Rembering Aladdin's Castle and other arcades from my youth...

nesjess

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Rembering Aladdin's Castle and other arcades from my youth...

I wish there were more arcades around this area. From what I've heard, all there is besides Golfland, Boomer's, D&B, bowling alleys, etc. is a Nickel City in the South bay.

My favorite arcade to go to as a kid was Aladdin's Castle at Sun Valley Mall in Concord, CA. From my vague memories, I remember they had these games at some point:

- Sunset Riders
- TMNT (4-Player)
- X-Men (6-Player)
- Street Fighter 2
- Dragon's Lair
- Mortal Kombat
- Killer Instinct
- Soul Caliber
- Primal Rage
- NBA Jam
- T2
- Neo Geo (4-slot)
- Point Blank
- Lethal Enforcers
- Area 51

From this list, you can tell I was an early 90s arcade gamer. There were also local Nickel Arcades around, one in Concord and one in San Ramon. I think it was about the same time when all the arcades started shutting down. I don't know if it was for financial or legal reasons or if the modern gaming industry just took over. I miss those times though.

There is also a local candy shop that is still around in Moraga, CA. Fudge Alley. They always have 3-4 games in the back that they would swap out as time went by. Some memorable games:

- WWF Wrestlefest
- Willow
- Rastan
- Double Dragon
- Neo Geo (2-slot)
- Super Off Road (3-player)
- Street Fighter 2

The last time I went there, his games were turned off. I think he had Crazy Taxi, Street Fighter 3, and a Neo Geo (2-slot). I don't think kids play them anymore. Thus, the owner just has them shut off.

Those were the days...
 
I'm an early 90's guy also, but still half of my collection is 80's classics. Anyway, I did most of my arcade gaming in bowling alleys, party stores, and our local roller rink. One of my favorite memories is going to a party store that had a dedicated MK2 in it. I would walk there with my cousin many times when I went over to visit him so it's no wonder that was one of the first cabs I added to the collection.
 
I used to visit an Aladdin's Castle in Spotsylvania Mall, Spotsylvania Virginia several times a year from the mid 80s through the early 90s.

It was the only place I ever saw a Wacko on location. Other games I recall playing there throughout the years were : Rastan, Pac-Land, Speed Rumbler, Xenophobe, Cabal, Out Run (and Turbo Out Run), Gauntlet II, and of course, "the evergreens", Ms.Pac-Man and Galaga.

That same mall had a Sears as an anchor store. In Sears' waiting area (for picking up large items like freezers and furniture..) were two classics... Centipede and Bump N Jump. They were there until about 1994.

Keep those memories alive!

Kyle :cool:



I wish there were more arcades around this area. From what I've heard, all there is besides Golfland, Boomer's, D&B, bowling alleys, etc. is a Nickel City in the South bay.

My favorite arcade to go to as a kid was Aladdin's Castle at Sun Valley Mall in Concord, CA. From my vague memories, I remember they had these games at some point:

- Sunset Riders
- TMNT (4-Player)
- X-Men (6-Player)
- Street Fighter 2
- Dragon's Lair
- Mortal Kombat
- Killer Instinct
- Soul Caliber
- Primal Rage
- NBA Jam
- T2
- Neo Geo (4-slot)
- Point Blank
- Lethal Enforcers
- Area 51

From this list, you can tell I was an early 90s arcade gamer. There were also local Nickel Arcades around, one in Concord and one in San Ramon. I think it was about the same time when all the arcades started shutting down. I don't know if it was for financial or legal reasons or if the modern gaming industry just took over. I miss those times though.

There is also a local candy shop that is still around in Moraga, CA. Fudge Alley. They always have 3-4 games in the back that they would swap out as time went by. Some memorable games:

- WWF Wrestlefest
- Willow
- Rastan
- Double Dragon
- Neo Geo (2-slot)
- Super Off Road (3-player)
- Street Fighter 2

The last time I went there, his games were turned off. I think he had Crazy Taxi, Street Fighter 3, and a Neo Geo (2-slot). I don't think kids play them anymore. Thus, the owner just has them shut off.

Those were the days...
 
I remember Alladin's castle in arren, Pa mall....when I first started going, Tempest, Crazy Climber, Pole Position, Pac & Mrs Pac....Firepower pin, F-14 pin, Comet pin.

Wow....Tail Gunner, Time Pilot, Hang On, Mr Do!, Wonder Boy, Kid Nikki, Karate Champ, Kung Fu Master to name a few. They shut it down a bunch of years back, but it mostly had the 90's shooter stuff in there then. You can still see where the letters were over the entrance doors on the place.

Sad....
 
My first arcade-related job was being a peon attendant at Aladdin's Castle, Granite Run Mall in Media, PA. It was huge! Over 200 games. All the big simulators, 15 pinballs, tons of redemption (yuck).

The most frustrating thing was that I wanted to do more game repair, but instead I was instructed to sell more Token Tubes and other merchandise. And let's not forget the many hours of life spent behind the ticket counter.... counting tickets!
 
Man I wish every collector could have spent at least one day in an arcade during the golden age! :) I remember Aladdin's Castle at the Savannah Mall in the late 80's, but before that it was called the Gold Mine. They had Defender, Tac Scan, Space Fury, Spy Hunter, Galaxian, Galaga, Tailgunner II, Battlezone, Space Tactics, Warrior, Starhawk, Indy 500, Star Castle, Hercules pinball, Xenon, Space Riders.... ahhh those were the days! :cool:
 
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