Page 36 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #8
P. 36
so amazed in seeing “how originally got one for my ever since dad returned from
much I’d grown” since my birthday, but I wore it out in buying the Sunday paper
previous visit. I got in a lot of about two years. That second with the glorious news that
game time because my one survived much longer, Maloney’s now had two
grandmother was able to chat until I absent-mindedly games: Missile Command
with her old friend while I jumped into a pool while still and “Ms. Pac-Man.” Surely
defended the universe. Sheila wearing it. Game over the idea of a girl Pac-Man
was younger, probably in her indeed. was preposterous, and it was
mid-twenties, with curly obvious dad was goofing on
brown hair and a cute smile. As the years passed, many me and my love of all things
Okay, maybe I had a slight games rotated in and out of Pac-Man. But several
crush on her. This was in no Kay Cee’s lineup. Centipede, minutes later he took me to
way because she gave me the Tempest, Frogger, Galaga, Maloney’s, at which point I
red quarters (which were Q*Bert, Pole Position, Ms. saw and played my first Ms.
supposed to be reserved for Pac-Man, and Millipede all Pac-Man machine. It was a
refunds) out of the cash logged time at Kay Cee. They cute little cabaret cabinet,
drawer. That only reinforced always had four games in a which is precisely why I own
my innocent fondness for row up until about 1985 or a cabaret Ms. Pac-Man in my
her. so, when the games were arcade collection today. (For
removed and replaced with more on this pivotal
I remember one visit in magazine racks or something moment, check out Vol. #1,
which I spent about three that wasn’t nearly as iconic or issue #6 from Spring 2001.)
dollars in quarters that my cool.
grandfather had given me to Maloney’s was the
pay for a video game The other location was a quintessential “mom and
magazine at a bookstore to be charming little shop called pop” general store. Based on
visited later. At least that was Maloney’s. This store became the architecture, I believe the
the original plan. While we a huge part of my childhood store was built in the '30s or
were at Kay Cee, he '40s as a gas station, with the
mentioned that he didn’t unused concrete island out
think we would get to front providing a clear link to
Waldenbooks, so I naturally its petroleum past. The
assumed those quarters interior was compact.
could be spent on games. He Coolers and shelves lined the
became suspicious when my walls, and three very small
game time was lasting much aisles (maybe four feet high
longer than usual. I at best) offered goods in the
confessed that I was using center of the store. Despite
the three dollars of quarters the limited space, they sold a
to play extra games. He was little bit of everything. Milk,
frustrated at first, until he soda, juice, bread, fruit, Little
realized that he did tell me Debbie snack cakes (Star
we weren’t going to Crunches were my favorite),
Walden’s, so he chuckled and and behind the register, a
took me there and bought the selection of the finest booze
magazine anyway. this side of Charles County.
I also recall getting my It was run by the sweetest,
second Nelsonic Pac-Man most kindly soul you’d ever
watch from Kay Cee. I care to meet, Grandma
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