Someone asked me today what an arcade game was. It was a first meeting with a man at my new office-space.
I launched into a historical diachronical account of how the arcade came into being, what its social implications were, how the *flaneur* was created by this architectural/business phenomenon. Then how light entertainment was added to this mix. I touched upon how the concept came into being, its cultural genesis, its roots.
I flowed. I was wordy.
Coulda just emailed him a link to: Arcade game at Wikipedia.
But that would’ve introduced someone else to my new workplace.
My new workplace? Oh, it is just a new address. I am renting space at Bocca, with Jeppe. Jeppe is a brave soul who has his portrait on his website. One day I shall join those few.
Most often you can see where I am using Plazes’s Where Is Olle, which brings up a Google Map of the place.
Ah, the arcade game era! I remember the summers at the amusement park where we played great games like Gauntlet (THE arcade game, with 4-player action!), Pole Position and Shinobi.
The most classic comment/hint of all times concerning all computer games ever (from the game Gauntlet ofcourse) : Ta spökena!! (swedish for “Take the ghosts!!, a hint which actually doesn’t help the player, on the contrary – kills him)
“Ta spökena!”
That is a sweet, fond memory.
We were being assholes. But then again, cocky 1980s digital kids with pockets full of coins, walking around an amusement park’s arcade hall – magical palace! – ain’t likely to become Mother Theresas of compassion when some moron stands there hogging the Gauntlet machine forever.
Grab the ghosts.