was the best. I, on the other hand, only have to provide one example of a better vertical shooter, in order to prove my claim.
That said, here is one example of a game that is better than Galaga.
Warning Forever:
http://www18.big.or.jp/~hikoza/Prod/
-scroll down until you see Warning forever, and download the latest version.
In terms of gameplay, it has a little more depth than Galaga, and the mostly vector-based graphics, while technically inferior to Galaga's sprite based graphics, give the game a better overall look than Galaga.
anyone remember Chex Quest?
i won a bike from eating captain crunch when i was a kid. a huffy woohoo
Chex Quest was awesome! It was the probably the Doom clone with levels most on par with actual Doom.
"I, on the other hand, only have to provide one example of a better vertical shooter, in order to prove my claim."
Actually, first, variables need to be properly defined. Within the term "best" I am encluding many things. The fact that Galaga has a bitchin' little midi soundtrack, as opposed to the same annoying red alert sound at the beginning of each level; actually placing you in space (where spaceships normally hold their battles), as opposed to on some giant piece of matrix green graph paper; the fact that it encompassed art, music, and video games, and instilled itself into American history.
"In terms of gameplay, it has a little more depth than Galaga"
All it did was add another direction in which the player can move. But yes, that in turn gave it more depth. Nothing too hugely inventive, however. Nothing like actually putting you in contact with your enemy, getting sucked up in their tractor beam, and having to shoot your ship back down. Thus giving you an <strong>extra fighter</strong>!!
Plus, Galaga has the most brilliantly written scoring system! It's easy to know how to get more points! And the truly skillful utilize that knowledge. It's like mastering The Force. Not to mention the Challenging Stages, and the constant introduction of a wild cast of characters!
I gave WF (as I am sure the kids call it) a go, and I just don't see it. I'll stick to the one that you can find in one of those little 80s table games.
-m
Grrr... is there a FAQ on this system's code?
-m
You know what? Forget that. No matter how much better the game I list is than Galaga, you're just going to find petty things to complain about. Let's just rest with you not being able to claim Galaga is the best vertical shooter, because of your lack of knowledge of the genre (Meaning that you haven't played every single vertical shooter) and therefore saying that Galaga is "by far the best" is a ridiculously idiotic statement.
Why should we forget it?
Right, because I completely put the game you love on blast. And defended the hell out of Galaga. IMHO, it is the best. Oh wait. I supposedly say that you can't have those. Opinions, that is. Right?
I just played about 5 rounds of each game. Galaga is way more entertaining. Honest assessment. And in WF, I feel like you fly through bullets. All you have to do is move around and the bullets magically miss you.
See, the problem with people on these boards, is that they don't defend their arguments. I presented you with my arguments, and defended them. You just give up. And call it an idiotic statement. Ever seen Best Week Ever? It's a figure of speech, ace. I was saying it's my favorite. You guys need to start making real arguments. It's whack.
And this conversation took way too sharp of a turn into geekdom. I'm going to go lift weights or something.
-m
I only gave up on the argument because you're obviously too stubborn to ever admit that a game could possibly be better than Galaga. I mean you mention the game in your profile, so you're obviously not going to take off your nostalgia goggles and admit that their might be a better game.
Also, I wouldn't exactly say you put Warning Forever on blast. The only things you had to complain about were the lack of music, and the art. Oh no! You sure ran that game into the ground! The truth is that Warning Forever has a more unique art style. It's not in space, because possibly it's trying to look like a stylized computer simulation.
As for its lack of music, well I guess you got me there. I suppose those 4 measures of music before a round are something you lose out on when you've only got one guy working on the game in his spare time, as opposed to a game giant like Namco.
And there is in fact more depth in Warning Forever than just being able to move in 2 dimensions. For instance, the enemies are made up of different parts, most of which contribute to it being able to hurt you.
And the reason you "fly through bullets" is that in recent STGs, the hit box is a smaller area in the middle of the ship. It's admittedly not necessary in Warning forever, but in some challenging STGs, it's a necessity, when screens can look like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nscP9Q...
all you guys do is bitch at each other... is that all that valley 24 has to offer these days?
apparently you are only reading the comments on the blogs and not the blogs themselves, if you can't find anything else v24 "has to offer."
they could use more writers, however.
i'm going to go out on a limb and say that there have been better vertical shooters in the 27 years since galaga was released.
Huge amount of input, there, Mackey. Thanks for enlightening us all.
Bunion, we're talking about a game that has stood up to the exam of time. It has been around for 27 years, and its legend still holds. Its stellar gameplay and scoring system put it at the top of the charts for competitive play.
Let's chat when Warning Forever makes its way into the hearts and minds of the entire world.
Until then, enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G2kFm...
-m
ikaruga
So you're saying that more people know about Galaga than about Warning Forever, and therefore it's not important? Well congratulations, you've just explained why people should listen to music that has proven itself in the public's eye, instead of rukusradio.
Aol radio ftw!
dimahoo
No, I'm saying that it is instilled in American culture for a reason, my friend. Because it's bomb.
And what you kids don't understand about the underground, is that being there does not always require you to stay there. Being an independent band does not mean that you must be confined to the underworld. ruKus is about causing enough of just that to propel those in the underbelly upward to reach the eyes and ears of as many people as possible.
Sure, there may be songs that you don't like. There may be songs that don't meet top notch recording standards. But these bands are out there doing it themselves. I know what that's like. I've been doing it for nearly 10 years. Personally, I like some of the lo-fi garage-or-basement-birthed music. I mean, how many times can you hear an over-produced Britney Spears track on 98.9 before you want to end your days?
And what do you do for your favorite bands? Nothing, probably. But maybe steal their music. Excuse me for trying to help people. I know, I know. Why would someone ever want to waste their energy on that, when instead they can expend it on destroying those who do? Crazy dreamers.
I'm going live in an hour or so for my show. Blasting forth with TONS of killer local and nationwide independent music. From all levels of independence, and I will explain them all to you, if you like. Tune in (I'll just have to let you guess where, seeing as how someone tattled on me for promoting {I think there's something in the water around here}), turn on, and let's chat about this live. You can log in to our instant feedback thingy, under the SYNCHRONIZE link on the homepage. Or we can even do a live interview! lmk... I like debating. Drop an email to ruKusradio@gmail.com if you're interested!
-m
no one cares, be a shill on your own blog
You have no idea how much time and effort is spent on this, Mackey. You have no idea what it takes to put something like this together. Your blogs take about 30 minutes to write, to be sure.
And I am doing this because I believe in the renaissance that is happening in this town, and in the surrounding areas. It's even stretching out to Kent and down to Athens. Oh but wait, you've yet to experience any of that.
Do you have any idea how much shit I caught for not playing enough of The Kellys in the first month of ruKus? By all sorts of people. It's altruism. Me giving back. Because I can, and because no one else is doing it. Not for personal gain. I'm obviously losing WAY more time and money than I'm gaining. It's pretty easy to outscore nothing.
What no one cares about are your weak attempts at humor and satire surrounding the twelve months of the year. That's what no one cares about.
And, I'm not the one who brought ruKus into your blog. So, piss off.
-m
And this is a public forum, my friend. Unless you can produce the cyberdeed that shows your stake in this blog and it's comments, I'll say what I want.
-m
its... ok?
-m
no one cares. your web page alone is proof that you are completely unprofessional and resting on the laurels of fleeting local "fame." i don't even have to go beyond your 8-color banner that looks worse than something out of the bowels of ms paint.
have some dignity and quit hawking your wares for once.
"Fleeting local fame"
That's good. Right. Stay tuned, Robert. You'll see just how fleeting it is.
And I've already addressed those issues when you tried to argue them the first time. The new website is in the works. But it's huge. So it's taking some time. As I said, we launched 3 months early. I'm not sweating it, ace. The music holds it down enough for now.
-m
I wasn't trying to hawk my wares! One of your minions brought it up. Not me.
-m
i'm sure prospective listeners and people that you hope to take you seriously will be just as forgiving about your awful website as you are.
Right. Because your website, www.bobservo.com, is a stellar original creation. Using livejournal's wysiwyg html editor does not count as web design. You sure can talk shit, Bobbi.
There's a free plug for you, too. Tune in. I'll give you one on the air, too.
-m
Grrr... I hate typing with emotion. My consciousness streams too well. Too. As well.
-m
cool; i'm actually a paying livejournal user, so i use one of their professional skins so prospective employers can easily navigate through my indexes of writing. it's by no means original (nor do i clam it is), but it looks far better and is much more functional than the vomit of the internet circa 1996. i also use html and pmwiki for other writing jobs.
I. Like. Vintage.
And it gets you the stream. Give it time, web 3.0 is coming.
-m
Every time moe drops a link to Rukus God gives Phil Kidd a bright idea.
any time someone thinks internet radio is an interesting idea, it's officially the year 2001.
You cats are hilarious.
-m
I don't think "Mackey's Minions" has enough ooomph to it I like the sound of "Mackey's Lackeys" better.
In fact I want to be the first official V24 member of Mackey's Lackeys as cardholder #1.
Yeah, but you've been gone for oh so long! We haven't been graced by the brilliance of one of your posts in quite some time!
-m
I would think that Lackey numero uno would've been tossing up support in the race debate, at least! Yeesh. That's not characteristic of Mackey's Lackey #1. I vote nay.
-m
i'm partial to "da bob squad"
lol @ the race debate.
It really wasn't much of a debate. It was you making a bad joke, that could be considered racist and other people calling you on it, and you saying look at Mackey.
im pretty sure bob knows more about all things video games than moe, whilst moe knows more about jacquard jackets and indoor-wear hats than bob does. i know more about barbecue and copy editing than all of you put together. cant we all just appreciate each others gifts???
Goo, I never felt the need to defend why I'm not a racist. And I still don't.
Sarah, I don't know of many hats that are made solely for outdoor use. Other than rubber rain hats, or maybe one of those old school leather pilot hats. I bet I know way more about hair product, too. And I happen to like vintage fashion. And hate most sports. Other than jai-alai. Is that wrong? And trust me, those aren't the only topics on which I can speak.
-m
Go ahead, boys. Call me gay.
-m
Ok, so I just googled "jacquard jackets." Come on, Sarah. My jackets are wayyyy sweeter than that. Don't insult me like that again, please. Thanks.
-m
carpet-y? tapestry-like? goes to show how much i know about fashion.
everyone should wear red baron-style hats inside. i would wear a fargo-style earflap fur hat all the time, but i was stupid enough to give it to lenny for xmas. GARRGH.
goo, your photo is going to be in the tribune tomorrow!
noonecares.com
note: not in reference to sarah
"goo, your photo is going to be in the tribune tomorrow!"
Say what now?
"Go ahead, boys. Call me gay."
Hey, if I wanted to insult you I wouldn't call you gay. I'd say you work for Rukus.
goo, theres going to be a small piece about the colored museum in the trib tomorrow and youre in the photo. kinda.
MAY I ALL RECOMMEND YOU SCROLL UP TO REVIEW THE DETAILS OF AKRON PINBALL FEST
Working for someone entails getting paid. I don't get paid for ruKus.
-m
Mackey, I think you should try to get a gig here...
www.shittyblogger.com
-m
And, the coat you are referencing is made from a rug. Or at least it feels like it. So the standard joke when people ask about it, is that it's Persian.
-m
And shamelessly... most of Moesdtradamus' coats are provided by:
Ohio Vintage - stay tuned for info on the new location!!
http://www.myspace.com/sassypantsaspasia
Have a wonderful, wonderful day everyone!
-m
parodius is a good horizontal shooter
"Working for someone entails getting paid. I don't get paid for ruKus."
Whoa... these insults write them selves.
i don't think "work" implies that someone is paying you, but whatevs
*wait for pedantic dictionary.com citation*
By moestradamus ( moestradamus ) on February 13, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.
"Go ahead, boys. Call me gay."
That would be insulting teh gheys... (wavey smiley winky guy not supported here for the purpose of showing that I kid)
I like the DEFEND MACKEY movement and I WILL SHOUT MACKEY AS WELL.
I think including the 2 times I have mentioned it, this is the third time I have seen support employing that particular vernacular.
And as far a galaga goes I think GALAXIAN is a far better game in the pure sense of vertical shooters. NO STUPID CAPTURED SHIPS!
not that there is anything wrong with captured ships or being gay.
you are racist against ships
Hey kids... Katie Libecco here. Wanted to let you know that all of the comments that were "removed by the site staff," I took down for a variety of reasons. If you have any questions why, e-mail me at katie@valley24.com
Katie L puttin the smack down on the thread!
thanks for that
If anyone has any more Fun and Pizza stories, anecdotes about the arcade gaming subculture in the 80s please e-mail me at nativio289@aol.com - Also, I would kill for any pictures or video clips from this place or the Fun and Games in the mall. Its all research for a novel so start laughing at me now. Thanks all.