That guy grew up and became the manager of GameWorks.
I recall, back in the times when *real* arcades exsisted, you could walk in and were bombarded by the cacophony of 100 arcade games all turned up full blast. It was great.
I decided to give GameWorks another try last night, but before I even went in the door, I could hear the lame pseudo-rock. I attempted one game of DDR, but it was impossible to hear. It was like playing with the TV on mute.
I walked around and watched some people playing other games. I could not hear the audio on any of them because of the house music.
You'd think with a place called "GameWorks," the focus would be on the games, but it's not: it's just a glorified, overpriced bar. That also explains the sorry state of the machines.
Sigh. /rant. I just miss the good old arcades of my youth... the ones that didn't need anything else but video games to survive.
I don't know about your GameWorks but mine overcharges for DDR. To me a typical three stage game should cost $1. At GameWorks it costs 7 points. (1 point = $0.25) :(
The three places (I know of) around here with 50 cent DDR are all low-trafic places for DDR players (a dirty pool hall, local ice arena, community college student center [ok i take that last one back])Granted they're not the best machines either.
Paying $1.75 for 3 songs is pretty crazy, but for that much you should get some quality gameplay out of it.
*** Edited 7/3/2004 6:48:32 PM UTC by MiLLeNNiUMRiDeR***
Tommy P.
Yes, the games were in crappy condition. Yes, the workers didn't know nor give a crap about what they were doing, yes, I didn't like that place.
Interestingly enough, and Kel and other local southern Californians close to Pomona will notice - the Puente Hills Mall Gameworks was shut down.
Hmm, I wonder why? Lol.
What I want is improvement.
Anyway, as if I haven't belabored the point enough, here's a copy of the e-mail I sent the HR department. Maybe I'll get a free gift card! ;)
"I would think a place called "GameWorks" would be focused on the games, but it's clear visiting the Columbus location that it's not the case. First, the loud house music: How is one supposed to hear the audio on the video games? When I go to an arcade, I want to hear the games, not the same music I just heard on my car radio five minutes ago.
Not to mention, it's impossible to play music games such as Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Freaks without being able to hear. DDR is one of the most popular arcade games of all time, but I know for a fact that none of the "serious" players in Columbus (the ones who dump hundreds of dollars into games monthly) play at GameWorks because of this.
Game maintenance also needs to be addressed. On my last visit, I attempted to play three gun-based games, and all were virtually unplayable because the calibration on the guns was off target so much. I've tried to use the soda and water machines but they've worked maybe twice out of a dozen attempts. Other games have mechanical parts broken, such as the Addam's Family "shocker" game, and you can't tell until you've already wasted your money.
And although this is less of an issue, the "classic" games section is a joke. Four games does not a classic section make, especially when they're not even in their original cabinets.
I had really high hopes when I heard GameWorks was coming years ago, but now I am really starting to miss the neighborhood arcades that have all closed down. GameWorks is starting to seem to me like nothing more than a glorified bar. I guess your slogan, "Eat, Drink, Party, Play" is in order of priority."
Gameworks did nothing for me, though. The DDR atmosphere was off the hook, but the DDR machine, was terrible. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Den- Nice e-mail. Especially the part where you bash the slogan. I couldn't help but laugh.
The closest DDR machine to me is in a place called "Funland" in Fredericksburg Central Park. There, its $1 to play. I'm not complaining because for that $1, we get 5 songs. The machine is maintained great. You just let the people who work there know if there is a problem and it'll be fixed most likely upon your next visit. You can easily hear the music. Infact, you can be far from the game and still hear it. I tried to listen to the music playing in the actual place but I could barely hear it. Seems like this place knows what it is doing.
In Newport News, I played an arcade machine that was merely 50 cents (first time I've seen that) for 3 songs. I wasn't complaining. Machine worked nicely and the music was heard great.
I guess there wasn't any point to this post but I think it seems that some arcades know what to do and some don't. Keep the most popular machines working and just make sure it feels like an arcade. $1.75 for one game is outragous. I would never pay that. I also enjoyed the rant on the slogan.
Austin-GO JEFF GORDON AND THE TITANS!!!!!!!
Tommy P.
FYI to all, I got no response from my e-mail to GameWorks, despite the promise on the Web site that all e-mails would be answered in 10-14 days. Screw GameWorks, I'm never going there again.
Isn't there still an arcade on the NW side of Columbus still? Grand Slam I think it is? Has Go-Karts and stuff as well?
That place used to kick butt back in the day.
The only arcade in that part of town I knew of was just off I-270 on Route 3, but it closed five years ago.
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