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$4 Million Video Game Center Opening In Bellevue, Washington
Allow me to grab my old man cane for a second and bring up a serious question: Does anybody else miss arcades? Okay, I'm lying, my only experience in an arcade was the small place in my hometown with five or six machines that closed down before my age had reached double digits. Still, I dig the idea of arcades, and it's kind of a bummer that it seems to be completely dead in America.
Or is it?
Perhaps there is hope yet, as TechFlash (via the Puget Sound Business Journal) reports that a new $4 million game center is being built in Bellevue, Washington. The "Power Play" gaming center is being developed by Steven and Gillian Foster, the owners of the Lucky Strike bowling lane chain. They plan to focus on newer and flashier games rather than classic arcade titles, although the list of games they will open with is pretty mixed. Some of the highlights:
-Sega Outrun 2 Super Deluxe (pictured above): This extremely rare arcade unit -- only 16 exist in the world -- features four to-scale Ferrari rear ends, room for two players, and a 62" high-def screen.
-Laser Chamber: A room filled with lasers that players attempt to navigate. The room has multiple difficulty settings with 12, 18, or an insane 48 lasers, and your friends can also view your performance via closed circuit cameras.
-Guitar Hero: A coin-operated Guitar Hero unit featuring the ability to play lead or bass guitar, 50 songs to choose from, and a high-def 32" monitor.
In addition to these titles and a handful of arcade mainstays such as air hockey and crane games, the facility will have a prize redemption system of some sort where skilled players can walk out with new TVs or MP3 players.
Bellevue, Washington, is something of a gaming hub, located right next to Seattle and near headquarters for both Microsoft and Nintendo of America. The "Power Play" center will hold up to 200 players and will open this Friday at 700 Bellevue Way NE. Hopefully some readers in that area can check it out and let us know how it is!
(Image courtesy of Arcade Heroes)
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