Since the 80’s the evolution of video games really took off.
In the early 80’s, Atari ruled the universe. But in passing years, I’ve seen Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and X-boxes come and go.
Has anyone ever played pinball?
Pinball machines have been around since the Thirties, but they hit a big spike in 1975 with The Who’s Tommy movie, with Elton John as the Pinball Wizard.
During this time (I was seven or eight) arcades popped everywhere. Anywhere you could fit one- bowling alleys, roller rinks, pizza joints, movie theaters, any place where kids hung out would have a pinball machine.
Or two or three.
Arcades were a profitable business.
Rent a space, lease the machines and kids would faithfully pump quarters into these things. All you had to do was occasionally empty out the quarters and MAYBE sweep up the cigarette ashes.
I loved pinball and would go to the arcade every chance I got.
Christmas 1976 Santa brought me a pinball machine. It wasn’t as big as the arcade models, but kids came over a lot to compete with me.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe
@tutter_fan was a pinball freak too.
Sad thing is, when I was seven or so, I used to be a little nervous of the teenage punks who hung out at the arcade.
The last time I was in an arcade was sometime in my thirties. Same teenage punks hanging out. They STILL make me nervous!