CRTs at Barcade NYC

FastZEdy

Well-known member
Joined
May 20, 2022
Messages
557
Reaction score
263
Location
Massachusetts
I went to a new barcade in Manhattan today in the financial district. It's huge 2 floors though they have a large bar and sitting space so it didn't feel packed with games. Being a collector myself one thing I noticed was how good their CRTs looked. I was like wow is this partly due to no windows or light? I would say they were super sharp and brightness was down so the colors looked dark and rich and focus/contrast were dialed in. I was like I need to get my act together on my cabinets as they don't look nearly as good..maybe also fresh cap kits?
Took a pic that does nothing to show you as it's a lame pic but share it anyway
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3027.jpeg
    IMG_3027.jpeg
    203.9 KB · Views: 75
Was there a defender or stargate there ? Financial district? Those guys can't smash buttons unless there on a yacht filled with yah yo .more pictures please .
 
Maybe they got their games from someone who'd replaced the monitors when they were still available (2000's range) or maybe someone good at tube swapping?

My games came from the wild 20+ years ago and about half of them had shit tubes from being powered on for 20 years straight, and the other half had apparently been stored and still had nice tubes. Almost all the bad tubes I've replaced at this point with beautiful monitors. The bad tubes were a real downer.

I still have a few with light, correct original game burn visible when the game is off…but look great when powered on, so I can tolerate that and consider it minor. Deep burn or wrong game burn is just too much for me.
 
Last edited:
I went to a new barcade in Manhattan today in the financial district. It's huge 2 floors though they have a large bar and sitting space so it didn't feel packed with games. Being a collector myself one thing I noticed was how good their CRTs looked. I was like wow is this partly due to no windows or light? I would say they were super sharp and brightness was down so the colors looked dark and rich and focus/contrast were dialed in. I was like I need to get my act together on my cabinets as they don't look nearly as good..maybe also fresh cap kits?
Took a pic that does nothing to show you as it's a lame pic but share it anyway
Also, a darker room does help. Ambient lighting can make even a really good display harder to see and less bright.
 
Cool

What's the name of the place?
Maybe they got their games from someone who'd replaced the monitors when they were still available (2000's range) or maybe someone good at tube swapping?

My games came from the wild 20+ years ago and about half of them had shit tubes from being powered on for 20 years straight, and the other half had apparently been stored and still had nice tubes. Almost all the bad tubes I've replaced at this point with beautiful monitors. The bad tubes were a real downer.

I still have a few with light, correct original game burn visible when the game is off…but look great when powered on, so I can tolerate that and consider it minor. Deep burn or wrong game burn is just too much for me.
Yes I have the same and for some odd reason the worst burn and most common maybe by coincidence is that dang Tron cylinder burn in
 
I've been to the Barcade in Chelsea. Been a few years, but it was one of the best-maintained modern arcades I've ever seen.
Yeah I agree. I asked and the bartender said they have 1 arcade tech and 1 pinball tech..if that's true they are talented as they maintain multiple locations.

One thing I think helps is they are on tokens vs free play so games especially the pins I assume get much less play than a free play location. Their profit is on alcohol so the most expensive games are 4 tokens ($1.00) and that include a $17k new NBA Jam and a new Stern King Kong…while most arcade classics are .25 but some oddly are .50 like super punch out but maybe if the classic game cost them more than ~$2500 or so they up the tokens needed.
 
If there were a place anywhere near that good near me, I'd sell all my games and just give them my money. My whole reason for a home gameroom is there isn't and never has been anything within a few hours drive. 😐
 
Back
Top Bottom