For Amusement Only: the life and death of the American arcade

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  • Опубликовано: 3 фев 2025
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Комментарии • 160

  • @freddiev6050
    @freddiev6050 6 лет назад +42

    I'm just glad I lived the glamour years of the arcades!

  • @gedaman
    @gedaman 7 лет назад +76

    I miss being able to go play arcade games in the mall. I used to go every weekend to play games like Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, or NBA Jam when I was a kid. It was a sad time when arcades started closing up around 2002.

    • @richardson.1424
      @richardson.1424 6 лет назад +2

      gedaman Same here. I miss it as well.

    • @rebelmeister9501
      @rebelmeister9501 6 лет назад +2

      Same here brother

    • @Timmyskills
      @Timmyskills 6 лет назад +2

      I miss it.

    • @seagramrip187
      @seagramrip187 6 лет назад +2

      gedaman just take a flight to japan bro it’s alive there it’s amazing I miss them days as well but it’s only a flight away

    • @reneastle8447
      @reneastle8447 6 лет назад +6

      We'll get all the arcades back, gedaman. I'm planning to put together a Retro Decade Revival Project. Our goal is to bring real entertainment, true talent, pure originality and diversity, old school and more back into the public mainstream, starting with the 1980s. Arcades will start reopening to massive successes and will flourish once again.

  • @Razohead2
    @Razohead2 11 лет назад +7

    It's neat to see people keeping the spirit of the arcade alive I grew up around arcades, My father managed one for over 20 years so I witnessed first hand the rise and fall that particular arcade which steadily lost business after 1998 or so and finally closed it's doors in 2005 however just recently someone has bought the name and has reopened a revamped more modernized arcade with a rec-room something I had suggested years ago I have yet to check out the new arcade though I wish them well.

  • @LPetal86
    @LPetal86 11 лет назад +5

    I actually teared up a bit watching this. I used to go to the tilt, pop in some quarters, and play on the arcade machines, now it's all gone. The excitement of hearing all the different games operating, playing the games that you couldn't play at home or experience the same way on a home console... it was awesome.

  • @CycleCruza
    @CycleCruza 6 лет назад +10

    I miss the days of hanging out all night at Grand Prix Race-O-Rama in South Florida that was open all night, played arcade video games and rode go carts all night!

  • @DesuVR
    @DesuVR 12 лет назад +20

    This is still alive and well in Japan, so this style of arcade gaming is not gone from the face of the Earth, luckily. Good little documentary!

    • @norbertop.niebres6320
      @norbertop.niebres6320 5 лет назад +5

      Japan is the ONLY major market that still has video arcades and video arcade game.

  • @ArticBeatle
    @ArticBeatle 12 лет назад +4

    The Barcade concept is awesome! I love The Verge and their style of reporting... It's head and shoulders above everyone else.

  • @JDGG1993
    @JDGG1993 12 лет назад +5

    This deserves way more views! Quality work right here. Love these little docos, please, please, please make more :D

  • @CycleCruza
    @CycleCruza 6 лет назад +16

    Galaga is still fun! It never gets old.

    • @danlivni2097
      @danlivni2097 6 лет назад +1

      Moon Cresta and Phoenix are similar games to Galaga and are great games

    • @hellacia8151
      @hellacia8151 4 года назад +1

      Try Galaga '88. To me, it blows the original out of the water and is what I would consider a perfect sequel

  • @volumecorps8086
    @volumecorps8086 11 лет назад +27

    I remember trying to explain the appeal of the 80's arcade experience to my son, that there was a time when getting a high score on a game like Defender or Donkey Kong really meant something to other gamers. Poor kid didn't get it at all and probably asked me for any tickets I had so he could realize his dream of owning a piece of rubber dog shit or whatever he ended up getting. Sad, I tell ya!

    • @brandonselitetv1436
      @brandonselitetv1436 8 лет назад +5

      of course he didn't understand it cause your living in a era where is more home based.

  • @JeremyWhy
    @JeremyWhy 12 лет назад +7

    WOW! That was beautiful. Almost made me stuff a quarter into my iPhone to watch it again. MORE OF THIS!

  • @CyberLionGT
    @CyberLionGT 9 лет назад +22

    When Street Fighter II came out in the arcades in 90's it ate all my tokens/quarters lol

  • @ghmasterjj
    @ghmasterjj 12 лет назад +6

    The Verge makes THE best looking videos ever

  • @Floppydonkey
    @Floppydonkey 12 лет назад +3

    Fantastic clip... Wish it was longer... Beautifully filmed too

  • @plopfish
    @plopfish 12 лет назад +2

    Love the info and style of these mini-docs. Keep it up!

  • @JFTeran
    @JFTeran 12 лет назад +2

    Props to the Verge for this. Love this type of reporting. Keep it up!

  • @BlindLightbulb
    @BlindLightbulb 12 лет назад +3

    Great production! Love the verge.

  • @Caridani23
    @Caridani23 11 лет назад +7

    Bring back to where it once was.

  • @zangardo3937
    @zangardo3937 5 лет назад +3

    I remember seeing Art of Fighting on a huge monitor back in the early 1990s along with Dragon's Lair. Saw the huge crowds that surrounded Mortal Kombat 2.
    Good times.

  • @Voidward
    @Voidward 12 лет назад +1

    Cool mini doc, thanks Verge.

  • @krspykreame1
    @krspykreame1 3 года назад

    Round 1 just opened near me and I'm HYPE. Spent my entire teenage years at the mall at the arcade and the LAN center.

  • @oscarhalder
    @oscarhalder 12 лет назад +1

    Awesome guys. really love what you guys are doing.

  • @theharshtruth8563
    @theharshtruth8563 Год назад

    I met most of my lifetime friends at the arcade between 1981 and 1988.
    Without the arcade, i'm positive I would never have met them otherwise.
    It was the perfect storm.

  • @zaxbit
    @zaxbit 12 лет назад +4

    This videography makes my heart sink in my chest.

  • @techstyle123
    @techstyle123 8 лет назад +4

    My era in arcades was when street fighter 2 came out but their was still loads to come before 2000...best times ever in them arcades I loved the fighting n beats em ups and odd racing games there is still a need for these places its sad to see ticket machines in their places....

  • @gregorymirabella1423
    @gregorymirabella1423 3 года назад +1

    as someone who was born in 2003, literally right after arcades died, i still feel like i'm looking at the grave of a dear friend.
    hey, at least dave and buster's is doing good.

  • @Nemesis_T_Type
    @Nemesis_T_Type 7 лет назад +37

    How to revive arcade? Incorporate new technology such as VR. Ordinary people can't buy expensive VR headsets. So enterpreneurs should take advantage and provide a service.

    • @a_e_p__b3506
      @a_e_p__b3506 6 лет назад +6

      Nemesis T-Type its exsist ,in my city (Montréal) you can for 20$ play one hour of vr game

    • @jamiekuchma
      @jamiekuchma 6 лет назад +6

      VR is nasty sharing headsets with people

    • @fatherfintanstack8810
      @fatherfintanstack8810 6 лет назад +2

      They will soon. Give it a couple years and VR will be cheap

    • @EwanLim
      @EwanLim 5 лет назад +1

      saw this 2 year old reply and realized that 2 years ago... vr headsets were pretty cheap in asia. now 2 years later, no one really cares much about it and has totally moved on from VR.

    • @o.g.millennials
      @o.g.millennials 5 лет назад +1

      @@jamiekuchma As nasty as sharing arcade machines with other people.

  • @adamsandler7193
    @adamsandler7193 7 лет назад +20

    I love arcades I just can't go there a lot so when I can't go I just play on the PS4 but if I had a choice I would go to a arcade any day

    • @valkor73
      @valkor73 7 лет назад +2

      they need to have alot of games serve beer and food

  • @whitefalken87
    @whitefalken87 12 лет назад +1

    Has anyone else noticed the fact that when people don't understand or don't like something and they observe people participating in it often, they dismissively state that these people are addicted to said activity?

  • @ConversusVans
    @ConversusVans 7 лет назад +3

    Years ago, I used to think arcades wouldn't make it anymore. The only way an arcade can technically make any money these days is with ticket redemption games. In a family fun center, an old Street Fighter game with joysticks and buttons won't generate in the same class of revenue as Big Bass Wheel that kids get the thrill out of getting tickets for candy. Sad, but true.
    However, with "barcades" becoming a thing in populated cities, I still have hope. In Charlotte, I went over to Abari, and it was incredibly packed with people of all ages, playing the hell out of House of the Dead 2, MvC2 and pinball tables. These games may now be "oldies" but will always be goodies.

  • @atvega7
    @atvega7 12 лет назад

    Great production. Thank you

  • @NAEazyhoonn
    @NAEazyhoonn 12 лет назад +1

    I miss the local arcade at the mall..sucks most of them have closed down.

  • @Ganym3de
    @Ganym3de 12 лет назад +1

    I miss the arcades. Last of them died off where I'm at in 2007-2008 :/

  • @danimoosakhan
    @danimoosakhan 12 лет назад +1

    i played a lots of arcade games in shop when i was in my home country ... now this video remind me to think the past

  • @dabigdee3401
    @dabigdee3401 3 года назад +1

    I used to play the heck out of Soul Calibur 3 at the arcade where I lived. Had it on ps2, but the arcade version was so fun

  • @alexiddqd
    @alexiddqd 12 лет назад +1

    I would love to have arcades with modern indie games mixed in with the classics. Really fast games like Super Hexagon and even Hotline Miami could be great.

  • @MissAmazanda
    @MissAmazanda 3 года назад +2

    I feel lucky because there is an arcade with 60 vintage video game cabinets only 40 minutes away from me, all top notch games none of that Chuckie Cheese type stuff...they have mortal kombat, afterburner, simpsons, house of the dead, Cadash, Primal Rage,forgotten worlds, magic sword, Metal slug and so many other good ones plus a jukebox and great food. It's been going for 5 years now and I am glad I discovered it...

  • @luv4soul
    @luv4soul 12 лет назад +1

    I miss the arcades. Every Saturday all my allowance went to Gallaga and Xevious. Aww to be a kid again! :-)

  • @TheGregersdk
    @TheGregersdk 12 лет назад

    Guys, every time you put on one of these features, it reminds me why I only visit Engadget when you run out of news for me :)
    Awesome, keep doin' whatcha doin'

  • @aglees2b
    @aglees2b 12 лет назад +1

    Great sound.

  • @fabioadias
    @fabioadias 12 лет назад

    Very sad but well done documentary

  • @n.h.s.a.d.m.
    @n.h.s.a.d.m. 11 лет назад +15

    Good movie. I think they era was pretty much done when the Playstation first came out because suddenly what you could play at home had better graphics than what you saw at the arcade, so there wasn't a reason to go there so much anymore. Before that, the graphics at the arcade were superior.

    • @gedaman
      @gedaman 7 лет назад +5

      nhsadm The graphics were still better in the arcade at that time. It wasn’t until the PlayStation 2 in 2000 that consoles were finally on par with arcades. I think the last big arcade game in America was Marvel vs. Capcom 2 which was almost identical on the Dreamcast.

    • @fenderman21guitar
      @fenderman21guitar 7 лет назад +4

      yeh....except thats not actually true is it, it took until the dreamcast/ps2 era for that to be true.

    • @ryanoconnor5176
      @ryanoconnor5176 5 лет назад +2

      Actually I think the arcade went down hill after Nintendo released the NES and Sega released the master system, in 1985. Because who would go to an arcade when you can play better games at home

    • @TheyCallMeSledge
      @TheyCallMeSledge 5 лет назад +4

      @@ryanoconnor5176 That would be the first decline of Arcade culture when home consoles made their comeback in the late 80's. Just like with home video games when Nintendo entered the market, the arcade scene was revived in 1991 when the release of Street Fighter 2 created the Fighting Game Boom. Home consoles during the duration of the 90s were not touching the graphics and accessibility of Arcade cabinets and since cabinets were everywhere, it created places for people to hangout and play Arcade games for small fees as opposed to shelling out $40-$50 for one game, plus you got to play against several people at the Arcade as opposed to a few friends at home with a limited selection of games.
      It wasn't until the 6th generation, (Dreamcast/PS2/GameCube/XBox) and the advent of online gaming that created the slow decline of the Arcade scene as graphics were finally up to par with Arcade games and with an improving structure on gaming online, it created a network at home that you didn't even need to leave the house to play with several people. To me in 2005 when the XBox 360 was released, that was a wrap for Arcade culture here in America because at that time, the XBox brand had mastered the structure of online gaming and other consoles followed suit.

    • @o.g.millennials
      @o.g.millennials 5 лет назад

      @@ryanoconnor5176 Wrong. Dead wrong.

  • @bluetarantulaproductions6179
    @bluetarantulaproductions6179 2 года назад

    I have recently gotten back into fighting games and I really miss arcades and still wish that there were more of them still around.

  • @makedonii
    @makedonii 12 лет назад

    man this is cinda sad, it made me feel saad! i really do miss the arcades back in the day! and tbh, i had so mutch more fun then and there that i have had today as an adult!

  • @RKBoyd01
    @RKBoyd01 12 лет назад +1

    I would love a local arcade and I'm 15, I love the "retroness" of it. I don't really think I would be bothered if I got tickets or not, I just want to beat high scores :L

  • @Ramboost007
    @Ramboost007 12 лет назад +2

    At least in some other countries, like here in the Philippines, the arcade is pretty much alive and booming. It's actually cheaper than other forms of entertainment here.

  • @dukie133
    @dukie133 12 лет назад +2

    Timeout at Springfield Mall. yessss

  • @danlivni2097
    @danlivni2097 6 лет назад

    Here's what stands out to me about Arcade games. The first popular game i remember was Space Invaders in 1978. In 79 you had Asteroids and Galaxians. But if you look at 1980 to 1982 you had so many incredible arcade games come out.
    Just look at the games that came out between 80 to 82.
    Pacman, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, Mrs Pacman, Galaga, Moon Cresta, Defender, Scramble, Robotron, Frogger, Centipede, Millipede, Missile Command, Joust, Dig Dug, Vanguard, Zaxxon, Qbert, Pole Position, Jungle Hunt, Tempest, Moon Patrol, Moon Buggy, Cobra, Berzerk, Gorf, Phoenix, Burger Time, Battle Zone, Mr Do, Star Castle, Tron.
    Astrosmash was a great game from Intellivision

  • @JSquaredDesigns
    @JSquaredDesigns 12 лет назад +1

    Well done

  • @AdmiralBison
    @AdmiralBison 4 года назад

    The only thing I miss about arcades was the experience, “street matches” with the local pro and being forced to be good with the limited credits you get, other than that arcades still exist big time through emulation at home.
    A nice front end, some arcade sticks and thousands of roms...arcades have never disappeared.

  • @00anta
    @00anta 12 лет назад

    Me and my cousin would spend small fortunes playing arcade games, especially when Mortal Kombat came out. It was bloodiers than anything we'd ever seen.

  • @joshkaye5303
    @joshkaye5303 2 года назад

    2022 and the home arcade scene is BOOMING - nearly 3 Million Arcade 1up units sold and soon the emergence of virtual reality in full interactive experience. One day we will also see 3D rendered "help me Obi-Wan" remakes of the classics. Gonna be cool!

  • @ocvipe
    @ocvipe 12 лет назад

    I like this style of reporting.

  • @Maayan6351
    @Maayan6351 12 лет назад

    Seeing all those broken and busted arcade machines makes me really sad...
    As much as I appreciate technology, it seperated us...And the saddest thing is, I think it will never change...

  • @vanimaladventures
    @vanimaladventures 12 лет назад +1

    My corner store as a kid had so many classic 25 cent games. Every Street Fighter ,SNK, NARC, Cruisn, PaperBoy. His model was the same back then. Bring the kids in for games. They will spend money on junk food and sandwiches. The old man sold it to someone who got rid of them and his business sank.

  • @rebornlol
    @rebornlol 12 лет назад

    Awesome video

  • @stevobevo91
    @stevobevo91 12 лет назад

    Been a while since I been to an arcade. Good little documentary to remind me lol

  • @GlitchComputer
    @GlitchComputer 12 лет назад

    I really enjoyed the music in this

  • @penguinsunburn
    @penguinsunburn 12 лет назад

    Ohhhhhhhh, I remember going to "Time Out" in Springfield when I was a kid and spending hours there. Although, the games weren't black and white when I was kid. Didn't know it was around that long.

  • @puekawNEpuyrruh
    @puekawNEpuyrruh 2 года назад

    Anytime I see an Arcade I play. Back in the day... Gas station, laundry mats, grocery, hotels... Arcade cabinets were all over.

  • @jasonleman1396
    @jasonleman1396 4 года назад

    I miss the mall arcades (hell the mall) or the random video games in resturants (while waiting for a table) or corner stores (I probably spent more time watching other people play than I played)

  • @DanBazurto
    @DanBazurto 12 лет назад +1

    Did anyone else roll their eyes when one guy said his kids bought almost all the games available for the iPad for thirty-fourty dollars?

  • @MrKoffeeKup
    @MrKoffeeKup 12 лет назад +1

    the biggest problem with arcades is that now everyone has internet, everyone can go online and play with people all over the world. Why would you leave your house when you could play with friends at home?
    I will say that this era has impacted my dad quite a bit. He always liked playing games by himself and really can't imagine doing anything else. He said is feels weird interacting with people you don't know from everywhere. Now its just common place.

  • @ellismarkman
    @ellismarkman 12 лет назад +1

    The verge is easily the best website on the Internet. Has the best people working on putting out the best content. Nobody comes close. Seriously.

  • @SirTinnlee
    @SirTinnlee 11 лет назад +7

    Arcades as they were known in the 80s are probably gone but not dead. An arcade just opened up in my small town and is attracting an audience. We shall see if it survives but kids are playing the redemption games and the 40 somethings are playing Ms Pacman. Barcades are also popular in many cities but I don't know if they will last either. Pinball seems to have a resurgence and I visited a pinball arcade in Austin Texas. It is doing well but they have any interesting business model. Every game in the arcade is for sale for home use. Home game rooms are becoming a very popular idea now that the 40 something and some late 20s and 30 somethings are making these rooms and filling them.
    I will be interesting to see what happens as time marches on but I don't think they are dead. ... yet.

  • @ghostchips6146
    @ghostchips6146 5 лет назад

    Yeah it's sad that that kids dont have these places to play and hang out now.

  • @HolidayJesus
    @HolidayJesus 12 лет назад

    The introduction music is very Ministry-esque

  • @dmn1n
    @dmn1n 12 лет назад

    could have made it a bit longer
    this deserves more than 20 mins..

  • @JB_EDITS927
    @JB_EDITS927 6 лет назад

    BLACK KNIGHT 2000 IS MY FAVORITE!!! I have never played it in person but I have always wanted to

  • @luckylettuce2219
    @luckylettuce2219 6 лет назад +3

    arcades are still alive in our country

  • @chcameron
    @chcameron 12 лет назад +1

    The guy at 3:00 can't say "China Town Fair" any faster.

  • @CubamusPrime
    @CubamusPrime 12 лет назад

    I would love to build a full size Mame arcade cabinet.

  • @kc0eks
    @kc0eks 12 лет назад

    all local arcades here closed. sad

  • @jfitnesshealth
    @jfitnesshealth 10 лет назад +1

    this is so sad :(

  • @carpathiandevil
    @carpathiandevil Год назад

    Funny thing, i searched what happened to arcades after getting ready for work and finding a quarter in the pocket of my pants. I thought it strange finding a quarter as i rarely use cash anymore, huh, cant buy anything for a quarter these days. Then i reminisced about what a quarter used to mean and how much power over 10 year old me, they held, how id beg my parents for just one to play the final fight arcade game at the burger joint we'd go to as a family for a treat after spending the day at the beach in the late 80s...or at the bowling alley arcade after playing our kids leagues on the weekend with my cousin, when video games were everything. Staring at that quarter, i might as well have jumped into a time machine, whisked away to a simpler time on the winds of joyful neon memories.

  • @lylejohnson1093
    @lylejohnson1093 10 лет назад +1

    Walmart has three drving games, several stuffed toy games and The Class of 1981 video game.

  • @grecofabulous
    @grecofabulous 5 лет назад

    Arcade1up helped me achieve the dream of owning an arcade machine and freeplay barcades are a great way to experience a ton of games without spending a ton of money, but there definitely is something loss when you have an infinite amount of lives.

  • @DarkCrueDethAngel
    @DarkCrueDethAngel 3 года назад

    I really hope 1 day soon in the 2020's I able to bring the arcade back in a new kinda way, in a similar way like the early 80's if I ever get the chance to in the early of the this new decade some how ❔

  • @mikegnome
    @mikegnome 12 лет назад +1

    The home console killed the arcade. But it was also the arcade's fault for never reinventing itself for the changing demands of its customers, while the home console reinvents itself every 4-5 years.

  • @TheTukTuk2008
    @TheTukTuk2008 6 лет назад

    Great short! They need to come back in the west! They are so very social! Just look at Japan!👾

  • @SCWPhillySports
    @SCWPhillySports 5 лет назад +1

    Family fun arcades aren’t fun for anyone. the kids want the real arcade games. The adults want the real arcade machines.

  • @the0to1smell86
    @the0to1smell86 8 лет назад +1

    I started playing arcades from 1986 to proble when they died out 2002.

    • @the0to1smell86
      @the0to1smell86 8 лет назад

      and I loved it best time of my life ..friends fun ..nachos soda bubble gum and parking your bike upside up in front of the arcade store or neighborhood grocery store

    • @valkor73
      @valkor73 7 лет назад

      double dragon blew my mind when i first saw it

  • @cmnweb
    @cmnweb 12 лет назад +1

    In Mexico the arcades are dead to :(

  • @hippiedave1362
    @hippiedave1362 8 лет назад +1

    this is so sad

  • @dionelreyes529
    @dionelreyes529 8 лет назад +1

    Gods luck I have an arcade in every movie theater.

  • @Suhadisgood
    @Suhadisgood 4 года назад +2

    If you want the arcade to make business then you release the newest releases before they hit the stores like when you had marvel vs capcom before it got to PlayStation or sega Dreamcast or house of the dead 4 or but instead their coming to the systems so how do you expect people to come to the arcades when you don’t release new games I’m not going to come for old video games Pac-Man Galaga I would love to see the arcades back look at the theaters releasing new movies if they were just showing old movies no ones going to go watch in the theaters

  • @andyvalenzuela9763
    @andyvalenzuela9763 4 года назад

    6 players, 2 screens, X-Men!
    Need I say more?

  • @rellify3
    @rellify3 12 лет назад

    The Atari dude knows his stuff.

  • @ShytPump
    @ShytPump 2 года назад

    6:15
    "They can play donkey Kong on their PlayStation or Xbox"
    Credibility denied.

  • @Floppydonkey
    @Floppydonkey 12 лет назад +1

    I have been around arcades all my life. My dad is in the industry, the money killed the arcades . At the 1993 ish peak with sega rally and the like. A twin sweater cabinet would easily be $30,000. So yes yo made you're money, but not enough.. The manufacturers got greedy because they knew that the operators would be cashing in on punters.. It spiralled to a point where consoles became a justifiable alternative. Graphics overtook because the likes of sega and midway sat back and charged too much.

  • @voseAKUMA
    @voseAKUMA 12 лет назад

    @KRISHAUN27 couldn't agree with you more.

  • @kazora1001
    @kazora1001 12 лет назад +1

    i can safety say that arcade machines are not dead in my country

  • @Suhadisgood
    @Suhadisgood 4 года назад +2

    My malls have arcades I just go and look it’s to hard for me to put money in them cause I own some of these arcades at my house and lots of them are old games the newest games I’m interested in playing cost $2.00 which is a lot of money I know an arcade that has over 600 arcade games that only cost $15.00 you enter and play as much you want no money required the only problem with that arcade is no new releases I hate to play the same games every time we still have new movies going to the theaters when’s there going to be new games going to the arcades

  • @matrixistrue
    @matrixistrue 12 лет назад

    its called generalization putting things in convenient boxes to help understand

  • @DrButcherMD
    @DrButcherMD 12 лет назад

    it's totally doable if you have the time, and money.

  • @grazz7865
    @grazz7865 3 года назад

    What happened to all the arcades? I would throw temper tantrums and my dad would give me a handful of quarters and I was happy playing my pinball!

  • @staringcorgi6475
    @staringcorgi6475 3 года назад +2

    Nowadays they’re baby’s first casino

  • @LiamFruzyna
    @LiamFruzyna 12 лет назад

    omg i went to jr high im mt. prospect il

  • @4nc3st0r
    @4nc3st0r 12 лет назад +1

    should have shown tasteless instead of husky.

  • @robertjv
    @robertjv Год назад +1

    Bascially video games ruined it