:: JOYSTIX @ HOUSTON :: Heaven on earth? 2009 or 80's ???

[DarthNuno]

And here we are, just at this corner...welcome to Joystix !!!



...ok Barry, but... what's Joystix?

"Joystix Classic Games and Pinballs has been serving Houston and surrouding areas since 1987. Our first machine was a stuffed animal crane and a two car garage served as our workshop. After years of continual growth, we know have one of the largest showrooms in the country. We carry most major manufacturers products in the amusement industry. We always maintain close to 250 classic and new arcade games, pinball machines, jukeboxes, air hockey, dart machines, photo booths and much more in our showroom."

Wooww... sounds great   Wanna go in...  

There is a bar, and to access the game room, there is a 15$ entrance... and you can play all the games, there are in FREE play mode  

We are EXTREMELY lucky.... because that game room is open only TWO days per month (first & last Friday of every month)... and today is ... one of these two days   Barry, you are a genious  

 

Let's go in now...

Nice decoration  





At the entrance, some modern games...



Holy Jesus... I see a ton of 'Classics' here   ... let's start the visit...















Woww...



This Wackoo cabinet is amazing   First time I can touch one   :



Assault ... so sexy  



Ouch... Am I in heaven?





All is playable  





I'm busy to try a lot of games... Fortunately, it's my wife who takes the pictures    

[DarthNuno]

It's funny... we are talking about video games, and I don't see any kids here... mostly ..."adults?"   





This one is for screen   



At least...after so many years, I can play again on a Space Invaders pinball   





Wow !!!



Let's play the rare Major Havoc   



"Landing High Japan" ... not as sexy as the AIRLINE PILOTS   



Star Wars cockpit ... fully working   



So many games... I don't know where to go 









Did you ever seen a place like that? Impressive...







This one is for Ully   



Yes... the force is strong here   



Wooow.... Yes, I'm sure I'm in heaven here... See 



Playing Space Ace in a public game room is a real experience... something I didn't expect since a while... hey... are we really in 2009???



I love this place 



The tour is not over... See 





By the way, do you prefer playing on GALAGA 88 ...



...or the original Galaga?   





  ...no need an answer     

[DarthNuno]

Golden Axe... dedicated of course 



Few new cabinets features... old games, here and there...









It's really impressive to see all these 'Classics' up & running 







Dedicated Pengo  Cute isn't it?



Fan of Joust?



Gun games...



...not a big fan of that, but ... I wanna see the real "AREA 51" for real, one time in my life (teasing?  ) :



Hey... look at this 





Wondefull 'item' ... I need one   





While I'm playing on it, an operator close to me say : "Enjoy this game now, because he'll leave next Monday... someone bought it"
May I ask the price please?
We sold it for 600$

 

Arghh... Why I'm not living in USA 

the condition is this cabinet is almost perfect... 100% running...



An other 'cult' games here in USA 



Nice table cab' with beers on it... 



Like in the old days... impossible to access that Gauntlet ... big boys already playing on it   



Do you know other public game room were you can still play games like... this Baby Pac Man     



This place is really huge... still more games everywhere I look 



Did you see... I,Robot? 



Cliff Hanger... up & running... and still so hard 



Punch Out!



Of course, the entire Pac Man collection here  ...



...and yes, even the "Professor Pac Man"   

[DarthNuno]

Nice Galaga cocktail   :



The ride is not over... oh my good ... Kangaroo, Moonwalker    



Robotron  



Fan of pinballs? See  





















This place is just awesome... this picture is a good resume ... everything is there  



Dirk the Daring, Classic games, dark light, ...  

I really love Cliff Hanger... but it's very hard to play  



NO... this is not Dirk the Daring...



... it's RAMPART  

Barry playing Berzek    



What? A Computer Space here... inside a public game room? Fully accessible...



Just awesome... man, I'm in a dream    



American girls on Guitar Hero   Hey girls... do you know I'm a guitarist?    



Zoltar!!!



So many games here, I even don't have time to see the decorations   ...for example :



Hey Barry... what a story behind Pac-Mania, isn't it?   (see this post)  



What a game room   ... I can stay here all the night, but unfortunately we have to leave ( ).

Barry... you're the man!!! Thanks for bringing us here   This is the best 'modern' game room I've ever seen (except of course the old ones, back in the 80's  )... so many 'classics', all playable, great condition!!!  , this place is far better than 'Disney Quest' for example... Woww... I already love Houston for that   If you're are a 'retro gamer' or collector, this is THE place to visit!!!

PS : This story is a segment of a big topic called : "Holiday in Florida / Texas [features Arcade Life Style stories] ...where you'll see others 'ALS stories'  

... stay tuned... I'm preparing a ride of this place... 'in video'  

Update : the VIDEO tour (part one) is now available, right here  



...enjoy and stay tuned for the second part  

Update : the VIDEO tour (part two) is also available, right here 



Enjoy 

 

[Etienne MacGyver]

Amazing place !!

I can imagine that you had a great time there !

what's this   :



My all time favorite for the PC, this is where the firstperson shooters started for me (i think it's also the first that really is 3d, i mean in wolfenstein you could not look up and down)

I didnt know they had a dedicated cabinet for quake !  I love it !   

[scr33n]

OH MY GOD!!!! A W E S O M E place !!!

Thanks for Hypersports pic 

[Superully]

man, this is I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E. tdidn't know that a place like this exists anymore. it must be HUUUUUUGE - can't wait for the video.

however, one thing remains to be answered: who's that hot blonde chick playing galaga? 

[arcadefever]

OMG 

That place is amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Muerto]

speachless!

[DarthNuno]

Update : the VIDEO tour (part one) is now available, right here 



...enjoy and stay tuned for the second part 

[level42]

Yeah....isn't it always great to make fun of bigger than average people......Ha-ha-ha.

Pathetic.

Maybe we should start making fun of Walons, or maybe Italians....No wait, I know a couple of great Belgian jokes, and let's not forget to laugh about our German friends.

And, I can always laugh about Asian people too....man, they're hilarious.....

[Superully]

Yeah....isn't it always great to make fun of bigger than average people......Ha-ha-ha.

Have I missed something? 

[Etienne MacGyver]

i guess he is reffering to the +size woman at the galaga 88 in comparation with the original galaga....

[Sonic 1992]

Bruno, This was sooo awesome, but I can guarantee it wouldn't have been as fun without you!  It was great to run from game to game and to "pretend" to be 13 again!            NEVER LET GO!!!!!!!

[DarthNuno]

what's this   :



My all time favorite for the PC, this is where the firstperson shooters started for me (i think it's also the first that really is 3d, i mean in wolfenstein you could not look up and down)

I didn't know they had a dedicated cabinet for quake !  I love it !   

Well, I didn't know either... I must admit I didn't pay attention to it ... ..., my priority was ... the 'Classics' of course 
I even didn't try it, but you can see some footage in the video. There are also more details on klov about it 
In a general way, I don't think FPS games can be played on an arcade cabinet... or maybe inside of a new environmental cabinet 'a la Disc Of Tron' ?