You shouldn't need more buttons than this.

 

Ticket to paradise.

Remember arcades? I’ve got fond memories of Aladdin's Castle in Oakwood Mall and Loose Change in London Square. Although, I’m not sure why the memories are so fond as I’ve always been kind of horrible at video games, especially arcade-style games. Every single one of my friends could kick my ass at Street Fighter – even my friend who never watched TV and thought taking his dog for a walk was about the most fun a guy could have. He basically mashed the buttons and giggled and ... thoroughly kicked my ass. But hey, I still had fun.

Well, the arcades of old are long gone around these parts. Action City is a full-on arcade, but the family friendly vibe just isn’t the same. I can remember dudes rocking Mortal Kombat and then stepping outside for smoke breaks. Maybe not the pinnacle of cool, but there was a definite culture there (and I’m betting they spent more money than their pre-teen counter parts). Beyond Actions City, we’ve got a few game shops offering LAN play, tournaments and such, but that’s whole different culture.

 

Where does the quarter go?

Maybe that’s why a guy proposing to open an arcade on the West Hill in Chippewa Falls rates a whole story in the Leader-Telegram (last Tuesday). It’s certainly more exciting than another hair salon tax service tattoo parlor Subway sandwich shop. But even the plans for this new “arcade” don’t fill the hole left by the token palaces of yesteryear. The hopeful proprietor wants to have booths set up offering play on the big three home console systems – Playstation, Xbox 360 and Wii. He’d also have pool and air hockey and free Wi-Fi for “parents that need to get that last bit of work done while their child has fun at the other end of the arcade.”

I’d like to think console gaming fans would enjoy a more social atmosphere in which to game, but it feels like that niche is probably filled in their own living rooms with their friends. Maybe this would be like Wii bowling at a bar, minus the bar, for people who don’t like bars. According to the L-T, Chippewa Falls’ mayor’s 16-year-old grandson thinks it’s a sweet idea, so I’m betting the business will move forward, and we’ll get to see exactly how successful it is.

And we will simply pine for the arcades of our youth.

At any rate, we need a venue for a massive, adult-oriented Guitar Hero tournament with giant screen projection, huge sound, and screaming spectators. Perhaps this new arcade venture will bring us one step closer.