GameWorks

To do

From Jeff Moss' GameWorks page: "Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sega Games hired Jeff Moss to design and produce all of the retail merchandise for all of the GameWorks stores around the USA. 3000 units of 72 SKUs were designed and drop shipped to each of the original GameWorks retail shops."
From GameWorks themselves, the company seems to be building its branding heavily around eSports: "GameWorks, Inc., esports and entertainment company for millennials, teens and families, ..." etcetc. Another take: "GameWorks is an esports and entertainment destination built around the central theme of gaming, both competitively and for amusement."
The About page from GameWorks' official website can be used as a source for the Seattle location being the first opened. AND can also be a secondary source for the Spielberg quote on the GameWorks sign.
tbh the About page is written really well, it quickly transitions from the above quote to stating how the venue had to evolve to stay relevant. And as much of it is just marketing, I really like this quote: "Each GameWorks is different, based on the preferences in the local market, and customized specifically for those local needs. Additionally, GameWorks team members are passionate about their local community, and organize, host or attend many special events for local charities." ...which is pretty much true. The existing GameWorks had to reaaalllyyy adapt to their local communities to stay profitable and relevant, and again as much as this is kinda just marketing,.... its written in a very straightforward way, which is notably refreshing.
For what it's worth, the official website lists arcade machines by venue. AND it appears they're listing their smaller stuff and standup cabs, which is super admirable. Once we start listing housed arcade machines, we can definitely use this for their current stuff.
ALSO. They've got really clean images for their arcade machines here too, all photographed at a nice angle against a white background. If we're needing any photos they might have, we can definitely get them from here until finding a higher-resolution version.
ADDRESS (corporate headquarters, Aug 2002): 600 North Brand Boulevard, 5th Floor, Glendale, CA 91203
Did all GameWorks venues get that Shinobi statue?

Links

CartridgeCulture (talk) 01:37, 10 December 2021 (EST)

GameWorks Las Vegas

The Vegas GameWorks was a big one, lots of promotion and massive machines, one of the few Western non-SegaWorld locations where you had massive Sega machines. Also featured in L.A. Machineguns.

CartridgeCulture (talk) 00:16, 20 November 2021 (EST)

yes, the original Vegas location did indeed seem to be the flagship/biggest branch. Touted in many sources as being 47,000 square feet, which means it even outmatches the Rio de Janeiro location with rarer Joypolis attractions. A real shame that it was one of those that got the chop in favour of another site soon after Sega scrubbed their hands of the venture, but the rent must've been eye-watering...

on the massive machines part, several of the larger GameWorks locations had the Virtua Formula incarnation of Indy 500 anyway (and Sega did sell it to a whole bunch of unaffiliated arcades, despite it costing a fortune), but more uncommon was its Lost World: Jurassic Park Special units. Amazing attraction with an experience different to the original game, also a great bit of shameless cross-brand synergy for Spielberg and Sega

and we may well have some more spotting to do - another obvious in-game homage to the location also appears in the more recent StarHorse4. Nice to see SoJ remember their former western colleagues efforts, putting an oblique reference to them in what is, for all intents and purposes, a medal game meant only for operation in Japan, where next to nobody would get the hint.

Ted618 (talk) 00:03, 6 December 2021 (GMT)

Dude this is so good, thank you for all of this. And... oh man. So I've got limited experience with Sega venues, but the Vegas one was always close to me. I was born and raised in California with my immediate family, but the rest of my father's side was pretty much all out in Vegas, so much so that we'd drive out there a few times a year. I was just a little too old to experience VirtuaLand (and it was located in the Luxor, which had a reputation as a- "second-rate hotel" isn't doing it justice, but it was cheaper for a reason. It was at the very bottom end of the strip, away from the foot traffic and just south of the "main Vegas busy area".) But the GameWorks was big, RIGHT in the middle of the strip, like so much so that foot traffic would get pushed in there because the main strip was so busy.

Like a lot of other Western venues, its owners had ensured it was connected to the other tenants' properties: most of the time we got in through M&M World (which is still there I believe) because the main entrance at ground level was always a little busy. I remember being stunned when I was on the third-story of the Coca-Cola side of M&M World (its complicated), and I was a dumb kid and wandered around, and poked my head down some back employee hallway and saw the Sega logo on a little sign on a door. Like pfhwhat why is this here what. But we only ever went for M&M World/the Coke stuff. Video games were a little too narrow for a "family experience with mom and dad and sister", but you bet I always ran off and played the arcade games. Funny enough, don't remember anything about the games, other than I usually just hung out in the front lobby and not the main "arcade area" so my family didn't have to look around long to find me when they were ready to leave.

And funny that you specifically mentioned rent. On what ended up as my last trip to M&M World, I remember going up to an employee and asking what happened to the big Sega place next door? And even her, as an employee of the place next door, says "I think it was a little too expensive." Also interestingly, and this is common knowledge, but the Vegas GameWorks moved off the strip and down to a place called Town Center. It's not really walkable from the strip, but its in a place that- like imagine where Dave & Busters got installed (near theatres and in big shopping centers etc). Unfortunately the overwhelming majority of games are like very modern "apps into arcade cabs" deals like "Cut the Rope - The Arcade Game" stuff. I was so disappointed, it's everywhere. I walked through it for five minutes hunting for anything older than the last decade. Nothing, except for a single-wall of standup arcade cabinets (and by wall I mean like 4-6), most of them new things playing older games. I got to play Galaga. And nothing else. The largest and most complicated cabs they had were these mini-360-spinning pods for some- Star Wars game? The technology looked neat but I'm not a big fan of Star Wars. Still, they had a couple of flavors of like- weird mini Western R360 things. For whatever that's worth. CartridgeCulture (talk) 19:34, 5 December 2021 (EST)

yeah the current state of things with that location is a shame, though I suspect it wouldn't be much different if Sega were involved instead too. The pods you mention - Star Wars Battle Pod, no? Those things don't spin but still have a spectacle about them that other cabinets don't nowadays, indeed I believe they were originally used for Gundam games in Japan

IMO regardless of how little I too care for Star Wars they are pretty cool cabinets, however having played them I am not a fan of how you're required to credit feed to continue even if you have won - I get that they're expensive and arcade operators need to earn their money back, but not like this :// Ted618 (talk) 01:46, 7 December 2021 (GMT)

Seattle stuff

alongside the Vegas one which opened immediately after it, Seattle is one of the only locations I intend to tackle with a proper breakdown of its history, facilities, etc - most of the others simply weren't as big or well-documented to demand more. And over the years I have came to realise some really special Sega stuff from the late 90s is still hanging in there, nearly 25 years on from it first opening

https://twitter.com/ohpoorpup/status/1380625659689455617

there are god knows how many photos of that eye-catching mural out there and I need to figure out the best ones to mirror on here soon

Ted618 (talk) 00:04, 6 December 2021 (GMT)

Videos

some vids that probably need mirroring, plonking them here so that they're all in one place

tbh Electric Playground in its entirety and most of kukun kun's uploads need to be on there but that's a discussion for another day Ted618 (talk) 01:26, 7 December 2021 (GMT)

cool flickr pics

because I just keep finding more that I hadn't previously seen

apparently they did it again the following year but haven't since. To be expected with Sega selling them off but still a shame Ted618 (talk) 01:35, 11 December 2021 (GMT)

Images needing incorporation

Alternate logo with slogan, needs cleanup or replacement

RIP

well this is bloody eerie

https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/the-arcade-from-the-last-of-us-2-is-closing-down-in-real-life/

GameWorks haven't announced anything official yet but having heard back from people at the Seattle location, they're actually closing all locations permanently this week. A couple have already been quietly closed for months under temporary pretences. It's said that the one in Vegas may get purchased by independent operators and the landlord of Seattle has the choice to run the site as is, though that is looking unlikely.

it's been a long time since the chain was in its prime, however it's still a shame it had to end like this. Kind of shady to just close all the locations with almost no prior notice, but I guess they wanted things done quietly. Good that we started covering more of this stuff while we could though.

Ted618 (talk) 16:34, 23 December 2021 (GMT)

Thanks for the update. There's been a small team working with the Seattle GameWorks management to preserve as much as they can. I'm going to be doing a little on the Vegas front but nothing substantial. I'd imagine some work is being done through fans of the other locations too, but we can only hope. Thankfully I'd imagine if you approached the management of the other locations and asked them to share some stories, they'd be more than happy. As long as you frame the questions in the right light. But yeah seriously, we started this push at the right time. CartridgeCulture (talk) 20:01, 23 December 2021 (EST)

20:01, 23 December 2021 (EST)

List of games per location

Getting this list up here before the website goes does. All naming/spelling/capitalization as originally written.

Chicago - Schaumburg (sourced 2021-12-25)

Injustice
After Burner
AIR FX
Aliens : Armagedeon
All Aboard
All About Timing
Ballistics
Beat Saber Arcade
Bejeweled
Big Bass Wheel
BIG BUCK HD
Big One Crane
Big Win Super Spin
BlazBlue Arcade
Classic Donkey Kong
Classic Frogger
Classic Ms. Pac-Man
Colorama
Crane UFO Catcher
Crazy Clock
Cruis'n Blast
Cycraft
Dance Dance Revolution X
Dance Dance Revolution X2
Daytona 2
Dead Heat
Deadstorm Pirates
Deal or No Deal
Dirty Driving
Dizzy Chicken
DJ Technika
Doodle Jump
Double Up Stacker
Dream Raiders
Fast & Furious
Fishbowl Frenzy
Flamin Finger
Free Fallin'
Frogger
Fun Stop Photo
Galactix
Gameworks Crane
Ghost Squad
Ghost Squad Evo DX
Guitar Hero
Halo: Fireteam Raven
Harley Davidson: King of The Road
Harpoon Lagoon
House of the Dead 2
House of the Dead 3
House of the Dead 4
Hummer Attraction
HYPERSHOOT
ICE BALL FX
Initial D4
Jam Session
Jumpin' Jackpot
Jurassic Park Arcade
Key Master
King of Ring
Kung Fu Panda
Lane Master
Launch Code
Let's Go Island
Let's Go Jungle
Luigi Mansion
Mario Kart GP DX
Marvel vs Capcom
Milk Jug Toss
Mini Rider 2
MONSTER DROP X-treme
Movie Stop
Mr Driller
Ms. PacMan \ Galaga Classic
Nascar Showdown
NBA on NBC
Nerf
NFL 2 Minute Drill
Nirin
Nothin But Net
Operation
Pac Man Battle Royale
Pac Man Smash
Pigs Might Fly
Pinball 24
Pinball Family Guy
Pinball Iron Man
Pool Table
Price is Right - Shell Game
Pump It Up Prime 2018
Rambo 56"
Razing Storm
Red Hot Fire and Ice
Red Zone
R-Tuned
Slam A Winner
Slam A Winner Extreme
Space Ballz
SPACE INVADERS Big Screen
Speed Demon
Spin & Win
Spong Bob Ticket Boom
Sponge Bob Pineapple
Star Wars Battle Pod
Star Wars POD Racer
Star Wars Trilogy
Street Fighter 4
Super Monkey Ball
Super Shot
Tank Tank Tank
Target Bravo
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tekken 5
Tekken 6
Terminator Super Deluxe
Ticket Time
Time Crisis 4
Tomb Raider NEW
Tower of Power
Transformers 55" Theater
Treasure Quest
Virtua Cop 3
Wagan Midnight MaxTune
Walking Dead
Whack And Win
Wheel Deal Extreme
Wheel Of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune Upright
Whistle Stop
Willy Wonka
Winner's Cube
Winners Wheel

Seattle - Downtown (sourced 2021-12-25)

After Burner
AIR FX
Beat Saber Arcade
King of Ring
Lane Blaster
Nerf
Power Roll
Space Ballz
SPACE INVADERS Big Screen
Sponge Bob Pineapple
Super Bikes
Super Shot
Tekken Tag K34
Ticket Time
Tomb Raider NEW
Transformers 55" Theater
Virtual Tennis 3
Wagan Midnight MaxTune
Walking Dead
Whack And Win
Wheel Deal Extreme
Wheel of Fortune Upright
Willy Wonka
Winners Wheel

Minneapolis - Mall of America (sourced 2021-12-25)

Injustice
Beat Saber Arcade
Big Bass Wheel
BIG BUCK HD
Crossy Road
Free Fallin'
Gameworks Crane
Gold Fishing
Golden Tee 2013
Grand Piano Keys
Guitar Hero
Haunted Manor
House of the Dead 2
House of the Dead 4
Hummer Std
HYPERSHOOT
ICE BALL FX
Initial D4
Jurassic Park Arcade
Key Master
King of Ring
Nerf
Power Roll

Cincinnati - Newport (sourced 2021-12-25)

Injustice
Big Bass Wheel
Cruis'n Blast
Halo: Fireteam Raven
Harley Davidson: King of The Road
House of the Dead 3
House of the Dead 4
HYPERSHOOT
ICE BALL FX
Initial D4
Jumpin' Jackpot
Jurassic Park Arcade
Key Master
Kung Fu Panda
Lane Master
Let's Go Jungle
Luigi Mansion
Marvel vs Capcom
MONSTER DROP X-treme
Ms. Pac Man \ Galaga Classic
NBA Hoops
NFL 2 Minute Drill
Operation
Pac Man Battle Royale
Pigs Might Fly
Pool Table
Price is Right - Shell Game
Rambo 56"
Razing Storm
Road Trip
Sega Hummer DLX
Slam A Winner
Sonic Air Hockey
SPACE INVADERS Big Screen
Speed of Light
Spin & Win
Spong Bob Ticket Boom
Sponge Bob Pineapple
Super Bikes
Tank Tank Tank
Target Bravo
Tekken 6
Terminator Super Deluxe
Ticket Time
Tomb Raider NEW
Tower of Tickets
Transformers 55" Theater
Treasure Quest
Typhoon
Virtual Tennis 3
Whack And Win
Wheel Deal Extreme
Wheel Of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune Upright
Winner's Cube

Denver - Northfield Stapleton

Injustice
After Burner
Aliens : Armagedeon
All Aboard
All About Timing
Angry Birds Arcade
Barrel of Monkeys
Batman
Beat Saber Arcade
Bejeweled
Big Bass Wheel
BIG BUCK HD
Big One Crane
Big Sweet Land
Big Win Super Spin
Black Hole
Connect 4
Crane UFO Catcher
Crazy Clock
Crossy Road
Cyclone
Cycraft
Dance Dance Revolution X
Dance Dance Revolution X2
Dead Heat
Deadstorm Pirates
Deal or No Deal
Dizzy Chicken
Double Up Stacker
DJ Technika
Doodle Jump
Double Up Stacker
Down The Clown
Elvis Live in Vegas
Explosive Extreme
Fire & Ice X-Treme
Fire Storm Air Hockey
Fishbowl Frenzy
FlappyBird
Frogger
Fruit Ninja 2X
Gameworks Crane
Ghost Squad
Gold Fishing
Grand Piano Keys
Guitar Hero
Halo: Fireteam Raven
Harpoon Lagoon
House of the Dead 4
HYPERSHOOT
ICE BALL FX
Initial D3
Initial D4
Jurassic Park Arcade
Key Master
Kung Fu Panda
Lane Master
Let's Go Jungle
Luigi Mansion
Mach Storm
Mario Kart GP DX
Mario Kart SD
Monopoly
MONSTER DROP X-treme
Movie Stop
NFL 2 Minute Drill
Nicktoons Nitro
Operation
Pac Man Battle Royale
Pac Man Smash
Pinball Game of Thrones
Pinball Iron Man
Pinball Kiss
Pinball Metalica
Plants vs Zombies
Pop N Music
Price is Right - Shell Game
Quik Drop
Rambo 56"
Razing Storm
Simpsons Soccer
SnoCross
Snow Down
Sonic Ball Blast
Sonic Dash
Space Ballz
SPACE INVADERS Big Screen
Spin & Win
Sponge Bob Pineapple
Stacker
Star Wars Battle Pods Flatscreen
Star Wars POD Racer
Star Wars Trilogy
Super Bikes
Super Shot
Target Bravo
Tekken 5
Terminator Salvation XD
Terminator Super Deluxe
Ticket Monster
Ticket Time
Tippin Blocks
Tower of Tickets
Transformers 55" Theater
Treasure Quest
Typhoon
Whack And Win
Wheel Deal Extreme
Wheel of Fortune Upright
Winner's Cube
Wizzard of OZ

Las Vegas - Town Square

Norfolk / Chesapeake

Injustice
All Aboard
All About Timing
Angry Birds Arcade
Bejeweled
Big Bass Wheel
BIG BUCK HD
Big Buck Hunter 2
Big One Crane
Big Win Super Spin
Connect 4
Crane UFO Catcher
Cruis'n Blast
Cruis'n Exotica
Cyclone
Cycraft
Dance Dance Revolution X2
Daytona 2
Deal or No Deal
Dizzy Chicken
Doodle Jump
Down The Clown
F355 Challenge
Face Place Photo Booth
Fast & Furious
Fire & Ice X-Treme
Fishbowl Frenzy
Gameworks Crane
Ghost Squad
H2 Overdrive
Haunted Manor
Hello Kitty Air Hockey
House of the Dead 2
Initial D3
Jumpin' Jackpot
Jurassic Lost World
Jurassic Park Arcade
Mario Kart SD
Mini Dunxx
Monster Crane
MONSTER DROP X-treme
Monster Hunt
Nascar
NFL 2 Minute Drill
Pigs Might Fly
Pool Table
Pump It Up Fiesta
Quik Drop
Rambo 56"
Skee Ball Lightning
Slam A Winner
Sonic Air Hockey
Space Ballz
SPACE INVADERS Big Screen
Speed Demon
Spong Bob Ticket Boom
Sponge Bob Pineapple
Stacker
Super Shot
Terminator Salvation XD
Ticket Monster
Ticket Time
Treasure Quest
Typhoon
Wheel Deal Extreme
Wheel of Fortune Upright
Winner's Cubes

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