Comments on: In The Before Time, In The Long Long Ago http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:43:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: B.BarNavi http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139741 B.BarNavi Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:48:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139741 Dude, I'm only 22 and I knew what arcades were like. Perhaps SF4 will revive the venue. Barring that, Rock Band and DDR. Dude, I’m only 22 and I knew what arcades were like. Perhaps SF4 will revive the venue. Barring that, Rock Band and DDR.

]]> By: tom http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139541 tom Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:50:50 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139541 When I lived in the Twin Cities, I had a dream of starting an old school arcade (no game newer than 1992 or so) in the Mall of America, and playing a non-stop track of late 80s and early 90s metal: Anthrax, Guns n' Roses, Slaughter etc. It would be a perfect recreation of my Jr. High experience. And the games would be cheap too. Nothing over a quarter. I figure there must be enough husbands waiting while their wives shop to make it viable. But maybe the music would be a bad idea. You want to hear every punch in Street Fighter. When I lived in the Twin Cities, I had a dream of starting an old school arcade (no game newer than 1992 or so) in the Mall of America, and playing a non-stop track of late 80s and early 90s metal: Anthrax, Guns n’ Roses, Slaughter etc. It would be a perfect recreation of my Jr. High experience. And the games would be cheap too. Nothing over a quarter. I figure there must be enough husbands waiting while their wives shop to make it viable.

But maybe the music would be a bad idea. You want to hear every punch in Street Fighter.

]]> By: Randy Brown http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139497 Randy Brown Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:09:15 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139497 OW, at the Beltway Plaza mall in Greenbelt there is an arcade, of sorts: a row of about 6 machines in the main corridor on the west end. MK4 is one of the consoles. Also...at last night's showing of "Rocky Horror" in College Park, the cast spliced several extraneous bits into the video. One of them, right after Rocky is killed, was an MK fatality. The crowd went apeshit! OW, at the Beltway Plaza mall in Greenbelt there is an arcade, of sorts: a row of about 6 machines in the main corridor on the west end. MK4 is one of the consoles.

Also…at last night’s showing of “Rocky Horror” in College Park, the cast spliced several extraneous bits into the video. One of them, right after Rocky is killed, was an MK fatality. The crowd went apeshit!

]]> By: Walker http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139431 Walker Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:07:04 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139431 What I find fascinating is that a lot of kids these days are familiar with Internet memes, like "you might be eaten by a grue", without knowing the games they came from. What I find fascinating is that a lot of kids these days are familiar with Internet memes, like “you might be eaten by a grue”, without knowing the games they came from.

]]> By: Wek http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139402 Wek Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:42:14 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139402 "Finish him!" Damn, us Gen Xers are getting old. “Finish him!”

Damn, us Gen Xers are getting old.

]]> By: fafaroo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139384 fafaroo Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:21:52 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139384 <i>Berserker. Space Invaders.</i> Dude. Space Castle. Berserker. Space Invaders.

Dude. Space Castle.

]]> By: MMM http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139377 MMM Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:48:45 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139377 While waiting in line for the most recent fake Star Wars, a friend and I were talking about the number of times we saw the Real Star Wars and the Real Star Wars II in the theater. (Not the crazy revised numbering that they put up after Lucas had his head injury.) Anyway, the 20 year old kids behind us in line overhead and were obviously puzzled by so many repeat theater viewings. We had to point out that in those days, once it was out of the theater, you never expected to be able to see it ever again. That blew their minds. While waiting in line for the most recent fake Star Wars, a friend and I were talking about the number of times we saw the Real Star Wars and the Real Star Wars II in the theater. (Not the crazy revised numbering that they put up after Lucas had his head injury.)

Anyway, the 20 year old kids behind us in line overhead and were obviously puzzled by so many repeat theater viewings. We had to point out that in those days, once it was out of the theater, you never expected to be able to see it ever again. That blew their minds.

]]> By: Sean D. Martin http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139373 Sean D. Martin Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:34:12 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139373 "Kids today don't know..." Yeah, so? And how well did you at that age know how to use a punch card machine, or skate key, or for that matter a buggy whip? Some day today's kids will bemoan how "Kids today" look oddly at a DVD because movies all stream over the net and how they don't know how to operate a keyboard because it's all voice activated now. “Kids today don’t know…”

Yeah, so? And how well did you at that age know how to use a punch card machine, or skate key, or for that matter a buggy whip?

Some day today’s kids will bemoan how “Kids today” look oddly at a DVD because movies all stream over the net and how they don’t know how to operate a keyboard because it’s all voice activated now.

]]> By: marc http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139367 marc Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:32:19 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139367 Umm, I hate to break this to you but the little guy obviously knew what an arcade was, but he just wanted to know what they were like because he'd never been to one. There's a difference. Umm, I hate to break this to you but the little guy obviously knew what an arcade was, but he just wanted to know what they were like because he’d never been to one. There’s a difference.

]]> By: Athenae http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139363 Athenae Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:06:56 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139363 My little brother owns a video arcade. Dance Dance Revolution is a big thing with the kids there. A lot of the first-person shooter games draw an older crowd but what it's especially good for is parties and outings for teenagers and groups that want to have fun without alcohol being involved. It being located right across from a Marine recruiting station doesn't hurt, either. A. My little brother owns a video arcade. Dance Dance Revolution is a big thing with the kids there. A lot of the first-person shooter games draw an older crowd but what it’s especially good for is parties and outings for teenagers and groups that want to have fun without alcohol being involved.

It being located right across from a Marine recruiting station doesn’t hurt, either.

A.

]]> By: Phil Barron http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139358 Phil Barron Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:11:56 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139358 My brother Greg told me about a conversation he had with a young niece and nephew. They were interested in a couple of old cassettes they found in the house. Kids: Uncle Greg, what's on these videos? Greg: Those aren't videos. Those are eight-track tapes. Kids: Eight-what? Greg: A long time ago, we didn't have CDs for music. We had these eight-track tapes that we played on special players. (The niece and nephew weren't buying it.) Kids: If you don't us to watch those videos, Uncle Greg, that's fine. But you don't got to lie to us. My brother Greg told me about a conversation he had with a young niece and nephew. They were interested in a couple of old cassettes they found in the house.

Kids: Uncle Greg, what’s on these videos?

Greg: Those aren’t videos. Those are eight-track tapes.

Kids: Eight-what?

Greg: A long time ago, we didn’t have CDs for music. We had these eight-track tapes that we played on special players.

(The niece and nephew weren’t buying it.)

Kids: If you don’t us to watch those videos, Uncle Greg, that’s fine. But you don’t got to lie to us.

]]> By: Repack Rider http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139354 Repack Rider Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:51:56 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139354 Don't get me started. The kids these days... Don't know how a bicycle coaster brake works. Never saw a slide rule. Never had to take the film to the drugstore to get it developed. But they can all type faster than anyone I ever knew in the fifties. Don’t get me started. The kids these days…

Don’t know how a bicycle coaster brake works.

Never saw a slide rule.

Never had to take the film to the drugstore to get it developed.

But they can all type faster than anyone I ever knew in the fifties.

]]> By: jr http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139346 jr Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:59:32 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139346 RBI Baseball- where even Dwight Gooden was white RBI Baseball- where even Dwight Gooden was white

]]> By: White Whale http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139343 White Whale Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:45:39 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139343 Wow!During the summers I would travel from Germany to Louisiana and visit my grandfather and cousins. When there was nothing to do, I went the movie theater and I saw Mortal Kombat. Much like Oliver, "Get over here" was the spear..or hook to get me playing. Of course MK3 and Ultimate MK3 were arcade bliss. Like Parthenon, the fatalities were way too hard. Not enough time to execute! Wow!During the summers I would travel from Germany to Louisiana and visit my grandfather and cousins. When there was nothing to do, I went the movie theater and I saw Mortal Kombat. Much like Oliver, “Get over here” was the spear..or hook to get me playing. Of course MK3 and Ultimate MK3 were arcade bliss. Like Parthenon, the fatalities were way too hard. Not enough time to execute!

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139340 Duros62 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:15:30 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139340 I am amused greatly by kids who can't operate a rotary phone. I am amused greatly by kids who can’t operate a rotary phone.

]]> By: Parthenon http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139335 Parthenon Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:41:01 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139335 There were two lines - win, you keep playing. As I was surrounded by teenagers who could afford to do little else but play MK, I never lasted past my single round. And I could never - NEVER - do a fatality on the arcade version. Oh, my deep and aching scars. There were two lines – win, you keep playing. As I was surrounded by teenagers who could afford to do little else but play MK, I never lasted past my single round. And I could never – NEVER – do a fatality on the arcade version.

Oh, my deep and aching scars.

]]> By: Mike the Mad Biologist http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139334 Mike the Mad Biologist Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:38:34 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139334 Mortal Kombat? Hah! Berserker. Space Invaders. You kids.... Mortal Kombat? Hah!

Berserker. Space Invaders.

You kids….

]]> By: drek http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139309 drek Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:26:41 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139309 The kid never asked "What is an arcade?" He asked "What were arcades <b>like</b>?" The kid clearly knew what an arcade was but, having never been to one, was not privy to the nature of an arcade environment. Once again (for the umpteenth time) you have failed to carefully read and comprehend a piece of writing. <i><b>Lord.</i></b> The kid never asked “What is an arcade?” He asked “What were arcades like?” The kid clearly knew what an arcade was but, having never been to one, was not privy to the nature of an arcade environment.

Once again (for the umpteenth time) you have failed to carefully read and comprehend a piece of writing. Lord.

]]> By: Jaim http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/28/in-the-before-time-in-the-long-long-ago/#comment-139307 Jaim Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:37:44 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=13178#comment-139307 Hehe. I linked that rpg.net thread on Metafilter. It really is strange to feel so old. Hehe. I linked that rpg.net thread on Metafilter. It really is strange to feel so old.

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