Arcade gaming is not dead (yet)…
…it’s actually alive and well in Blackpool! In an attempt to relive some childhood memories, I spent some time during a small break away hunting for arcade machines. Prior to this trip, I had decided that arcade gaming in the UK was completely dead, every cabinet replaced by variations Dance Dance Revolution and Time Crisis. I had also come to terms with the fact that I’d never get to play Bubble Bobble or Rainbow Islands in an Arcade ever again. However this was all about to change, as Blackpool’s arcade scene isn’t as bad as you’d think.
The seafront is littered with Arcades, covering every patch imaginable between the North and South Piers (and on those Piers too). Arcades hidden on back streets and a few within the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Theme Park, they were completely unavoidable. A small glimpse inside each one would uncover hidden treasures that were long believed to be rusted up by the ocean air, stored away in Arcade Gaming graveyards.
The first treasure uncovered was the re-release of Space Invaders Part II, unfortunately switched off. But the disappointment didn’t last long as right behind me was Point Blank 2 and Ms. Pac-Man. At this point, I knew the hunt was on, I could sense there would be more cabinets hiding away awaiting me. And it was at this point I decided to document them. Asking permission to take photographs of cabinets in each arcade was an easy task, well, most arcades… One required me to wait for permission while they discussed their worries about me giving gambling and their arcade a bad image. Who said anything about gambling!? A quick reminder that I wanted to remind the world that these cabinets are out there got their coins loving eyes happy and my camera was on its way!
Space Invaders Part II, Point Blank 2, Ms Pac-Man, Final Furlong
Virtua Tennis 2, Alpine Racer 2, Percussion Master, Taito Real Puncher
After Burner Climax, Sega Rally 3, Outrun 2 (4 Player), Guitar Hero Arcade
Daytona USA, Sega Rally, Puzzle Bobble, Vs Super Mario Bros
Ridge Racer (Full Scale), Top Skater, Rapid River, Initial D
Tekken 5, Namco’s Whac A Croc and Mario Kart
Things left in the past…
Whac A Croc, that isn’t an Arcade game as such… I’ll agree, however Whac A Croc is a contributing factor to my gaming addiction today. When growing up, any seaside holiday with the parents was an instant winner for me. I knew I’d be able to play Whac A Croc again and The Simpsons Arcade Game. Unfortunately the latter was nowhere to be seen in Blackpool.
However there was one cabinet that would make it not seem so bad after all. One that went by the name of Global Arcade Classics.
The Global Arcade Classics cabinet is a really slick piece of kit, offering around 80 games with a great interface for selecting different games. It was here I was able to finally play Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands in the arcades once more. Although it might not have been the real deal, it’s the closest ill ever get to it again on a British Seafront sadly. More information on this cabinet is available at the bottom.
What do you mean I can play Metal Slug X later on in the evening?…
Thank you TripAdvisor & Trav! When booking a few nights away, after a good browse online we ended up with a choice between two hotels. One was selling itself so much better. That would be The Fairway Hotel. You’ll notice in the description this promising line, “The hotel has a late licensed bar with pool table, games machines and music”. It sounded a lot better than the other one we were looking at, I couldn’t refuse Arcade Cabinets in the hotel. However if I’m completely honest, with the cynicism I had regarding Arcade Gaming in the UK prior to this trip, I was expecting one beat up cabinet that didn’t work.
Upon arrival, checking in… Forget checking in… METAL SLUG X!
I’d found the perfect place for any Retro Gamer wanting to stay in Blackpool for the weekend. The Bar Room had Metal Slug X, Kung-Fu Master, 1942 and one I’d never heard of before Super Earth Invasion (A Space Invaders clone). All machines were tabletop units priced at 20p a go, perfect!
So if this hotel sounds like a place you wouldn’t mind staying, look for the initials AD on that Metal Slug X tabletop! The hotel called The Fairway, situated on Hull Road, very close to the seafront and well worth a visit.
Metal Slug X, Kung-Fu Master, Super Earth Invasion Tabletops at the Fairway Hotel on Hull Road
Going home…
On the final day, we headed out to the next nearest seaside town, St Annes. There were two small arcades here, after all we had been spoilt by a good selection in Blackpool. The Main arcade in St Annes was rather good, most of the cabinets there are repeats of one’s found in Blackpool (as seen above), but with two great additions… Scud Race and one straight from Japan, F-Zero GX.
Scud Race was in dire need of some TLC quick. The player 1 machine didn’t work and the screens had lost nearly all of their colour. F-Zero GX on the other hand, all I can say is wow.
Scud Race and F-Zero GX
How times have changed…
Remember when we were younger? In every arcade was a place you could exchange tickets you had won on various games for prizes. As a kid you didn’t really realise how little you got for your tickets, but the appeal of those small card tickets on a long reel being pumped out of the machines was so appealing. You’d come home with the smallest toy car or a yoyo that didn’t spin, yet you felt so proud.
St Annes still houses one very special machine that did the job of supplying the kids with these tickets. The best is saved till last in this post!
This was an Official Sega, Sonic The Hedgehog Ticket game. You put 10p down a small chute in hopes that it would pass one of the numbered panels on the board as it lit up, do that and you’re rewarded with tickets. Comes complete with lots of Sonic The Hedgehog sound effects! A real nostalgia trip. And to note, this was one ticket machine that was actually quite generous. Unfortunately though, the tickets showed no sign of Sega branding and with the 30 I won out of curiosity, I still couldn’t afford some gone off sweets…
Never the less, this is quite possibly the most treasured cabinet I saw over the few days I was away. You just don’t get to see anything like this around anymore as it really is something that belongs in the past. I wanted to take it home and nurse it to good health. The worrying thing about this cabinet is that the owners of it probably don’t know how great it is and how much history it holds. To them it will be another ‘old ticket printing’ machine to be skipped in a few years time.
So if this is of any interest in the slightest to you, I suggest you go check it out before it’s too late. (Or better, go rescue it!)
Sonic The Hedgehog Ticket Game
Final thoughts:
I’m a nostalgic one. As great as it was to see so many fantastic cabinets, it also reminded me of all those great holidays I had as a child, looking forward to the few 20ps my parents gave me to keep quiet with. As disappointed as I was to not see The Simpsons Arcade Game again, it brought back such strong and happy memories. Ones that were mixed in with the inevitable ticking of a clock reminding me that life is short, so we must make the most of it while we can.
Another thing which constantly crossed my mind regarding the Arcade Gaming scene is how few challengers there were. As we all remember ‘Here Comes A New Challenger’, as some unknown character comes up to the Street Fighter II Cabinet your on dropping in 20p without asking. Sure, it was rude, but that was arcade etiquette and you’d accept that challenge. You made friends, ones you’d probably never see again after the holiday, but once again another fond memory. Over the few days I challenged one person to Outrun 2 and let the rest of those challenges in the past remain as a good memory of times gone by.
Needless to say I had a great trip and I’m hoping this documentation might encourage a few of you to head West for a short break!
Further Reading – Global Arcade Classics (http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/globalarcade.htm)