DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1633 times:
Hard to believe that one of the icons of classic video gaming made its debut 34 years ago. On June 5th, 1978 Taito released Space Invaders into arcades and the impact was pretty immediate. Stories say that after its release in Japan there was a shortage of 100 yen coins, which were presumably inside the thousands of Space Invaders cabinets. Space Invaders was also the great grand daddy of the space themed shoot-em-up. It was also the game, once ported over to the Atari 2600, that really helped to push home console sales.
Truth be told I am not a big Space Invaders fan, perhaps largely due to having only played the Atari 2600 version. I've always found the controls to be slow and sluggish, despite being a decent for the time port. For space shoot-em-ups I much prefer Galaxian (which is surprisingly good on the 2600) and Demon Attack.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
NSMike From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 236 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1591 times:
I remember spending a lot of quarters on Space Invaders when it came out. I still crank that up on MAME once in a while... although I'm more of a Galaga fan.
MAME is awesome.
Pearl Snares, Taye Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo Heads, Los Cabos Sticks
Ps76 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1555 times:
Hi!
Nice thread. I was also not really a big space invaders fan as it was a little before my time. I really liked Galaga though, it was really playable. Back when we were kids me and my brothers used to play arcade games at every opportunity possible wherever we were, especially on holiday. Another great one was Pole Position and Pole Position II I think and Star Wars with the special controller. They still make good arcade games today luckily, Virtua Tennis is incredibly playable.
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29 Reply 3, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1305 times:
Quoting Ps76 (Reply 2): Another great one was Pole Position
I spent lots of money on Pole Position. I loved the version on the game were you would sit down inside of it. I still remember how cool it sounded when it would say "Prepare to Qualify".
Back in the 80s the Holiday Inn in ABQ had one and my dad would give me a roll of quarters so I could entertain myself while he slept off his hangovers at the Balloon Fiesta.
In 1992 I spotted a full size Asteroids game in somebody's trash. I was by myself and I knew if I left to get help it would be gone, so I muscled it into my truck by myself. I got it home and sure enough it worked. I sold it in 2000, when I moved to Michigan.
I remember the first time I saw an arcade game that cost more than a quarter and being outraged!
Back in April I was at a breweriana show in Belleville, Illinois and the next door was a video game auction . There was hundreds of people bidding on hundreds of pinball machines and video games. If I had my truck with me I would have gone home with something.
Ps76 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1270 times:
Hi!
Cool stories Falstaff. Pole position was great!
Quoting falstaff (Reply 3): In 1992 I spotted a full size Asteroids game in somebody's trash. I was by myself and I knew if I left to get help it would be gone, so I muscled it into my truck by myself. I got it home and sure enough it worked. I sold it in 2000, when I moved to Michigan.
Back when we were kids there was this friend of my brother's who were two French brothers who's Dad had a big international removals company. There house was filled with full size arcade games and pinball machines and you didn't have to put any money in them, just flicked a lever inside. To me at that age it was like these guys lived in the most amazing house. I only went there a few times but it was unbelievable! So cool!
A buddy of mine had a pinball machine... We used to play it all the time.
I bought a Juke Box when I was a Junior in high school. I still have it and use it all the time. It plays 45s and I have it filled with classic country.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 6, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1222 times:
Speaking of arcade cabinets.....
A minor dream of mine, when I can have a man cave/game room, is to have an arcade cabinet or two. On the top of my list is a Ms. Pac-Man cocktail cabinet. As a kid, even into the late 80s, I remember those things being everywhere. Of course I never got to play them, but I still remember. Unfortunately it seems I am not the only one. On eBay Ms. Pac-Man cocktail cabinets, while easy to find original ones, aren't exactly cheap. I don't need one to be restored, just need to it work well and I don't mind a little patina here and there. And to make matters worse I found a BurgerTime cocktail in pretty good condition. If I just have $2000 to play with.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
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