Let the Good Times roll: the arcade to end all arcades bids farewell

(originally posted to the g1 community at Screwattack.com)

Hey g1's,

Just before the new site launched, SA posted some vids featuring visits to arcades local to the TX and CA areas. If you missed 'em, check out the "Random Awesomeness" tab in the left margin and hit up the vids on "Einstein's: and "LA Arcade Fun," or cut n' paste:

http://www.screwattack.com/Random/OtherFun/LAArcadeFun

(And yes, Tom's in it, and yes, we all miss Tom...but yeah, let's get over it and move on.)

While the last arcade in the LA video was neat, and the weird hacked-up version of Street Fighter II was interesting to see, I noted at the time that an arcade like that just doesn't hold a candle to the meccas that gamers by the mach truck load rock out in the Northeast, where many a rainy and snowy day could be spent handing people's asses to them in SF II, MK, KI, Marvel Vs. Capcom, and more, but also teamed up to hack and slash through the venerable co-ops like X-Men, TMNT: Turtles in Time, and of course, the only Simpsons game that was ever made that was worth playing.

Today, I deeply regret to spread the word that one of THE greatest venues on the planet for indoor entertainment will be changing our quarters and claiming our prize tickets for the last time.

Observe: http://www.goodtimeemporium.com/index.shtml

There's not a soul alive who could walk through the doors of this wonder of the world and NOT find him/herself immersed in a good time -- that's what they advertise, and damn it, that's what they deliver! Good Times Emporium, located just outside of Boston in the Somerville area, is not just some arcade -- it is the mother of all indoor entertainment centers this side of...well, I would name some place, but hell, there IS no place in the whole country that could compare.

For anyone who has never had the glory and privilege, know that Good Times is not just an arcade that features the aforementioned classics alongside relative rookies like DDR, but a sanctuary for practically all things you could possibly have fun with indoors. Under the same roof, you can rock out the games, but you could also rock out laser tag, pool, air hockey, and even bowling and GO KARTS. What's more, the food is great considering the venue, and there's also a full bar complete with TVs blasting sports of all kinds, and that's key in a place with such great teams like the Sox and the Celtics (yeah...sorry Bruins. Maybe next year?). Seriously, if there was ever a person who could step foot in a place like this and NOT have a good time as advertised, that person is either just not human, or they're unfortunately dirt poor...but that's why sharing Good Times with your friends is so important.

Today, my jaw literally hit the floor when I heard that, after an apparent 17 years of such unparalleled awesomeness, Good Times is being forced to shut down by its landlords, who plan to replace the venerable gaming oasis and entertainment gold mine with...

...a furniture store.

Yes, that's right. A freakin' furniture store. As if we don't have enough places pick up chairs, tables, and couches around here.

g1s, Furniture stores are not exactly a dying breed, but entertainment utopias like this mega-arcade are, and if you have yet to experience the magic, catch a plane after kickin' ass at the Iron Man of Gaming and get up here before June 30th when the Good Times might* just come to an end.

*PS: (I say "might" because they could somehow relocate...but it doesn't seem that way so far.)

PPS: I have to add that I hate online gaming as a whole. I know this part of the future of gaming was inevitable, but with everyone in the gaming community shying away from teaming up or taking each other on in person in favor of isolated "live experiences" via the Internet, there's no question that the magic of the arcade gaming experience is fading away. To me, joining or challenging a friend or someone out of the clear blue many miles away to a game of any kind, whether it's Brawl or something like Halo is no different than playing against the computer, and that's just weak because we can all do that any day. Nothing beats joining forces or going head-to-head with a fellow gamer or noob in person. NOTHING.

geshSMOC's taste of the week (6.8.08)

This week's serving of the taste has been delayed due to problems with the Shemspeed player sampler, but anyone on the SMOC Network can check it out right now!
(You'll have to wait 'til Shemspeed gets the player fixed up to check out the sample tunes.)

geshSMOC’s taste of the week (6.9.08)



Piamenta
Live at Crash Mountain
label: Moni Piamenta

For satisfied customers of: Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers Band, and Family Junction.

Available here at the Shemspeed store!

This album brought my house down. Literally.

While I did fall in love with Y-Love and his barrier-breaking brand of smokin’ hip-hop and am more than ready for seconds, there is no satisfying my craving for good ole rock n’ roll, particularly when it comes to artists and bands that allow guitar jams to simmer like a crock pot nursing a perfect chulent. On Live at Crash Mansion, the legendary Israeli guitarist Yosi Piamenta delivers such electrifying riffs, it knocked my block out when I just started to nibble for a taste of what many hail as the “Hasidic Hendrix,” ironically midway through Piamenta’s cover of the guitar god’s classic “Manic Depression.” While this comparison may be unfair by the rock n’ roll standards of some, any jam band fan will find a smooth landing at Crash Mountain with the easygoing, yet intoxicating bliss of extended progressive improv tempered with kickin’ klezmer drizzled in a secret sauce of Hebrew and Arabic influence on the American rock sound.

Bottom line: Piamenta and his crew may not be the household name Hendrix or the Allmans are for aficionados of jam band rock, but that’s only because the tease of fame could not hope to match the Mountain of passion Piamenta has for his art.

Choice cuts for Radio: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Acid test appetizers like the covers of “Cissy Strut” and “Manic Depression” will satisfy newcomers and skeptics of Piamenta’s ability, while those here for the main course should “Get Ready” to savor “Od Yishama” and save room for the near 11-minute rendition of “Agadelcha.”