Parenting hack; don't bring them here because they might be closed during their posted operating hours.
Well, looks like that's a nope. Got here at 8:30. Website says closes at 9. Google says closes at 9. It is decidedly unopen and there's no one anywhere around. Oh well! Calling it for the night and heading to the hotel. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Entrance to The Lost Mine Arcade.
Games on the floor at Lost Mine.
More games at Lost Mine, including Batman and Dark Escape 4D.
Uncanny X-Men! Guess where all my money went.
Day 2, stop 7. Somehow, I ended up in West Virginia! The Lost Mine Arcade @ Mercer Mall, Bluefield, WV. Average mall arcade, but they have a UXM pin on site! Yay, new add to @pinballmap.com! Can I make it to an 8th stop tonight? We shall see! #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Marquee for Scoops Arcade.
Games on site at Scoops Arcade, including Dream Raiders.
More games at Scoops Arcade, including Deadstorm SE.
A few more games at Scoops Arcade, including a virtual pinball machine.
Day 2, stop 6. Scoops Arcade, Pembroke, VA. Cute little ice cream shop with a small arcade in the back. Surprised by a vpin on site! #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Logo for proof. That's their name.
Miscellaneous games in the back corner, including Guitar Hero.
The usual carnival games and basketball hoops.
THE HULKSTER LIVES, BROTHER
Day 2, stop 5. It's Game Time At The Superbowl, Christianburg, VA. Yes, that's the actual name of this place. Not just me trying to be cute. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
It's actually really fun. It has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments in it.
Miscellaneous games at Putt-Putt.
WaveRunner GP was the biggest shock for me over here.
Also, a SlugFest that actually dispenses cards is a rarity these days!
Day 2, stop 4; Putt-Putt Fun Center, Roanoke, VA. Like stepping back in time. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
About as far south as I possibly can without a passport. Planning on making it all the way to the Florida Keys before turning around and heading back.
Entrance to Galactic Arcade.
Miscellaneous games on the floor at Galactic Arcade, including ITG2 and Pac-Man Smash.
More games at Galactic Arcade, Including Guitar Hero, Grid, and Daytona Championship USA New Season Edition.
Pinball machines at Galactic Arcade, including LEs of Black Knight SOR, Elvira HOH, and Rush. Also, Taiko! Da-don!
Day 2, stop 3. Galactic Arcade at the Valley View Mall, Roanoke, VA. Very good for an unmanned mall arcade! #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Sign at entrance to Roanoke Starcade.
Classic retro games in an aisle at Starcade.
A dizzying mix of racers!
Some definite rare titles in the mix.
Day 2, stop 2; Roanoke Starcade. Literally right next door to the Pinball Museum, and a combo ticket was purchased for access to both locations! #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Entrance to the Roanoke Pinball Museum.
Classic 60s and 70s games along the back wall.
Some excellent 90s hits.
My first time ever seeing Beach Queens, a flipperless one ball game by Bally.
Day 2, stop 1; the Roanoke Pinball Museum, Roanoke, VA. Classics and stone cold rarities. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Feels weird to be in Williamsburg WITHOUT visiting Busch Gardens. Ah well.
Notes from the road, day 2. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Not as part of this trip, but I'll be around at some point, no doubt.
that does it for day 1. After I finish up here, off to a hotel for the night, then back up early again tomorrow to do it all over again out towards Roanoke.
#arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
We made it, chat
The venerable dinner menu
Chilling in a booth
Bacon cheeseburger deluxe with a side of hash browns, covered and capped (+A1)
Day 1, stop 9. If I can't get my Philly cheesesteak down in VA, there's only one other acceptable choice.
Fuck yeah, Waffle House.
No arcade games but finally getting something in my belly for the first time since like 2 PM.
#arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip #wafflehouse
Geno's Steaks, Hampton, VA.
Wide angle shot of the game room.
Closer shot of a few games.
And a pinball machine to boot! Nice.
Day 1, stop 8. Who got their Philly in Virginia? Geno's Steaks opened up their first shop outside of Philly and surprisingly it has an arcade! Unfortunately thanks to GODDAMNED TUNNEL TRAFFIC I got here too late for a cheesesteak. FUCK. ๐ #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Pixels Pints & Bytes, Norfolk, VA.
Pins upstairs at Pixels.
A row of arcade games upstairs at Pixels.
Got to put my initials in on Uncanny, even if it was only for stopping the Juggernaut.
Day 1, stop 7. Pixels Pints & Bytes, Norfolk, VA. Arcade bar. Lots of Sterns, no Insider. Lots of retro games, no CRTs. ยฏ\_(ใ)_/ยฏ #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Chuck E. Cheese, Chesapeake, VA.
A mix of games on the floor at CEC.
Even more games at CEC. Also, happy MAR10 Day.
First time seeing this variant of Power Roll. Hit the jackpot first try!
Day 1, stop 6. You knew it was coming. Chuck E. Cheese, Greenbriar/Chesapeake, VA. Lemme be a kid for just a half hour, ok? #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Lucky Strike, Chesapeake, VA.
The usual suspects.
More of the usual suspects.
One unusual suspect, and a bunch of hoops.
Day 1, stop 5. Lucky Strike, Chesapeake, VA. It's a Lucky Strike and it's exactly what you'd expect from that. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Draftcade at Pembroke Commons, Virginia Beach, VA.
Aisle of retro video games at Draftcade, including the Simpsons, Rolling Thunder, and Battletoads.
Have I mentioned... happy MAR10 day?!
Awesome pins on the floor, including Who Dunnit, ID4, and Harlem Globetrotters!
Day 1, stop 4; the brand new Draftcade in Virginia Beach. Awesome collection of classic retro games, rarities, and excellently curated pins. #arcade #pinball #roadrrip #arcaderoadtril
Exterior of Apex Entertainment, Virginia Beach, VA.
Games on the floor at Apex Entertainment, including Quick Shot, Wizard of Oz, DC Superheroes... and do I spy..??
More games on the floor at Apex Entertainment.
Sweaty me trying to catch my breath and rest my muscles after a two-song session on StepManiaX. One FC, one choke. I need to hydrate!
Day 1, stop 3; Apex Entertainment. Deja vu? I just visited their location in Massachusetts. Very similar vibe here. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Dave & Buster's, Virginia Beach, VA.
Games on the floor at D&B including Top Gun Maverick and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Once again, happy MAR10 Day!
More games on the floor at D&B, including Ghostbusters.
Day 1, stop 2; the obligatory Dave & Buster's check in. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Flipper McCoys, Virginia Beach, VA:
Miscellaneous arcade games at Flipper McCoy's.
An aisle of retro games. Happy MAR10 Day! I got my plays in... did you?
The pinball alley at Flipper McCoy's, as expected of a place with "Flipper" in its name.
Made it to Virginia Beach! Day 1, Stop 1; Flipper McCoy's, right near the beach.
#arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Morning drive music. Revisiting a classic.
open.spotify.com/album/0w4g3U...
Today's the day. Starting my ridiculously ambitious southern arcade road trip and about to get on the highway. Wish me luck!
#arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Shazam picked up Hohoemi no Bakudan by Matsuko Mawatari, better known as the opening theme to Yu Yu Hakusho.
And just as we're about to leave... this pops up;
Supra Revolving Sushi Bar, Linden, NJ.
@saikosakura.bsky.social enjoying a mix of the made-to-order dishes that got delivered right to the table, as salmon sushi passes by on the conveyor.
Shazam was doing work today. Lots of great songs. Wasn't expecting to hear Suchmos but I'm here for it. Junko Ohashi popped up later on.
Technically not the Kiddleton claws but close enough. Each token is $4, so uh, I won't be playing today.
Lunch date with @saikosakura.bsky.social before I leave on my road trip tomorrow. Stopped at a newish conveyor belt sushi place that opened up near us. It was delicious! The music selection was absolutely on point. And I can't escape the goddamned mini-claws. ๐
Myself on the left, Rob Berk on the right, and honorary cameraman for the day @the-1st-prototype.bsky.social in the middle, as taken at Past Times Arcade, Girard, Ohio.
Spent most of my Sunday editing over an hour of footage from my interview & guided tour with Rob Berk at Past Times. Managed to get it down to 35 minutes & feel like I can't cut any more; the man has too many interesting stories NOT to share! Should (finally!) be up on YT this week. #arcade #pinball
Love how they responded to the change with Nickelodeon-branded games.
They need Nickelodeon Kart Racers Arcade. And a Spongebob Pirates of Bikini Bottom. Hell, fish an Aaahh! Real Monsters machine from the depths of an arcade auction warehouse.
I really enjoyed it. Haven't quite dialed in the shots yet but it was a lot of fun. Day-O mode is awesome.
