Glitch Victoria is about to open up shop. Sadly, it will not be what I think it is, an arcade parlour for the video game enthusiast. These days, these operations are few and far between. When you visit places like Akihabara, Japan or Seoul, South Korea, the palaces there span floors, offering the latest games to cater to the video-game enthusiast. That’s because they are major metropolises where such an operation can persist.
In North America, the best city to visit is sweet home Chicago. Industry giants like Midway, Williams, and Bally were headquartered there before they folded. Next on the list is allegedly Portland, Oregon because of the wealth of barcades there, and that is the model this garden city operation is using. Their marketing already tells you who they’re after. And for those gamer types working in offices, waiting for 5pm to hit, they got the choice of heading here or going home to their PS5 or decked out PC to play online games.
When the downtown core is supposed to draw in folks from other municipalities to get their fix, not everyone is willing. I’m not blaming the individual operations, and I do have to point a finger at city hall for not making coming into town attractive: With the street people problam and no free parking until after 8pm (the current rates are rather high) my answer is I’ll go elsewhere to get my geek on.
To be honest, these barcades are more focussed on being a sports bar first than a true gaming parlours like Epic Games & More, Gauntlet Games, Quasar’s Arcade and the Pinhalla Pinball Pizzeria. To their credit, they do have air hockey and maybe there’s a foosball table too. But when patrons are cheering at a television game of football or hockey rather than for someone making a high score, that’s not my idea for excitement. GRETA in Vancouver (review link) is the perfect example.
They claim to have the best variety of arcade games, but my spidey-sense tingled the moment I walked in. When I showed up, the games I found are the type one expects to find at a carnival: you get points after scoring high and afterwards, if you have enough, you can redeem them for branded swag. Even a staffer saw I didn’t want no bull, and admitted they weren’t anything spectacular.
Arnold’s Drive-In, this place is not. Although Johnny Zees still kept the vibe alive during their last days, I at least appreciated the effort to evolve with the times. The only way to keep going was to offer more sports-driven and multiplayer experiences, like racing matches with up to eight players along with Gauntlet. When other games are similar to and can involve up to four players, like WWF Wrestlefest and Warlord, to provide that multiplayer experience, I do have to be sad in what today’s arcade anywhere can no longer provide.
Those Battletech centers were the rage once upon a time, and they are now replaced with Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield. At home, the only machine capable of up to four player multiplay is the Nintendo 64, to which Glitch Victoria at least provides. But I would not drive drunk while racing.
Had that been this new operation’s goal to provide matches, I’d be more interested in visiting. These days, what’s presented feels more akin to show up, socialize, and maybe play a game. Folks can buy a card to load money in and they can play to their heart’s content along with wearing neon plastic wrist bands and dancing to DJs spinning a tune. Some will be here for the cocktails, which I’m very curious about, and as for all the games, sure I’ll play and I just hope the price for a bite isn’t through the roof.
As for whether they can recreate the innovativeness of those Pokemon themed drinks I had from EXP Restaurant + Bar (review and obit) in Vancouver, which closed in 2018, only time will tell. This operation was a popular hub for gaming tournaments and cosplay nights which I hope this operation offers.
As for the games, I just hope the management will be on board to prioritize the hardware over the drink rail. Quite simply: I wanna play CYBERPUNK 2077: TURF WARS or GODZILLA VR! As both games are not likely to materialize, I’ll be in no rush to visit. Advertising a 275-seat capacity and basement speakeasy to sustain itself as a nightlife destination rather than a sanctuary for the true arcade experience is already defined. Quasar’s and Pinhalla give what nostalgia hounds and the question if they are going to compete or co-habitate needs to be defined.
As for food, the only operation in the Pacific Northwest which got the vibe right is Mox Boarding House in Seattle and Storm Crow Tavern in Vancouver. The latter sadly closed. As for the former, they’ve separated out their restaurant and bar section from the board games and tabletop wargaming area. It’s easy to wander to the other area, and I believe this layout works. And for those wanting the latest cabinet style and carnival games to play, Dave and Busters is nearby!
Since barcades are the new norm over a traditional arcade, I wish Glitch luck. While my memory is hazy about what it was when I was a child, I’ve seen how Yates Street has evolved over the decades, and the reason for not being some other operation is because there is a working kitchen at the back. As for how long each lasted, some may say this address is cursed. Honestly, when looking at the time each business lasted, the transition is more natural until recently, when it stood empty for two years. I remember it was once Yates St Tap House, Hunter’s, The Office, The Gaslight Lounge, and Barbary Coast.
When news broke about who would finally occupy the space, some folks got excited. However, one issue remains: How can downtown compete with the accessibility of suburban shops offering true gaming nights without a fee? This new stretch is a hard sell. When compared to the original Nerd Row, located at Johnson and Broad, when Yellowjacket smelled of geek with their MtG nights, I’ll hold those memories dear over the nouveau chic.
For Further Reading When Glitch Victoria isn’t the Only Player in Town:
- [Editorial] Sounding off on the Nerdy Convention Scene in Victoria, BC
- Pandemics, Fan Expo Vancouver and Capital City Comic Con 2022
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