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    Missile Command

    Game » consists of 10 releases. Released Jul 01, 1980

    Missile Command is a classic arcade game in which players must delay their inevitable annihilation by destroying a barrage of incoming missiles.

    Arcade Fun at California Extreme

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    Ryan

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    Edited By Ryan  Staff

    Where else are you gonna find a Gallagher arcade machine? 
    Where else are you gonna find a Gallagher arcade machine? 
    This past weekend Jeff, Dave, and myself took the drive down to the Hyatt Regency in sunny Santa Clara to check out California Extreme 2009. Put simply, California Extreme is an event where collectors of classic arcade games and pinball machines can put their goods on display for an audience of classic arcade appreciators. There's a $35 admission fee, but once you're in, you can play all the games you can handle for free, until you either collapse or they kick you out.

    I've been aware of CAX's existence for a few years, but I don't think I was prepared for how giddily I'd respond to the actual event. We originally went with the intentions of shooting a bunch of material--interviews and such--though the second we walked through the double doors and laid our eyes on the literal hundreds of machines, it became immediately apparent that we could not resist the siren calls of all those games, demanding to be played. So, my apologies in advance for both the quantity and the quality of our CAX video coverage, particularly since I'm having a hard time articulating just how much fun it was having access to all those games.

    It was, basically, the best arcade I had ever been to, stocked with obvious classics, obscure gems, prototype and bootleg machines, and a bunch of stuff I'd simply never heard of. Most of the arcade machines were from that late-70s/early-80s golden age of the American arcade, though the pinball tables on display went much further back. For the most part, there was an underlying logic to how the floor was laid out, whether it be by vintage, technology, or theme, making it easy for me to go from playing Punch-Out!!, to Super Punch-Out!!, to Arm Wrestling. You can see a long list of what was on display on the CAX website, though that list isn't 100% definitive, as there were a few no-shows, as well as a few surprises.

    These guys were playing Warlords for money. No words for how awesome that is.
    These guys were playing Warlords for money. No words for how awesome that is.
    The show wasn't without some minor disappointments. Jeff was bummed that the Cloak & Dagger machine was in as poor condition as it was; I was bummed that the Beavis & Butthead prototype cabinet on display was actually set up to play Die Alien Scum!!; and I think we were both pretty thoroughly disappointed with the crummy gameplay in Marble Man: Marble Madness II. I now understand why that game never went into production.

    For all the free-wheeling fun there is to be had, there's a dangerous edge to CAX, as some of the machines being shown are actually for sale. I came incredibly close to buying a Missile Command cocktail cabinet--going so far as to hitting an ATM, emptying my checking account, and making an offer--and Jeff was vocally playing with the idea of buying the Black Hole pinball machine on display. To paraphrase Dave's description of the event, we basically spent six hours walking around in circles in the dark, and it couldn't have been more of a blast. This is just a brief glimpse of what we saw, you can expect to hear more about it on this week's Bombcast. One thing's for certain, though; I'll definitely be back in 2010.


     
      
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    Ryan

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    #1  Edited By Ryan  Staff

    Where else are you gonna find a Gallagher arcade machine? 
    Where else are you gonna find a Gallagher arcade machine? 
    This past weekend Jeff, Dave, and myself took the drive down to the Hyatt Regency in sunny Santa Clara to check out California Extreme 2009. Put simply, California Extreme is an event where collectors of classic arcade games and pinball machines can put their goods on display for an audience of classic arcade appreciators. There's a $35 admission fee, but once you're in, you can play all the games you can handle for free, until you either collapse or they kick you out.

    I've been aware of CAX's existence for a few years, but I don't think I was prepared for how giddily I'd respond to the actual event. We originally went with the intentions of shooting a bunch of material--interviews and such--though the second we walked through the double doors and laid our eyes on the literal hundreds of machines, it became immediately apparent that we could not resist the siren calls of all those games, demanding to be played. So, my apologies in advance for both the quantity and the quality of our CAX video coverage, particularly since I'm having a hard time articulating just how much fun it was having access to all those games.

    It was, basically, the best arcade I had ever been to, stocked with obvious classics, obscure gems, prototype and bootleg machines, and a bunch of stuff I'd simply never heard of. Most of the arcade machines were from that late-70s/early-80s golden age of the American arcade, though the pinball tables on display went much further back. For the most part, there was an underlying logic to how the floor was laid out, whether it be by vintage, technology, or theme, making it easy for me to go from playing Punch-Out!!, to Super Punch-Out!!, to Arm Wrestling. You can see a long list of what was on display on the CAX website, though that list isn't 100% definitive, as there were a few no-shows, as well as a few surprises.

    These guys were playing Warlords for money. No words for how awesome that is.
    These guys were playing Warlords for money. No words for how awesome that is.
    The show wasn't without some minor disappointments. Jeff was bummed that the Cloak & Dagger machine was in as poor condition as it was; I was bummed that the Beavis & Butthead prototype cabinet on display was actually set up to play Die Alien Scum!!; and I think we were both pretty thoroughly disappointed with the crummy gameplay in Marble Man: Marble Madness II. I now understand why that game never went into production.

    For all the free-wheeling fun there is to be had, there's a dangerous edge to CAX, as some of the machines being shown are actually for sale. I came incredibly close to buying a Missile Command cocktail cabinet--going so far as to hitting an ATM, emptying my checking account, and making an offer--and Jeff was vocally playing with the idea of buying the Black Hole pinball machine on display. To paraphrase Dave's description of the event, we basically spent six hours walking around in circles in the dark, and it couldn't have been more of a blast. This is just a brief glimpse of what we saw, you can expect to hear more about it on this week's Bombcast. One thing's for certain, though; I'll definitely be back in 2010.


     
      
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    dbz1995

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    #2  Edited By dbz1995

    Wow, this is awesome.

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    fr0br0

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    #3  Edited By fr0br0

    Jesus, the end of that first video scared the shit out of me. I guess that's what I get for lowering my guard against Screamers...

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    FinalDasa

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    #4  Edited By FinalDasa  Moderator

    Where did you find a Bennigans? 

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    Jambones

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    #5  Edited By Jambones

    I cannot express how jealous I am of you guys.

     Ass Cam, maybe, but thank you so much for this.

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    RoyaleWifCheese

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    #6  Edited By RoyaleWifCheese

    Ass Cam, indeed. Lots of ass in that first one.

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    Claude

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    #7  Edited By Claude

    So, that's what a Nerd Upskirt camera looks like.

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    MacGyver

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    #8  Edited By MacGyver

    that looks so awesome, i want to go!!!

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    Out_On_Bail

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    #9  Edited By Out_On_Bail

    Lol, you guys are awesome. The ass cam? Never expected that one.  Great videos, although I don't think I will ever be sold on the drink flavored pound cakes.

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    DrRandle

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    #10  Edited By DrRandle

    Mmm. Bennigans sounds soo good.

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    snide

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    #11  Edited By snide

    One other thing about the event. It was HELLA LOUD. I went home with a pretty blistering headache.

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    Trilogy

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    #12  Edited By Trilogy

    What's the name of that game at the very end of the video? I've definitely played it before. Or at least something VERY similar.

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    JJOR64

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    #13  Edited By JJOR64

    Kick ass.  I wish I could have went.  :-(

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    FlipperDesert

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    #14  Edited By FlipperDesert

    The picture of Jeff and Dave outside of a Bennigan's is freaking me out. Look at their eyes.

    And I don't mind the lack of coverage, I'd have gotten even more sidetracked in your shoes there by the looks of it.

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    bzchan

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    #15  Edited By bzchan

    Awesome coverage guys. I was planing on going but didn't make it. Now I'm hungry for a banana foster's and a guiness burger.

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    zigx

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    #16  Edited By zigx

    I was so tempted to go to this last weekend, but as my job is a bit shaky at the moment I decided to hold off. It's too bad because by the looks of it, I would have been happy just spending hours playing pinball games. Don't know what it is about pinball, I don't consider myself good by any means, but it's just so damn addicting.

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    supercubedude

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    #17  Edited By supercubedude

    Jeff is going to do terrible things to food in that Bennigan's.

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    snide

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    #18  Edited By snide
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    NoXious

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    #19  Edited By NoXious

    Wrong event for an ass cam - that's all I'm saying. Thank you for the mental scars, my psychiatrist loves you guys.

    I love all these testing videos though, it makes sure I don't eat the wrong stuff!

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    phlegms

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    #20  Edited By phlegms

    The dudes playing Warlords look hard-freaking-core.

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    Alphazero

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    #21  Edited By Alphazero

    Nice Flynn's T-shirt.

    I always wanted to own an arcade like Flynn's in Tron.

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    mosdl

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    #22  Edited By mosdl

    Bennigans is dead, just some well doing Bennigans (the one shown seems to be the one in Santa Clara next to Mission College, was one of them) bought the name and run a very different menu (much smaller last I was there).

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    Zabant

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    #23  Edited By Zabant

    aww wish i was there, and i'm sure they would of let you film guys, ive never heard of the event so they need all the coverage they can get!

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    Kajaah117

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    #24  Edited By Kajaah117

    Impressive that they had theater of Magic but where's the damn EARTHSHAKER machine?!

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    jsd

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    #25  Edited By jsd

    I am so bummed I missed this, somehow I didn't even hear about it until late Sunday.

    Oh well, next year for sure.  And I will definitely be at the Pacific Pinball Expo in October!

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    KillaMaStA

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    #26  Edited By KillaMaStA

    Awesome, im sad that this kind of stuff never happens where I live

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    erinfizz

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    #28  Edited By erinfizz

    I can't imagine having that much pinball in one place. And cocktail cabinets! I love those for some reason.

    Glad y'all had a good time.

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    Reverseface

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    #29  Edited By Reverseface

    Lol jeff looks so retarded in that photo. Also too many MAN ASS SHOTS.

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    Osphere

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    #30  Edited By Osphere

    I want to try that pound cake lol

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    DavidSnakes

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    #31  Edited By DavidSnakes

    Those dudes playing Warlords looked pretty intense.

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    RHCPfan24

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    #32  Edited By RHCPfan24

    Jeff is happy about breakfast!

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    Bureksasutlijom

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    #33  Edited By Bureksasutlijom

    Road Trip!So this is this famous GaLAGher  gAme! >_>

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    buzz_killington

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    #34  Edited By buzz_killington

    I still can't get over the GALLAGHER game...

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    Death_Unicorn

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    #35  Edited By Death_Unicorn

    I want an ass-cam...

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    AURON570

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    #36  Edited By AURON570

    filming ghetto style. giantbomb bringing you all the goods.

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    EndrzGame

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    #37  Edited By EndrzGame

    My People!!! I've found my lost tribe!!!!
    OMG that brought back memories from back in the day. The rec center at my college had a fantastic arcade back in '92. I would love to see something like this in the mid-west. I would drive 100+ miles to play S.T.U.N.  Runner

    edit: fyi that video is choppy. The game ran silky smooth in the arcade.

    PS: I want a review of Marble Madness II. Why didn't they release that? It's.....just.....MADNESS!!

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    FLStyle

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    #38  Edited By FLStyle

    Fuck me that loud music at the end made me jump, cool taste test otherwise.

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    tekmojo

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    #39  Edited By tekmojo

    Quite the grin there.

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    Sledgehammering

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    #40  Edited By Sledgehammering

    I guess I've gotta wait for Tuesday night to see how the other pop-cakes taste?  Mmmmm...pop-cakes.

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    Media_Master

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    #41  Edited By Media_Master

    taking a trip through time...

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    Vance_Helsing

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    #42  Edited By Vance_Helsing

    Oh CAX was so much fun!

    I wish they had a couple more games from the 90s (Golden Axe, The Simpsons or even a Mortal Kombat game would've been nice) but overall it was a blast.

    I actually got to meet Jeff and Dave to boot! (Saw Ryan walking around aimlessly too, but I didn't want to disturb him- I caught Jeff & Dave after a game of Blitz so it didn't seem like too big a deal to approach them) I doubt they remember, because I was being super noobish and nervous, but that was definitely one of many highlights of the experience!

    Can't wait for next year.

    Edit: Oh I just saw the vid, and my friend is in it! If you pause @  1:52, he's the guy in all black w/ a black jacket. I'm sure that's interesting to no one, but it made me excited!

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    snide

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    #43  Edited By snide

    I remember ya danterandal19. Nice meeting you duder. I was specifically hanging out behind Jeff playing Blitz because I could see how earnestly he wanted someone to walk up to that machine so that he could humilate them :)

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    crapdragoon

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    #44  Edited By crapdragoon

    jean baudin!! (the guy holding that 9 string bass)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7oKT6xz-k8

    i guess he is always there!! lmao

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    deactivated-5c5cdba6e0b96

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    Thats really frigging awesome, great stuff guys!

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    jediautobot

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    #46  Edited By jediautobot

    Thanks to the clip at the end, "Draw!" is going to go through my head all day.  I was wondering if they had that game there.

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    astonish

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    #47  Edited By astonish

    Oh man that hologram game from Sega! I remember that! What is the name of that game?

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    Yit

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    #48  Edited By Yit

    Jeff loves him some Benigans.

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    DukeTogo

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    #49  Edited By DukeTogo

    That dude is wearing a FLYNN'S t-shirt while playing a Journey cabinet.

    Cloak and Dagger seriously needs to be ported to something, it's a damn fun game that nobody got to enjoy.

    Black Hole is arguably the best pinball machine ever, although Haunted House and Fireball are right up there.

    I wonder if the elusive Empire Strikes Back vector game was there, I only ever saw it once - and it was broken.

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    tigerthecat5

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    #50  Edited By tigerthecat5

    that adams family pinbal is my favorite

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