Florida Arcades
TAMPA AREA
Tampa Lanes
Location: 8105 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33614, (813) 933-7634
Video Games: Huge selection of mostly newer model games. Tons of fighting games, DDR style games, Silent Scope, Etc; Decent mix of older games including some large format cabinets with various Jamma games that get rotated from time to time. Large selection of 4-8 player linked driving games. Usually has the latest series games. Classics include a Ms. Pac-Man and Asteroids, but usually in good repair. Probably the largest Video arcade in Tampa.
Pinball: Usually about a half dozen of the latest Sterns. While they don't get every new release, they get most. Normally your best bet in finding the latest game. Pins usually in decent repair and shape, but not perfect.
Review: I heard rumours about this place in the early 90s and was totally blown away on my first visit. This unassuming bowling alley is probably the largest arcade in Tampa. 2 Large arcade rooms sit at each end with smaller rooms for additional vids and pins towards the center. With the decline of the Arcade industry their selection hasn't been updated at much, but its hardly their fault. Good mix of games from all genres, most of the more popular games are available in quantity. Best place in Tampa for Pinball as well. Prices are very reasonable, most games are 25 - 50 cents.
Gameworks
Location: 1600 East 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 (813) 241-9675
Video Games: What you would expect from a decent sized Arcade. Has usual newer game fare, mostly driving, shooting and sports games. Has a few sets of networked driving games, most of your latest showcase style shooters like House of the Dead III and Jurassic Park 3. Most of the games are from the late 90s or newer. They seldom get new titles in, but they will add a new machine every few months. Classic action is totally limited to one Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga reunion cocktail hidden in the bar. Games mostly in good repair, but expect a few broken ones at any given time.
Pinball: Very dissapointing. They have had the same 2 pins for years: South Park and Black Widow. Both games are very dirty and in horrible repair. Flippers are so weak on South Park its basically unplayable, Black Widow isn't much better. If the games even work expect a very sad experience.
Review: In the heart of Tampa's nightlife center sits Gameworks. With a restaurant and bar attached its more of a club atmosphere on friday nights than anything else. Decent number of games, but you'l get tired of the limited genre selection after a few trips. Standard prices are incredibly expensive, requiring a "game card" to play. Most games cost upwards of $1. They run multiple specials however where you can play an unlimited number of games for 30 minutes or an hour for a small fee depending on which special you get. If its still running they had a lunch special that included a meal an a 30 minute unlimited pass for $10, not bad.
Malibu Grand Prix
Location: 14320 North Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613, (813) 977-6273
Video Games: Reduced to one Arcade room Malibu is a shell of its former glory. Still, they offer a decent selection of newer style games. Mostly of the driving and shooting variety with a few DDR type machines thrown in. These days redemption style games take up most of the floor space, but you'll still find a hodge podge of games from the last 10 years. Alas, other than a beat up Ms. Pac-Man the classics are all a distant memory.
Pinball: Not since the late 1990s.
Review: In the 1980s Malibu was the place to be. Two large arcades, go-kart racing, a batting cage and a 2 full putt-putt courses made this place like paradise. As times got tough, the Arcade and Pinball games started to diminish. In the late 1990s they reduced their game inventory by half, consolodating everything to 'The Castle' and disbanding the 2nd arcade by the Go-Kart course. Their rather large selection of Pins was totally lost in the move. Today its hard not to be a little sad when you visit, as most nights its a ghost town. Still probably the best Putt-Putt courses in town even though both courses are basically the same. The one arcade they have left has enough newer games to entertain for a short period of time. At least you don't have to worry about fighting crowds!
DisneyQuest
Location: Located in Downtown Disney, (http://www.disneyquest.com)
Video Games: Classic Arcade features about two dozen games ranging in rarity from your standard fair (Pac-Man) to games like Lunar Lander and a cockpit Empire Strikes Back. Also features a wide variety of Simulator rides and other attractions.
Pinball: Might have the odd machine, but its primarily a video game themed attraction only.
Review: Disneyquest is one of the Disney attractions located in the Downtown Disney area. Its primary attraction is simulator rides and interactive video based exhibits. The classic arcade however, is very nice and well worth the effort. While not massive, you'll probably find more than one forgotten favorite, generally in good working order. The biggest downside here is the admission price which will run somewhere in the $20-$30 range per person. But if your up for an attraction along with your arcade, its worth it.
PAC-MAN Cafe
Location: 9101 International Drive, Orlando 32819 (407-226-8922)
Video Games: Upstairs area features a decent sized modern arcade filled with the latest games. Expect to see miles of DDR, Driving and Gun Games. Downstairs area features about a dozen classics all nicely restored as well as most of the recent re-release games such as the Class of '81 Galaga/Ms Pacman type Combo units.
Pinball: Don't recall seeing any pinball machines, upstairs arcade may have one.
Review: Located in the convention district of International, the Pac-Man cafe is all about nostalgia and video games. The upstairs arcade is packed with all the games you'd expect. The real treat is the dozen classics operating in the cafe itself. Expect to see nicely restored examples of Centipede, Dig Dug, Ms. Pac-Man, etc. They also have a good stock of the newer retro combo units. Write off a good 2 hours if your interested in eating at the Pac-Man cafe however. Their humerously shaped Pizza (it looks like Pac-Man!) is quite good, but even with a small crowd on a Sunday they were painfully slow.
Rocky's Replay
Location: 1121 Semoran Blvd, Casselberry, FL
Video Games: Large collection of all the most recent arcade titles.
Pinball: Excellent collection of the latest Stern offerings plus a few classics. Typically 5-8 machines up and running.
Review: Probably the best Arcade spot in Orlando all things considered. Located in Casselberry, it might be a bit of a drive but well worth it. Decent sized facility has a broad selection of Arcade games and a fairly large Pinball selection as well. Expect to see all the standards (DDR, Gun Games, Fighters, etc) on the Arcade side. The real treasure is the half dozen - typically working - Pinball machines. Expect to see all the new Stern releases and a few older games thrown in for good measure. A rare sight in this day and age! Other than the location the only downer is even though its supposedly a "family type"place they allow smoking, so make sure your lungs are up for that "Bar room" atmosphere.
DAYTONA BEACH
The Boardwalk
Location: The boardwalk runs along the main Daytona Beach area.
Video Games: Game selection will vary from arcade to arcade but expect everything from beaten up classics to more recent driving and shooting games. Mostly you'll find a large quanity of late 80s/early 90s Jamma era stuff in pretty bad repair.
Pinball: Several of the Arcades had a Pin or two, some older Williams and some newer Sterns. Condition was pretty bad, the salt in the air really takes it's toll and it doesn't appear having a tech on call is a priority.
Review: I recall visiting the Daytona Beach boardwalk in 1983 and thinking it was just the most amazing spot ever. It was filled with Arcades over flowing with all the current games. My last visit in 2006 was a much different experience, the boarwalk has declined greatly over the last few years, especially after the hurricanes. The few remaining arcades are mostly in very bad repair with beaten down old games on their last legs. The most popular games on the floors seem to be slot machine style redemption games. There's still a few carnival type rides mixed in, but the boardwalk is only a shadow of its former self. With the few remaining spots closing down to make way for condos and other developments I wouldn't be suprised if the boardwalk wasn't just a memory in the near future. Alas, A sign of the times I guess.