Champions Fun Center

When I visited Champions Fun Center, on Yolande Ave, I was immediately engulfed in children running around everywhere. The first thing you see is a bunch of rug-rats sprinting on what was obviously a sugar high, to the front desk where they could exchange their tickets for cheap prizes. I watched for while as the kids kept running back and forth from the arcade to the desk, always amazed at what different prizes where available.

Before I came to Champions, I had done some research into what a traditional arcade setting would look like, and realized that this 'Americanized' version of an arcade was nothing like the real thing. Everything I read about took place in ether Japan or Europe, nothing taking place in the U.S. The arcades they talked about never involved young children playing for tickets, but adults playing seriously for pride and high scores. At these arcades men and women (mostly older) have the choice at hundreds of authentic arcade games, enough to spend whole days playing. I read that at most places, one can purchase year round memberships, with access 24 hours to the arcade. Again, I read more about how seriously these games are taken. People will spend hours trying to break their/others high scores, for no prize at all.

As I watched the kids run around, I wondered what makes American arcades so different than other places. When you think of any arcade in the U.S. (Dave & Busters, Brunswik zone, ect.) everything involves prizes. It is rare to find someone who solely goes to an arcade to break someone's high score. I believe it has to do with American's being material greedy; there has to be some sort of prize, otherwise it isn't worth doing. It is obvious that in other countries, arcades are a place of refuge for individuals, a place that they can hang out with friends and be themselves.

When I entered Champions, it was clear that this was not a place of relaxation. Arcades like this are everywhere in the U.S; places for parents to occupy their young children for short periods of time. The U.S. has turned the relaxed culture of arcades, and turned them into a industry, completely taking away from what they truly are meant to be.