Game Galaxy

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

Whenever I hear about cool little hole-in-the-wall places, even if they're halfway across the country, I always make a mental note of it. With my job, you never know where I'll end up. So a year or two ago when I heard that DreamTR had opened a retro arcade in the middle of Nashville, I filed that information away.

(Did I mention earlier this week that I took a road trip from Oklahoma City to Durham, North Carolina? Did you know I-40 goes through Nashville on its way from Oklahoma City to North Carolina?)

Game Galaxy is the type of arcade that people are constantly claiming doesn't exist anymore. Many people feel arcades have been ruined by ticket redemption games. Game Galaxy has no ticket redemption games. There's no air hockey, no skee-ball, no pool tables, and no giant stuffed animals hanging from the ceiling enticing kids to pump pockets full of quarters into ticket dispensers. Instead, Game Galaxy looks like pretty much every arcade I ever attended in the 80s, down to the lack of lighting and the awesome selection of games.

That's Spy Hunter, Karate Champ, Donkey Kong Jr., Popeye, Duck Hunt, Arkanoid, and Castlevania side-by-side. This isn't the "retro" area -- the whole damn place is the "retro" area. In the short amount of time I was there I played TRON, Double Dragon, Excitebike, Congo Bongo, Burgertime, and Bubble Bobble -- all for a quarter each. There's an entire fighting side to the arcade as well, and I saw multiple Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, King of Fighters and Tekken machines lined up, among others. (For a complete list of the arcade's inventory, click here.)

Jason, one of the arcade's co-owners, was kind enough to give me a quick tour and even took me to their game storage area where I got to see another 70 or so cabinets, machines like Tempest, Tutankhamen, Time Crisis III, Food Fight, all on standby. Both the arcade area and the storage area have rows of pinball machines. The storage area alone has Bride of Pinbot, Earthshaker, The Black Knight 2000, and Guns n' Roses. I didn't get a good look at all the pinball tables out on the main floor, but I'm pretty sure I saw Pinbot, High Speed, Fun House, and maybe a dozen others.

In the center of Game Galaxy (past the multiple red tent Nintendo cabinets) is the console area. Consoles can be played for a paltry sum. Game Galaxy also buys and sells game consoles and games. It's the only game store in the mall, and does solid business on its own (bringing in more than the arcade games, occasionally).

Game Galaxy is located in the Hickory Hollow Mall in Antioch, TN (just minutes from I-40). If you're even in the neck of the woods, I highly encourage you to stop by and bring a roll of quarters with you.

Link: GameGalaxyArcade.com

(Reposted from robohara.com)
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Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

One thing I've noticed about arcades versus pinball parlors (?) is that I tend to get sick of the pinball joints less. Maybe it's because I have arcade games at home, I dunno.

Actually, that makes for a good thread. What pinballs would we be showing each other if we had some?

But my comment just relates to how Game Galaxy is not in the same town as me. That had to be an incredible find.

I haven't seen a Karate Champ in the wild in years. There was one at a dentist's when I was growing up and one in the tourist shop of a cave system my parents took me to when I was a teenager. It's been at least 20 years.
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bruce · Joined: 04 Jun 2002 Posts: 2387

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

I have one. It's not really "in the wild", except when I haven't mowed for a few weeks.
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Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

This is gonna happen. So I am bumping this thread. We shall descend on Springfield, MO this summer! I'm gonna ask Pinback so he feels included, and then can say, "Sure, can you watch the dogs." It's sort of our new thing.
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the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!

bruce · Joined: 04 Jun 2002 Posts: 2387

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

I think I am in. I'll let you know by July 5th (which sounds more cryptic than it should).
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Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

I think I gotta fly straight into Springfield. If that is possible to do. If they have an airport, I mean.
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the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

You can fly into OKC and ride up w/me if you want. It's a 5 hour ride from OKC that takes you through Tulsa and Joplin, two fun places to shop in. They don't open until 4pm so there's plenty of time to get there.
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Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

Oh, I misunderstood Bruce earlier, he's not gonna leave St. Louis till Saturday. So I am gonna get the flight to St. Louis tomorrow BUT - BUT - you going to this thing is critical. I can't tell you how awesome this would be if we all make it!

I'm going to go to their site, read the game list and drop my pants!
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the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!

ICJ · Guest

OK, I put my pants back on. This trip is a go!

bruce · Joined: 04 Jun 2002 Posts: 2387

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

I turned in my two weeks notice at work last Friday. Turns out, I'll be free that weekend. SEE YOU THERE.

(I am just transferring from one line of business to another.)

EDIT: The trip has been approved by the real boss (Mrs. Flack). August 7th is a go. Repeat, August 7th is a go.
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Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

Yeah, I read your blog on that just now - congrats, Flack! I remember this being the kind of thing you were hoping for. I'm glad the job situation has come together so nicely. :)
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the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

Just big bumpin' to make sure this is still a go. You guys are coming in on Saturday? I'm going to drive up Saturday morning, hang out all day, get a hotel and then drive home Sunday morning.

Also I hope to lose 100 pounds in the next 10 days. That's doable, right?
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Ice Cream Jonsey · Joined: 27 Apr 2002 Posts: 14232 Location: Colorado

Oh, yes yes yes. I bought the flight a month ago. This is ABSOLUTELY a go.

Lemme send you an e-mail so we have each other's phone numbers. I never got yours when you were up. Things seem more "real" when there is a phone conversation.
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the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!

bruce · Joined: 04 Jun 2002 Posts: 2387

That's Saturday the 7th, not the 31st.

Just to be clear.

Bruce

Flack · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 680 Location: Hell, OK

Right-o, sorry about the confusion.

For those of you who weren't in on the e-mail thread, we all e-mailed each other and we're all still going.

Is Pinback going? Is Aardvark getting on a plane?

I wish you were driving a truck up, Jonsey. I'd give you this Centipede cabinet I have to go with the board you already bought.
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AArdvark · Joined: 14 May 2002 Posts: 2983 Location: Rochester, NY

I'm on vacation that week. A nice cottage on the shores of the finger lakes. (Well, ONE of the finger lakes anyways)
So I won't be able to make it. look forward to pix though. Still feel bad the Strong museum arcade trip was a bust last November.

THE
INSERT COIN

NOT!

AARDVARK