Which of these two arcades is the “world largest”—and does it matter?
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Now this is the type of hard-hitting investigative journalism that I like to read!
It's amazing how much effort goes into maintaining these arcades, but I'm glad they are up for the challenge. Also nice to see they are good sports about their colleagues/competitors.
It's amazing how much effort goes into maintaining these arcades, but I'm glad they are up for the challenge. Also nice to see they are good sports about their colleagues/competitors.
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I’d be pretty interested in what kinds of problems the techs have to solve. Does humidity cause problems? Electricity quality?
Screens vs sticks vs buttons?
Seems wise to make the machines free, as that reduces a major mechanical aspect of the games, but maybe using tokens solved that mostly.
Laconia is a shit hole, but glad funspot is still around.
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I would like to also recommended Past Times Arcade for anybody near NE Ohio.
https://pasttimesarcade.com/about/
Owned by Rob Berk who has a Guinness Record for holding the longest running pinball convention. I finally went last year and wasn't disappointed.
https://pasttimesarcade.com/about/
Owned by Rob Berk who has a Guinness Record for holding the longest running pinball convention. I finally went last year and wasn't disappointed.
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I was born and raised in Laconia and was definitely blind to how cool it was to have a place like Funspot in town until I was almost in my teens. Along with 2-3 smaller arcades down the road on the Weirs Beach boardwalk it gave me the impression that every town had at least one arcade and a giant multi-story option somewhere nearby, hahaha.
I remember when they transitioned the 3rd floor to the 'museum', and it ticked me off at first because a bunch of my favorite games moved from where I was used to playing them on the main level. Eventually I appreciated not being innundated with the attract mode theme from Daytona racing when you were anywhere in the lower half of the building(s), that damn song still gets stuck in my head when I think of any arcade. It's been a while since I have gone back to Funspot, but going with my kids the 'museum' setup definitely gives that era of games an aura of respect that I appreciate much more now, and it's impressive that they had the vision for what it is now even back then.
It's always cool to see the place that I spent so much time gaming, bowling, and golfing (and that employed so many of my friends) get national attention. King of Kong is still surreal to watch, and seeing a Funspot article on Ars blew my mind in much the same way today, great read!
I remember when they transitioned the 3rd floor to the 'museum', and it ticked me off at first because a bunch of my favorite games moved from where I was used to playing them on the main level. Eventually I appreciated not being innundated with the attract mode theme from Daytona racing when you were anywhere in the lower half of the building(s), that damn song still gets stuck in my head when I think of any arcade. It's been a while since I have gone back to Funspot, but going with my kids the 'museum' setup definitely gives that era of games an aura of respect that I appreciate much more now, and it's impressive that they had the vision for what it is now even back then.
It's always cool to see the place that I spent so much time gaming, bowling, and golfing (and that employed so many of my friends) get national attention. King of Kong is still surreal to watch, and seeing a Funspot article on Ars blew my mind in much the same way today, great read!
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I'm a local and Galloping Ghost is a regular visit for me. I go at least once or twice a month, more in the summer when i can combine it with a trip to nearby Brookfield Zoo and lunch at the amazing Burger Antics restaurant, also in Brookfield. They used to have the pinball machines in the same building but the arcade cabs needed more space so the got the pinball machines their own building at the end of the block. The cost of admission is a crazy deal. For $25 you get unlimited access to all the 1000+ arcade machines all day long. You can even leave get something to eat and come back for more! Love getting lost in that place and really cool to see it shown here.
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It's a little strange that this article is filed under "pinball" when it's not really about pinball very much.
Great article though! Just makes me want to take a trip specifically to play at these places.
Edit: by which I mean this tag at the top
Even though the URL category says "gaming", weirdly enough.
Great article though! Just makes me want to take a trip specifically to play at these places.
Edit: by which I mean this tag at the top
Even though the URL category says "gaming", weirdly enough.
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MilanKraft
Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
While both places are impressive (and no doubt a fun way to spend a couple hours), I am of the possibly minority opinion — from direct, roll of quarters childhood experience — that the best arcades were the first mom-and-pop-shop ones that sprouted up in strip malls and other unexpected places, had maybe 15 or 20 classic floor-standing games, without the crowds and/or huge din that game from either converted warehouse spaces, bowling alleys, or mall / amusement park arcades.
While it was only a rare treat for me — the local Barnstormers arcade wasn't biking distance — I still recall the mesmerizing awe that fell over all of us, as we stood in the glorious glow of Galaga, Centipede, an awesome battlefield scroller-like game whose name escapes me, and Tron (that game owned me, no matter how many quarters I threw at it — curses!).
While it was only a rare treat for me — the local Barnstormers arcade wasn't biking distance — I still recall the mesmerizing awe that fell over all of us, as we stood in the glorious glow of Galaga, Centipede, an awesome battlefield scroller-like game whose name escapes me, and Tron (that game owned me, no matter how many quarters I threw at it — curses!).
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Had a great afternoon of arcade games and candlepin bowling at Funspot a few weeks ago. Still have stack of tokens to use on my next trip. Loved playing games like Robotron 2084, Galaga, and Defender as a kid, so the first time I went to Funspot I felt a huge wave of nostalgia. I love that place. Bonus - there's a decent brewery across the street.
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YouAreStoopud
Smack-Fu Master, in training
Galloping Ghost is a great place, and every time I make it back to Chicago it's the first place I go when I get a free few hours. I recommend it to everyone I know.
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I would absolutely recommend Foundry Social in Medina. They have the classic arcade games, but also a bar/grill, microbrewery, duckpin bowling, and a high speed warehouse electric karting track…
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Anyone heading to the Baltimore MD area, check out Crabtowne USA in Glen Burnie (just outside Baltimore). It's not a huge arcade like this one, but it's got all the classics plus a ton of pinball machines. Best part, stop and get some dinner, then head into the arcade and have some adult beverages and play some games.
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There's a Pinball Museum in Las Vegas as well, located far off the strip. Played a prototype 4-level pinball there, One of two or three ever made. It was in an arcade cabinet, rather than the typical field or long cabinet pinball. It was probably 50 cents to play, but worth it. Not nearly as big as these places, but there were games there that I'd not seen before or in a very long time.
Ghost location is 2 1/2 - 3 hours away and never knew it existed.
Ghost location is 2 1/2 - 3 hours away and never knew it existed.
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Galloping Ghost is a nostalgia-packed fun time if you grew up during the 80s. I took my son there and he had a blast, but didn't know the games or history like I did. Some good eating spots nearby. Will definitely visit again when I'm in the area.
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Blasphemy! One does not hide asteroids under a plastic case. It’s meant to be played.
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Gotta take a minute to plug my local arcade in central NY: The Arcade Project
https://www.thearcadeproject.com/
$15 at the door lets you play all day. Amazing homemade pizzas, tons of craft brews, and the owners are super friendly. If you're out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, check them out.
https://www.thearcadeproject.com/
$15 at the door lets you play all day. Amazing homemade pizzas, tons of craft brews, and the owners are super friendly. If you're out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, check them out.
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Several major cities in Texas have a Cidercade. It's is great fun to fill up a whole day, especially if you have kids. While not the "biggest" of anything, they have great collections and are like $12/day to play all day.
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I remember a holo game from late 80’s, but more likely early 90’s that had a caveman in it. At some point, he’d go hit a female with a club and drag her off (with the undertone he is making her his wife). The scene didn’t sit well with me, even then.
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Does anyone remember (or better yet, have pictures from) the arcade/child prison...er...daycare at Harrah's in South Lake Tahoe during the 70's? This was before they moved it into the casino itself. It was attached to the parking garage, and had a secure entrance. Parents would drop their kids off, give them money for quarters, then pick them up later.
It was the most amazing arcade I can remember from my childhood. We lived in the valley, so came to Tahoe often. At first, it was filled with mechanical arcade games. Everything from shooting games on wires, to upright cabinets (also using wires), like a game where you were a submarine trying to get boats as they were pulled across the screen on wires.
Then they got Pong. Then Lunar Lander. Then others started coming in faster, like Space Invaders, Asteroids, etc. It seemed to me they'd get new releases faster than any of our arcades back home. They kept many of the mechanical games, only removing them to make room for the new-fangled videogames. Before long, it was the best video arcade for miles around.
It had a snack bar, a free movie theater, and an enclosed patio with high walls to prevent escape.
My Google-fu is failing me, because I can't find anything online about it at all.
It was the most amazing arcade I can remember from my childhood. We lived in the valley, so came to Tahoe often. At first, it was filled with mechanical arcade games. Everything from shooting games on wires, to upright cabinets (also using wires), like a game where you were a submarine trying to get boats as they were pulled across the screen on wires.
Then they got Pong. Then Lunar Lander. Then others started coming in faster, like Space Invaders, Asteroids, etc. It seemed to me they'd get new releases faster than any of our arcades back home. They kept many of the mechanical games, only removing them to make room for the new-fangled videogames. Before long, it was the best video arcade for miles around.
It had a snack bar, a free movie theater, and an enclosed patio with high walls to prevent escape.
My Google-fu is failing me, because I can't find anything online about it at all.
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I was a service tech for the bowling equipment manufacturers during the 70's thru to the early 2K years. My home center had all new scoring installed in the early eighties so serviceing the game room was one of my "extra duties". It was great because I had a master key to all the machines and would have to "test them" when needed.
My favorites were Joust and Qix video games, and Black Knight pinball. I actually rolled over the Black Kight one time( it only scored up to 10 million, then would start over at zero), I was pissed, it took me 50 minutes of play to roll it over and I lost the high score and all my free plays.
We made a butt load of money in that game room!
My favorites were Joust and Qix video games, and Black Knight pinball. I actually rolled over the Black Kight one time( it only scored up to 10 million, then would start over at zero), I was pissed, it took me 50 minutes of play to roll it over and I lost the high score and all my free plays.
We made a butt load of money in that game room!
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I've been to Galloping Ghost, and I can tell you there's at least one problem they face: heat.
GG has multiple rooms in their facility, and while none of them are particularly well-ventilated, some of them are worse than others. I remember in one of the smaller rooms (where incidentally, I found a StarCraft Mission Craft cabinet; essentially a SC1 version of The Lost Viking) it was rather sweltering, and I couldn't stay in there nearly as long as I wanted to.
That many CRTs and inefficient oldschool chips put off a TON of heat, and with the lack of cooling they had, it's no surprise that various components break or burn out.
To their credit though....I was gobsmacked at the sheer number of games they had. Just an absolutely overwhelming assault on the senses, in a good way. I haven't thought about them in quite a while, but now that I have, I may consider going back sometime in the not-summer.
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I need to bring my family to both of these holy shrines. I'm an entire plane ride away though, with all that entails. But I've always wanted to visit Galloping Ghost. My 10 year old LOVES retro arcade machines too so he would have an absolute blast.
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Damn. 40 years ago we were at a garage sale and I begged my parents to get a Ms. Pac-Man machine for $100, but they didn't; I still think about it till this day.
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Well, any arcade list is not complete if it doesn't mention Hillsboro, Oregon's
Next Level Pinball Museum
They not only have more than 620 machines (about evenly split between pinball and video game) - they also have an AMAZING and extensive collection of pop-culture things like lunch pails, shampoo bottles, autographed movie posters, video game collectables, action figures, records, etc etc.
An amazing place!
Next Level Pinball Museum
They not only have more than 620 machines (about evenly split between pinball and video game) - they also have an AMAZING and extensive collection of pop-culture things like lunch pails, shampoo bottles, autographed movie posters, video game collectables, action figures, records, etc etc.
An amazing place!
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Great, I now 100% need to visit both of these meccas! The pinball museum in Las Vegas is the closest I’ve come to a museum/arcade and it was a LOT of fun. Thanks for sacrificing to bring us this news
I just wish they were for profit instead of run by volunteers. I know that sounds strange but the majority of their machines are either in poor condition or not working at all. You spend more time looking than playing.
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Toronto (Canada) is finally on the board here with Anti-Social Pinball downtown at Bloor and Bathurst.
For $20 at the door you have freeplay access to a collection of 70 pinball games and like 50 arcade games.
All the pins are solid state and the collection includes the majority of new pins after 2010 from Stern, Jersey Jack, American Pinball, Chicago Gaming, etc. Got some relatively rarer stuff in there too like a beautifully restored Space Shuttle and head-to-head linked twin NBA Fastbreaks.
For $20 at the door you have freeplay access to a collection of 70 pinball games and like 50 arcade games.
All the pins are solid state and the collection includes the majority of new pins after 2010 from Stern, Jersey Jack, American Pinball, Chicago Gaming, etc. Got some relatively rarer stuff in there too like a beautifully restored Space Shuttle and head-to-head linked twin NBA Fastbreaks.
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Yes! Just came here to mention this place as well. I visited for the first time about a month ago, and it was amazing. Despite a large crowd on a weekend, there are so many machines it's easy to find one to play. The oldest pinball machine I played on was from 1977, and my favorite was maybe a Simpson's themed one with a mini-pinball play-field within the game in the upper right corner.
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Live about 20 minutes from Galloping Ghost and have been there several times. It's crazy how many games they have there and how many I've never even heard of. If you're going to make a day of it, there are a ton of restaurants in the area along with some great breweries.
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That's awesome - I'm only 20 minutes drive from Galaxy Galloping Ghost and didn't know it! Can't wait to visit. So glad I read this article, much appreciated.
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I grew up with a large arcade also called Funspot, though not nearly as long as the Funspot in the article. They changed their name sometime in the late 80s I believe. Now I wonder if it was due to some sort of trademark complaint. I was back in the area a few years ago and due to years of heavy rain erosion, you could still see the faint Funspot logo on the building that has been painted over.
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I have been wanting to go to Galloping Ghost for years. Hope to make it up there some time. I did get to go to this place last summer and it was a lot of fun.
https://www.vintagevideogames.com/ not as large, but still a great selection. Pinball is in a different building cady-corner from the arcade. They also have an arcade B&B for rent.
https://www.vintagevideogames.com/ not as large, but still a great selection. Pinball is in a different building cady-corner from the arcade. They also have an arcade B&B for rent.
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