All about Video Game Arcades

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Following on from yesterday's review of new animated comedy Wreck-It Ralph, today I'm directing you the way of a This fascinating Verge article on the rise and fall of the video game arcade.

The post is a tad on the lengthy side but it's well worth taking the time to read. What is especially interesting is how history repeats itself. Time and time again anything that brings children and teens together, and consumes large chunks of their time, is demonised.

Although the article refers specifically to video game arcades in the US, there's no denying the concepts international popularity. I certainly spent many years pumping coins and tokens into arcade machines. Ah, the memories of favourites like Pac-Man, Pooyan, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Golden Axe. Sunset Riders, Asterix  and many, many more. Such a pity that those few arcades still around today are more about ball-tossing and mole-whacking while the video games are in appalling condition if not out of order... Beaten by home gaming sadly.


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