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Joystiq Interview: Gary Vincent, co-founder of the American Classic Arcade Museum
After spending some quality time perusing the classic arcade collection amassed by the FunSpot and the American Classic Arcade Museum, we had a chance to speak with one of the museum's founders, Gary Vincent.An employee at FunSpot since the '80s, Gary was instrumental in creating an environment where classic arcade machines were preserved for future generations. Sitting next to the mini-golf course that helped to launch FunSpot in the early 1950s, we discussed the origins of the museum, how technology has both helped and hurt the arcade scene and the process of bringing a classic back to life. %Gallery-51257%
Joystiq visits: FunSpot & The American Classic Arcade Museum
New Hampshire may be synonymous with annual biker rallies and kick starting Presidential primaries, but in our industry it's known as the mecca for classic video games. FunSpot, home of the American Classic Arcade Museum, sits comfortably near Laconia, New Hampshire, a small town that welcomes families looking for a wholesome adventure away from home -- and droves of gaming enthusiasts, of course. The American Classic Arcade Museum is a non-profit organization committed to the promotion and preservation of coin-operated games and their associated history. The museum acts as the first floor to the three-storey mecca called FunSpot, established in 1952 by Bob Lawton and named "Largest Arcade in the World" by Guinness World Records in 2008. We recently had an opportunity to tour the giant complex, which sports a bingo hall, mini-golf, 20 lanes of 10-pin bowling, and over 300 arcade machines ranging from the first coin-op to modern day Daytona racers.Check out the highlights of our visit after the break, and make it a point to stop by the place if you're ever in Laconia. It's the only safe way to travel back in time.%Gallery-51257%
