arcade machines at Strong Museum

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:39 pm

Hah, I still don't know if you're kidding or not, but my appt's at 8 in the morning so I could definitely be there by noon.

I'm bringing my daughter's extra chuckecheese tokens in the hopes that they work in the machines =)

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:44 pm

Just look for the different color socks

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:32 am

i've got on my orange atari shirt, can't miss it

same shirt I wore last time I went there, they're going to think I don't change my clothes

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:34 am

Just got back from the CS appt. The baby fell asleep in the car on the way home, so I just put her down for a nap. If she wakes up before 2 I'll be there, but sometimes she sleeps for 3-4 hours, so if it's one of those naps I'll have to take a rain check.

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:38 pm

Nope, baby just woke up (to my baby's momma's momma calling and telling me she's back home) so it looks like the window is closed for today :_(

did you have fun? Was discs of tron working?

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:26 pm

We got there around noon. That museum is awesome! It's been years since I've been there and they really did a great job on it. I spent about an hour in the arcade. I'm thinking this is the last time these games will be around outside of some collectors' basement. Discs of Tron was working, which was good. I took a bunch of pix which I will post links and comments soonest.

There was also the whole rest of the museum! We wandered around for another good hour and a half, just going 'WOW!' and 'I used to have one of those!'

A great way to spend a day, be better in the winter, tho. Then I wont feel like I'm wasting a great day out-of-doors by being in a museum.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:36 pm

This was the first thing I noticed as I LEFT the arcade. I was looking for it inside as I knew it to be one of the weirdest machines. It' pretty cool that they have a description of most of the machines as well as just being able to play them. The push button controls are weird but function able.

P.S. I totally fixed the frames here.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:10 pm

The original. Man those must have been the days. Let me show a close up of the control knobs...

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:13 pm

Straight off a stereo amplifier or something.

speaking of re-using controls, check out the typewriter keys on this space wars.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:15 pm

I remember playing this game when I was twelve or so at Time Out in Long Ridge mall.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:18 pm

This is me trying to remember the ultimate pattern and failing. I did get second place tho.

This is me playing Space Encounters. Made right after Star Wars came out, apparently. The fire button stopped working halfway through the video and I had to jam on it to make it shoot. I liked the strobe lights and red flashers when I destroyed an enemy ship. You don't see that kind of stuff these days.
[youtube][/youtube]

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:20 pm

I have never seen this game before. Must have come out right after the movie. kinda stupid, actually.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:23 pm

Side art from some game called Q-something.....

I was surprised how beat up some of these machines are. I thought they'd all be fully restored or at least in great original shape. I did notice that all the 'good' games were more worn than the crappy games that nobody played. Funny thing.

more side art. This from a sinistar.

One of the cool things is the interesting facts they post by the machines.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:26 pm

When they start putting stuff that's in your attic into museums it means you are getting old. Didn't see the ET cart..

and the new sleeker look of the 2600.

Think they were pushing the nostalgia a little hard?

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:28 pm

they did have a neat selection of dead systems. Including this one.

Stolen right off my parents faux-wood coffee table!

Another weird system that lasted fifteen minutes in the real world.

Lovely wood grain plastic is the height of fashion for these console systems

I don't know what this one was but it came with dice and play money! must have been something nice.

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:29 pm

What game did they have in the 2600? I can't tell.

When I went, it was Pitfall. Great that they have the atari on free play, it's one of the best kept secrets for when you run out of quarters. No one wants to touch it because it looks ancient. I had the same one.

(reply from AArdvark: I think it was Pitfall. i was too busy taking pix and just looking at everything to play it.)

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:29 pm

And a not so dead end

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:30 pm

MMMMmmmmmm...

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:33 pm

They also had the programmers notes posted so you could see how they developed the game. like this one from Robotron

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:35 pm

Who could forget this Atari classic, before they had actual players.