Lake Ozark, MO Arcade

OzarkKing

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Dec 9, 2010
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Missouri
(Lurking for awhile and haven't stopped in an arcade in a decade)
This morning I watched the TRON reboot (perhaps much of the 2nd half in fast-forward) and on my way home from visiting family out of town, I found myself driving down the strip at Lake Ozark. Having TRON on the mind I stopped in an arcade I've driven past dozens of times (typically closed) and seeing it open, I wandered in...
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Brief personal history: I've been a gamer since my dad first showed us text based computer adventures up through the ataris, tape based Commodore 16 (before upgrading to the 64 and finally pc/Sierra). I use to ride my bike with friends to a gas station to play Killer Instinct, MK, VirtuaFigher. My childhood trip to DisneyWorld was memorable because of the stand I made with Blanka against all comers in SF2 at the hotel arcade. Our local bowling alley had a minty 720. LaserDisc games blew my mind and I even had an EGA version of Dragons Lair for a Commodore that was a block graphic rendition of the arcade classic. Our local arcade had one night a week where you could pay $5 and all games were on freeplay (I became Kid Niki). Console gaming was an inescapable hobby (I was sent to the principal's office in High School for playing MK on GameGear during class when a nearby student quipped, "dude, you pulled his heart out" [Kano-ed]) I cut back on gaming in college through law school (Playstation classics), but have since settled and made it a point to celebrate home gaming by installing a 100" HD projector with a lot of emu and a PS3, but still...no arcade cabinet play in too long...
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The noises of the arcade today were unmistakable (curse you DDR for adding cacophony to the chorus). I've learned a lot from y'all by following your exploits and giddily grabbed a handful of coin.
First up, TRON, and the first coin I've deposited in far too long. The monitor issues compounded by some joystick hiccups couldn't detract from my joy as I re-entered the grid wondering what other cabs were present. I smiled but passed on Race/Stunt Driving (again having owned EGA versions that weren't quite the same as their arcade counterparts). I saw a Wrestlemania game for the first time, a couple Outruns and then something I'd never heard of until arriving at this site: Gorf. I excitedly fired it up and the gameplay was only rivaled by the sound effects (although is the game performing properly if I have to wait for a shot to hit before firing again or else the first shot disappears?). Now I was in full blown flashback mode (but with a greater supply of quarters). A Gauntlet next to a Dungeons & Dragons suggested I come back with friends. I passed on most fighters today although they had a number (I couldn't stay there forever). A Ninja Gaiden reminded me of why I was so disappointed when the NES version was not the arcade "flip throw/interactive environment" version. Played a round of Ninja Turtles (they had 2) again vowing to come back with turtlepower reinforcements. Most classics of the Galaga/Pac/Kong variety and in number/variation (Super/Ms./Jr.). Some older games I didn't recognize (Stargate) and other standards (Rampage). That's when I swear I heard Jeff Bridges whisper in my ear, "Bio digital jazz man" and I turned to see a full Deadly Discs of Tron with beautiful side art and all lights (no sound). I wish more game developers realized how easily one can totally immerse by just stepping into something for a game experience.
I understand the importance of pics in such threads and will follow up when I go back because there are at least two other places on that strip with arcade games. Thanks for being such an informative/inspiring community and if I don't have the patience to collect, I guess the next best thing is having nearby classic arcades.
 
I've been there myself. When the games are working it's a fun place to be, especially one a busy day on the strip with lots of people inside having fun.

Scott C.
 
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