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**smokedog** · 07-01-2005, 07:52

Originally posted by MatWoods

The arcade on Oxford Road near the kebab place (it burnt down in the end I think), where I got my Gauntlet Arcade machine from - hell, it used to have Robotron in!

Pleasure Past time I think it was called, its where I've had my first Street Figther 2 experience.

**mr_fantazmo** · 07-01-2005, 08:00

I don't know of any arcades in manchester now, the last arcade games i played where 2 battered neo geo machines in Rock World (don't ask!!) playing Art of fighting against my mate pissed as a fart with only the light kick button working is an experience!!

I think the other was metal slug, but man they had definately seen better days!!

Poor buggers!!

EDIT - The only games shops i remember where in Stockport, in fact i still go to them, although they definately have lost their magic!!

**MatWoods** · 07-01-2005, 10:55

Originally posted by mr_fantazmo

I don't know of any arcades in manchester now, the last arcade games i played where 2 battered neo geo machines in Rock World (don't ask!!) playing Art of fighting against my mate pissed as a fart with only the light kick button working is an experience!!

I think the other was metal slug, but man they had definately seen better days!!

Poor buggers!!

EDIT - The only games shops i remember where in Stockport, in fact i still go to them, although they definately have lost their magic!!

AAAH Stockport - I had some fun in the arcade that became the Hat Museum -Buggy Boy, Gauntlet (again!), Shao Lin Road and Outrun!!

**MatWoods** · 07-01-2005, 10:56

Originally posted by smokedog

Pleasure Past time I think it was called, its where I've had my first Street Figther 2 experience.

Everyone remembers their first time - mine was in Sheffield Poly's bar.

so was my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc.. for a long time!

**df0notfound** · 07-01-2005, 11:24

anyone know of any arcades in manchester these days?

**taurusnipple** · 07-01-2005, 11:28

Originally posted by MatWoods

AAAH Stockport - I had some fun in the arcade that became the Hat Museum -Buggy Boy, Gauntlet (again!), Shao Lin Road and Outrun!!

That the one opposite the Virgin movies? Formally MGM? I used to go there during my lunch breaks at Stockport College, said this before, met that Japenese guy who taught me everything on Tekken 2. Used to be a good arcade, kept upto date. I imagine it closed down due to the chav's in the area, and the crime. Felt like I was putting my life in my hands going there sometimes!

Now, is that other arcade the one near the bus station? I seem to remember that place smelling rather nasty. They had that four (maybe 2) player cabinet of Turtles back in the day. I think I remember the place burning too.

**taurusnipple** · 07-01-2005, 11:30

Originally posted by df0notfound

anyone know of any arcades in manchester these days?

The only arcade I remember, and it was more of a slot machine place mind, was somewhere along the line from the train station to the Arndale.

**taurusnipple** · 07-01-2005, 11:33

Originally posted by MatWoods

And three heady import days of Gametech in Fennel St - Pilot Wings, SFII, Super Star Wars, Assault Suits Valken, Jim who bought so many games for his young kid, Neil who got mugged on leaving the shop once and all the other characters who used to loiter in it cos it was just a great place to waste the day (and a few quid!) - hell, I used to go there when it was Atari World!

I knew there was a dodgy import shop in Stockport, that place smelt too. Was that near the costume store? Cobwebs? Wait, now I think about it, there was another store where you could trade in your games, near that army shop. Dunno if that's the one your talking about?

**davek22** · 07-01-2005, 11:42

Jeez reading these posts brings back memorys! I was a serial frequentor of all the arcades mentioned above. My fav haunt was the one in Picadilly bus station. Me n my mate used to go in there and play Mortal Kombat with a guy we went to school with. I am sure this guy spent every penny on MK. He knew all the moves, fatalities etc in about 2 days after MK2 came out. We invited him round for a SF2 MK SNES marathon and we (no slouches at either) got totally battered. He ended up on Gamesmaster TV playing MK2 vs some dude dressed as Baraka but got beat...must have been stage fright!

As for arcades in town these days, only one I know of is in the AMC cinema down near the GMEX. They have Sega Rally 2, Vampire Nights, House Of The Dead 1, a completely battered Star Wars Racer and a vert strange Microsoft arcade machine with Mechassualt and Crimson Skys on it.
Other than that I recommend a trip to Llandudno, the Golden Goose on the pier is one of the UK's best arcades and is still going strong!

**davek22** · 07-01-2005, 11:51

[QUOTE=MatWoods]
And three heady import days of Gametech in Fennel St - Pilot Wings, SFII, Super Star Wars, Assault Suits Valken, Jim who bought so many games for his young kid, Neil who got mugged on leaving the shop once and all the other characters who used to loiter in it cos it was just a great place to waste the day (and a few quid!) - hell, I used to go there when it was Atari World!

[QUOTE]

This jolts a few memories, I think I was one of those characters who loitered around playing SF2 in there :-)
Andy, who used to work in there ended up managing Electronics Boutique in the Arndale before it merged with Game

**MatWoods** · 07-01-2005, 12:00

Originally posted by taurusnipple

That the one opposite the Virgin movies? Formally MGM? I used to go there during my lunch breaks at Stockport College, said this before, met that Japenese guy who taught me everything on Tekken 2. Used to be a good arcade, kept upto date. I imagine it closed down due to the chav's in the area, and the crime. Felt like I was putting my life in my hands going there sometimes!

Now, is that other arcade the one near the bus station? I seem to remember that place smelling rather nasty. They had that four (maybe 2) player cabinet of Turtles back in the day. I think I remember the place burning too.

I meant the nasty smelly one which was also a pool hall.

Forgot about the grand Central one- more SFII CE fun in there!

**MatWoods** · 07-01-2005, 12:06

[QUOTE=davek22][QUOTE=MatWoods]
And three heady import days of Gametech in Fennel St - Pilot Wings, SFII, Super Star Wars, Assault Suits Valken, Jim who bought so many games for his young kid, Neil who got mugged on leaving the shop once and all the other characters who used to loiter in it cos it was just a great place to waste the day (and a few quid!) - hell, I used to go there when it was Atari World!

This jolts a few memories, I think I was one of those characters who loitered around playing SF2 in there :-)
Andy, who used to work in there ended up managing Electronics Boutique in the Arndale before it merged with Game

Now we are talking!!

They were good days - apart from the day Mark ordered a few 'Golden Fighters', oh, how we laughed!!!

Still, he saved me a copy of Starfox when it came out.

Known Andy for years - He is now out in Glossop with his missus, now works in the NHS and can still kick my ass with Guile!

Now then what ever happened to Mark , the other guy woh worked there, after it shut, never heard hide nor hair off him.

They used to get all their stuff from Dreammachines II up Hartlepool way - still going in one way shape or form I notice!

Mark used to be mates with a long haired guyt called Brian who lived out didsbury way with his Japanese girlfriend - I bought my first Neo Geo off him for ?160 with King of Monsters!

But the lack of good arcades, or rather their gradual disappearance over the years still makes me dewy eyed when I think of the 'good old days'and the sheer choice of venues I had to deposit those stacks of 10p coins!

**davek22** · 07-01-2005, 12:33

Originally posted by MatWoods

Known Andy for years - He is now out in Glossop with his missus, now works in the NHS and can still kick my ass with Guile!

Now then what ever happened to Mark , the other guy woh worked there, after it shut, never heard hide nor hair off him.

If you see him mention Andy and Dave, him and Mark came round for SF2 session at my mates flat in Old Trafford one day.
I dont know what happened to Mark when the shop closed.
Didnt one of the games mags based in Macclesfield come and borrow games for review from there? I remember chatting to one of the reviewers and he always brought a few mags in with him when he came down.

**MatWoods** · 07-01-2005, 14:36

Originally posted by davek22

If you see him mention Andy and Dave, him and Mark came round for SF2 session at my mates flat in Old Trafford one day.
I dont know what happened to Mark when the shop closed.
Didnt one of the games mags based in Macclesfield come and borrow games for review from there? I remember chatting to one of the reviewers and he always brought a few mags in with him when he came down.

I think we may have been in the same places at the same times somehow,

Mmmm, I think you were right about the mag in Macc, I even remember Violet Berlin in the shop with her Barcode Battler one afternoon!!

Me and Andy even phoned up Jason Brooks when he was at Superplay once, as we had found the first warp to a hidden place in Starfox all by accident - we thought we were Gods!

AAh the Bus Station arcade- yep always got my ass kicked in there, went in rich, left poor and humble!

I even rememebr the MK2 buzz in the arcade - internet faqs were just getting going and my time was divided between that and Darkstalkers II at the arcade near the train station.

I'll take a trip to Llandudno now that you have mentioned it - I'll con the missus into thinking it is an 'honest' day out! I tried a few places in Southport recently but notihng to note and definielty not the seaside blitz that places like Blackpool and Scarborough used to be!

No-one has even mentinoed the great lineup of Hu-cards that Microbyte in the Arndale centre had - Drunken fighter really did have the biggest sprites I had ever seen and this was the place where I fisrt saw Pilotwing's mode 7 in ALL its glory!

All of this, only a small train ride away from home - the joys of youth!

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