^^^ This
There are still arcades around, but the ones I've been to are focused on redemption games for kids. If they even have games, its mostly gun games, racing games and rhythm games. I'm talking about arcades that were 90% arcade games and pinball machines. They were a huge part of my youth, but as I grew into an adult the 'video' arcade was essentially dead.
Nothing will ever replicate the feeling of going into an arcade with a $5 bill to turn into quarters. The sounds of 50 games meshed into one single sound -- the arcade sound -- comprised of Pac Man eating dots, the sound of Mario walking and jumping in Donkey Kong, the music from Galaga, etc. It used to walk around the arcade at least once to see every game before I decided where to put my first quarter. The arcade was stuff that was way better than what you could play at home and was a social experience.
Yes, video arcades were also a very big part of my youth also....oh how I loved the times when I'd be at a shopping mall and would have the opportunity to blow some money on some arcade gaming bliss! I too would stroll through an arcade first before plunking my first 25 cents -- and who else here remembers back when it only cost ONE quarter to play a game, as opposed to having to deposit
at least a dollar or more?? It was truly a social experience like no other, especially when being fortunate enough to get the high score on a game and getting to proudly enter your name (which was usually just your initials).
Other things I miss.......
Watching Saturday morning cartoons until noon, when T.V. programming would then turn to complete crap once cartoons were over.
Spending summers at the community center swimming pool, even when the pool water was cold enough to turn your skin blue.
When "social networking" meant hanging out and playing outside with your friends....and NOT "liking" and commenting on your friends' Facebook statuses.
Going to the beach every summer with my parents.
Going to a friend's house to play Atari 2600 games.
