> Don't get me wrong, it's cool to see games I wouldn't otherwise have the chance to > see, but it really does seem like a sad selection of games. Like if those were the > only options available in the arcade, I probably wouldn't be as into games as I am > now. In the US, even the lamest campground rec room had better games back in the day.
You're stating the obvious. First, given the vastly different socioeconomic conditions of the day in Russia, their "market" wasn't exactly thriving with arcade games. Rather, the games they did have were basically clones of games from other countries, as gregf observed, and literally ripped off in many cases. Second, the games on display in this museum are purely Russian, not a combination of US/Japan/UK etc., for obvious reasons. Finally, keep scale in mind: the fact that their collection only represents something less than 1% of the total number of arcade games from that era, combined with the passage of time, means you aren't likely to see many of them here.
I'm just thankful that someone over there cares as much as these guys have: the peek into this aspect of their culture is purely fascinating.
> > Note the water machines that required an actual glass. > Did you bring your own, or did the machines have their own communal glasses? > Talk about taking communism to a (disgusting) extreme.
Well yes, communal glasses were required. Disgusting to some perhaps, but the Russian people knew no other way, and were fine with that - at least back then. At least the machines provided a way to wash the glasses!
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