Back when Sega was a world leading name in the video game industry, it was common for entertainment complexes to dedicate space to the blue hedgehog and his sidekicks. In 1996 the newly opened SegaWorld fit this exact description, offering UK gamers a dream-esque adventure to the top of London's Trocadero.
There were very few places you could visit which offered the latest in arcade entertainment, a McDonalds restaurant in the shape of a box of fries and even Dr Robotnik themed dodgems, SegaWorld being one of them. Within this centre was an arcade we could only dream of today, floors dedicated to different gaming genres flooded with the top releases of the 90s.
Sadly this Sega themed centre offering countless arcade machines and amusements only managed to last for around six years. At this point in time, the iconic escalator transporting video gamers to heaven on earth was blocked by a obnoxious vending machine, tragically bringing Sonic's London hideout to a end. That said, in this short time a wealth of fond gaming memories were formed of a time gone by.
A selection of video camera footage from various Segaworld visits have found their way onto YouTube, thankfully immortalising the SegaWorld spirit within legions of gamers who grew up in in the UK during this memorable time. So grab your time travel suit and get ready for a wave of nostalgia, we're going to the top of the Trocadero!
Video Tour's of SegaWorld in London Trocadero
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Comments
I popped along to the Trocadero last year when I was in London with some friends to see Gackt live, and I wasn't overly impressed with the arcade that was there. It was dull, dirty and totally void of any life. Some Time Crisis, Some DDR and a crap ton of those machines where you pop in a 2p/10p in an effort to knock loads more of said coin off the edge. At one point two lads came in and started kicking at the machines to try and get change out of them. That's when we decided to leave.
Looking at these videos makes me jealous of all the people how were able to go along and experience it. It looks so exciting! I've never been to a proper arcade before, and living in Glasgow, I doubt I'm going to get to see one any time soon :(
I used to regularly visit the considerably smaller Sega World at Tamworth though- it was the second floor of a bowling alley. Had some good stuff there, mostly Laser Ghost, Alien3: The Gun and most importantly, Sonic the Hedgehog- the Mega-Play version that removes the Marble and Labyrinth Zones. It eventually changed into a Namco Superbowl which ditched the second floor.
The last proper old arcade I went to was on the Isle of Wight in the summer. As you went deeper into the arcade, it got more dusty and the bulbs were going, but there were some great machines, including an old Asteroids cab, an upright Outrun and various old shmups like 1941 and Xevious.
Clearly there is no commercial benefit in maintaining arcades full of old machines, and most cabinets have been skipped or sold off to collectors by now. I just wish the ArcadeBarn was closer to Brentwood...