I miss arcades.

I know there are still arcades in some degree of its definition out there, but it’s just not what it used to be, not like when I was growing up. It must be hard for publishers/developers to even produce ideas for arcade units anymore given the technology available in the consumer market like the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. From a financial standpoint I can see where its not worth it for them. Hell, I have a Playstation 3, and previously had a 360. Both come with online stores, both also have a ton of vintage games for sale (with new features). The thought of even going to an arcade is already considered a ‘back in the day’ sort of past time. Honestly, you can turn on your system and in a few minutes be playing with people around the world. What’s the incentive to leave the house?

But really, who doesn’t miss the classic arcade? Arcades where the lights were dimmer than its surroundings, enhanced by the warm glow of rows of games, warmer than outside from all the machinery. The blips, bloops, the beautiful sounds of quarters dropping into the coin slot. Players squaring off in heated rounds of Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter, collaborating in the six man X-Men game, crowds gathered around watching someone on a hot pinball streak or people enjoying a good lap in Daytona USA. Arcades where $5 would last you for hours, everyone lined up to play the new Ninja Turtles game or The Simpsons epic game.

For me, my love of arcades began when I was 5 or 6. One of the very first games I recall playing was Spy Hunter- how can you not love this game? Classic ‘Peter Gunn’ like theme as you weave in and out of cars trying to take you out, going 100 miles an hour and getting upgrades by driving up into tractor trailers every so often. If it wasn’t that, it was Gauntlet, Galaga, Gyruss, Pac Man, Donkey Kong or anything like them. One thing was for sure, if I wasn’t spending time saving up quarters, the rest of it was dropping them into these games and just enjoying the experience.

I was in the right place at the right time at the right age to experience the golden age of the arcade. Companies are trying to instill nostalgia by offering the same games on consoles, but the effect is cheap, flimsy, and cold, at least for me anyway. It’s just not the same. I miss arcades.