GPS (Galaga positioning system)

October 7, 2005 9:28 AM

Classic arcade games, listed by title and location!. Find out where the nearest Donkey Kong is in Idaho, or the closest Pole Position to New Hampshire. Or add your own favorite games/locations to their every-expanding database. Cool.
posted by ericbop (23 comments total)

Neat idea but badly in need of updates. The latest update in my state was from August of 2004. Most updates from 2001. Just isn't self sustaining enough to be useful or relevant. Likely most of the entries are now bad.
posted by jmccorm at 9:31 AM on October 7, 2005

I am glad that inflation doesn't hit the classics, and that there are so few operators who decide that Centipede is worth $.50 or $1.00. One of them was that Disney arcade in Chicago that was closed a few years ago. They really charged the hell out of classic games with their credit card token/swipe system.
posted by jmccorm at 9:35 AM on October 7, 2005

I would just like to comment on how I was deeply interested in your location on the arcade.
posted by Peter H at 9:39 AM on October 7, 2005

God, I wish I could remember the name of that Chinese restaurant in Bridgeport, CT that had a positively ancient Galaga machine. A lot of the ones in this database seem to be "revival" machines, which is kind of cheating.
posted by jonmc at 9:42 AM on October 7, 2005

jonmc: Barcade in Williamsburg has an original Galaga. And lots of other eighties gems too.
posted by Decani at 9:47 AM on October 7, 2005

So everyone else can get to the page? I'm the only one who keeps getting redirected to an ad for Black & White 2 over and over again?
posted by revgeorge at 9:59 AM on October 7, 2005

The Museum Of The Moving Image in Astoria (Queens reprazentin') has a permanent exhibition of playable games including Defender and Missile Command. Although I admit the atmosphere suffers without gum on the floor and anthem rock playing in the background.;>
posted by jonmc at 10:02 AM on October 7, 2005

Barcade in Williamsburg has an original Galaga.

So does the Cutting Room on 24th street... at least it did up until about a year ago.
posted by psmealey at 10:07 AM on October 7, 2005

As does Route 85A in the East Village. As a bonus, it's a combo with Ms Pac Man.
posted by haqspan at 10:13 AM on October 7, 2005

dude this is rad

ive been looking for Scramble since forever - and the mame version just doesnt do it for me
posted by tsarfan at 10:16 AM on October 7, 2005

There is also a very active Pinball Locator.
posted by Otis at 10:17 AM on October 7, 2005

Ok...this is going to sound lame, but I was hooked on that stuped Journey arcade game. And I didn't even like Journey!
posted by Todd Lokken at 10:41 AM on October 7, 2005

Ground Kontrol in Portland has a great selection of the good stuff.
posted by Staggering Jack at 10:45 AM on October 7, 2005

It's nice that most of the UK examples are preserved in piers or arcades in seaside towns - Blackpool, Southend etc. I have a mental picture of them (and fish and chip shops) as the place where old arcade games go to eke out their twilight years, before finally visiting that big highscore table in the sky.

(sighs wistfully at memory of spending the summer holidays playing Operation Wolf in a Hastings arcade)
posted by greycap at 10:46 AM on October 7, 2005

I long for Tempest. I had one -- an actual stand up arcade machine -- in my apartment in Law School. Sadly it died. CRTs of the time were not made for vector graphics, and the machines are hard to find in good condition. Anyone know of one in the NYC area?
posted by The Bellman at 10:52 AM on October 7, 2005

Tsk. Tsk. So much Galaga, so little Xybots.
posted by undule at 10:52 AM on October 7, 2005

I have Galaga and Ms. Pac Man in my house - and a KISS pinball machine.

A few years ago, my brother-in-law started collecting arcade games for his game room, and I found out he tires of them quickly. So I always try to browse his current inventory and offer a price for whatever he doesn't have plugged up. I got the KISS pinball machine ( with new rubber) for a steal.
posted by bradth27 at 11:29 AM on October 7, 2005

Oh, man! a cockpit STUN Runner still exists in washington? It's in Tacoma, but it's worth braving the aroma.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:31 AM on October 7, 2005

Christ. I'm going to have to go to Pennsylvania to get to a Dragon's Lair machine.

I was MAD for that game.
posted by Decani at 12:07 PM on October 7, 2005

Bah. My kingdom for a working original Pulsar machine.
posted by Creosote at 4:46 PM on October 7, 2005

Yes, Tempest! Those flying red pinchers of doom.

That's the game that haunts my dreams. It's not on this page -- unless Tempest Tubes is the same thing? Damn. Buddies have told me that Barcade in Brooklyn has it. But, that's not exactly convenient.
posted by Kloryne at 7:13 PM on October 7, 2005

Oh. Looks like Tempest Tubes IS the Tempest I remember. Still, the nearest one is 6 hours away.
posted by Kloryne at 7:20 PM on October 7, 2005

Tempest Tubes is Tempest with a rom hack that changes the shape of the tunnels.
posted by jmccorm at 9:35 PM on October 7, 2005