OMFG - Arcade opening soon in Saarfhaampton!!

[Darwock]

I had some time to kill in London last week, was walking around like a stupid lost tourist wondering if I'd ever find an arcade, and I spotted the Trocadero in front of me.

Walked in, I was like... "wow! guitar freaks! wow!, hydraulic F-Zero AX! F*&k me, Drummania!". I tell you, I couldn't believe I was in Britain. Until I tried to have a go on any of the games.

Guitar Freaks swallowed my money and remained at 0 credits.
Tekken 5 was displayed in such a manner that the health bars were off screen.
VF4 Evo - the screen went black then came on again having selected Goh on my behalf (never used him)
Drummania, I didn't even get a go cos some big twat was hogging the machine (and using auto-bass ffs!)
F-Zero seemed to want to keep pulling to the right, so that was hopeless.

To sum up then, if this is the best the UK has to offer then Southampton is probably gonna be the crown jewel of the UK arcade scene.

[eastyy]

Out of curiosity


How often when you play arcade games do you come across machines that have problems with joysticks and buttons?

[C']

It?s not just controls that suffer in UK arcades unfortunately. General maintenance on machines is just always so poor.

I very rarely go to Namco Station at Trafford these days (used to practically live there in 2003 ) partly because they removed many of the machines I enjoyed playing but also because the few games they have left (and the amount is rapidly dwindling) are in such a poor state.

Tekken 5 for instance the screen just looks all smeared and gives a really poor image. Their OutRun 2 SP machine, the left cabinet has an uncentred wheel so to drive straight you have to hold it about 30 degrees to the right, and the right cabinet the screen seems to ****ed and displays in Green (or too much green, I forget).

I really hope that the machines this new Southampton arcade gets are in good nick. The UK deserves at least one good arcade

[J0e Musashi]

I had some time to kill in London last week, was walking around like a stupid lost tourist wondering if I'd ever find an arcade, and I spotted the Trocadero in front of me.

Walked in, I was like... "wow! guitar freaks! wow!, hydraulic F-Zero AX! F*&k me, Drummania!". I tell you, I couldn't believe I was in Britain. Until I tried to have a go on any of the games.

Guitar Freaks swallowed my money and remained at 0 credits.
Tekken 5 was displayed in such a manner that the health bars were off screen.
VF4 Evo - the screen went black then came on again having selected Goh on my behalf (never used him)
Drummania, I didn't even get a go cos some big twat was hogging the machine (and using auto-bass ffs!)
F-Zero seemed to want to keep pulling to the right, so that was hopeless.

To sum up then, if this is the best the UK has to offer then Southampton is probably gonna be the crown jewel of the UK arcade scene.

Casino in Tottenham Court Rd is the best the UK has to offer. An extra 20 minutes of walking and you'd have been there.

[Vince]

That sound like loads of machines you have now Sean! You'll need somewhere the size of that old western place that used to be at ocean village at this rate!

[Big Seany]

Way Out West?

Seriously though we have the space, the machines, and basically any faults in controls, coin mechs, and whatever else we will take feedback from customers such as yourselves, and within reason get them sorted. If our machines are in crap condition then why would people want to come all the way to Sarfhaaampton to play them? Because lets face it, apart from the football club, a few decent pubs, the Boat Show and of course my bad self, there is **** all else to come here for.

Above all else the machines are privately owned and are basically my mate's investment, so they will be looked after and it is why it is going to be membership only to stop little chavs messing them all up.

Peace out.

unh.

[Pezley]

Above all else the machines are privately owned and are basically my mate's investment, so they will be looked after and it is why it is going to be membership only to stop little chavs messing them all up.

Peace out.

unh.

So how do you aply for a membership to this heaven on earth ?

best make sure my cap is angled forward and not being worn on the back of my head....

[Cepp]

It?s not just controls that suffer in UK arcades unfortunately. General maintenance on machines is just always so poor.

I very rarely go to Namco Station at Trafford these days (used to practically live there in 2003 ) partly because they removed many of the machines I enjoyed playing but also because the few games they have left (and the amount is rapidly dwindling) are in such a poor state.

Tekken 5 for instance the screen just looks all smeared and gives a really poor image. Their OutRun 2 SP machine, the left cabinet has an uncentred wheel so to drive straight you have to hold it about 30 degrees to the right, and the right cabinet the screen seems to ****ed and displays in Green (or too much green, I forget).

I really hope that the machines this new Southampton arcade gets are in good nick. The UK deserves at least one good arcade

So true. They do have Fist of the North Star\Hokuto no Ken but at a ?1 a go it isn't cheap

[Miyamoto_San]

Please source some Bemani machines. You might even convince me to move back to Southampton if you do...

[Big Seany]

Had another Megalo delivered yesterday, was being used for Metal Slug 5. Sticks and buttons need replacing, and when I unlocked the control panel and took a look inside, it was filled with loads of loose tobacco and bits of weed. Having a sniff I would say skunk, too. Whoever owned it must have liked Metal Slug and cannabis, good combo. My initial thoughts were that it had passed through wheelaa's hands

[SegaMark]

It?s not just controls that suffer in UK arcades unfortunately. General maintenance on machines is just always so poor.

I very rarely go to Namco Station at Trafford these days (used to practically live there in 2003 ) partly because they removed many of the machines I enjoyed playing but also because the few games they have left (and the amount is rapidly dwindling) are in such a poor state.

Tekken 5 for instance the screen just looks all smeared and gives a really poor image. Their OutRun 2 SP machine, the left cabinet has an uncentred wheel so to drive straight you have to hold it about 30 degrees to the right, and the right cabinet the screen seems to ****ed and displays in Green (or too much green, I forget).

I really hope that the machines this new Southampton arcade gets are in good nick. The UK deserves at least one good arcade

I went last year, I always thought they never got an SP in, I remember Ghost Squad having one faulty gun.

Has it still got Daytona USA and Initial D?

I might go, but it's a trek from Warrington to Trafford.

[sega kid]

That sound like loads of machines you have now Sean! You'll need somewhere the size of that old western place that used to be at ocean village at this rate!

ahhh way out west! i remember that place so well! i spent many an hour there in my youth! i always remember it for daytona USA as they had it on longplay there, and it was 4 or 6 player i believe?

but yeh your place is sounding great sean, would like to pay a visit too...

[sega kid]

It?s not just controls that suffer in UK arcades unfortunately. General maintenance on machines is just always so poor.

I very rarely go to Namco Station at Trafford these days (used to practically live there in 2003 ) partly because they removed many of the machines I enjoyed playing but also because the few games they have left (and the amount is rapidly dwindling) are in such a poor state.

Tekken 5 for instance the screen just looks all smeared and gives a really poor image. Their OutRun 2 SP machine, the left cabinet has an uncentred wheel so to drive straight you have to hold it about 30 degrees to the right, and the right cabinet the screen seems to ****ed and displays in Green (or too much green, I forget).

I really hope that the machines this new Southampton arcade gets are in good nick. The UK deserves at least one good arcade

i was at butlins, bognor regis last weekend, and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of arcade machines, and the general working order of them there.
they had some great stuff, including
initial D in a cycraft(first time ive tried one, and it was brilliant!)
f-zero x ,house of the dead 4, virtua striker 4, outrun2 sp , dinosaur king, le mans 24hr 4 player(an old fave!) and many, many others.

[Jusatsushi]

Sooo, what's happening with this arcade then?

[Big Seany]

It was all a big lie! Lies, I tell you!

Seriously though....there are some minor cosmetic things being carried out to the premises, including taking a wall down to make more space. We have about 80% of the cabs so far, still trying to source a few.

I am slowly working my way through the PCBs to test them all out. So far they are all OK, however it looks like the Dungeons & Dragons has suicided and Strider has a few glitches. These will be sorted soon though hopefully. All the others are spot on, however, with Mercs, AVP and Radiant all looking particularly lush.

One of our Megalos needs a few repairs, and the Sega Rally cab is going back as it continually crashes during gameplay. This has been replaced with Daytona.

A few more things have been acquired, including a Neo cab, a Taito flight simulator (Landing Gear?), Naomi GD Rom/cart mobos, Capcom vs Snk 2, and a whole bunch of MVS carts. Still after a Jap candy style cab and a cab worthy of sticking Radiant into.

We should bve moving most of the gear into the actual room where the arcade will be situated next week.