Old-school games still the rage in Evansville, even after pandemic-driven bubble burst

EVANSVILLE — It may come as a surprise, but it’s actually easier to find a 1990s-era Nintendo gaming console gracing Evansville store shelves than it is to spot the latest PlayStation 5 model at a big box store – even as the holidays approach.

In part, that's because a global microchip shortage hit gaming manufacturers particularly hard, but it’s also a sign of just how popular retro gaming is in Evansville, where local shops and arcades provide enthusiasts access to hundreds (if not thousands) of classic games spanning decades.

If you’re looking for some local, family-friendly fun this winter and have a few extra quarters to lose playing pinball, or Mario, or Galaga, you have options.

The market for retro games boomed in popularity over the past 10 years and enjoyed a sizable boost at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when disposable income collided with lockdowns and boredom.

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An example: A copy of the classic game Super Mario 64 sold for more than $1.5 million at auction last year – the most money ever paid for a video game.

Local business owners say the bubble in the games and collectables market has now burst, but they believe passionate players of all ages will continue to frequent Evansville’s game shops and arcades for years to come.

If you’re looking to get in on the action, here are a few places to start.

Evansville Toys & Games

This East Side store, located at 3810 E. Morgan Ave., arose from the ashes of the Diamond Flee Market fire, an intentionally set blaze that completely decimated the 37-year-old market last year.

Owner Daniel Barritt said he opened Evansville Toys & Games after the fire destroyed more than $200,000 worth of his flea market stall’s inventory. Longtime customers came together and pushed Barritt to open the storefront, he said. Kids even offered to donate their own toys to help rebuild his inventory.

“It was rough to have to start over,” Barritt told the Courier & Press. “But at the same time, it was an opportunity to help more people.”

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Now, Evansville Toys & Games is packed with collectable action figures, memorabilia, trading cards and decades worth of classic games. Dozens of gaming consoles fill up the glass cases that line the entrance, and people trade in new (old) games and collectables every day.

“There’s a really strong community around this stuff,” Barritt said. “I’ve got 5-year-olds up to 80-year-olds coming in here.”

The store has four sections – two dedicated to toys, one focused on comics and one for Funko Pop characters, a popular series of collectable figurines. Retro games and cartridges, gaming consoles, controllers, accessories and memorabilia can be found in the front.

Evansville Toys & Games has a passionate community of customers and enjoys a 4.9-star rating on Google.One reviewer wrote they “feel welcomed every time they walk in,” and that’s a point Barritt takes seriously – he wants the store to be a safe space for all people, from simple enthusiasts, to kids, to expert collectors.

“People like to come in here just to hang out, to destress, to ask questions,” Barritt said.

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The space to talk and socialize about games, toys and collectables is part of the appeal and helps keep the store open in an age where online shopping dominates the market.

“I don’t know how long these stores will be around, no one can answer that question,” Barritt said. “But it’s a lot more rewarding (than selling online), and I can sleep better at night knowing I’m helping people and my family.”

High Score: Player 2

Clint Hoskins, a former Evansville firefighter, co-owns two local arcades with Jared Neible, including an adults-only bar/arcade in downtown and a family-friendly arcade on Evansville’s West Side.

The West Side location, High Score Player 2, is one of the largest arcades in Indiana and features upwards of 75 arcade games, gaming consoles and party rooms. It recently expanded into a second room, which features pinball, Dance Dance Revolution, air hockey and skeeball.

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Hoskins told the Courier & Press they wanted to make the West Side arcade accessible to people of all ages and budgets. He recounted going to arcades in his younger days and spending upwards of $40 only to walk out with “a finger puppet and a slap bracelet.”

“We wanted to actually provide something for the West Side, Mount Vernon (and) North Posey that was close enough for them to do and affordable,” Hoskins said.

General admission for an entire day of free play is $10, and a family of four can purchase an all-day pass for $35.

Pinball players will rejoice at the fact that yes, even pinball is included in that ticket price.

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High Score Player 2’s arcade collection consists of titles such as Galaga, Neo Geo, Mortal Kombat and Space Invaders, but there are dozens more titles to choose from.

Some of the pinball games on offer include X-Files, Deadpool and Silver Slugger.

Hoskins said arcades offer a unique experience for gamers – it’s a physical space to play in the company of others, something online gaming can’t fully replicate yet.

“You can always say, ‘I can just drink beer at home, why would I go to a bar?’ Because you want that community, you want the day out,” Hoskins said. “I think that is also true with arcades, because we’ll have 100 people in here on a Saturday and it will be absolutely packed.”

High Score Saloon

High Score Saloon, the adults-only downtown location at 323 Main St., offers a smaller selection of arcade games alongside alcoholic beverages and bar food. The bar hosts public pinball tournaments each Wednesday that regularly draw a crowd of passionate players.

To enter the saloon, patrons descend a small flight of stairs to its basement dwelling, where neon lights, 8-bit soundtracks and a cozy, nostalgic environment await.

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At the downtown location, which was founded in 2017, pinballers do have to part ways with a few quarters to get in on the action. But, the rest of the arcade and console games are free to play, though patrons are strongly encouraged to buy food and drinks.

“The whole point of all this – High Score, Player 2 – was to make games accessible and to share our love of retro culture with people,” Hoskins said. “It’s about the atmosphere, the ambience and the games.”

Secret Headquarters

This combination retro-gaming store and arcade, located at 4225 N. First Ave., specializes in satisfying an itch to recapture some of that childhood gaming magic.

Owner Jeff Osborne said he used to fund his “arcade habit” by collecting and selling aluminum cans.

“You know, back then, $18 a day was pretty good!” Osborne said.

It was actually worth about an hour of play at the local arcade. Now, Secret Headquarters patrons can spend just $5 to play as many games as they want, including titles like Miss Pac Man, Crazy Taxi and Area 51.

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Osborne recounted how a world record contender in Miss Pac Man once came to play with a Go-Pro camera strapped to his head to film an attempt at topping that elusive high score.

“It was crazy,” Osborne said. “He cleared everything, but missed just two fruits.”

The arcade caters to players of all skill levels, ages and interests, Osborne said. It is a popular spot for the local Boys and Girls Club, and it is an inclusive space for neurodivergent players.

Next to the arcade is the store – the shelves are covered in collectible action figures, comic books, video games and vinyl records.

There are plastic containers stuffed with Game Boy cartridges, cases packed with Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega games. One wall is lined with gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360.

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But why buy a 10- to 20-year-old gaming system when you can play a cutting-edge game replete with 4K graphics and cinematic stories?

Osborne says it's hard to objectively define, but retro games are beautiful in their simple complexity. A two-dimensional Mario game from 1991 might not be able to compete with a 2022 release in the graphical department, but it's still a blast to play.

And, of course, there's the nostalgia factor.

“It’s kind of a natural thing to go back and get some of the things from the past that you missed out on; I know I did,” Osborne said. “Some people in their 20s and 30s get to a point where they’re like, ‘Hey, I have a little bit of money now, I’m gonna go back and get some of that stuff.”

Secret Headquarters’ inventory stems from people trading and selling their games, comics and collectables, Osborne said, alongside dedicated distributors. And recently, Secret Headquarters started selling some items through online auction sites, such as WhatNot.

And there’s more

The retro gaming scene in Evansville is expansive. Arcade cabinets and pinball machines can be found at businesses throughout the city, and there are many shops that trade in collectables, games and memorabilia.

Another cozy downtown bar/arcade, Arcademie, calls itself a “museum of antiquated technology.”Since it opened in September of last year, Arcademie has been a very popular spot to game and socialize. Located at 22 NW 6th Street, the brick-walled arcade hosts more than 30 games and 10 pinball machines. Customers can order craft beer, cocktails and menu items from food partner La Campirana.

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It enjoys a 4.6-star rating on Google with more than 70 reviews, many of which tout the bar’s high-quality food and cozy aesthetic.

There are other options to shop for retro games as well. Super Mega Replay, located at 683 N. Green River Road, boasts a massive collection of used video games, movies and electronics. The store operates in six states across the Midwest and says it has tens of thousands of items in inventory.

Flee markets, yard sales and Facebook marketplace are also popular places to hunt for retro games.

Local business owners in this space seem to agree that public interest in retro gaming – from arcades to home consoles – is past the peak they saw at the outset of the pandemic. But, they believe the simple fun these games offer will keep demand up in Evansville.

“There is always going to be a need for it,” Barritt, the Evansville Toys & Games owner said. “The nostalgia is part of that, but it goes deeper. Sometimes you just want to pop in a Mario game and jump on some Goombas.”

Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com with story ideas and questions. Twitter: @houston_whh.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 1990s-era Nintendo games still popular at Evansville arcades, shops