Friday, March 30, 2007

Retro Mall Video - Mall Arcade '84

"Arcade '84"

Any '80s mallrat worth his or her salt, should certainly remember the groovy video game arcades found in many shopping malls around the country "back in the day". Some are still out there, sure, but it isn't quite the same vibe now.

A while back, on YouTube, I found this truly transcendent video homage to the '80s mall arcades that just knocked my socks off. If you were there, if you remember... then this digital animation rendering by Dave Dries, should bring back some fun times for you. It really captures the whole trip pretty well! Here's a snippet of the description I found on the video's website:
"They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Almost all shopping malls had them. Usually hidden away from the heavy traffic areas where all the electronic bleeps and screaming adolescents couldn't disturb the regular shoppers. Walk down the long hallway passed the J.C. Penney's, the Hickory Farms, and even the Sunglass Hut. There was the arcade. A small room bursting with the sights, sounds and even smells of technology, innovation and entertainment. A social atmosphere where a generation of kids who grew up in the late 70's/early 80's spent their time, allowances, and hard-earned fast food paychecks.

Arcade '84 is my attempt at recreating the atmosphere of the classic arcades. It's a 3-minute+ trip through an imaginary arcade circa 1984 entirely rendered in 3D computer graphics."



14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Absolutely amazing! If only there were some mall rats.

Wouldn't it be cool if this guy could take us on a trip through the entire mall?!

Fri Mar 30, 11:16:00 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Sure brings back memories. *sighs* Goodbye Ron Tomecco and Steve Voet (Pinz Game Room, Tri City Mall) wherever you are!

Fri Mar 30, 03:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Absolutely ROCKIN video!!! Boy it really does bring back some great youthful memories! Wish I was back there now.

Fri Mar 30, 03:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

brilliant

Sat Mar 31, 12:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is one bad ass arcade, lol.

Sat Mar 31, 04:32:00 AM  
Blogger Keith said...

I agree, awesome video! Glad you guys dug it too.

And btw, welcome to anyone visiting today from one of my all-time favorite websites, Blues News! (thanks for the link, Blue!) :D

Sat Mar 31, 07:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you

Sun Apr 01, 09:50:00 AM  
Blogger Chris Sobieniak said...

After this point, you might as well download MAME and get a clue!

http://www.mame.net/

Really, this is really the only way I can ever solve a problem!

Sun Apr 01, 10:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I definately remember mall arcades!

There have been a few times I've seen them one in the now defunct Farmington Valley Mall,another time in Holyoke Mall (I think) and the last time a Mall Arcade was used in a newer mall was Brass Mill Center in Waterbury,CT that opened in 1997 It was pretty huge! Part of the F.Y.E. store it lasted pretty long until 2005-2006 then it was removed so the video store could expand its inventory,bland dull,what a shame!

now the only nearest arcade in the mall is in the movie theater but its not that big and it's scattered in sections,sigh

Sun Apr 08, 10:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank You for this arcade video. I would do anything I could to go back to those days. Im 33 years old now and know the best times of your life are when your a kid. And I thank God I was lucky to go to school through the 80's. I belive that was the best time to to be a kid. Ooh the 80's!

Thu Apr 12, 07:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Seriously, that gave me goose bumps. Thanks for an awesome video.

Sat Jun 16, 07:46:00 PM  
Blogger Topher0002 said...

Awesome Video, I agree that it would be awesome to go through the mall and add some characters, some drug deals going on in the corner, some guy getting mad a frogger or tempest...haha...

Great Great Video man!!!! DO SOME MORE!!!!

Fri Jun 06, 04:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, that was really cool. I love the carpet it was just like the carpet at my mall's arcade

Sun Jun 05, 10:24:00 AM  
Anonymous CIR said...

Mall arcades are some of the strongest memories I have.

Mon Oct 11, 08:02:00 AM  

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