As the 30 somethings of this world like me begin to yearn for more nostalgia in the form of retro video games and the experiences associated with them there seems to be a growing need for the gap to be filled with retro gaming related products such as dedicated emulation machines that play the original cartridges for various systems.
These systems are not the original but they offer a way of tapping into the awesome video games of yesteryear without utilising the original hardware and without the need to dedicate a whole Ikea unit to the 10 consoles and leads required to play from the original hardware.
There’s a fix in place for the retro gamers who want to get their console dose but it seems there is still a gap in the market for a genuinely brilliant arcade experience from the 1980’s.
The Sights & Smells Of The Video Games Arcade
There have been a few attempts that I’ve seen in the UK but I think that there is far more potential for this type of activity to boom again the UK.
When I think of the perfect depiction of an arcade it’s funny but I think of the awesome Arcade in Wreck-It Ralph. I think it’s called Litwak’s Arcade.
It has all the classic arcade games alongside the newer ones and looks like how I remember the video games arcades when I was younger.
My ideal video games arcade would be a cross between Litwak’s Arcade and the Arcade on the pier at Sandown on The Isle Of Wight.
Throw into the mix pick n mix sweets and maybe some good food & drink and I think you have the ideal video games arcade experience.
Maybe you could even pipe in the smells of yesteryear to add that authenticity and stimulate the nostalgia gland.
@RetroRic79 explained the smell of an arcade perfectly in the recent RetroAsylum podcast on Street Fighter 2. Retro Ric said something along the lines that a video games arcade smells of “used coinage”!
In my eyes that nail it on the head. There were some less pleasant smells associated with the arcades when smoking was still allowed but I don’t think it would be a good idea to pump those smells in!
My ultimate arcade would have a line up of the greatest retro arcade cabinets of the 80’s and 90’s along with the best stuff from this generation. Basically, only the cream of the crop would get into my arcade.
One place that looks awesome and seems as though they have nearly got the perfect mix is the Arcade Club in Bury. The pictures of the inside of the arcade look brilliant. It looks like exactly the kind of place that i’d like to visit to relive my arcade gaming days.
The only thing missing though is an awesome looking exterior to make it appealing to everyone who is passing.
Another cool place that I’ve found online is Heart Of Gaming in London.
The feedback from this venue is that the community feel to the arcade is spot on and creates for enjoyable nights at ‘HOG’
Here are some cooler video gaming venues in London:
>>www.redbull.com<<
Prime Real Estate
I’d really like to see an arcade inside a prime piece of real estate in Shoreditch that is right in front of everyone to draw them in. A 'Mecca' of arcade gaming in London and the UK. The biggest problem I suppose is getting the business model right to be able to pay the London business rates and rental.
It would appear that in the U.S they can get it right as they have a number of BARCADES now in key cities such as Brooklyn, Jersey, Philadelphia and New York. They look spot on and the perfect mix between a cool bar and awesome arcade.
Imagine having no budget constraints and just looking for the perfect property to house your ideal video games arcade in.....
It’s a game I often play and I played it today........these are the results I came up with
1. This one would make ‘A Trendy Video Games Bar / Coffee Shop’ http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
2. This would make a great state of the art style blank canvas for an Arcade to http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
3. This would be a cozy little arcade bolt hole
4. This is PERFECT! Just look at those high ceilings and cool floors http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
5. Look at those walls with loads of character, perfect for a cool arcade http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
6. This one looks as though it has a gaming loft included! Love it http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
The best building ever for a cool arcade vibe is already taken by GAME OVER in Portsmouth and I look at this and swoon on a regular basis..........
What’s YOUR Idea Of The Perfect Video Games Arcade?
What Building Would it Be Situated In?
Let Me Know In The Comments Box Below
"STAY FROSTY!"
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