I use to be the King of Asteroids

[MrScorpio]

I could literally play for hours with a single quarter.... on the right machine, of course.

All the buttons had to function perfectly, with the right sensitivity and the speed of the game had to be just right.

While wearing my Walkman, I would have spare ships line the top of the screen. I knew that if I wanted, I could have that line stretch ad infinitum off screen.

The highest score one could get was 999,950.... then it went to zero if you tried for a million. You'd have to start all over again to regain the top score. I ALWAYS had the top score.

Asteroids is now free online.

http://www.freeasteroids.org /

I can play on my computer. Unfortunately, the limits of fluctuating net speed and system memory prevents me from having the right game playing experience.

But I can still have memories of my former glory.

[Mojambo]

1. Yeah, my dad had that problem for a while but the doctor gave him this ointment...

And now he's doing much better.

[pokerfan]

5. **rimshot**

Rusty: Hey, ya' got Pac Man?
Cousin Dale: No.
Rusty: Ya' got Space Invaders?
Cousin Dale: Nope.
Rusty: Ya' got Asteroids?
Cousin Dale: Naw, but my dad does. Can't even sit on the toilet some days.

[Blue-Jay]

2. I could play Galaga for hours on one quarter.

I used to really piss off the other kids at the grocery store's little video game room.

[leeroysphitz]

3. Isn't it funny how those little clusters of coin-op video games seemed

to spring up just about everywhere? When I was 11 or twelve even the sporting goods store at our mall put in five or six games. There would be a line of kids waiting for them to open every saturday morning.

[Blue-Jay]

4. I sometimes wonder how many $$ I put in those things.

Enough to master Galaga at Fulmer's grocery store, Pac Man at the local convenience store/bait shop, and Gorf & Joust at the bowling alley. Those things were everywhere.

That probably adds up to a lot of money, although I do remember paying as much as seventy bucks for a few Sega Genesis games when I was in college. Games got a little too complicated after that (or more likely, I just lost interest).

[seemunkee]

6. My wife is going to hate you

I love Asteroids.