[Arcade] Do Arcades still exist?

The history of the arcades at my local mall as I grew up is somewhat interesting. There used to be two of them in the same mall, with the creative name of Time-Out I and Time-Out II. They had that classic look and feel of arcades of that era being super dark inside to the point where you might feel like you'd get jumped. They were lined wall to wall with the popular games of that period like TMNT, The Simpsons, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, and soooo many more.

Well Time-Out I eventually changed locations on the first floor to a much smaller interior. I still remember the last time I walked in there before it was gone the next time I was at the mall: The entire place was empty. Not even an employee in sight. I don't believe it was close to mall or store closing hours, so it was pretty much a catalyst for that location closing down which it did. So now all that's left is Time-Out II on the upper level. They had already taken a brighter and cheerier look many years ago, so it really was a bummer to see Time-Out I go since that location always had the newer fighting games and such at the time long before the upper level location got them. I haven't been in Time Out II in years. The only time I went in was to watch the pros play some DDR.

The only other place that could be somewhat considered an "arcade" in the same mall is a place called Planet Play, but it's more of a children's place similar to Chuckie Cheese's.

However at some point a Cyberzone Centers has also opened in the same mall. I've never actually had time to go in it, but it for all intents and purposes looks like a 'net cafe without the drinks. I think they also have a few consoles set up on semi decent looking TVs. That place is almost always busy everytime I pass by it. It's almost like the Neo Arcade of the mall's lifetime in some ways. Has anyone else noticed anything similar in their local malls or anything?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip

Kaelin, you must be in Springfield, VA; I'd recognize that mall anywhere.

Hehe, yep. Or at least I was. Just at the end of the past year I moved up to MD, but since I lived in VA for so long, I still think of it as my local mall and town and such.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by ramoth

Where in MD did you move? There are some OK arcades in some of the movie theaters near DC. I don't know much about the Baltimore area.

I'm north of Baltimore up in Sparks. There are a couple of local malls that I know of, however neither of them have any stand alone arcades. I haven't had the chance to see if the theaters have anything yet though.

How ya doing, buddy?