16 replies to this topic

[almightytodd]

The Pizza Planet arcade at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios theme park.

Ah, the classics...

Here's a switch; games that first appear on home consoles "ported" to arcade versions. Other things to note; flat-screen video and built-in camera to make "you" part of the game.

This looks like the latest thing. I haven't seen anyone actually play it though.

Another game with a flat-screen and camera. Notice the portrait-orientation; a classic technique for the "arcade-only" experience that you can't get at home. Classic arcade games that used this technique include Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Galaxians, and Pac Man. The earliest example I'm aware of is Atari's Fire Truck from 1978.

Videogaming is still an important part of the entertainment mix for Disney parks and resorts, ever since the videogame "Starcade" appeared at Disneyland in the mid-70's. There's also an arcade at the exit of Space Mountain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park. There's an entire branch of I.T. devoted to the operation of Disney videogame arcades. Most of the resort hotels have arcades that use rechargable magnetic strip cards as payment.

[raskar42]

this is awesome


i went to Disneyland for the first time in years and their once great arcade has been depleted to look like a lame chuckecheese ripoff

[rmaerz]

No classic cabs...

[almightytodd]

rmaerz, on Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:05 AM, said:

No classic cabs...

For classic cabs at Walt Disney World, there are rows of them available in "free-play" mode included with the price of admission to Disney Quest at Downtown Disney's West Side.

[Crazy Climber]

Not bad, for a current arcade. The only thing I hate about arcades these days (besides the lack of real games replaced by *gasp* redemtion machines) is how damn bright they are. I miss the dim light arcade atmosphere, you just don't see it anymore.

[Silntdoogood]

I'm kind of an arcade enthusiast. Kind of REALLY an arcade enthusiast...or any commercial machine at all... I digress. I went to Disney in February. I was probably the most excited to get to the Pizza Planet once I found out one in real life existed. Saddly, there was no rocket ship shared claw machine. After a small investment, we got the last green Toy Story alien in the arcade out of a claw machine. It seemed only fitting.
Video of that, and a walk around:

rmaerz, on Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:05 AM, said:

No classic cabs...

Don't despair, in downtown Disney, there's a building called "Disney quest", the top floor, and miscellaneous other corners are devoted to classic cabinets. Free to play once you're in. They replaced the coin hoppers with buttons, push & play:


While I'm linking, the only other video I have up from the trip at the moment, downtown Disney's Lego Land has a virtual lego builder. It seems fit since this is a tech-ish forum to add this link. You hold out a box from the shelf in front of a camera. Below the camera is a screen with the video feed. A computer identified what box you have, and builds the finished project on the box you're holding on the screen. Even better, it finds your hand, and you can move the Legos!


One of the best weeks of my life!


(Ps, I don't want to come off sounding like pestering spam so I won't bring this up again, but if you have a Youtube account, subscribing to me would be greatly appreciated, but not necessary)

Edited by Silntdoogood, Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:31 PM.

[Crazy Climber]

Silntdoogood, on Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:24 PM, said:

Don't despair, in downtown Disney, there's a building called "Disney quest", the top floor, and miscellaneous other corners are devoted to classic cabinets. Free to play once you're in. They replaced the coin hoppers with buttons, push & play:

OMFG!!!!
I had no idea such a place still exsisted! Right now a slow tear is rolling down my cheek, that was beautiful. The only thing missing was a huge crowd of people Hopefully it gets respect from the kids of today, man that was awesome. I am planning a trip when my daughter is a little older, hope they keep it around!

[NightSprinter]

Yeah, as someone who has been to DisneyQuest (had an annual pass once to the place) the admission pays for itself. The machines do get banged on a lot, but the blacklighting, 80s style music, and generally-crowded feeling of the old arcade's there.

Also, if you live in this area and like going there.. the price of the annual pass pays for itself (think it's the same as three single day admissions).

Edited by NightSprinter, Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:55 PM.

[raskar42]

they were supposed to build more disney quests but decided not to after the chicago branch failed.

damn you chicago, why do you ruin everything...

[Silntdoogood]

NightSprinter, on Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:54 PM, said:

The machines do get banged on a lot, but the blacklighting, 80s style music, and generally-crowded feeling of the old arcade's there.

I don't know if "banged on" does justice. They look as though they are respected, there was only one machine that didn't work out of what seemed like close to 300. They all look like they are in relatively good condition for getting such strong use. Then again, low lighting, blacklights, etc... probably hid flaws. That and pure adrenaline.

I missed out on the "crowded feeling". I was there during the winter. My friends and I decided to work from the top of the building (arcade) down, while everyone else started from the bottom up. We got in within minutes after it opened. That being said, we had the floor to ourselves for a while. Even when the full "crowd" came in, we were there outside of vacation season in winter, during the first time it snowed in southern Florida in something like 26 years.

So...many...rounds of Ski-Ball!

[Silntdoogood]

I'm trying desperately to not make this a tangent:

Crazy Climber, on Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:32 PM, said:

Silntdoogood, on Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:24 PM, said:

Don't despair..."Disney quest"...

...I am planning a trip when my daughter is a little older, hope they keep it around!

I can't imagine they won't. Just disappointing there wasn't a Kung-Fu machine. It may not be Atari, but it's the best cab ever made.

I'll see if I can find the video (and the permission of the people in it to put it online)... If/when you do go, I highly, highly recommend getting in the Toy Story blaster ship things. In the video at 2:40 I pan over them. Towards the one side of the floor, it turns into a balcony sort of thing that over looks them. You sit in these space ships, drive around the arena, run over "asteroids" (Nerf style dodge balls that you pick up from inside and load into the cannon on the passenger side) and shoot them at other people. When hit, the ship stops responding to controls, and momentary spins in a circle. So much friggan fun!

[Atariman]

raskar42, on Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:01 PM, said:

they were supposed to build more disney quests but decided not to after the chicago branch failed.

damn you chicago, why do you ruin everything...

As someone who had gone to Disney Quest in Chicago, I must say I was a little surprised when it was closed. The place seemed clean, full of people (but not jammed full, thankfully), and had lots of fun stuff to do. I, too, wish there were more Disney Quest locations.

[Atariman]

Crazy Climber, on Sun Nov 14, 2010 3:47 PM, said:

Not bad, for a current arcade. The only thing I hate about arcades these days (besides the lack of real games replaced by *gasp* redemtion machines) is how damn bright they are. I miss the dim light arcade atmosphere, you just don't see it anymore.

One day I will have a house. In this house, there will be a large basement. In this basement I will have my pinball machines, arcade cabs, complete with dim lighting and 80's music pouring out of speakers mounted to the wall. I'm thinking I'd also like to get the authentic arcade-style carpeting that glows under a blacklight (stuff that's supposed to glow, of course, not carpet that just has crap spilled on it )

It's too bad there aren't too many arcades like that left.

[smokeverbs]

Crazy Climber, on Sun Nov 14, 2010 3:47 PM, said:

Not bad, for a current arcade. The only thing I hate about arcades these days (besides the lack of real games replaced by *gasp* redemption machines) is how damn bright they are. I miss the dim light arcade atmosphere, you just don't see it anymore.

This.

[NightSprinter]

Silntdoogood, usually the weekends are more crowded. Last I went machines like Lunar Lander and Empire Strikes Back bad pretty bad screen issues. The P2 ball for Marble Madness was not working. I'll have to go on a day I don't work at Hollywood Studios.

[SoulBlazer]

I recall asking about the light issue at arcades a while back, not sure if it was here, and was told there were several reasons for the change. One was due to the changing group of people coming in to play the games -- adults want it brighter. Another was due to saftey issues -- making sure no one is cheating, no one is being attached, etc. And another was to help shake off the negative images associated with arcades from the old days. You used to hear people complain that they were dark, seedy, unsafe places, that just catered to punk kids and problem teenagers. Now they are trying to go for a more 'family focused' image.

[NightSprinter]

SoulBlazer, what's really funny was when I went up to the fifth floor (the second half of Replay Zone) there was a Punisher cabinet. Game was complete with blood and all. I know my employer owns Marvel now, but before then it was rather amusing to see such a violent brawler in a Disney venue.