Joypod Episode 14 - Strood, Kent

Totally with you on the demise of the arcade game.

My watershed moment was probably about 15 years ago. Breastfed on Pong, weaned on Galaxians and proper cut my teeth on Strider, I'm from a time when performance was rewarded with onward play. It was unusual to see kids clustered around one cab for hours, so clearly the developers had to do something to increase churn. Playing Alpine Racer at a quid a pop (which at the time was more like stuffing a fiver into the damn thing) I blazed through all gates and finish well within the time limit. Did I get rewarded with another level? A bit more onward play? Did I f**k.

That, for me, was the day the arcade died. Total overreaction from the developers.

Oh, and Burnout Paradise - went back to that myself a couple of months ago. You almost expect "old" games to have grown whiskers and be covered in fake Hollywood cobwebs in the year you haven't played it. This is one awesome game. Bugger that I'm PS3 else I'd be up for a bit of Joypod freeburn.

It's a shame. I'll miss popping down the arcades for a blast, but they're just far too expensive these days and as Sean said, not very well maintained.

I went back to burnout paradise this week too. IT'S STILL AMAZE-BALLS