I'm from the UK, raised in Bristol, and born in the early 80's, so I have a few more memories of arcade games than you. You are right though, a lot of locations tended to be seasides, motorway service stations, bowling alleys, and definitely the odd arcade cabinet at the back of a pub - I remember seeing a standup OutRun machine in the skittles alley my dad played at once.
I don't really recall any particular, dedicated UK arcades like were popularized in America, but the pier at Weston-Super-Mare had a lot there. Plenty of those typical penny-drop machines, but also racing cabinets, shooting games like Time Crisis, things like that. I remember a skiing game where you stood on the skis and physically had to swivel on them to ski down the slalom.
Never really played the arcade games though, I was just more fascinated by the attraction modes of them, I could just watch them for hours. Sega Rally I enjoyed though, generally though I was just never very good at them!
I know what you mean about attraction modes - I'd love to have an arcade machine at home I could just leave in that! (Though I shudder to think of the electric bill!)
For me, in 90's Romania's Capital, arcades were like the previous versions of internet cafe's. :D Neighborhood spots where they would make a business out of 5-10 arcade games. I remember Street Fighter, Final Fight, Raiden, House of the Dead, and yes, Dragon's Lair too :) and many others. Many spots placed near highschools. :))
I remember I would save change in a milk bottle and then would go with my father to empty it at the local arcade spot, after which I would stay a bit longer, just looking at the "experts" playing those game and reach stages I would only dream of.
I was born in the late 90s, so most of my childhood arcade memories involve poorly playing whatever DDR machine they had hooked up at our local cinema 😂
It’s been cool really discovering the appeal of arcade gaming as an adult through the handful of barcades they have here in Brisbane. It feels like it’s establishing itself as quite a small, but strong niche in entertainment, like vinyl collecting.
Oh this takes me back! I always visited the seaside arcade near my grandparents' place, it was the highlight of my vacation!
Agreed on the cultural differences when it comes to gaming! Growing up, learning English and getting into the gaming sphere, I realized that there were so many references that I just didn't get because I couldn't relate. It's wild how much the game culture can differ from country to country!
I'm from the UK, raised in Bristol, and born in the early 80's, so I have a few more memories of arcade games than you. You are right though, a lot of locations tended to be seasides, motorway service stations, bowling alleys, and definitely the odd arcade cabinet at the back of a pub - I remember seeing a standup OutRun machine in the skittles alley my dad played at once.
I don't really recall any particular, dedicated UK arcades like were popularized in America, but the pier at Weston-Super-Mare had a lot there. Plenty of those typical penny-drop machines, but also racing cabinets, shooting games like Time Crisis, things like that. I remember a skiing game where you stood on the skis and physically had to swivel on them to ski down the slalom.
Never really played the arcade games though, I was just more fascinated by the attraction modes of them, I could just watch them for hours. Sega Rally I enjoyed though, generally though I was just never very good at them!
I know what you mean about attraction modes - I'd love to have an arcade machine at home I could just leave in that! (Though I shudder to think of the electric bill!)
Cool memories! Thanks for sharing!
For me, in 90's Romania's Capital, arcades were like the previous versions of internet cafe's. :D Neighborhood spots where they would make a business out of 5-10 arcade games. I remember Street Fighter, Final Fight, Raiden, House of the Dead, and yes, Dragon's Lair too :) and many others. Many spots placed near highschools. :))
I remember I would save change in a milk bottle and then would go with my father to empty it at the local arcade spot, after which I would stay a bit longer, just looking at the "experts" playing those game and reach stages I would only dream of.
Cool to remember!
I was born in the late 90s, so most of my childhood arcade memories involve poorly playing whatever DDR machine they had hooked up at our local cinema 😂
It’s been cool really discovering the appeal of arcade gaming as an adult through the handful of barcades they have here in Brisbane. It feels like it’s establishing itself as quite a small, but strong niche in entertainment, like vinyl collecting.
Oh this takes me back! I always visited the seaside arcade near my grandparents' place, it was the highlight of my vacation!
Agreed on the cultural differences when it comes to gaming! Growing up, learning English and getting into the gaming sphere, I realized that there were so many references that I just didn't get because I couldn't relate. It's wild how much the game culture can differ from country to country!
Yeah it can be really different! Whereabouts was that seaside if you don't mind me asking?
I don't mind at all! It was near Izmir, Turkey, next to the Mediterranean Sea