This is NOT an Arcade

The technology is incredible, and kids today have so many things we didn't, but they're missing out on the arcade experience.

Let me start by saying, I fully realize that it is a different world today. Go ahead and say, "OK, Boomer," right now if you like, but I'm not saying "different" means "bad." Gaming technology today is more advanced than anything we could ever even dream of in the '70s or '80s. Todays games look better than the special effects in the biggest blockbuster movies we watched growing up. Today's games are on your phone, in your pocket and can go anywhere and everywhere. Before Atari, Intellivision, Colecovision, Sega and Nintendo, we had to go to the arcade.

I was surprised when I saw a sign at the mall that said "arcade," I thought for sure they were all gone. As it turns out, this is no arcade. The Fun Factory, Aladdin's Castle, Starworld, King's Castle- those were arcades. Party Time Arcade fails miserably. Once the blinking lights draw you inside, all you'll find is a few crane games, stickers, snacks, and candy. The skill involved in playing a claw game is nothing compared to fighting your opponent tooth and claw to the death in Mortal Kombat. Getting your name on the high scores is not the same as getting a temporary tattoo sticker out of a machine.

When we linked up with our friends to play games, it meant meeting in person, not in a virtual game world. The arcade was our game world. The arcade was also a time machine. I don't know about you, but I could easily lose 2-3 hours in what seemed like 20 minutes. It must have been a glitch.

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