0xC0ef···03b2Arcades bring back so many good memories for me. From a very young age, I used play Arcades at my dad’s shop – we would add unlimited credits and play games for hours, old school arcade games like 1942, Kung Fu Master and Bubble Bobble. Entering into my early teens years, so many good memories were formed hanging out at the local Arcade after dark, playing games like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat – those were the games of the time and I still love them today. As always, Bastien's art brings back so many good memories from my childhood.
0x482F···C739The arcade brings back the memories of an early Thursday school finish allowing a sneaky trip to play some pool and Gran Tourismo. The flashing lights, the dynamic sounds from the computer games and the crack from the balls connecting on the pool table. Good times, good memories.
0xE32F···e00aI always loved the arcade as growing up we didn't have a lot financially. I had to save every cent just to have enough to play a few games. I went to boarding school, and we were allowed to go to the city one day per week and the arcade was always the first place we went.
The sound of the machines, that atmosphere, it always felt like home.
I loved Shinobi, Double Dragon which was old even then but so fun to play and Ninja Turtles.
The excitement yet anxiousness waiting for my turn as I felt the pressure having to perform with my limited money!
Great times. :)
0x67cA···B896Stepping into the arcade was like entering a new universe where the possibilities were as limitless as the glowing screens around me. Each game, from the clatter of pinball machines to the hum of racing games, was a gateway to another world. The excitement of choosing which game to play next was unmatched, as each choice held the promise of new adventures. These were not just games; they were the milestones of my childhood, shaping a world where friendship and competition blended seamlessly. The arcade was more than just a place; it was the backdrop of my fondest memories, where every high score and joystick brought me closer to my friends. It was pure, unadulterated joy…a space where I was free to be me.
0xCd8a···a8bDI am from central europe and for me such "arcade halls" were something like a myth I just knew from american tv shows.... Meanwhile I am at least aware that these magical places seem to really exist 🤯 but I never saw one IRL :D 🤷♀️
In my youth, there were just the shady versions of that halls around with gambling machines were you will loose your money. But the local drug dealer didnt care, he constantly blew away his drug profits in the local gambling hall 🎰 😂
0x1A4a···4913The arcade brings back memories that I hold close to me to this day. Memories that I believe helped shape who I am today. I can remember spending hours competing with my brothers for the Mini Hoops high score. Not giving up until this was accomplished. Competition.
Memories of working as a team to win the ninja turtles arcade game. Our team of 3 brothers, working together to see how far we could advance as Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael. Teamwork.
The nostalgia the arcade brings me makes me think back and realize how special these times were.
0x36E4···13D5# Not Just An Arcade
Let me take you back into the mists of time. The mid nineties and a bustling seaside town in Southern England. For so long a traditional family holiday destination. Think sandcastles, ice creams and sun burn.
But not for much longer, it was all about to change. Join me as I walk down Westover Road at the age of 14. Blissfully unaware I was about to come across the most wondrous place I had ever seen. The smell hit me first: Sweet and metallic combined. An electric fuzz that filled the nostrils and ensnared the mind. Then the sounds: Buzzing, whirring, slamming and tapping all punctuated with electronic symphonies.
An arcade. I had never really spent any time in an arcade but this one was different. This was Sega World Arcade in Bournemouth and it was not *JUST* an arcade.
It was more than just a place to play; it was a pilgrimage for every Sega enthusiast in Europe, the first dedicated Sega-branded arcade on the continent. And oh, was it grand! Thought to be the largest of its kind at the time, it sprawled across three tiered floors of pure electronic joy.
Sega World Bournemouth was an oasis of gaming bliss. Sure, there was a Sega-branded store where you could snag the latest merchandise and video games, but the real magic lay in the themed areas that awaited exploration.
I find myself drawn to "Zap Attack" and "Driving Edge", two iconic zones that defined the arcade experience. "Zap Attack" pulsated with action-themed arcade machines, each one promising adrenaline fueled excitement: Tekken was most memorable. In this days the 3D graphics and realistic sound effects made the game irresistible.
And then there was "The Driving Edge" – a raised, centrepiece section that beckoned with the promise of high-speed thrills. Here, racing games reigned supreme, from deluxe iterations of Virtua Racing to heart-pounding sessions on the R-360 units, where G-LOC: Air Battle took on a whole new dimension. You could become a racing driver or a fighter pilot. Your dreams became reality.
You could stay in this Cathedral of pixels all day. A resident bowling alley and Burger King meant respite from a screen and sustenance were but a stone’s throw away.
My sister and I were hooked. We returned as often as we could whilst on holiday and then saved our pocket money all year for the return the next year. It was a palace dedicated to fun and escapism and we were never happier than when we had pocket full of change and few hours of daylight to burn.
When I allow myself a moment to remember. To think of that place that was more than *just* an arcade, I'm filled with a sense of nostalgia that transcends time. The memories of Sega World Bournemouth are etched into my soul, a testament to a bygone era of gaming excellence and endless adventure.
0x3A88···50f2Contrary to most, my relationship with the arcade is not positive. What for most was a place of solitude and comfort unfortunately for me was yet another place of bullying and fear.
Growing up, there was only one arcade in town and it sat next to my local high school. When I was old enough to go on my own and I walked in, the familiar ding of the machines and the clickety-clack of buttons overwhelmed me. I had finally discovered somewhere I belonged; a place I had been searching for.
And yet, I quickly learned that these were not my people, this was not my place. I was looked at with disdain, left alone in silence. Here I thought a group of people who were typically made fun of would be accepting but that was not the case. I played one game of Arkanoid and left with my head down, never to return.
I have looked upon arcades and games with a sense of longing ever since. This artwork speaks to me because it represents the arcade I have been playing in my entire adult life, the one I created in my head, the one that is truly mine.
0x872C···2dB4In the pulsing heart of the arcade, where neon lights danced across my wide-eyed face, I always found joy. Each year during our summer vacation, the arcade would turn into a fun-fueled family reunion. Dominating the skeeball machines, my mom would hoot and holler whenever she landed a ball in one of the corner holes. Hours would be spent battling my sister in air hockey and racing my dad in cars, boats, or spaceships. My grandparents would cheer us on, holding our tickets and making trips to grab more quarters from the machines. While all much older now, we still make it a point to visit arcades when we are together. Some of the games might have changed, but the magic is still the same!
0xa8B1···9cd7I never spent a lot of time at arcades as a child but I do remember always being excited to play arcade games when friends had their birthday parties at our local Chuck E. Cheese. The pizza was always so bad and some little kid would always end up peeing their pants or vomiting in the play place, but you could always count on getting that plastic cup full of tokens for the arcade. I was more of an air hockey and Pop-A-Shot fan but every once in awhile I would hop behind the wheel of a car racing simulator. It’s funny how I can’t remember whose birthday parties I went to, who all was there, or what else we did… but I remember the games and feelings of joy so vividly. Now I get to watch my three year old son make those memories for himself, though not at Chuck E. Cheese (RIP). I don’t know if there is any better feeling than seeing the pure joy and excitement on his face when he’s having fun. I certainly haven’t found anything better yet.
0x218A···c8EfMy brother and I were born 5 years apart, which meant for many years, we were into very different things so struggled to from a close bond. One Christmas my parents bought a Scalextric set as a joint present, and from that point our united love of gaming formed. Along came the Commodore 64 and this bond branched out to cooperative games and to this day although we don't "speak" that often, we often share an online game or two. All thanks to the power of gaming.
0xEBE3···5c27This lovely piece brings back memories of college in Philly during the early 80s. While I was never a hard-core gamer, I spent a fair amount of time in the nearby off-campus arcade. This was during the Pac-Man craze.
First there was Pac-Man and then when that ran its course, Ms. Pac-Man. I wasn’t obsessed with them, but they were fun and impossible to avoid. For about a year or so, it seemed like half the machines in the arcade were one of those two.
I remember being a fan of Tron as well, but my favorite arcade game came out a couple of years later—Track & Field. My best friend and I would play this all the time. We gave the buttons and the trackball quite a beating as we competed in the various events.
After I graduated and got a job in NYC, my interest in games waned, but my warm college arcade memories are indelibly etched in my brain.
0x62cf···A732I've always been a gamer, even though I don't actually game as much or hardly anything at all.
Seeing this beautiful piece brought me back to the purest joyful times we had.
Started with Street Fighter and King of Fighters, crazy platforms like Metal Slug and Cadillacs & Dinosaurs (wtf?😅) Playing Sega Outrun on those amazing seats that had just arrived, then a few months later, whoa!
Virtua Cop!
And then you try to reload off screen and it doesn't and AGH they got you! Timer counting, searching for coins frantically and then thinking NO! you lost, you start over!
So good...!
Thank you Bastien! 🫂🫶
0xe0D2···aC28The arcade pulsed with energy, a neon-drenched haven on a rain-soaked street. Inside, the symphony of bleeps, bloops, and digitized gunfire was deafening. A pack of us, high school misfits with greasy hair and too-loud laughs, huddled around the Street Fighter cabinet.
I wasn't the best, but oh, the thrill! Fingers danced a frantic ballet on the buttons, sweat slicking my palms. Each pixelated victory sent a rush through me – sweet defiance against the boredom and awkwardness of being fifteen. Trash talk and the smell of cheap pizza swirled around us.
Sometimes, a girl named Sarah would watch. Long dark hair, eyes sparkling with amusement. I'd show off, my moves fueled more by hormones than skill, hoping for a smile. I never got the girl, but for those few hours, amidst the flashing lights and blaring sounds, none of that mattered. It was pure, unfiltered teenage joy. An escape from the pressures of growing up. I was just a kid, a warrior with a pocketful of quarters, ruling my own little digital world.
0x6cDa···4E51Arcade halls were a big part of my childhood. Dingy, smoky, basements which never saw the light of day. My local venue doubled up as a pool hall, bowling club and bar which didn’t discriminate based on age!
My mates and I always had just enough money to get a pocketful of change, buy a coffee or beer each - and share a pack of cigarettes.
This place had a unique musical blend, made up of the harmonious chorus of teenagers laughing and arcade machines playing their theme tunes, with the percussive crack of snooker balls and the lyrical poetry of fist-fights, friendships and furtive young love. This glorious place represented my first taste of freedom.
What a time ! I hope my boys find their own version of this. Outside of vr headsets and bedrooms. I’ll do my best to make it happen. ❤️ 🕹️
0x0aF5···C51dThe arcades in Greece were not as popular as in other countries but they still existed even if they were few in numbers. I have very fond memories of going to one every Sunday with my parents and siblings. I used to play the basketball one and air hockey against them for hours before going to dinner although, we wanted to skip it and keep playing.... nowadays they are almost extinct in the city but you can still find them in some islands. Even though we are all adults now (I am 30 my youngest sibling is 21) when we find one we spend multiple hours playing the same games like we used to do back then. The time spent on those is irreplaceable to me, one the most genuine fun times I ever had.
0xDF84···A821The arcade takes me back to high school holidays. I always went sailing with my friend and his family, and during the bad weather days, we played around in the arcade. Those were really great times, no pressure, no stress, just hanging around and have a good time. Combining the freedom of sailing the endless sea, good weather, swimming, playing games and having barbecues at night was probably one of the best times I had.
0xCFd2···37aFI truly believe I grew up during the pinnacle of gaming, anyone who had a Commodore 64 will recall the thrill of the flashing loading screen, the click of the tape deck, and the crackle from budget speakers playing the tinny background music of your favourite games. My favourites were Paper Boy and another where you piloted a spaceship blasting aliens.
I can still picture myself balancing a black and white 12-inch TV on top of a box of crisps, sitting on the floor for hours, completely absorbed in these games. Money was tight back then, and my mum, bless her, often took us to a local town shopping on a Saturday morning. I remember begging her to let me play Ridge Racer at the arcade. I can almost hear the roar of those engines and feel the racing chair vibrating to this day. She would occasionally give in, and those were truly fantastic days. I spent hours trying to master each corner, often spinning off or crashing, but it never deterred me. I was determined to outperform the older kids who seemed like pros.
As I approached my teenage years, I would cycle with friends to the arcade on Saturday mornings to spend my pocket money. I lost at every game, but it didn't matter, I loved the challenge. The sticky, dirty floors and the peculiar old man in the booth will stay with me forever. Little did I know then, those moments would define, drive, and shape me for the rest of my life.
0xd2B1···9b8DMy brothers and I grew up in a small city, and the arcades next to the cinema were a magnet for the youth looking to challenge one another. We didn’t have much pocket change but we loved hanging out there and watching others competing at the most mindblowing games at the time - The King of Fighters, Time Crisis, Street Fighter 2, Virtua Racing etc. In that magical place, my brother and I developed a passion for video games, well before getting our first console at home. I strongly believe it is also where I started getting passionate about technology and the incredible possibilities offered by computers to create virtual worlds in which we can lose or reinvent ourselves. I will never forget the wonder we experienced in our small city’s arcades. Thank you Bastien for bringing those childhood memories back to life with your art!
0xF051···eA9fI don’t have many memories of the arcade from when I was young; however, I have had the arcade experience, probably starting at Dave & Busters. At first, I used to go with my dad and mom to Dave and Buster's arcade to play different games. I always gravitated to the car and racing simulators over any other games. To be fair, there weren’t that many old-fashioned games, and shooting games used to get old pretty quickly, leaving me with my favorite hobby when I was younger: cars! My best memories of the arcade were when my childhood best friend and I would go on the weekends or after school to play games together and then, at the end, see how many tickets we got to be able to buy silly prizes and toys as well as candy! If only I could go back to those days; thankfully, we could do this again in December. Even though we live thousands of miles apart, we made the time to go to an arcade together, specifically Dave and Busters, and have fun! Arcades serve as a reminder of simpler times when the most important thing was how much fun you had and what silly prizes you could acquire to show off your arcade skills.
0x6205···6110When my wife and I were visiting Nashville for a vacation we found ourselves in an arcade bar where all of the games were free and you just paid for your drinks. We stayed there for a few hours, met some locals, and got really good at a few of the games, one of my favourites being the Jurassic Park shooter, if anyone is familiar.
Arcades also always bring me a sense of nostalgia from playing the Last of Us, so there are a few aspects of this piece that are very special for me.
Love the work Bastien, keep it up.
-- Mondoggg
0xaD4d···03D6The arcade was always a place of peace and solitude despite the noise and freneticism. I will forever be lost in the elegance of Ms. Pac-Man and Elevator Action. The quarter-swallowing brawlers are a bit less fun because there is neither story nor finesse. But through it all you can enjoy as an individual or a group activity. Gaming at home or with friends is wonderful in its own way, but I miss the smell of the wood and carpet and stale snacks of the arcade.
0x17e5···e6c0 # Saved by the Arcade
When I was 13, my dad lost his restaurant in Nice (on the French Riviera), and we had to move to Corsica, in a small village where my mom was from. This was a challenging time for me as I had to start anew there, knowing no one.
Fortunately, that small town had a local amusement arcade where the neighborhood kids would hang out; it was a dream come true for me. They had all sorts of arcade games, but the standout attraction was a fighting game (which I later discovered was Street Fighter 2).
Having no money of my own, I would go shopping for my grandfather (baguette and newspapers), and in return, he would let me keep the change. You can bet I saved every penny I could to play that fighting game at the arcade! To my surprise, I found myself naturally skilled at the game and quickly began defeating the CPU-controlled opponents (using the chinese fighter Chun-Li).
Funnily enough, the locals would gather around me and cheer for me every day! Suddenly, I went from being a nobody to being known as "the fighting game guy." Yet, the ultimate challenge remained: defeating the final boss, M. Bison, a feat that no one, including myself, had accomplished. I spent a significant amount of pocket money trying to defeat that mfer!
But one day, I managed to K.O. Bison, and I still remember the crowd of kids behind me going wild when we finally saw the (admittedly disappointing) ending screen!
The Street Fighter 2 arcade game helped me make my first friends, and even 30 years later, I still hang out with them when I visit my parents on their local island.
0x151E···CFE9As a creator of this artwork I feel it's my duty to inscribe a memory along with all of you.
Arcades have always held a special place in my heart. As a kid growing up mostly in the early 00s, most of the arcades in my time were already quite complex. Not so many old pixelated metal boxes, but high quality racing games, air hockeys and shooters.
In my hometown we did not have any, so I have no experience of going to arcades with my friends. But I have a lot of memories of sharing these experiences with my dad. We used to do these without mom, as a father and son bonding times.
I remember being so small that I couldn't properly play the arcades, and my dad had to hold me when I was shooting aliens or turn me in the chair when I was on the racing games.
These little fragments of childhood joys and happiness are incredibly important to me because they help me keep being connected to the little Bastien inside of me. And doing my art the way I do is one of the ways to do so.