tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post6647532025206614415..comments2024-03-24T17:41:28.172-05:00Comments on The Golden Age Arcade Historian: The Town that Sent Pac-Man PackingKeith Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08421308095592306594noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-46634402179109765702016-02-23T10:46:57.789-06:002016-02-23T10:46:57.789-06:00"This may be a bit dry for some of you, with ..."This may be a bit dry for some of you, with its emphasis on the legal issues, but if there is interest, I could also do a post on Mesquite."<br /><br />I would very much like to read this! (Assuming it's not already done. I'm working my way from your 2012 start to current, bit by bit.) I lived in Mesquite around 197980 and saw the local Putt-Putt enclose an outdoor area to become the first "real" video arcade I ever saw. I do remember we were concerned they could come in and shut the place down (or arrest us kids, we thought) but I didn't remember why. Now I know there was something unique about Mesquite -- I guess I assumed it was happening everywhere! :)Allen Huffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06785680934278190478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-44037658188807743312014-05-22T21:54:58.205-05:002014-05-22T21:54:58.205-05:00That's true. At least there's still bowli...That's true. At least there's still bowling alleys at all.Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-89769219186433590262014-05-22T21:26:26.218-05:002014-05-22T21:26:26.218-05:00An amusement park is usually considered a safe pla...An amusement park is usually considered a safe place so I get that but bowling alleys and such were more than just degenerates, families and normal people went to these places too. <br /><br />People always have to have someone to blame and amusement devices have been the target forever. <br /><br />I grew up in bowling alleys, bars and arcades and never had a problem so my view is a little biased. Sure I saw some interesting things but it was a good learning experience. ;)<br /><br />I always find it funny though how up in arms people will get about something when they know nothing about it and then try to force everyone to conform to their point of view which usually is based on misinformation or ignorance.HFKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-83165690177235628742014-05-19T19:59:52.920-05:002014-05-19T19:59:52.920-05:00That wouldn't surprise me given the way they w...That wouldn't surprise me given the way they would assume an amusement park like Cedar Point would have more control over that sort of thing than would a standalone bowling alley (what with parents or guardians in attendance).Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-33639608812259375862014-05-19T18:53:48.808-05:002014-05-19T18:53:48.808-05:00I would love to hear more. I always enjoy your pos...I would love to hear more. I always enjoy your posts and look forward to a new one.<br /><br />I remember and was always amazed by all the anti-vid and pin stuff in the early 80s. Even in the 70s games were demonized and pool halls or bowling alleys had bad reputations. The only "good" or "safe" arcades for kids were ones at a big amusement park like Cedar Point.HFKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-23891461658685322102014-05-10T11:06:27.851-05:002014-05-10T11:06:27.851-05:00I can say that I loved the arcades, and still miss...I can say that I loved the arcades, and still miss them dearly. But with my dad telling me not to go to the arcade in the mall, when we went to visit him in Connecticut. He was concerned that the arcade was a popular hangout for gangs, thieves, and where violence is most likely to occur. Plus of which there was the common problem of loitering from tapped out gammers, and for the fact that some kids ditched school to go to the arcade. Yeah, there were a few problems, but with increased security, maybe the arcades would've more safer and fun to go to. For now, I'll go to Dave an Busters, which is just as good. J.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14776230377794486016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-31188995994088769622014-05-03T18:38:58.424-05:002014-05-03T18:38:58.424-05:00It's still interesting to look back on it all ...It's still interesting to look back on it all and see how that was. I certainly saw it as an overreaction that was no different to how it had always been whenever something new pops up and causes a sensation only to lead to restrictions or codes placed upon it for assurance.Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-4163288181672775152014-05-03T17:54:22.931-05:002014-05-03T17:54:22.931-05:00I think "evil" is a bit strong. They wer...I think "evil" is a bit strong. They were banning coin-op games, not waterboarding people or burning books. This post was taken from a chapter in my book that covered the whole banning controversy more broadly and included some background to give a bit of context to the issues. <br />Some of the fears were probably the result of sensationalized media stories about the links between the coin-op industry and organized crime (such opinions weren't uncommon at the time and I doubt many of the adults spent much time in an arcade) and while such claims were wildly exaggerated, such links did exist - particularly in the slot machine and video poker industries. <br />As for the courts, I don't think their refusal to hear the case had much to do with any anti-video-game bias. I left out the section where I discuss the legal issues/background - in particular the "strict scrutiny" vs. "rational basis" tests and how they were historically applied. I go into that in more detail in my book and could post more if anyone is interested but in a nutshell, the courts generally sided with the town in cases like this and social welfare legislation was presumed valid with little justification required unless a constitutional right was involved.<br />I also have to say that I found the merchants' first amendment case a bit ridiculous - in particular the "freedom of expression" argument. I not only have a blog but am writing what may be a 2,000-page book on video games (and it only covers coin-op games through 1985) so I can hardly be called anti-video game, but even I couldn't claim that when I was playing Mr. Do!, I was "expressing myself" - at least not in the manner protected by the first amendment - with a straight face. MAYBE (and that's a big maybe) the people who made the games were expressing themselves in such a manner but, in 1982 at least, this seems only slightly more plausible.Keith Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08421308095592306594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-65817948350409183302014-05-03T16:46:38.387-05:002014-05-03T16:46:38.387-05:00Are any of these clowns still alive? I'd like ...Are any of these clowns still alive? I'd like to hear how angry they are or sorry they are for the evil they did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167179463808604240.post-30139721380795427782014-05-03T16:17:39.434-05:002014-05-03T16:17:39.434-05:00Finally, in April, 2014 Marshfield voted 203-175 t...<i>Finally, in April, 2014 Marshfield voted 203-175 to overturn the now 32-year-old bylaw. By then, however, coin-op video games were as rare as dodo birds (at least in the eyes of the press) and the story generated little interest.</i><br /><br />In the end, it's rather a shame what comes out of "old people" and their interests that spoils it for the rest. It's no different from the opinions your parents have about what you're into anymore than what you think of your kids' interests. A whole town was denied DDR, though I suppose that was a good thing! :-PChris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.com