Here is the link to the photos of GGA... John, let me know if you want these added to your stream.

(Notice how strategic I was in the placement of the photos I took!  )

I'll bet that none of you have ever seen the cockpit version of Sinistar, huh? Apparently, only 50 or so were made.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127845066@N05/

As I have heard John state in this forum, there is a very large arcade in the Chicago area that has a lot of "conversions". I know that makes the hair on the back of our necks stick out. Neverless, you should hear me out on this place.

Doc Mack (the owner) has been doing replacements for many of his games from conversions to originals. Of course, I am specifically talking about the games produced up to 1983 or so when part of the life of a game was its cabinet and controls. After the crash, many more games were available via conversions so there are still quite a bit of those at the place... but he is really focused on securing originals of those cabinets as made available.

The original goal for Doc was to salvage the original boards and get games up and playable. Now, the focus is acquiring the original cabs, completing artwork, etc. Sure, these games are available to the general public and will have their dings and scratches, but he admits that too many people come through the place to be able to get the games in mint condition.

While perusing their FB page, I saw they have recently acquired original cabinets for Stargate, Moon Patrol, Rolling Thunder, The Real Ghostbusters, and Holloseum. Most other classics are in original cabs now with a few exceptions (most notably, DK Jr. in the wide body, Elevator Action in a Super Pac Man with an 8 way stick, and Bump N Jump in... something).

I'll post some pics.

Also, Underground Retrocade has expanded to the second floor and now have original DK Jr, Popeye, Sinistar, and a few other new games!

Once GGA completes their little mini renovation/reorganization, you should make another trip back to Chicago, John!

There was a similar thread on here about a year ago but I think my favorites have changed quite a bit over the past year:

10. Bubbles
9. Gravitar
8. Berzerk (Slow Bullets)
7. Major Havoc
6. Frogger
5. Q*Bert
4. Robotron
3. Frenzy
2. Berzerk (Fast Bullets)
1. Zoo Keeper

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140211/logan-square/logan-arcade-opens-monday-with-25-plus-pinball-machines-40-video-games

Logan Hardware was once a record store and provided free access to a retro arcade in the back room for paid patrons. That operation moved down the block recently and that business will continue to operate with the free games.

In their old location, they are opening a retro video game mecca complete with a bar and, from what I can tell, a ton of pinball and arcade games in original, mint condition. Knowing the owner, this will be the creme de la creme of retro arcades. I don't have the complete list of video games, but the really interesting ones include Major Havoc, Black Widow, Ice Cold Beer, Crazy Climber, 720 Degrees, every iteration of , Bubbles, , 6-player X-Men, Tapper, and Tron. The pinball collection is even more incredible with titles from every era... including Revenge from Mars which John knows very well! 

You can make a weekend of arcade action on the north side of Chicago, which includes Logan Arcade, two locations of Emporium, and Headquarters Beercade. You can then venture to the suburbs and play many ORIGINAL cabs at Underground Retrocade (and, yes, the owner will be getting an original Q*Bert soon ;) ) and Galloping Ghost Arcade (400+ games, but most early 80s classic are original cabs, plus a nice pinball collection when that expansion area is open).

The video game scene in Chicago is a nice consolation prize for the horrifically brutal winter we have had!

I was able to barely break 100K on Galaga. I got 120K recently so I consider that a huge victory!!

Ugh... I have invested about $750 in my MAME cab because I bought a new cabinet that is designed to fix the X-Arcade Tankstick. Call it my way of taking the easy way out! 

Watch a video of Galloping Ghost Arcade and you'll really freak out! But please keep an open mind.

They have about 400 games but I would say that about 150 games are in their original cabinets (nice overall total number, right?). The owner is a great guy but is younger and focused on the newer generation of fighting games that didn't really have an original cabinet. In terms of pure numbers, you would see they have many classic games in original cabinets (e.g., Gyruss, Frogger, , Robotron, Berzerk, Frenzy, Burgertime, Warlords, Defender, Spy Hunter, Tapper, Tron, Discs of Tron, Centipede, Millipede, etc. etc.) whereas they have some questionable conversions of other classic games (e.g., Jr., Pengo, Track & Field, Dragon's Lair, Moon Patrol).

The main point is that in pure whole numbers, they have a ton of games in their original cabs but have also made a point of providing at least a workable version of many classic games in conversion cabinets. They are keeping many games alive even though they aren't able to secure original cabs for all of them.

With respect to the fighting games, I couldn't care less about them but it appears that the culture of these games is that they did not have original cabs associated with them but the players were just seeking good controls to play the games. Maybe I am wrong.

Definitely didn't buy that from Underground Retrocade, otherwise it would be in a Battlezone Cab with a 720 CPO, Mappy Bezel and a Ink Jet black and white marquee coloured in crayon.

What a place, still have nightmares over the Gorf video. I wonder if this subject will be tackled in the Arcade Impossible video.

That place.  For reals.

I gotta give em props though, at least they are trying to keep the arcade scene alive ya know?

I still think that you are all impacted by the first impressions of the place which happens to be the row of games that were released in the mid 80's and not in original cabs and the somewhat of a mess Q*Bert machine they have. Plus, the Fix it Felix, Jr. game in a wide body Nintendo cab is a temporary conversion.

Watch the video AGAIN and notice the fact that they have many classic games in their original cabinet.

Very nice! Do you have a dedicated Zoo Keeper cab?? None of the arcades in the Chicago area have one... hard to find and keep running! 

I do!  I lucked out too, its super clean

DDRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!

That was an incredible video... the story about your wife with the NBA pinball machine, your story about acquiring Q*Bert, and sharing how much you love these games. Beer and popcorn to top off the episode. You are livin' the life, dude! 

This episode inspired me to make popcorn with my Whirley Pop... only $20 or so at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and makes the same theater style popcorn... just on the stove top. Then again, there is nothing like the popcorn machine you see in the theater... that was cool!

That's a GREAT score! I don't think I have broken one million yet. I keep trying but I don't seem to be getting much better! LOL!

Yeah, I am seemingly getting worse at the game... losing patience!! I need a couple of month break from it.

Very nice! Do you have a dedicated Zoo Keeper cab?? None of the arcades in the Chicago area have one... hard to find and keep running! 

My all time favorite arcade game! And likely the one game where you will see the largest disparity in high scores because of the intense number of points you can score on jumps!

My highest score: 1,761,210

I scored "Hot Stuff" on the Love Tester!!