When I was kid in the 80s, videogames were hot. Sadly, my brother and I weren’t allowed to have them at home and we couldn’t afford to feed the arcade machines quarters. As a result I was terrible at playing video games. When I actually got to play them at friends’ houses I always died right away and had to spend the rest of the night watching everyone else play what seemed like 50 levels before their characters died. It may be a big part of why I love books; I had to find something else to do because really, who wants to watch someone else play video games?
Eventually we got to have some of the same games to play on our Apple 2C. I played the heck out of Frogger, although I think it was a knock-off and was probably called Logger. Playing on the computer just wasn’t the same. Pressing the space bar and moving with the arrow keys just didn’t feel the same as using a joystick or standing in the dark mall arcade in the glow of the video game lights and the din of the electronic game sounds.
Today, we have Wii and get to go to Chuck E Cheese once in a while. Our son’s favorite games? The old-school ones I missed out on playing as a kid, of course! Pac-man and Mario Brothers (and I’m still terrible at playing video games). I knew we’d have to go to the Golden Age of Video Arcade Games exhibit at the Neville Public Museum this summer. I wanted to share part of my childhood (or missed-childhood?) with P and a part of me wanted to play the games I couldn’t play as a kid.
The exhibit was phenomenal. I tried to start at the beginning and take in the games, but P left me immediately. He was like a kid in a candy store, er…a kid in a video arcade. He zipped around like he was wearing roller blades looking at the games and coming back to report. His excitement was infectious and I gave up trying to see the exhibit in any kind of order. We headed straight to the part where you could play some of the games. His favorites? Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-man and Frogger. I even got a few rounds of Frogger and Ms. Pac-man in. I still lost pitifully, just like old times…
Even if you’re not an arcade game fan, the exhibit is a great slice of the 80s, and yes, the arcade games’ designs are a form of art. If you’re as lucky as we were last night, the owner of the collection will be there and will share his enthusiasm for his collection. It’s one thing to get to see this amazing collection and play some of the games. It’s another thing to hear the background of the collection with the very knowledgeable and approachable owner. You may recognize him (or his voice) as local WIXX DJ, Bradley C. The exhibit will only be at the Neville for a few more weeks so get in there before it ends!
Awesome! Thanks for the info on the exhibit. Sorry you missed out on the arcade. I grew up in one and miss it soo much. I started collecting the machines and am up to 19 in my basement. Am now trying to get the collectors of any and all games to share all the years of greatness on my new web site. Best of luck to you!
Are you in the area? Will you get to see the exhibit? Sounds like you’d really appreciate it. Thanks for checking out the post!
Conen O’brian had a hilarious skit last night where he had to play old-school Atari games and it was hilarious! They were so cool back then, but so woefully ancient looking when compared to today’s games.
I’ll have to look for his skit on YouTube. I still prefer the arcade games from the 80s!
I’m a Conen fan. If you can find it, it really is funny. I just googled Conen O’brien Atari and a bunch of links popped up!
I think I found it: http://youtu.be/7CUppYmq-FQ
Too funny!
Yes, that’s it!
You will get major reductions down the line.