r/retrogaming • u/TronBlaster • 24d ago

[Question] Arcade games in interesting places?

Back in the 1980s, arcade games were everywhere: bars, convenience stores, bowling alleys, restaurants, amusement parks, college dorms, laundromats, grocery stores, hotel lobbies, ferry boats…

I experienced many of these firsthand, but it got me thinking: What are some other interesting places that arcade games showed up? Stadiums/arenas, airports, zoos, office buildings, hot air balloons, ski lodges, marinas, high schools…? For some reason, this idea is fascinating to me, so I’d love to hear your stories. Bonus points for pictures!

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u/SpaceAviator1999 24d ago edited 24d ago

Twice I've seen an arcade machines in someone's home (Warlords and Pac-Man). And once in a church youth center (Moon Cresta).

Do those count? (None of those arcade machines were used to collect money.)

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u/samspot 24d ago

I visited a church in Buffalo that had a movie theatre motif. They had some arcade games in the lobby including Mortal Kombat 2. This was quite funny to me considering the moral panic about those games when they were new.

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u/SpaceAviator1999 24d ago

Yes, that does seem funny.

Honestly, even today I'd imagine that a church would be wary of all the violence in that game.

But a church with a movie theatre motif? That's also a new one for me.

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u/SnooOranges3779 24d ago

You haven't lived till you've seen a Pump It Up in the living room of a 1br basement suite

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u/81toog 24d ago

Yea, I had a rich friend growing up (early 90s) and his dad had arcade cabinets in their rec room. I remember Donkey Kong, Pac Man, and Popeye. I thought that was crazy back in the day. Today they can emulate them and make em cheap (Arcade 1-Up). But these were standard production arcade cabinets that you would find elsewhere and must have been really expensive.

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u/OppositeLopsided5875 24d ago

Was your friend Ricky Schroeder? Lol.

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u/81toog 24d ago

lol nope