The Game Station (April 2015)

Here's an updated look at the Walt Disney World Contemporary Resort's arcade, The Game Station. Since I had breakfast with my family at Chef Mickey's and it was a raging thunderstorm outside I thought I'd take a look at what happened. As you can see in the beginning the gigantic prize counter is now covered in a red shroud. I did peek and yes, everything was gone. So the giant middle row of games they had now have "FOR AMUSEMENT PLAY ONLY" written on them and when you pay for your game cards they have the same thing written on signs saying that the machines no longer award tickets and prizes. So brand new games like Pac-Man Ticket Mania have been taken out and games like Super Monkey Ball TICKET Blitz can no longer award prizes. My old game card that I had from years ago still worked and did show I had tickets on my balance. I'm wondering what will happen when I go to recharge my card on my next trip. I ended up just finishing off the few bucks I still had on the card.

The games at The Game Station are still the best kept games in all of Walt Disney World. I noticed something new on the games. All of the video games and some of the prize games now have QR Codes you can scan on them to report any issues to the techs. For some reason NONE of the pinball machines that I saw on my trip had any codes to scan...so while I was at one arcade I reported an issue I had but also put in a really nasty comment on how poorly the lone pinball machine was kept and telling them to get rid of it. (You'll see that in a future video)

I'm wondering if the Star Wars Episode 1 Pinball 2000 game is the same one they used to have in Tomorrowland. From speaking with one of the techs he told me all the games are on a route and they go around in trucks delivering them to all the game rooms on Disney property. So I wonder if many of the games inside Tomorrowland went to other resorts to fill in the void left from having to get rid of so many of the redemption machines.

Hope you liked this updated tour! Be sure to check in next week for a look at the classic Frontierland Shootin' Arcade! 

Walt Disney World Tomorrowland Arcade 2015

Well, it finally happened. The arcade in Walt Disney World is now a thing of the past. If you haven't been listening to our podcast we did a whole episode about it. Recently Florida put in a new law saying machines are not allowed to award prizes worth over 75 cents. It turns out some senior centers and VFW Halls had some illegal gambling going on and they where trying to skirt Florida's gambling laws of instead of winning money they'd give out stuff like gift cards for gas or supermarkets. The problem is the language in the bill that was passed is so vague it can apply to arcade redemption games. So places like Dave & Busters are fighting it and continuing business as usual meanwhile Disney seems to not want to take part in any of it so they just shut the whole thing down.

So when you get off of Space Mountain you're now emptied into a MUCH smaller gift shop.  Even when you take the Walt Disney World Railroad you used to be able to see the back of the arcade with these giant bubble windows. The windows are still there but you can't see inside anymore. There's a lone door that leads inside. I'm not sure if they left the whole inside empty or even what they're planning on doing with the space. I'm kinda surprised they didn't keep it open to do some character meet and greets with characters like Buzz Lightyear and Stitch that usually hang around Tomorrowland, but for now what was the arcade is now boarded up.

This also bodes the same for the Pizza Planet restaurant in MGM Studios/Hollywood Studios. (I still refuse to call it "Hollywood Studios" when they haven't gotten rid of many of the original MGM elements in the park.)  While you can still get a bite to eat of their disgusting pizza and sit down, the arcade games are all gone, which is kind of stupid to have a place based off a Chuck-e-Cheese's/Showbiz Pizza and not have ANY games. From the rumors it sounds like the whole place is going to get shut down anyway in favor of the Mos Eisley Cantina from Episode 4, which I'd rather have anyway, so we'll just have to wait and see.

What's the future hold for arcade gaming at the other resorts? Well I checked in with a few of them so this Wednesday look for an updated look at The Game Station!

Why I Hate Clones

There has been a lot of hoopla recently about Cyber Gadget's Retro Freak System, a new clone system coming out in Japan that promises (through various Frankenstein-ish adapters) to play a total of eleven retro video game systems. The systems include:

Arcade Hunters Podcast Episode 38: Tournaments and ACAM!

This week our guest is John Jacobsen! You might know him from JohnsArcade.com, Video Game Outsiders podcast, Arcade Outsiders podcast, the band The Killscreens, or from his youtube channel. John stopped by to talk with us about the upcoming Brofest 2015 Classic Arcade Tournament he is running with a few other people at Funspot in Weirs Beach, NH. The tournament will be going on May 29th and the 30th. This plus the new KISS pinball, ACAM, and more on this weeks episode. Check out the image and link below for more details about the tournament.

http://www.johnsarcade.com/

Saco Valley Sports Center in Fryeburg, Maine Walkthrough

I absolutely love this place. The Saco Valley Sports Center is simply oozing with charm. Don't let the name fool you, "sports center" makes it sound like some sort of giant complex that would hold an indoor soccer arena. In this case the term "sports center" is used very loosely. The Saco Valley Sports Center is really a classic 50's candlepin bowling alley. You've got the baby blue and white coloring of the ball returns, you've got the old school snack counter, an upstairs area that looks like at one point might have been used for spectators, hell even the gate thingy that clears the pins is made of brown stained wood. The last update that pulls this out of the 50's, but still falls in the realm of retro are the computer inputs for scores. You still have to input the pins you knocked down yourself using a keypad keyboard. The computer adds up the total score and guides you through spares, strikes, etc.  Your score appears up on the monitors hanging from the ceiling so you can keep track. These monitors do not just display your score, they also show some classic late 80's computer animated bowling cartoons when you get a spare, strike, or split.

The only slight let down is the arcade. Everything works, it's just nothing super great. You have a couple of stapes and then a bunch of redemption games. There is a prize counter for the kids and an air hockey table which helps, but the only real stand out for me is Home Run Hitter. I loved this token rolling game as a kid.

So, if you're anywhere near Fryeburg, Maine, be sure to stop by for some classic candlepin bowling. You can even request to have your score printed out on a dot matrix printer!

Meyer's Maple Lanes Arcade Walkthrough

Remember when you use to be able to go into almost any business and find at least an arcade game or two? Remember when stores like Caldor would have an Altered Beast or Vs. Super Mario Bros. right after the check out to entice kids to beg their parents for a few quarters? Well, luckily in New Hampshire there are still quite a few establishments that have dedicated areas for arcade games. Today We take a look at an arcade that is housed in the back of a bowling alley. The video is short because a family was getting ready to set up for a birthday party in the arcade area.

Be sure to check back on Wednesday for a look at another arcade located in a bowling alley in Maine!

Arcade Hunters Podcast Episode 37: "Can you tell me how to get..."

Nick and Gerard are joined by special guest Guy Hutchinson (Drunk on Disney and Adventure Club! Podcasts) to discuss his new book Sesame Place! Plus we have a recap of Nick's recent trip to Disney World, Florida gaming laws, and Guy's desert island games!

PC-Engine Game Unboxing!

Ok, so this might not be the most "news worthy" post, but I have been wanting to open a new PC-Engine / TurboGrafx-16 game since I was 8 years old. The TurboGrafx has always been the one system I always wanted, but couldn't afford. I had to suffice with visiting my friend and playing Bonk's Adventure at his house. I have made quite a few bike treks in order to savor some NEC goodness as a kid.

Fast forward 25 years later and I finally have a new PC-Engine game to open and marvel at. Not only will I open it, I will record it and upload for all to see. I must recommend that everyone curbs their expectations. The game is by no means a rarity. It still is a game that I have been wanting to get. The fact that it is sealed is just icing on a 25 year old cake.

Arcade Hunters 3.0!

Welcome to the newest update of the Arcade Hunters blog! We are calling it 3.0. We have added some new features, updated some of the code, and added more sharing options. We have a plethora of new content coming. We also will finally be unveiling the "Arcade Hunters Approved" this summer so be sure to check back for more arcade related content!