Family Arcade @ L.A. City College

MC Malicious Gravy · 01-16-2007, 09:28 PM

So after returning to L.A. after my 5-6 month escapade in Arizona, I can finally enjoy going to Family Arcade on Vermont. But more importantly, I find it hard to believe that no one has yet to make a thread about it, seeing that it's bustling almost all the time. That and having ITG2 (which for some reason the screen is now discolored even though I hardly ever see people play it), DDREX, Beatmania 3rd, and other stuff. Actually odd that for a while they had 2 DDREX cabs, and before that they were the only place in Los Angeles (that I knew of) that actually had a Solo 2000 cab. So share your experiences and whatnot!

Phil ver0 · 01-17-2007, 10:47 AM

The arcade is well known for it classics games, but the bemani games down there are a piece of shit. ITG2 was so bad that one of the pads wasn't working and it was giving out free credits at will.

Not many play there since they don't take care of the pads, which is a lot of hard work. So its better to go there and play the old stuff than the music games

MC Malicious Gravy · 01-17-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil ver0

The arcade is well known for it classics games, but the bemani games down there are a piece of shit. ITG2 was so bad that one of the pads wasn't working and it was giving out free credits at will.

Not many play there since they don't take care of the pads, which is a lot of hard work. So its better to go there and play the old stuff than the music games

True, I remember when the second EX machine had HORRIBLE pads. Then again, I'm assuming they get some of their stuff handed down from Japan Arcade (like the F-Zero GX and Battle Gear 2), sorta like the situation with All-Amusement in Burbank/Media City Center getting theirs from All-Amusement Van Nuys/The Plant.

MC Malicious Gravy · 09-11-2007, 02:35 AM

Well, I just went Saturday and found out that they changed a few things:

- Beatmania 3rd is gone.
- It's now back to 2 EX machines, both with decent pads now.
- ITG2 screen is fixed, but the 2P left/right selector buttons are still reversed.
- Pump ZERO is still loud as hell

- Guitar Freaks 2nd added.
- Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 added (not the JP release, so Gemballa cars not available) ($1.50 each play and each continue, $2 for a card) twin cab. MT1 still there as well, no MT2.
- Dance Maniax somewhat fixed (I saw someone playing and then decided to hit the 1P Top-Left receptor, so not sure if that was just inexperience or weak sensors). Sadly, this makes it 2 arcades in the metropolitan L.A. area with the first Dance Maniax, but none that I know of with 2nd Mix/2nd Mix Append JParadise. :S

And some games no one really cares about,
- The MT3 cabs took over the spot where the 4 linked Daytona USA cabs were, which are no longer in the arcade.
- Daytona USA 2 added, very low volume, single player unit.

So that's about it from there. I actually only went because I signed up for their mailing list and each month or so they send me a coupon for "Bring $5 and get a roll of 40 tokens ($10)", so thats pretty cool.

Also, if anyone happens to find a 2nd Mix (Append JParadise) cab in L.A., please let me know! I only got to try one out at AX earlier this year. Thanks!

almightytora · 08-06-2011, 12:35 PM

Sorry to bring this thread back from its 2 1/2+ year sleep, but I had to.

Groupon had a deal this past week that one could get 88 tokens for $10. Since I have never been there, I decided to get it, not knowing that they have 5 for $1 and 65 for $10 deals and some of the (newer) games use quarters.

I was surprised to see a four cabinet Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3DX PLUS machine in there. It was 50 cents (no tokens) to play and $1 for a new card. What made me more surprised was that when I played the 4th cabinet, it said that I had previous people beat me in a VS race. Add two and two together and I realized that these were the AI cabinets, as I have only played 3DX PLUS in two places: AI and Round1. I also saw some familiar names in the rankings as well, which verified my suspicions.

The attendant in the morning was very polite and courteous. I will be coming back when I don't want to drive to Round1.

MC Malicious Gravy · 08-07-2011, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by almightytora

Sorry to bring this thread back from its 2 1/2+ year sleep, but I had to.

Groupon had a deal this past week that one could get 88 tokens for $10. Since I have never been there, I decided to get it, not knowing that they have 5 for $1 and 65 for $10 deals and some of the (newer) games use quarters.

I was surprised to see a four cabinet Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3DX PLUS machine in there. It was 50 cents (no tokens) to play and $1 for a new card. What made me more surprised was that when I played the 4th cabinet, it said that I had previous people beat me in a VS race. Add two and two together and I realized that these were the AI cabinets, as I have only played 3DX PLUS in two places: AI and Round1. I also saw some familiar names in the rankings as well, which verified my suspicions.

The attendant in the morning was very polite and courteous. I will be coming back when I don't want to drive to Round1.

Yeah, it was pretty much confirmed from the first day they had them that they were AI's cabs, seeing that RBird had a bunch of ghost kings still.

Semi-related question: Do you post on the WM Expressway forums?

almightytora · 09-16-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC Malicious Gravy

Yeah, it was pretty much confirmed from the first day they had them that they were AI's cabs, seeing that RBird had a bunch of ghost kings still.

Semi-related question: Do you post on the WM Expressway forums?

Sorry for the delay in response, as I don't really check this specific forum that much.

I don't post on the WM Expressway forums.

But, a small update to what I posted above: Since my first visit there, all four cabinets no longer have cards to purchase. So, you should have enough plays left on your card or just play for fun.

Kiyobi · 09-16-2011, 04:52 PM

STOCK MR-2 ON WANGAN STRAIGHT YEAH

TheTripMachine · 09-18-2011, 03:02 PM

This place is still a piece of shit. Sucks since its balls close to me.

yindesu · 09-18-2011, 03:53 PM

They should have invested in a Technika 2 machine instead of 4 expensive racers.

Sucks since its balls close to me as well.

*navfn2000* · 09-20-2011, 05:25 AM

Balls close to me too guys. Let's all play PIU pro 1.

eddie · 09-20-2011, 01:57 PM

I know that after the tourney at Round1 they expressed interest in a Technika cabinet, not so sure what happened with that. You should voice your request to one to the management, if they were thinking about it at all I'm sure they'd still be willing to look into it.

yindesu · 09-20-2011, 11:12 PM

I would if I ever came up here (I'd tell them to get Technika 3 though of course), but actually, ESPN Zone is like a mile away from me and has a much better PIU Pro 1 than this place does, so I would never end up coming here...

Plus last time I came here all their DDR cabinet panels had such sunken panels that playing was almost impossible. (Almost as bad as Japan Arcade, maybe worse now.)