North Korean Arcade is a Blast from the Past
North Korea is an enigma. Not many people know what goes on past the DMZ, though speculation has it that Kim Jong-Il, the country’s diminutive and reclusive leader, is a fantastic golfer.
This is given credence to the fact that other forms of entertainment, such as arcades, are still stuck in the 70s.
As a series of photos reveal an arcade in the capital Pyongyang that has yet to acquire the next generation of video games or Skeeball, we’re left to wonder: how can anyone survive without Dance Dance Revolution?
The images reveal an arcade of times past, where the cabinet’s are rusty, the directions worn off, and the buttons most likely don’t work. Although the games are unidentifiable due to a lack of any distinguishing characteristics, it’s clear they’re from an era time forgot.
The images do not have a credit attached, as the individual who took them had wished to remain anonymous, presumably because any unauthorized photography from across the DMZ would anger the fearless leader.
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By bmchargue on 21-10-2009
Comment by anonymousPinoy
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:06 am
holy jesus.. somebody give them atleast a PS1…
Comment by saeliju
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:50 am
woah.
oh rak gwan.
in south korea, arcades are known as oh rak shil.
i've heard of a lot of differences/similarities in terms of the language, it's interesting to see it in reality.
i'm not sure which vowels this applies to, but north koreans pronounce certain vowels in different ways as opposed to how the south koreans pronounce them.
and that place needs more pizazz!
Comment by SirLurksaLot
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
If they can't get a PS1, at least get them a N64 or something… Jesus I feel spoiled now.
Comment by storm
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
and to think that their are just beside the MOST connected country in the world (South Korea)…
Comment by kyle
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I was in an arcade in Jakarta in 2002…it looked a lot like this, and cost about the equivalent of 2 cents to play the games!
Comment by ECM
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
The last photo has a bunch of JAMMA cabs, so they at least got somewhere into the mid-80s. (I'm not sure what brand those cabs are, but they certainly aren't relics–like the leadership of N.K.–from another age.)
Comment by A-nun-a-mus
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 am
…give them a dreamcast or somethin…
Comment by rob
November 5th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Yeah, I think he gets it.
Comment by Crystal
November 10th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Can't imagine the life with ony that kind of video games… should put on some photos of South Korea for contrast