I Miss the Walmart Game Room in Murray, KY

Good evening, arcade gamers. I, Dustin Wilcox, am sharing with you today what can best be described as a “human interest” piece—but one I so dearly needed to write.

You see, I’m a huge fan of the Namco-operated “Gameplay” game rooms installed in Walmart Supercenters across the United States. While the machines selection at these locations leans a bit heavily on cranes, they always have at least one video game I can enjoy.

The Murray, Kentucky Walmart lays claim to my favorite Gameplay so far, stocked with a Jambo Safari, Big Buck World, and Dance Dance Revolution Extreme, all of which draw me in on a weekly basis. This is where I go to whittle away my free time while I'm away at college.

If I ever needed to get away from my schoolwork and have some fun, there was nothing stopping me from doing so. Whether it was 4:00 p.m. or 4:00 a.m. (I kid you not with that last bit), I always had the opportunity to have fun.

Now that I’m in Hopkinsville, I no longer have this escape, and I miss it more than any words could possibly express. I often fantasize about my time in Murray, where I’d play as much Jambo Safari and Dance Dance Revolution as I could afford. Nothing I’ve done this summer comes close to that experience.

But you know what? Things will get better. I’ll be back in Murray on August 17. From then on, I can do whatever I want whenever I want, and I’ll be the happiest I’ve been in a long time. The simple joy of a Namco-operated Walmart game room has that effect on me.

Until then, I suppose I’ll just keep writing about arcade games on my blog, yearning for even a taste of yummy coin-op goodness. Would you call this an addiction? I sure as heck would.

Thanks for reading my reminiscent ramblings. For more of my nonsense, make sure to follow me on Twitter or join my Discord server.