Author Topic: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]  (Read 51413 times)

DarthNuno

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OK, this is about Arcade Lifestyle in Florida / Texas  :P

Don't worry, I won't display all the pictures taken during my last holiday, but just give you the general plot, features *Arcade Life Style* segments of course  :P

It can give few ideas if you plan to go in Florida (but also in Texas).

Day 1 :

It starts immediately at the Luxembourg airport  ;D we meet the world famous DJ David Guetta  :D  :arrow:



He was with us on the bus to the plane, and on the seat just behind us inside the plane... until Paris airport... funny  ;D



...where the Wifi is not free  :evil: I'm only able to display what's on my laptop cache  :?

After a long trip... we arrive at our hotel in MIAMI BEACH :



Impossible to do something after spending almost one full day in the airport/bus/car rental/plane... so ZZZzzzzZZZ  8)


Day 2 :

Breakfast near the hotel pool...



...and of course... impossible to resist  :arrow:



Pool time all the morning  :-*



Something great : Fred 'ArcadeFever' is living in Miami... Let's meet him, on the hotel where he works (he's master Chief) :



Because he's top chief, we personally prepare us great food... we are *special* guests  :)  :-* :-* :-* We'll meet him later (he's working now)

Ok let's walk on the Miami Beach streets  8)

First one is Lincoln rd mall...

A lot of shops and restaurants of course.





Hey, the new Terminator will be out in few days  :lol:



Like most of Cinemas, few arcade games... nothing special  :arrow:



An other main street is the Washington avenue... a lot of shops & restaurants too.

But the best one is  Ocean drive :



Music, fun ... food everywhere, cigar, tourist attractions, body builders, ...



...dancing...



 ;D



...and if you can, try to pick up a coconut directly on the tree if you have a lllooooonngg sitck... or ask for it... fresh coconut milk is so good  :-* :-* :-* This black guy helped us to pick up one and cut it  :)



Day 3 : On the way to 'the Keys'  :arrow:



Driving on Florida is like ... playing Out Run 2  :lol: : water on left side, buildings on the right side of the road  :P



This is our car : DODGE Viper Avenger  ;) :



Small stop during the long trip from Miami Beach to Key West... here at Key Largo for asking some tourist informations...



...or eating for the first time in a Wendy's  :D  :arrow:



Driving for islands to islands is amazing, but a little bit scaring too...



...water everywhere, huge bridges...



After 250km of wonderful landscapes, we arrive at the last island : Key West.

This island is famous for 'Pirate' stuff (the famous Blackbeard). Pirate shops, museum (Pirate Soul Museum houses 48 individual exhibit areas and states it contains the largest and most authentic collection of pirate artifacts ever displayed under one roof), ... and of course 'Pirates' pinball  ;D  :arrow:



Various pictures...







The love boat ?  :P



Cruise to Caribbean  :-*



Italian Sausages here  ::) :P Let's give a try...



...did 'ya say fat? ... no  ::) ;D  :arrow:



The Ernest Hemingway house :



At this point, we are not too far from Cuba... see  8)  :arrow:



Time to go back to Miami... careful on all these bridges... no light here ...



 8)
« Last Edit: June 08, 2009, 03:42:06 PM by DarthNuno »

DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2009, 07:52:37 PM »
Day 4 : On the way to the Everglades...

Today we'll visit the southern part of the Everglades... let's leave Miami...



On the way, a very nice shop : "Robert is Here" :



Florida is THE best place for fresh fruits  :-* :-* :-*  :arrow:



We are now at the Everglades Alligator farm ... impressive  :o  :arrow:



Huge!



But we are here for this  8)  :arrow:



AIRBOAT  :-* Let's go for a fast & furious 20 minutes ride  :-*





Caution... Alligators everywhere  :P



Arriving at Flamingo / National Park ...



We drive all the afternoon on the everglades... and it's time to go back to Miami... more Out Run 2 pictures...





...or crazy taxi maybe  ;D



A last visit to a shop ... with interesting beverages  :P



...and dinner -once again- in the hotel where Fred 'Arcade Fever' works  :-*

Day 5 : Little Havana & Miami Downtown.

Like every time we use the car... Out Run2  8)  :arrow:



This morning, we start the visit with 'Little Havana', very close to the center of 'Downtown' :



The famous 'El Credito Cogar Company'...



...where they roll cigars manually  :arrow:





Let's buy few ones  ;)



A lot of memorial regarding the 'Bay of Pigs invasion'...



An other famous place here : the Maximo Gomez Park and its Domino Club  :arrow:



Now, let's go to the real 'Miami Downtown'  ;)



Nice, it's possible to visit 'by walking', like European cities  :-* A lot of shops of course...





Let's go to 'BAYSIDE'  :arrow:





A nice place to visit, beautiful view on the bay, nice shops & restaurants...



Hey... a working Zoltar  :-*  :arrow:



This gives me some idea for my game room... but it would be too big to bring it in the place  :P  :arrow:



Hey? It starts to rain  :-\



Fortunately the visit here is done  :P Let's check for a warm place now... who says Arcadefever game room?  ::) :P  ;D

...And here we are! Welcome in the ArcadeFever's house  :-* :-*  :arrow:



As you can see, we are not in the game room, but they are already arcade games everywhere  ;D  :arrow:



His 'Sea Invasion' cocktail... brand new (see here) !!!  :arrow:



This SI Dlx is very nice too  :) :



IMPORTANT NOTE HERE
: I'm *ULTRA* allergic to cats !!!  :-X :-X :-X

I love cats but ... once again ... I'm *ULTRA* allergic to cats  :'( :'( :'( ... and there are a lot of cats  here...so after less than 20 minutes, impossible to do anything  (itchy nose / eyes)... I'm even not able to take picture  :ghost: ...fortunately, my wife took few pictures :



Maybe an explanation ... why Fred 'ArcadeFever' is Top Chief ???? Because of this  ;D  :arrow:



Because of my allergy to cats, I wasn't able to fully enjoy playing the games, but... on the short time I was able to play them... it's was great  :-* Arghhh have a look at this wonderful Ghosts'n'Goblins  :P  :arrow:



Playing Cabal on trackball is far better than playing with a joystick :



Of course, Fred's wife, like most of girls, is playing... Puzzle Bobble  ;D



Tron, and Commando with its nice 'custom made' CPO :



Playing Tempest ... on a Tempest cab is a great experience  :-*  :arrow:





But one of my best gaming moment was playing 'Speed Buggy' aka 'Buggy Boy'  :-* :-* :-* I used to play it long time ago on the three screens version, and because (I think ) this game is still not playable in Mame, it was great to play it again after so many years  :-* :-* :-*

By the way, thanks for the warm welcome message on your electronic display  :-* :-* :-*  :arrow:



There are so many decoration items here... impressive  :o  :arrow:











There is an other room, called 'The Consoles room' ... Wooow  :-*  :arrow:



Consoles, electronics games, TV Pong, Game & Watch... all ready to play ... Awesome  :o  :-*

Also in that small room, two arcade games : Asteroids cocktail & a special version of 'Astro Fighter'  :-* :-* :-*  :arrow:



I really enjoyed the moment, but arrgggggggggg! Why I have this allergy to cats  :'( I wished to take more pictures (thanks to Nunette for these pictures, fortunately), spend more time here, trying all the games... next time I will take special medicines  :P

More pictures are available on the ArcadeFever's forum, right here  ;) Thanks Fred for these additional pictures :-* See you tomorrow by the way  ;) 8)
« Last Edit: June 13, 2009, 02:11:35 PM by DarthNuno »

DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2009, 07:52:59 PM »
Day 6  :

Day off for Arcadefever, just to be with us  :-* :-* :-*

As a perfect guide, he shows us many places... like this one  ;)  :arrow:



So 50's isn't it? Like the retro bar in Back to the Future II (where you can see a virtual Michael Jackson in a TV, asking you for a Pepsi)  :-*  :arrow:



Fred 'Arcadefever' and Darth Nunette :


PS: did you see the rain behind them? Yes, it happens also at Miami Beach  ::)

It's also time for shopping ... mmhhhh ... I mean 'Arcade Life Style' shopping  :)



...first time I see a Contra T-shirt  :P :-*

Fred presented me in that Apple store the lastest iMac... Very good demo my friend ... and mostly because of it, here's the result  ::) 8) ;D



Nice stuff  :arrow:





...this time I don't have to order these things... I'm on location  ::) ;D

And now, a moment I'm waiting for a long time... let's try to meet Billy Mitchell  8)  :arrow:



(click on the picture to see the full story... DO NOT MISS THIS!!!)

Day 7 :

Hey, this is Miami Beach isn't it?  ::) ... Today, let's enjoy the 'Beach Life Style'  ;D Second hotel... second pool  :-*  :arrow:



...but I prefer a ride along the beach...



Mhhh... which car to take today? The yellow one?



...or the red one?  ::) :P



Thanks to the Pow Wow 2009...a LOT of things like this everywhere in the main streets  ::) :P  :arrow:





Tomorrow, we'll leave Miami... so a last visit to Fred  :-*  :arrow:



Thanks for everything my friend  :-* :-* :-* It was a real pleasure to meet you in the 'real life'. We hope to meet again very soon  8)

It's the evening... a last place to visit before leaving Miami  : Dave & Buster's ... because there is a GT-6 [Galaxian Theater] over there  :)
Ok, it doesn't play the original games (Dragoon or Zolgear), but... hey... it's a THEATER 'assembled'  :wink: ;D

See the full story here :



(Click on the picture for the full visit)
« Last Edit: July 04, 2009, 11:48:36 PM by DarthNuno »

DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2009, 07:53:17 PM »
Day 8  : bye bye Miami... Welcome Orlando  8)



...and here we are... the land of fantasy, fun ... and theme parks  ;D  :arrow:



We are in the middle of the afternoon. A little bit late to start the visit of a park SO let's take time to walk inside a *free entrance* Disney area, called Disney Village.  8)

Inside Disney Village, there's something called DISNEYQUEST ... and ... my God  :o It's full of Classic games  :-* :-* :-*

See the full story  :arrow:


[click on the picture to read the full report... included pictures and a video tour]

Day 9 : Universal Studios

OK, Orlando means 'World of Disney", but there are a lot of theme parks here... and not (hopefully) from Disney only  ;)

Let's start with my favorite one : Universal (which is two parks : Studios & Islands Of Adventure)



Some attractions are the same than the ones in the Universal Studio California, for example the Terminator 3D show, which is still amazing  :-*  :arrow:



Have a look at this full size Terminator... It would be *AWESOME* in a game room  :o :-* :-* :-*  :arrow:



Back in the 50's or 60's? ...



... like 'Back In The Future' movies, one of the most famous Universal Studios licence  ::)

Now enjoy this SEGMENT, dedicated to the famous trilogy and the all famous DeLorean car  :-* :-* :-*  :arrow:


(click on the OUTATIME picture for the full story)

One of most impressive 3D ride would be 'SIMPSONS the ride' ... similar than the one in California, one of the best 3D ride I've ever seen  8)



Hey? ...SCOOBY-DOO  ;D  :arrow:





The biggest Hard Rock Cafe on the planet...



Everything is bigger here  :P



In the "Islands Of Adventure", new thrilling rides, like Hulk...



...of this new one : Spider-Man : Motion ride  + 3D effects.... a must see here !!!



Nice backgrounds...



POPEYE  :)



Of course, there are a lot of attractions/shows/shops here... but I don't want to bore you too much  :P

Ok, a last picture... inside the Forrest Gump restaurant...  ::)  :arrow:



Fan of Dr.Peppers forever  ;D ;D ;D

Day 10 : Epcot & Disney's Hollywood Studios

Let's start this first half of the day by the visit of the world famous EPCOT





The park is dedicated to technological innovation and international culture.



I've already seen this shape in a video game... but which one?  ::) :arrow:



Nice walk... you can see various cultures... no, this is not Japan  :P :arrow:



This robot would be nice inside a game room...



...but... It takes the same space than an arcade cabinet... so I take the cabinet  ;)

Look! This is the FRANCE area... and yes, like in France, it rains... well done  :ghost:  :arrow:



After Epcot, let's visit the Disney's Hollywood Studios :



Hey... Wow... Star Wars stuff here? ... but wait... it's only during the week end, and... this is NOT the week end now  :'( I can't win all the time  :oops: ...



During the visit of the studios... a full size snowspeeder  :-* Too bad we are inside a moving train... can't do better picture than this  :? :



Ok, no parade or special "Star Wars" event today, but still some interesting stuff to see. A small museum...



In the shops... when Disney and Star Wars unites...



Impossible to resist  ::) :P Now I'm on a picture, with my master  :-*  :arrow:



Now you all know why I'm called 'Darth Nuno'  :twisted: ;D ;D ;D

And at the end of the day, impossible to miss the Disney's parade... really impressive  :o



Day 11 : Disney's Typhoon Lagoon

This morning, just want to have some fun in a water park... let's go to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon  :arrow:



Let's play TOOBIN' for real  :D  :arrow:



One of the world's largest wave pools.... impressive & ...very fun   :o :-* :arrow:



Ok, let's take a rest this afternoon (not easy to do so many theme parks  ::) :P ), and just visit the streets and roads of Orlando...

Nice house ...



...for sale  :-\ Low prices... because of the crisis  :-X  :arrow:


« Last Edit: August 05, 2009, 07:35:38 PM by DarthNuno »

DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2009, 07:53:53 PM »
...and still no particular destination for this afternoon... So let's say what's around here  ::) mhhh... on the navigation car system, in the folder 'amusement place', I can read : "FUNSPOT"  ::) ...sounds good no?  ;) ...and only 25 minutes to drive... so let's go!  8)

Here we are...



This is a very small attraction park... let's check the game of course  :P  :arrow:



On this level, nothing special... I mean only 'modern' games...



What's this?  :arrow:



A Taito cab', all alone in a dark corner...  :roll:



It's a good old ZOO KEEPER... very very tired  :-\  :arrow:



Ok, let's check the games on the 2nd level. Decoration is great... Font & color looks nice :



...full size sport car on the wall  :P  :arrow:



More games, generic cabs'...





And here's the cool stuff  :P  :arrow:





OK, this is not real vintage cabinets, but re edition of oldies... it's better than nothing ...don't you think ?  ::) :P





Hey... all the games are in 'free play' ... YEEEHHAAWW  :-* :-* :-* Let's score  :D



After few plays... I see this  :arrow:



 :oops: shame on me... I didn't read it  :oops:

OK, let's drink something outside... Hey Daytona is not too far from here  ::) :P Daaayyyttttttooonnaa  ::) ::) ::)  ;D



 :spaceace:
« Last Edit: August 07, 2009, 05:36:31 PM by DarthNuno »

vib_ribbon

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2009, 10:23:04 PM »
looking forward to more!!

i loved miami even though i was only there for 1 night + 2 mornings.

lets bring out some old photos...  :lol:


Etienne MacGyver

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2009, 08:11:22 PM »
Very nice !

hope to read more soon !

Superully

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2009, 08:58:25 PM »
It starts immediately at the Luxembourg airport  ;D we meet the world famous DJ David Guetta  :D  :arrow:

who the f*** is DJ David Guetta? World famous? Obviously not the world I live in  ;)

nice pics and a great trip down memory lane for me. it's been more than 10 years since i visited the florida keys the last time. although it looks as if nothing has changed there. good old american lifestyle!
all i need is ... PONG - and a select few others: TOUCH ME, DRAGON'S LAIR, JOUST, ROBOTRON, MR DO, SAN FRANCISCO RUSH THE ROCK!!!

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2009, 07:43:59 PM »
Great pictures !!!!!!

teaser here:



 ;D


DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2009, 06:52:15 PM »
Great pictures !!!!!!

Thanks  :-* The Big stuff is coming soon by the way  ;)  (ps : new pictures added  8))

DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2009, 02:13:48 PM »
Story update (ArcadeFever's game room  ;))

funkycochise

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2009, 05:10:58 PM »
But one of my best gaming moment was playing 'Speed Buggy' aka 'Buggy Boy'  :-* :-* :-* I used to play it long time ago on the three screens version, and because (I think ) this game is still not playable in Mame, it was great to play it again after so many years  :-* :-* :-*
In fact, it was correct, but if you try to play it with the actual mame version, you'll get a good surprise...
I don't know since whitch version it is correctly supported...

arcadefever

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2009, 05:12:34 PM »
Nice pictures !!!!

Sorry about the cats  :-\

DarthNuno

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2009, 02:32:51 PM »
Added the story : "The Billy Mitchell day" *Arcade Life Style* to the max...  :pac:  :ghost: :ghost: :ghost: :ghost:

 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

Few more pictures  8)

Add the ...



...story + few Universal Studios pictures...

Zeether

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Re: Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories]
« Reply #14 on: August 02, 2009, 12:45:46 AM »
I spy Initial D version 3 at the movie theater arcade  ;D