The title of the American Classic Arcade Museum pretty much sums up exactly what this New Hampshire retro gamers’ haven is. Filled with row after row of classic coin operated arcade cabinets, the ACAM is home to about 300 restored arcade classics.

On any given day, the casual observer can watch as the patrons of the ACAM carry their plastic drink cups of tokens from machine to machine, reliving the 80s while retro rock plays in the background. On special days, gamers from all over the world can partake in tournaments such as the fabled International Classic Video Game Tournament. It is one of the events that have helped to put the ACAM on the map.

But, being on the map doesn’t pay for the real estate. The ACAM is a not-for-profit organization and does not make money from its tourneys or its daily public gaming. Given the age of its machines, maintenance is a growing costly problem. Each day, the cabinets’ popularity puts them at a high risk of death…breaking down for what may be the last time. Parts are difficult to attain and keeping the museum running is no small challenge.

Ironically, it is a game that seems to be the museum’s most steady source of income. ACAM hosts a weekly Bingo challenge on Thursday nights. They have also recently launched a fundraiser, hoping to attain $25,000 to keep the museum up and functional. To date, about 10% of this sum has been raised.

Running this museum is truly a labor of love for founder Gary Vincent. With any luck, he will be able to keep ACAM up and running for the rest of the public to enjoy and appreciate the “old dinosaurs,” such as Donkey Kong, Pac Man and Space Invaders. He just may need a little help to get it done.

Read the complete story here and be sure to visit the official website link above for information on how you can help ACAM reach its fundraising goal.

Interview with Gary Vincent, Curator of the American Classic Arcade Museum

Bingo supports gaming museum, 4.5 out of 5 based on 4 ratings

Tags: Arcade Games

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 27th, 2011 at 08:00 and is filed under Retrogamer Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.