Challenge Arcade Reading, PA

    Challenge Arcade, located about an hour northwest of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, is an arcade without peers.  It features one of the largest classic game collections in the nation, and couples that with a number of newer, and very popular, titles (such as a version of DDR).  The owners, Joe LeVan, and wife Susan, started their Berkshire Mall location (located near Reading, in the town of Wyomissing) in 2004, and have steadily increased both their revenues, and player appreciation, since.

    One way that the LeVans show their appreciation for players is in accommodating them.  If someone wants a game title, and they have it in their off-site location, then they'll likely bring it in.  Also, they have sponsored a number of contests to promote play on their titles, including DDR, and a few of the classics.  Also, they're hosting at least one event in 2007 that really caters to the serious classic gamer (see details below).

    As of February 2007, the arcade features these games:

Classic video titles:  Asteroids, 1943, 1944, Bubble Bobble, Burger Time, Crystal Castles, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior, Donkey Kong 3, Frogger, Galaga, Jr. Pac-Man, Missile Command (cabaret), Mr. Do!, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Paperboy, Pengo, PlayChoice-10, Pole Position II, Punch-Out!!, Q*bert, Star Wars, Street Fighter II, The Simpsons, Time Pilot '84, and Track & Field.

Classic laser titles:  Dragon's Lair, Dragon's Lair II, and Super Don Quix-ote.

Modern video titles:  19XX: The War Against Destiny, CarnEvil, Crisis Zone, Gauntlet Legends, Killer Instinct 2, Megatouch Emerald II, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 4, Need for Speed GT, Neo-Geo two-slot (with Bust-A-Move and Magical Drop III), Neo-Geo six-slot (with Metal Slug X, Samurai Showdown V, SNK vs. CAPCOM SVC Chaos, Strikers 1945 Plus, The King of Fighters '97, and The King of Fighters 10th Anniversary), Police Trainer, Police Trainer 2, ROLLing eX.tre.me, Tenth Degree, The House of the Dead, The King of Fighters NeoWave, The Simpsons, Virtua Cop, WaterSki, and X-men vs. Street Fighter.

Pinball titles:  Grand Prix, Jack-in-the-Box, Jurassic Park, Orbitor 1, Rescue 911, Star Wars, Strikes N' Spares, and Viper Night Drivin'.

Non-vid/pin titles:  beatmania complete MIX, billiards (pool table), Cosmo Ball (skeeball), Dance Dance Revolution Extreme Plus, Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA, Foosball Soccer, Hotflash (air hockey), ParaParaDancing, and Top Dawg.

    The phone number for the arcade is 610-376-1650, and the address is: Berkshire Mall, 1665 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610.  For a map, click here; for driving directions, click here.

    As of the date of this writing (February 2007), Challenge Arcade will be hosting a gaming event in March 2007.  Namely, it's the second annual edition of the Classic Arcade Gaming (dot com) Tournament, and it is being co-organized by myself (Mark Alpiger), my web site (Classic Arcade Gaming), and Joe and Susan LeVan, and Challenge Arcade.  The dates are set for March 30th - April 1st, 2007.  Unlike all other previous contests where a group of games was played to determine a winner, this contest will finally allow both fairness for all players, and a large choice of game titles to be played.  In addition, there will be second, third, and fourth place prizes, to go along with the usual first place prize money.  Finally, I will allow popular titles to be in play, using a fair method to avoid a world-class gamer from decimating the field with numerous number one game scores that outclass the competition.  Not to worry, however - even such a player will still benefit from his skill level, while others won't be overly pushed down in their results.  All the details can be found here.

    Now, please enjoy a pictorial view of the incredible games and layout at Challenge Arcade via the pictures below.  Click on any thumbnail to bring up the full-size version, which will also allow you to proceed thru the entire set, which was photographed in December 2005.

The entrance to the arcade.   The most popular classics of all time are grouped together.          The main row of classics.   More great titles, including... Crystal Castles !          Some of the newer titles line up.   Two popular classics push up to a 'new school' title.          More old and new school titles are shown mixing.   Another view of the main row.          Gun games compete with Frogger.   Get ready to dance, with DDR.          Here's some really old school games - the pins !   A favorite of mine - air hockey !          An open view of titles in the center of the arcade.   Another open view, with DDR as the anchor point.          Hmm... maybe I can get a photo of my high score !   A Missile Command cabaret sidles up to a classic claw machine.       The final games lining the main row of classics, including two laser titles.

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