- Joined
- May 22, 2012
I'm sure we all remember these.....
They came out about the last time I ever went in an arcade. They were instrumental in my decision to not go in them again. If any game ever exemplified the futility, hopelessness, addiction and festering minds of their patrons, it was these. The hollow-eyed addicts and daft old witches lined up on seats in front of them, waiting for other players' 'up tops' and nudges to time out while they waited sullenly to press their own start buttons again made me question my own existence should I ever be minded to go in them thereafter.
Many years later I saw them on 10p plays in holiday arcades when I took kids through them to play the pushers and grabbers. I recently went in an arcade to walk through while waiting for an order in town, saw nothing but video random units except for 3 old bar-x-7's and yes, a 3-seat bullion game on 10p/£5 jp. How they have changed, very quiet places now with machines not making any noise now they are in video cabinets, the place virtually empty. Order was wrong, had to go back today and went in the place again, this time having three twenties changed up, lost £20 in 5 minutes on a £1 spin Roaring Forties cabinet slot, then £40 on a £35/15/10 7-bar-x Electrocoin and NOT ONE WIN for £40 in it, 30p play.
I didn't know whether to laugh (at the fact I hadn't played in one for nearly 20 years and at how wise I was not to!) or to cry (at the fact I allowed myself to get rodgered for £60 so fast!) but what I do know is that I had a very sick, despairing feeling walking out, not for my £60 spunked so fast and the burning humiliating feeling of being completely ripped-off, but on behalf of any people still frequenting these hellhole places in 2024. How they must be broken people financially, unhappy and lost in life. I shiver now thinking about it, maybe as you get older you develop more empathy. But my god, nearly 2 decades since I lost more than a few fun pounds in a holiday place and a harsh definitive reminder I shall not be entering one again.


) but as far as I recall never a story to tell.


