The Resurgence of Classic Video Arcades: Players Only Arcade

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a trip to the mall was incomplete without a visit to Space Port, the ubiquitous video arcade that graced the shopping centers of that era. These video arcades were a source of endless entertainment for kids during those times. However, as powerful home video game consoles entered the market, Space Port, along with the shopping malls it was housed in, faced bankruptcy. But the memories of those afternoons spent playing Pac-Man, Frogger, Donkey Kong, and other classic games remained with many, including Brian Nelson.

Bringing Back the Nostalgia

Now, Brian Nelson has opened a classic video arcade in Bristol, filled with all the favorites from that time. The arcade, called "Players Only Arcade," opened last month at 201 Radcliffe Street, in a former insurance sales office. Video game nostalgia is currently a big trend, and Nelson is capitalizing on it."He's trying to recreate the whole vibe of that era," said Nelson, who grew up in Bristol. His first encounter with arcade-style video games was at Gerome's Deli in town. "All the neighborhood kids would gather there. They always had a couple of arcade games in there."He was immediately hooked. Six years ago, he became an Asteroids World Record Holder. "But now, I'm down to fourth place. So, I have plans to regain that record when I find the time," he said.In his thirties, he was hit with nostalgia for the old games and started collecting them. He found them on various platforms like Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Now, he is part of a group of fellow enthusiasts who inform each other when a game becomes available.

The Golden Age of Video Game Arcades

Most of the machines in his shop were made between 1979 to 1983, which is considered the golden age of video game arcades. The graphics on today's games are undoubtedly more advanced, but the older games have a unique charm. "The newer games aren't as fun. Today, you can simply continue where you left off. On these older games, when you died, 95 percent of the time, you had to start over from the beginning and try to go further each time. You'd keep spending your quarters," Nelson said over the loud sounds of the video games.

Unique Features and Sounds

His arcade vibrates with the sounds of Donkey Kong, Space Invaders Track and Field, Q*bert, Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, Dragon's Lair, Mortal Kombat, Defender, Centipede, Asteroids, and many more. Most of these games bear the name "Williams," the defunct game manufacturer. He also has Frogger, and above it is a small video screen that plays a scene from a 1998 episode of "Seinfeld" where George Constanza attempts to roll a Frogger machine across a busy city street to maintain his high score.

Time-Based Pricing

One thing you won't hear at Player's Only Arcade is the metallic clank of quarters dropping into the machines. "We don't operate on quarters. Obviously, a quarter isn't worth what it was 40 years ago. So, everything is time-based. You pay according to the amount of time you spend here," Nelson said. When your time runs out, you'll just have to go home and console yourself.(Players Only Arcade is at 201 Radcliffe Street, Bristol. It's open Wednesday and Friday from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)JD Mullane can be reached at jmullane@couriertimes.com.