When I was growing up in the 80s I loved arcade machines. Just to clarify I mean REAL arcade…read moremachines with a joystick and buttons. Not the rubbish that you find at your local "Intencity" or "Tunza Fun". You would be hard pressed to find one single machine with a simple layout of joystick and buttons in those places. In the 80s the games were fun and uncomplicated and that's how I like them. There was a chain of arcade game hangouts called "Timezone" where I spent some of the best years of my early teens. It wasn't just the machines, it was the atmosphere. It's hard to explain... As a child I always wanted an arcade machine in my bedroom. I had no money or space for it, but I knew I wanted one. My Mum always said I could have one "when I move out". Little did she know... I found the Amusementworx website and arranged to visit the store as soon as I could. After that first visit I walked out of that store with an arcade machine. Like I WASN'T going to!!! The 2 Simons who run the place are really passionate about games and know their stuff. If they don't have it they will do their best to source it for you. They will also supply gameboards to fit into existing machines so you don't have to fill your house with cabinets. You just replace the board in your existing machine with the new one you just purchased, just like changing a cartridge in an old console. Since that first visit I've frequented the store quite regularly. I've owned up to 4 machines at any one time and I've purchased every single one from Amusementworx. They offer a large range of various arcade cabinets, pinball machines and jukeboxes. If you also had a dream of owning your own arcade or pinball machine then visit the 2 Simons.

i find that this bowling centre is really clean. The lightings are dim, but the overall ambience is…read morecool. I like it. The lanes are divided into two sections, where in between it is the restrooms. There are various arcade games available to keep you occupied if you are waiting for your games/lanes. There's also a pool table and an air hockey table around. I'm pretty sure the place will be packed during weekends. From the first few throws, it did felt like the lane isn't as oily anymore. However, since we went there in the evening, it's common for lanes to run dry. It makes no difference to me though. I'm no curler nor spinner. I'm just your average straight ball down the middle guy. So long as i hit the sweet spot, the pins will go down.;) I also find the staff in the Centre are all very polite and genuinely interested in providing you a service. A smile always make my day and they have more than provided that.

I came here about a week ago for a Christmas party and had an amazing time! The laser skirmish was…read moresuper fun, even if I kept getting tagged by children, I fell over during my first turn of bowling (I got laughed at by the entire group) and still came first. The only thing I found kinda weird was the bowling mechanics having the pins on strings, which is something I've never seen before. I would love to come back at some point!

Arcades are fun. There's no denying it. And really, there's nothing different about this arcade…read more Though, Tunza Fun is quite dark and eery for my taste. But, what 10 year old kids are going to care about that? So, if you don't want to drag your teenagers around kicking and screaming whilst you do your shopping then drop them off here with $20 in dollar coins and you should be set for a little while!

Need to pass time? this is the place for you. The games can be so addictive and you just want to…read morespend more and more and more. Just so everyone know's, i did not win my ipad. Very dissapointed :P

I have a mad love for collectables, figurines and toys! That leads to my mad love for this store. I…read morehave actually been following this store from when it was a small in Regent Arcade. I was so happy to hear that they were able to open a bigger store near Rundle Mall on Twin Street. As a result, they now have three times the amount of stuff for me to rummage through. This store stocks all new collectables. Everything from Star Wars to My Little Pony to Nightmare on Elm Street. If you are after action figurines, signed posters or cool plush toys, this place is for you. The owner of the store is always happy to have a chat with you and help you find the collectables you are after. So, if you are missing something in a series, be sure to stop by and ask him if he can locate it for you. I found one of my prized toy possessions in this store, a plush Aliens Chest Buster! Yup, I totally own a funny looking alien spawning toy. Oh, I know you geeks will appreciate how much I love this little guy. This is a great store for gifts for children or adults. You will find something for any lover of comics, cartoons, Sci-Fi or horror. And yes, it's still totally cool to collect toys!

From the owner: Mad Zombie Collectables specialise in fulfilling all your geek needs, from the Kermit the Frog…read morecookie jar you've always wanted to Spock ear socks you just can't live without. We are in true Hellmouth (that's right, Buffy totally lied): Adelaide, South Australia.

13/12/2011 1 photo If you enjoy a good round of competitive…read morepool and catch-up drink with old mates like I do, make sure to visit The Matchroom. This place is great - cheap, cheaper if you split with several friends, Australian, includes a lounge bar facility, plenty of vacant pool tables to choose from, yet not very crowded - so plenty of room to strike a pose and get your pool stick on. This isn't your typical pool lounge that always seems to be full of smoke, nextdoor to the nightclub or just around the corner...unless you don't mind bumping your stick against other strangers or back wall and walking a lengthy distance just to get some drinks from the bar. An diverse mix of pool and snooker regulars, serious competitive older men and enthusiastic beginners who hits the white ball too hard like me, this dimly lit pool room has everything an middle-aged man or a bored high school graduate could desire. You might be surprised at the tiny size of the bar, but I was pleased that there is not even one hint of smoke all evening, as a result of the new anti-smoking laws in South Australia. Not only will you have a fun time playing pool, but the bartender is always there for your drink order or enquiries. Depending on the night you go, there is plenty of pool to be played. There are darts on offer, but due to customers being dangerous with darts the bartender has outlawed the darts game in his room. Great for a group of friends looking to have fun and catch up on old times, as we seem to forget when we are so busy during the working week.

At my grandparents' house, they call my nonno (Italian grandfather) the 'teenager'. They call him…read morethis because he's moody and never home. And he never tells us where he goes. We come up with all sorts of stories for him, but as to the truth, it's a mystery. Although, The Matchroom, I think, has shed some light on that mystery. One thing I know of his mysterious past is his pool-playing ability. I've never seen a better pool player. In person, anyway. So I asked if he wanted to go to a club. He reluctantly agreed. I listed a few places but he said no to most of them. This set of the first alarm bell. I wondered if he knew these places and didn't want me to meet the kind of people he hung out with. Finally he conceded to The Matchroom. I'm a bit of a wildcard when it comes to pool. I'm either amazing or terrible. There's no middle-ground. But one thing I love to do is break. I love the thunderclap of the white ball breaking up the motley assortment of other balls. I always hit the white ball too hard, however, and often knock it off the table. It makes my nonno go ballistic, but I just love and continue. One time, however, the owner of the establishment caught me and he marched over to me, angry-faced, and began to give me a firm telling-off. That's when my nonno came to stand beside me. The owner gave him one look, then looked back to me, apologised, and left. Now isn't THAT interesting.

I am a fairly new convert to the world of escape rooms, but I have to say I am completely addicted…read moreand now need to play through them all! I was surprised to see what Escape Hunt has hidden in an unassuming alleyway off Rundle Mall. The bar and lounge area is amazingly decorated and a lot of thought has gone into this space. There are beautiful velvet lounges and armchairs, tricky puzzles to attempt and a cleverly presented drinks menu. The drinks menu included a great local craft beer label too, which I am always happy to see. The more you look around this area, the more you see small details and little touches that make this space interesting. This is a place I could see myself hanging out even when not planning to play the game. Now, on to the game. If you're new to the concept of an escape room, basically you are locked in a room (or series of rooms) with your team members. You're surrounded by props, puzzles and locks, and it is up to you to break the codes and find your way out of the room! On this occasion our team played the 'Spy on the Beach' room, and without giving too much away I will say it is based on a true Adelaide mystery, which I thought was a really cool touch. It was a fun idea to have a mystery and a backstory to what we were doing - you felt really in the moment and attached to the story as you made your way through. One of my favourite parts though was the triumphant bell ringing to signal we had escaped! The staff here were great too, you could tell they really loved this concept and they were excited with us when we managed to figure it out. Everyone seemed happy to have us and that contributed to our enthusiasm and excitement too! I'm hoping that over time the rooms will change as this is an activity I'd love to continue to take part in. As well as a few more local drinks being added to the menu. But I had an amazing time at Escape Hunt and will 100% be back as soon as possible!

Visited last week. Overall was a good experience. Friendly staff and a very nice waiting lounge…read more The only gripe; The first door inside the escape room was not locked by the staff when they did the "room reset". We didn't know this was meant to be locked, hence skipped about 15 minutes of challenges, and ended up escaping the room in near record speed. Skipping the challenges in the first room meant we didn't get what we paid for. Although the kind staff member did apologise and admit fault, it wasn't until a friendly email to the management the next week before we were offered any compensation (a 50% off voucher for next time). Maybe they should offer such a voucher on the spot, without having to ask.

23/12/2011 Toilet break? Wanna get away from it all? Escape…read moreto Adelaide Comic Centre! For all of your Marvel comics, Wolverine, X-Men, Spiderman, Wonderwoman, other Superheros, books about legendary writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and really whatever the hell you need from comics. Seriously. There is not much to criticise this store about if you grew up loving comic books and superheros. If you didn't enjoy these kinda things back in the day when it was as popular as NBA cards or yo-yos or Spice Girls, then get away from this store. It's not for you. But if it is for you, you will thoroughly enjoy the products and service, I'm not joking. The next guy that walked in had the biggest pair of eyes I have ever seen, it was at least twice the size of a 50 cent Australian coin as he looked around this store. No words can describe the coolness factor that oozes out of this store. There's even medium sized superhero figurines on the back wall! so cool. The staff even look super cool, yet super helpful. One chick had a bandana on like she was gonna kick some serious evil ass, another chick with dyed red hair was gorgeous looking like that American chick from 'Mythbusters' or tattoo artist on 'LA Ink', and the third staff member reminded me of a normal guy waiting to get into a telephone booth and turn into a superhero. All THREE staff members walked out of the cash register counter to grab the Stan Lee books from the front window. Be aware though that they're not going to approach you unless you approach them FIRST. But once you tell them what you want, the three of them work as a bloody Super Dream Team in getting what you need!! If there was 6 stars available on yelp, they deserved an extra star for the physical effort they put in for me. The only downside to this store is the price. If only I had the money to get me some Stan Lee! What a legend. I remember reading Marvel comics everyday after school when I was a little boy, so it was really refreshing to get out of the hectic Rundle Mall strip and take a nostalgic trip back to memory lane where I had nothing to worry about except who Wolverine was going to beat up next or how much ass the X-Mens were going to kick in the next month's issue.

Am I into comics? No, not really....Manga isn't a comic, it is serielised art....and culture…read moreand......ok, I am into comics. Adelaide Comic Centre is exactly as the name suggests, I hub for countless comics. I have been in a couple of times (i don't really buy comics I just read them and look at the pretty pictures) and have quite happily strolled around the store checking out all of interest. Unlike Rachel F I quite like the fact that none of the staff came up to ask if I needed help, but I know what she mean by feeling self aware and not very welcome. Generally the staff are chatting to regulars or fanboys who can't believe the spelling error on page 16 of X-Men issue 153.....go on.....check it.

Oh what fun! Haven't been bowling for more years than I care to remember and it's just like riding…read morea bike.....except it's bowls....anyway, it comes back to you quickly.....like a boomerang, except it's bowls.....and I've never got a boomerang to ever come back.....anyway, back to the bowls.... So, initially nearly run over by a hoon in the car park, then greeted by some 'interesting' characters loitering by the door, I felt I was right back at my teenage years. Felt quite at home. Needless to say there was some trepidation surrounding the shoes. Quite surprising though, the first pair fitted and was actually smell free, newer and cleaner than the ones I was wearing! Can't really complain. Didn't manage to pick a ball to match though, which was a slight disappointment, but I struggled on. Staff members were helpful and friendly and the food was another surprise. Both my bowling partner and I enjoyed hamburgers that were fresh, tasty and well cooked in a home-cooked style with a soft fluffy bun. Very nice. Chips were ok, but I was too full to eat but a few. There are quite a few food and drink options on the menu, but don't expect a quinoa salad or anything too light. But that's ok, it's that kind of place and one needs a certain amount of calories to keep fueled up! We managed to squeeze in a bit of bowling amongst the food and fashion and it was loads of fun! Boy there are some unusual people there, which provides entertainment in itself. The bowling lanes were clear and working efficiently and the automatic scoring screens were easy to read and follow. There are various deals on the website worth checking out, like the M-Th unlimited deal for 19.90/pp. I'd type more except I now have no pain-free muscles left at all. I'll definitely go again before the next 20years are up. Just need to wait til I can walk again.....

I wanted to give it 5 stars because I KICKED ASS AT BOWLING AND I NEVER DO THAT but that's probably…read morenot due to the venue...it's probably because I have MAD SKILLZ (surprisingly)! So I guess we have established that I did REALLY WELL at bowling - a 'work team building event' at which I beat my boss...(maybe not a good career move???) but what about the venue? Well it was surprising clean, tidy and presentable for a bowling alley - i don't know why but I have memories of them being dirty....but not so much here! I also noticed you can play laser skirmish here - ultimate party fun times! The food offerings were very...yellow. By which I mean deep fried but I guess that's what ya get! Junk food and fun family activities go hand in hand...right? I had a quick check of the prices and they seemed kinda expensive if you bring the whole family...but I don't really have any thing to compare it to...plus I didn't have to pay - (thanks word!) so no complaints here!

Honestly, I preferred Magic Mountain, its predecessor, though that probably had a lot to do with…read morethose childhood memories of me never actually going there. Well, I did once, but I didn't go on any of the waterslides, which was a shame. In a way, this is just a pale imitation of that once great structure that used to sit on the foreshore like a pile of ... mud. Yeah, that describes it beautifully. I guess, though, this does look better, but it just doesn't have the charm that the Magic Mountain had.

Using cards instead of tokens is the only world my kid will grow up knowing. And while the…read moretransition is easy for him, for me it's having to choose between whether the money on his card will be based on time spent playing, actual monetary value, or playing on some things but not others. This mental calculus was made easier by the lovely person behind the counter who asked a few questions about what my kid was interested in playing, how long, and then we just paid for whatever based on her recommendation. The kid then tried his hand at some ticket-prize games before making his way upstairs to the arcade games. This is where I discovered that my kid is scarily fantastic at that Terminator shooting game. ??? A little over an hour later, we exchanged his collection of tickets for some gross sticky hand trinket and then tried some mini golf. It is by far the smallest (by size) course I've ever played on but it was nice - in view of the beach and outdoors. Would I come here again? If it was raining. Honestly, not a bad way to spend some indoor kid time.