BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Fill your pockets with quarters and pull up a chair.

A Binghamton arcade takes us back to the 80's. But you won't need an extra life to relive the glory days.

 

 

Robot City Games has been in the community for 10 years, houses 126 vintage arcade cabinets and more than 30 pinball machines.

"There's a big nostalgia boom, and it's something else to do, rather than sit and play a video game at home. Standing in front of a machine, playing with your friends, it's a different feel, and really to younger people, it's all new," said Sean Dibble, Robot City Games Manager.

Owners call it the largest arcade in New York State and it draws in visitors of all ages.

"It's nice to look back at what life used to be and how they used to look. It's fun to compare the new games to the old games," said Noah Ii, Binghamton Resident.

That younger generation is a large reason why vintage shops like these are flourishing. In the past month alone, Robot City has seen guests from all over the northeast.

"We get people driving through on vacations. We get people coming here just for us. Just this past weekend, I had at least three different from Rochester, Delaware, Connecticut," said Dibble.

For the owner of Robot City Games, tradition will always be number one. To this day, all it takes is one quarter to take you back in time.

"That was the most important aspect of starting this, was keeping it at the original 80's feel of one quarter, one token per play, maybe 50 cents with the most expensive things being a dollar at our new pin ball machines just because they have to be," said Dibble.

Store manager Sean Dibble says shops like these bring people together like nothing else.

"I see people join in on four player games, I'll see one person playing a fighting game and another come up and challenge in on it. I've seen people start talking and leave together," said Dibble.

So, while older generations are now returning to games, it may be the younger crowd that helps arcades reach the next level.

Robot City Games is open seven days a week.