In 1983 I spent every single Friday night at the same place: the roller rink. It was a perfect way to end a dreary week filled with school and chores: a bully-free environment where I could goof off with my friends, skate around in circles, listen to music, and consume tons of junk food. There were even special events held at the rink, like the night they broadcast the premiere of Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, which scared one little girl so badly she threw up. Good times!
That roller rink was also my first regular exposure to arcade games, and every Friday my weekly allowance was eagerly converted into quarters and pumped into classics like Spy Hunter, Pole Position, Mr. Do, Q-Bert, Time Pilot, and my favorite: Tempest.
