Pro Put Family Fun Center

[Welby]

This is a nice little arcade.  It's located under 2 miles from me, in Bloomington, IL.  I'm sending MDA some pictures, but I'll list some of the games that I can make out.
Classics:
1942
Zaxxon
Centipede
Star Wars
Zoo Keeper
Golden Axe
Capcom Bowling
Super Hang-on
(second golden axe?)
Galaga
Smash TV
Alpine Ski
Pole Position
Road Blasters
Sprint(or a clone?)
Mercs
Rally X
Kangaroo
Dig Dug
Space Invaders
Super Contra
Tron
Xybots
Asteroids
Crystal Castles

90's games:
Bad Dudes
Teenage Mutant NT
Ninja...something?
Terminator 2
Showtime NBA
Golden Tee 2k


Pinball:  Space mission, Super Mario, Last Hole?, and couple of others.

MDA says he's going to give them a call, so I may go back and get some better pics with the lights on.

[U.K Jon]

That's exactly what's missing where I live Mark 
I would probably have to travel a couple of hundred miles to find a list of arcade games like those and they probably wouldn't be in the same town !  Look forward to the pictures though 

[Welby]

Just found out the school trip was taken during school hours(the movie is what was at 6pm), so I missed getting there today(and it's pretty cold and nasty outside today.  She still hasn't contacted me about going in for pics, so maybe I'll just wait for MDA's better camera to get pics.

[Welby]

Here's a complete list of games at PP:
Vindicators
Centipede (UR and Mini)
DK, DKJR, DK3
Galaga
Xenophobe
Battle Zone
Space Invaders
Disks of Tron
Xybots
CapCom Bowling
Zaxxon (2UR)
Air Wolf
Arkanoid
Mercs
Golden Axe and Golden Axe:  Revenge of Death Adder
Mechanized Attack
Last Duel
Dig Dug
Gorf
Strata Bowling
Alpine Ski
Super Hang-on (Controls may be tweaked?)
Rally X
Sprint
Jail Break
Road Blasters
After Burner
Joust
Wizard of War
Bad Dudes
Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
Smash TV
Kangaroo
Galaga Anniversary:  Mappy, Xevious and Galaga
Rampart (love that game, but this one is 2 player joystick)
Asteroids
Sega Turbo(not working)
Crystal Castles(not working)
Frogger
Star Wars(nice UR, and a different one since my last visit..some trigger/thumb button problems, but mostly playable)
Stun Runner
RPM(not working)
High Impact(not working)
Choplifter(not working)
Ms Pac (UR and cocktail)
Another cocktail not turned on?


Mr. Driller
Atomic Punk 2
Rolling Extreme
Simpsons
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tekken 2 and 3
Virtual On: Cyber Troopers (dual)
Cyber Sled (dual)
Cool Riders (dual)
Thunder Cross
Trophy Hunting
NBA Show Time
Street Fighter 2
Revolution X
Zombie Raid
Steel Gunner 2
Blitz 2k Gold
Ninja Gaiden
Golden Tee (2k[x2], 2002 and 2003)
War: Final Assault (3 machines linked)
California Speed
Crisis Zone
Terminator 2

Also: Air Hockey, foosball, pool and mini-golf(2 courses all indoor)


The owner says she would also be able to get other games in if someone really wants something, let her know.

[Welby]

I was talking with MDA earlier and found out why the owner wanted the contest sooner(possibly).  Check out this link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Amusement-Business-or-Equipment-for-Sale_W0QQitemZ190171510332QQihZ009QQcategoryZ2992QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It expires 2-7-08.  This may not be bad news, depending on the how much it earns.


Update:  listing extended to 120 days from 11-7-07

[MDARULZ]

I was talking with MDA earlier and found out why the owner wanted the contest sooner(possibly).  Check out this link:

...

It expires 2-7-08.  This may not be bad news, depending on the how much it earns.

Mark's referring to the Pro Putt owner's interest in fielding offers for the business by putting a listing with (as he says) a high-end price on eBay.  This is a 90-day listing and it's still unsold after 80 days.  So...

Everyone please keep in mind that while the business is technically for sale, I will make 100% sure that (thru a contract) any game event that is scheduled there will go thru unaffected by any sale that may occur beforehand.  Most business sales aren't completed before 45 to 60 days after the offer is finalized anyway, which would likely cover the window of time that we'd have the event completed and done anyway.

Right now, I have 100% verbal commitments (barring extreme circumstances on their end) from 7 gamers, including Mark Boolman (and son), Jason Spindler, and a group of Chicago gamers, among others.  Bryan Wagner and Pat Laffaye are 60 - 80% at this point.

I do want to get a nice group of 'top tier' gamers (on the East coast) to come in, like in the past, so we'll have to see how that goes, when things are more final (BTW, all gamers I mentioned by name above are top tier, of course, whether they're East coasters or not !).  Don Hayes loves his hockey, and the presently likely dates (mid March or late March) would interfere with his team's playoffs.  In any case, I'll be talking to the owner in the coming days (possibly in person, to ink a contract, if all goes well on my end, and hers).  Stay tuned...

[U.K Jon]

Sounds great. Maybe if I move to America I can go to a few of these as well ? 
Anyway, I'm 200 today (posts that is) 

[Welby]

I'm taking the kids to PP later today, but my cousin-in-law's daughter went to a party there earlier, and they said it was PACKED...close to capacity(200ish).


Jon:  How ironic that I was in the process of making a post also containing '200'.  I'm closing on MDA's post count.  If you come to the US, perhaps you'll have time to visit the midwest...only a couple hundred $ extra airfare from the FS area.  There is at least 1 family(former customer who bargained like a jewish lawyer) located here that are from the UK....I promise not to hold them against you.

Disclaimer:  I don't have a problem with Jews, who are world famous for their bargaining techniques , but as a general rule, don't like lawyers.

[U.K Jon]

Hey Mark, I'll keep that in mind 
P.S - If you surpass MDA's post count, you know you'll have to take over the reigns as Administrator ? 

[Welby]

Nah, just have to remind him of the RA posting requirement.

[Welby]

PP still had close to 150 people when we got there at 6pm, and well over 100 when we left at 830-845pm.  They all had a blast.  MDA's still working on getting contest site details finalized, so hopefully, he will give us concrete dates soon.  Last weekend in March sounds most likely, but it's looking like something will happen, providing the interest is there via pre-registers. 

[MDARULZ]

OK, here's an interim update for everyone on the 3rd annual CAGDC tournament - full details will be posted right here when things are set, so hold on a few days more.  I didn't want to post anything before now as I simply wasn't sure that initial plans could go forward.  As always, the event is a 'go' from the start (at least, I just talked to the owner of the Pro Putt arcade location, and the contract I sent her is being sent back to me today), but we do need to have a certain number of 'sign-ups' by later this month to cement things, and part of those sign-ups need to be 'big-name' gamers, for promotional (and continuity) purposes.  Still, all seems a 100% go on these fronts, as of now.

The event is set for the long weekend of Friday, March 28th (2 - 11 PM contest hours that day), Saturday (10 AM - 11 PM), and Sunday, the 30th (11 AM to 4 PM) at the Pro Putt Family Fun Center in Bloomington, Illinois.

As far as who's going to be there, I have 100% commitments at this point from:  Mark Boolman (Star Wars and MAME master) and his son, Jason Spindler (Turbo Sub wr holder), and Andre Glanton and 3 or 4 friends of his, out of Chicago.  Other players who are less than 100% sure, but still very good bets to be there, are: Bryan Wagner (Burgertime) and Pat Laffaye (Frogger).  Less sure, but still a pretty good chance of coming, is Donald Hayes.  Outside chances are: Steve McBlane (Asteroids wr machine owner), and Jimmy Linderman (Pac-Mania and Mr. DO! master), both from last year's event.  Note that these names are just a few of the ones to come, as I've only checked with about half of the list that I ultimately intend to, when I get the contract back.

Now, on to the games; I intend to (this week) list about 20 - 24 possible games for 'voting' (like last year), and then (in a feature that's new this year) I will likely let 6 to 8 of the 'early bird' adult sign-ups actually pick one game they'd like to have in the event !  I'll let 3 or 4 of the previous tournament entrants have a game pick, and 3 or 4 of the 'new to the event' entrants have a pick.  The total number of games in the event will probably be around 14, versus 13 last year, and 15 the first year.  As last year, at least one will likely be a 'Mystery Title', and known only on the first day of the event.

Well, that's it for now.  Check back in a few days for the full scoop, including a detailed web page, and a game voting thread on these forums...

[Permafrostrick]

what condition in general are those games in?  I have Crab Towne only about 1.5 miles from me that has 100+ games but most are where I would prefer to never play them becaues the condition is so poor or using some hacked up or alternate rom set for the game.

for example, they have a couple mspacs...and neither one are with factory chips...they are some variant where monster behavior is where I have never seen it before....no equal rom set for it in mame.

they also have a couple pacman machines...but both setup with hangly man rom sets....lots of other games...screen burn on and bad colors make it difficult to play....others faulty controls.

also set as a side-room to a Keno-diner type place full of smoke....so no one else I have taken there really can stay very long because the smoke is that bad.

it's sad really...given so many games so close to me...yet most not that playable...definitely a few semi-gems in there though.  the centipede is in good condition as DBH can attest(set 999,999 as the top 3 on it...hehe).

also, I won't be able to attend this event....no vacations of any kind allowed due to the merger until April....and then I think with the spring our sales volume will be going up so much that I personally won't be allowed off in april or may even.

our merger is about 50% complete now....almost everyone at their limit though so not sure how the other 50% will get merged.  their personnel will start coming over now that will help...but help for my position?  not likely a lot.

[Welby]

Most of the games are in pretty good shape.  In my listing above, I indicated games that had any problems with controls or weren't turned on.  There are a couple with screen burn, but overall, most have good displays or are unaffected by it.  Some of the machines actually look pretty new...others...not so much.

[Welby]

My son, Connor, has been going to PP regularly since the contest.  He really hit it off with Brent.  When he came back home Sunday, Connor had a new shirt on.  I'd like to post the pic, but it's over the 256k limit...anyway to slim it down so I can post it?