Welcome to the latest issue of COIN UP! This is the review series where I go back in time and review those arcade games of the past that you probably remember or or have a memory vaguely playing at the local arcade- the game tucked away in a corner while you’re waiting for your turn at Space Ace. If you have a favorite game you would like to see in a review- let me know in the comments section below! We have our first sequel and it will be a part of our Shmup series!
If you didn’t read the last issue- WHAT ARE YOU DOING? go back and read the Coin Up review of Astro Fighter! If you have-great! You know its a shortened name for Shoot Em’ Up- a genre of game that involved a space fighter or jet moving in a direction (or all, as we’ll see later in this series!!!) Shooting enemies who move in a pattern (or random as well…) trying to shoot you down. My favorites tend to be space shmups (or space shooters!) And this one tops it’s predecessor in every way!!!! Continue reading →
Long time, no speak… Been a little busy as of late- so UBERNERD has been holding the fort for a while (and is doing an amazing job!!!) Let’s begin…
A Long Time Ago… In 1983…
A movie was released, that, well most people didn’t want to see. and that movie was JOYSTICKS!!!!
I was there at opening night, at the Dutchess Mall theater. And I loved it. I always thought this movie was something more than a PORKY’S ripoff- because of the true star of this movie- THE ARCADE!
It was…AMAZING! Unlike most movies of the 1980’s that needed an arcade setting (Go to the mall, film said arcade) They- BUILT THEIR OWN!!!! That’s right, they built their own arcade, from scratch, in a warehouse in L.A.! and it was awesome!
…But, that’s a story for another time.
We’re here to talk about the soundtrack!
It was never released. Why? Who knows why. Poor ticket sales, the director, producers, or distributors of the film not thinking it was necessary- the list goes on and on.
Flash ahead 33 years later-
Jon and the fine folks at ECZEMA RECORDS are releasing the official movie soundtrack to this fine film!
You can get it two ways-
Buy the digital download for the sweet price of $9.99- you choose-
MP3 (320kbps)
iTunes Plus AAC (256kbps)
Apple Lossless (ALAC)
FLAC
Pre order the JOYSTICKS Vinyl LP + Immediate MP3 Download for $25.00!
Jon sent the Archives a digital copy to review, and I can tell you- it’s amazing just to hear the music with nothing over it! The album must be from the masters because they are flawless! The late 70’s / early 80’s vibe is here in this music. The fun and optimism was there for me when I heard “Last Chance For Love” this time, just as it was when I heard it at the end of this movie back in ’83. This album will be playing in my arcade for years to come!!!
Now, as a side by side comparison, here’ the beginning of the film with the Joysticks theme song-
and here’s the soundtrack version-
Its flawless!
I’ll be doing a proper song by song review in the coming days, (also when I purchase the vinyl, we will be doing a video review!) and may be Jon could even answer some questions…
If that’s peaked you interest, head over to ECZEMA RECORDS and get you copy NOW!!!
Thanks to everybody over at ECZEMA RECORDS for the tunes!!!!!
As most of you know, I started in the arcade industry in 1981- a very busy year in arcades! And when you applied with an arcade, you had an interview, usually a drug test, in some cases a lie detector test (thanks to the Nickels and Dimes manager who stole money to pay his beer tab!) But, the one thing that ALL arcades had was the training video. Now, you might be saying ” Raygunn, come on- it’s just an arcade… hand out change, use Windex on game screens, play free games…. how hard could it be? Well Arcaders, I’ll tell ya’…..
IT WAS HARDER THAN YOU THINK!!!!!
and these videos were used to show you how important your job was.
This is one of the last (if not THE last) true training videos out there. And I use the term VIDEO lightly as this is actually a slide show (Ah… the late 70s and early 80’s tech goodness!) And just remember- If you happen to get a change attendant job…. don’t thank me- thank Space Port! OK- and thank me too!
