Comments on: Where did we use to play arcade games? http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/ The Saviours of Coin-Op Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:22:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: shizzle dizzle http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-14029 shizzle dizzle Wed, 18 May 2011 17:52:01 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-14029 We used to call Funway Freeway "Drugway Breezeway" because of all the stoners with their foosball gloves that used to hang out there....... We used to call Funway Freeway “Drugway Breezeway” because of all the stoners with their foosball gloves that used to hang out there…….

]]> By: Chris S http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1249 Chris S Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:55:34 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1249 Forgot about Funway Freeway. I often think of the Silver Castle, great memories. My best friend, and next door neighbors father worked for Bally Midway in the 70's and 80's, so we would go over there (Roger B Chaffee) and spend a saturday playing all the games we wanted. Forgot about Funway Freeway. I often think of the Silver Castle, great memories. My best friend, and next door neighbors father worked for Bally Midway in the 70′s and 80′s, so we would go over there (Roger B Chaffee) and spend a saturday playing all the games we wanted.

]]> By: Jan Schultz http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1248 Jan Schultz Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:23:42 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1248 22hebxcbw6lynn26 22hebxcbw6lynn26

]]> By: Geo http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1247 Geo Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:00:45 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1247 When i came here to the U.S i use to go to a mall call NorthWest Plaza, the bad news are that the arcade does`nt exist any more, they really had very good games there and it was a big place, i dont know if they moved, but i know they went out of bussines, sad...... When i came here to the U.S i use to go to a mall call NorthWest Plaza, the bad news are that the arcade does`nt exist any more, they really had very good games there and it was a big place, i dont know if they moved, but i know they went out of bussines, sad……

]]> By: Tom http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1246 Tom Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:41:25 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1246 The first place I remember playing was in a western sizzler. They had an entire downstairs filled with arcades. Very nice setup. Mom and dad could have a peaceful meal, while I was downstairs playing. The first place I remember playing was in a western sizzler. They had an entire downstairs filled with arcades. Very nice setup. Mom and dad could have a peaceful meal, while I was downstairs playing.

]]> By: twistedsupreme http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1245 twistedsupreme Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:57:58 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1245 @ Paul Fair point, although we do location reviews when we can, and encourage our readers to tell us about the arcades they visited now, over at the forum....... http://z6.invisionfree.com/arcadeheroes/index.php?s=cf2b7fbeb686ea01de521b42efaedf57&showforum=5 It's just nice to reminisce, you know? @ Paul

Fair point, although we do location reviews when we can, and encourage our readers to tell us about the arcades they visited now, over at the forum…….

http://z6.invisionfree.com/arcadeheroes/index.php?s=cf2b7fbeb686ea01de521b42efaedf57&showforum=5

It’s just nice to reminisce, you know?

]]> By: Paul http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1244 Paul Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:38:53 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1244 So sad that this is only discussed in the past tense. Nobody even thinks to ask where do we go to play them today. :( So sad that this is only discussed in the past tense. Nobody even thinks to ask where do we go to play them today. :(

]]> By: Brian Deuel http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1243 Brian Deuel Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:28:02 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1243 All of these arcades were in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming/Kentwood Michigan area in the early 1980s: Funway Freeway in Woodland Mall Aladdin's Castle in North Kent Mall Someplace Else in Eastbrook Mall Putt Putt Golf and Games on 28th SE in Kentwood Silver Castle on 44th SE in Kentwood Fuzzy's Arcade on Division in Wyoming (a pic of what's there now can be seen at http://atari.vg-network.com/arcade.jpg. Pretty funny) Krazy Kone on Division in Wyoming Meijer on 54th St in Wyoming Comet Lanes on 28th SE in Kentwood Dave's Place on Division in Wyoming Dean's Cafe on 28th SW in Wyoming Super 8 Ball on Leonard in Grand Rapids unknown arcade on Breton SE in Kentwood As you can see, there were TONS of arcades in this area, and I'm sure I've forgotten a few... All of these arcades were in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming/Kentwood Michigan area in the early 1980s:

Funway Freeway in Woodland Mall
Aladdin’s Castle in North Kent Mall
Someplace Else in Eastbrook Mall
Putt Putt Golf and Games on 28th SE in Kentwood
Silver Castle on 44th SE in Kentwood
Fuzzy’s Arcade on Division in Wyoming (a pic of what’s there now can be seen at http://atari.vg-network.com/arcade.jpg. Pretty funny)
Krazy Kone on Division in Wyoming
Meijer on 54th St in Wyoming
Comet Lanes on 28th SE in Kentwood
Dave’s Place on Division in Wyoming
Dean’s Cafe on 28th SW in Wyoming
Super 8 Ball on Leonard in Grand Rapids
unknown arcade on Breton SE in Kentwood

As you can see, there were TONS of arcades in this area, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few…

]]> By: SaraAB87 http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1242 SaraAB87 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:35:41 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1242 For me it was usually the mall arcades, there was a Time Out arcade with 2 rooms in the Rainbow Centre Mall here in Niagara falls NY and there was also an Aladdin's Castle in the Summit Park mall. The Aladdin's Castle had more skeeball and more games than the Time Out and was generally a better looking arcade than the Time Out. The Time Out had an afterburner cockpit for a short time then it mysteriously disappeared. The Time out also had a huge "Time Out" mirror at the front entrance of the arcade, I will NEVER forget that mirror as it was just so creepy to a kid. Aside from that there was the yearly trip to Major Magic's usually for my mom's company christmas party. This was of course paradise as I only got one trip a year and they just had so many more games than the other arcades. They also had an afterburner cockpit. There wasn't any CEC here or Showbiz pizza, it was mainly the 2 mall arcades. Oh yeah there was also another mall arcade, it was a very small room though but the thing that is significant about it is that there were a bunch of cockpit games lined up against the wall, nothing too exciting just stuff like Sega Turbo but still very cool. For me it was usually the mall arcades, there was a Time Out arcade with 2 rooms in the Rainbow Centre Mall here in Niagara falls NY and there was also an Aladdin’s Castle in the Summit Park mall. The Aladdin’s Castle had more skeeball and more games than the Time Out and was generally a better looking arcade than the Time Out. The Time Out had an afterburner cockpit for a short time then it mysteriously disappeared. The Time out also had a huge “Time Out” mirror at the front entrance of the arcade, I will NEVER forget that mirror as it was just so creepy to a kid.

Aside from that there was the yearly trip to Major Magic’s usually for my mom’s company christmas party. This was of course paradise as I only got one trip a year and they just had so many more games than the other arcades. They also had an afterburner cockpit. There wasn’t any CEC here or Showbiz pizza, it was mainly the 2 mall arcades.

Oh yeah there was also another mall arcade, it was a very small room though but the thing that is significant about it is that there were a bunch of cockpit games lined up against the wall, nothing too exciting just stuff like Sega Turbo but still very cool.

]]> By: Neil http://arcadeheroes.com/2008/04/10/where-did-we-use-to-play-arcade-games/#comment-1241 Neil Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:30:28 +0000 http://arcadeheaven.wordpress.com/?p=3818#comment-1241 I played at the "FUN ARCADE" in Metarie, LA, which is a 'suburb' of New Orleans. New Orleans Novelty Company was pretty big in the south in terms of distributorship back in the 80's-90's, so the "Fun Arcade" had the newest games and unique games, some of which I have never seen again outside that arcade. My other haunt was Aladdin's Castle in Biloxi, MS. It survived up till Hurricane Katrina, and I guess Namco decided that it was not worthwhile to reopen it due to the extensive damage to the gulf coast. I loved Aladdin's Castle's tokens in the 80's with the genie on it. I think one of the coolest things about arcades up till the mid 90's was that you truly never knew what was going to be in the arcade week to week. Every week there was usually a new game out that you knew nothing about. I played at the “FUN ARCADE” in Metarie, LA, which is a ‘suburb’ of New Orleans. New Orleans Novelty Company was pretty big in the south in terms of distributorship back in the 80′s-90′s, so the “Fun Arcade” had the newest games and unique games, some of which I have never seen again outside that arcade.

My other haunt was Aladdin’s Castle in Biloxi, MS. It survived up till Hurricane Katrina, and I guess Namco decided that it was not worthwhile to reopen it due to the extensive damage to the gulf coast. I loved Aladdin’s Castle’s tokens in the 80′s with the genie on it.

I think one of the coolest things about arcades up till the mid 90′s was that you truly never knew what was going to be in the arcade week to week. Every week there was usually a new game out that you knew nothing about.

]]>