During the Christmas holidays, my bro and his wife came to visit, and we all went to the "Putt-Putt Golf and Games" down the road.
I have always loved golfing at these establishments. One year, when I was in 8th or 9th? grade, our parents even gave us a season pass to our local "golf and games" venue. It was so sweet! They had 3 water slides, along with the bumper cars, go carts, and golfing...this was summer goodness. :)
Anywho, back to the original story...
After we played our golf game, we went inside to see what video game offerings there were. I had already cashed in some free coupons for the kiddys, so they had tokens to spare. What we found was what I remember from my youth - a poorly-lit, windowless room, a cacophony of loud video game noises, smells of questionable origin, dingy looking floors (or is that the awful color of the carpet?), with the same group of people who frequent arcades.
Who are these people, and why are they always at the arcade?
My guess is that this is, perhaps, the only time these people feel "rich". You see, anyone who spends enough time playing these money-swallowing machines, learning the rules of the room - which machine gives out the most tickets for the least amount of tokens - can proudly priss over to the counter with a swagger in thier step, plop down that heap of tickets as the envy of all the other gamers, and "buy" a bag-full of goodies. Sure, they could've taken that same 20 bucks to the dollar store and bought the same bag-full of crap, but it wouldn't have come with the 3 hours of entertainment, the opportunity to "be the best", nor the temporary bragging rights that this affords.
It's sad, really. It makes me feel depressed. And so, except for Chuck E. Cheese ( a well-lit, clean, cheerful place), I hope I never have to see the inside of another arcade again.
That is, unless it is the only place I can play some sweet Galaga.
I have always loved golfing at these establishments. One year, when I was in 8th or 9th? grade, our parents even gave us a season pass to our local "golf and games" venue. It was so sweet! They had 3 water slides, along with the bumper cars, go carts, and golfing...this was summer goodness. :)
Anywho, back to the original story...
After we played our golf game, we went inside to see what video game offerings there were. I had already cashed in some free coupons for the kiddys, so they had tokens to spare. What we found was what I remember from my youth - a poorly-lit, windowless room, a cacophony of loud video game noises, smells of questionable origin, dingy looking floors (or is that the awful color of the carpet?), with the same group of people who frequent arcades.
Who are these people, and why are they always at the arcade?
My guess is that this is, perhaps, the only time these people feel "rich". You see, anyone who spends enough time playing these money-swallowing machines, learning the rules of the room - which machine gives out the most tickets for the least amount of tokens - can proudly priss over to the counter with a swagger in thier step, plop down that heap of tickets as the envy of all the other gamers, and "buy" a bag-full of goodies. Sure, they could've taken that same 20 bucks to the dollar store and bought the same bag-full of crap, but it wouldn't have come with the 3 hours of entertainment, the opportunity to "be the best", nor the temporary bragging rights that this affords.
It's sad, really. It makes me feel depressed. And so, except for Chuck E. Cheese ( a well-lit, clean, cheerful place), I hope I never have to see the inside of another arcade again.
That is, unless it is the only place I can play some sweet Galaga.
Tremendous post. I would like to second the motion that those places make the children happy, but we adults know they're crapholes. Those dirty wild-eyed Arcade Urchins you desribe are all oily and need their noses wiped. It is indeed sad. Skee-ball cannot raise children into responsible adults. Alas.
ReplyDeleteAh, the craphole arcade. The kiddies love them. Des Mammas, dey despise dem.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school (1000 years ago) my friend and I would go to the Arcade by the convenience store and after a "little mood lightening"...we'd go in and play some sweet Pac Man, Mrs. Pac Man, Tetris, Galaga and if we were feeling really aggressive..some Joust.
Goodness, yes. Stevie and I Jousted, and I loved the Centipede. We dug the Dig Dug. Stevie also liked a game where you could make decisions for your character...maybe he remembers the name of that one?
ReplyDeleteJapanese Live Action Pacman Rocks!
ReplyDeleteRefer to our written descriptions for specific 우리카지노 card areas - some are tough to find even when you realize the place
ReplyDelete