Nerd Patrol
So we have this place in Downtown Seattle, I’m sure they have them in other cities too, called GameWorks. It’s basically a video arcade, with a couple of distinguishing features. First of all, all the game machines are rigged to take a refillable swipe card instead of quarters. Instead of dragging pockets full of change, or tokens, from machine to machine, you just keep your card with you and swipe it to play. Which, of course, makes it really convenient to spend a lot on gaming, since you’re not spending the money directly. Works sort of like casino chips do in that sense, and I’m sure it ends up costing more in the long run. I haven’t had the courage to do the math yet…
Anyhow, the second distinguishing feature is the upstairs bar. I don’t think much elaboration is required there. Drinking and video gaming, two activities that go great together and were previously limited to being a home-based entertainment. Need I say more?
So Serene and I are heading down there on Saturday night, to kill a little time (I know, how romantic, right?), and walking past the bus stop on Olive, we see a girl with cat ears. And suddenly it hits me…this weekend is Sakuracon. The giant anime convention. At the Washington Convention Center. 4 blocks from my house and almost directly across from Gameworks.
With a sense of impending doom, we press onwards. It’s pretty obvious at this point that Gameworks will be crawling with anime nerds, but we want to check it out, for confirmation, and for the sheer spectacle of it all. As we round the corner on Sixth and head South to Pike Street, a gaggle of costumed otaku, giddy and smelling of alcohol, stumble onto the sidewalk in front of us and rush off to the convention. The two blocks surrounding the convention center are a mixture of confused locals and oblivious cosplayers (my particular favorite being the topless guy with two six-foot long plastic axes and a huge red collar obscuring the lower half of his face). We catch a glimpse of neon-haired princesses and warriors hanging out in a classy hotel lounge.
When we make it to Gameworks, there’s a line out the door, and we can see through the windows that even the lamest games are in use. I guess I’m not getting my Mr. Driller and Tekken 4 fixes tonight. But at least it was an entertaining walk.
