This week's assignment from the PCL: First Quarter - or first arcade/video game memory!
What is your earliest arcade or video game memory.
Since I was a kid in the 70s, I was the perfect age for the arcade/video game phenomenon. I am sure a played a few different ones, but for some reason, Star Castle sticks out in my mind. It was a simple game. I don't think I ever got to a very high level, but for some reason, I remember playing it a lot in the early days.
The objective of the game was to blast the walls around the enemy ship that was in the center. If I remember correctly, each wall regenerated or took more hits to destroy it. As time went on, the walls expanded.
A big reason I remember this game was because we always played it when we visited my mom's aunt and uncle, and they always liked to go to the pizza buffet at Shakey's Pub and Pizza.
My brother and I would always get a few quarters and play away.
Over the years, I got really good at Ms. Pac Man, I loved Burger Time and Rampage. We got an Atari 2600 and played Pitfall, Enduro, Combat, and Demon Attack.
I always loved the commercial for Demon Attack.
As I neared the end of high school and arcades had basically died out, my friend and I put many a quarter into Twin Cobra at the local bowling alley. My all time favorite. I even found a full size arcade version on Ebay a few months back. Someday...
So Star Castle and Twin Cobra bookended my arcade playing days. I don't have an XBox or Playstation. I only played an XBox once in my life. Can't afford another hobby.
From the rest of the league.
http://www.lasthometown.com/loeb/pop-culture-league-challenge-first-quarter/
http://primordialbadgersmediahoard.blogspot.com/2016/08/pop-culture-league-challenge-first.html
http://retroramblings.com/earliest-video-game-memories/
http://greenplasticsquirtgun.blogspot.com/2016/08/pop-culture-league-challenge-first.html
http://fortuneandglorydays.blogspot.com/2016/08/pop-culture-league-first-quarter.html#more
http://thetoybox1138.blogspot.com/2016/08/pop-culture-league-challenge-first.html
http://20yearsb42000.blogspot.com/2016/08/pop-culture-league-challenge-arcade.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJvjKbIBeVN/
https://marcallie.com/2016/08/30/first-quarter-my-earliest-video-game-memory/
http://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/2016/08/when-restaurants-had-their-own-mini-video-arcades.html
http://collectorsuniverse.blogspot.com/2016/08/first-quarter.html
http://coolandcollected.com/my-earliest-arcade-memories/
I have memory's of playing star castle as well.But my clearest memory of it is in the Stephen King movie Maximum Overdrive when is electrocuted that guy to death .
ReplyDeleteGood catch. I've been wanting to rewatch Maximim Overdrive - which I always loved - but haven't seen since it was first released at the local video rental store.
DeleteI've actually never heard of Star Castle, but Twin Cobra, heck yeah! I'd love to own one or two arcade cabinets...But where to put them, and what to do if they break?
ReplyDeleteThey are rare - but there are arcade repair companies listed in yellow pages. However, I'm with you. Where to put them. Having a full size arcade would be great.
DeleteStar Castle was one of my favorites too! I don't know if it inspired my love of Yar's Revenge on Atari or the other way around. They were somewhat similar.
ReplyDeleteDex - I Never played Yar's Revenge. I remember seeing it. See, now I want to get an arcade machine. (Will never happen). Thanks Brian for this week's post!
DeleteHmm, I want to say I remember Star Castle, but I;m not sure if I'm mixing it up with another game that had those concentric circles. I do remember there was a game that looked like this one that I avoided at all costs because I was horrible at it. ;)
ReplyDeleteTwin Cobra was always a ton of fun!
I remember we had a Shakeys in Aurora, or just over into Denver.
ReplyDelete