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Game on: Retro gaming sees a comeback in tech-savvy Austin

Cidercade is one of two locations in Austin equipped with Dance Dance Revolution. (Claire Partain/Austonia)
"It's 5 o'clock somewhere," but not quite at Austin's Cidercade, where gamers, couples and friends have already gathered in the middle of a weekday to drink cider and play arcade games, new and old, for $10 a pop.
The cider company-turned-arcade is just one of many successful arcade businesses to have found their audience in Austin, where tech gurus and niche game hobbyists take a breather with their favorite old video games.
According to David Kaelin, owner of retro gaming store Game Over Videogames, Austin is a prime location for those in his industry.
David Kaelin is a longtime owner of Austin-based retro gaming store Game Over Videogames, (David Kaelin/Facebook)
"It's definitely a very good market for gaming in general," Kaelin told Austonia. "There's a lot of young, high-tech-minded people here... and every year thousands of people are coming in and out of UT with high tech degrees, so it just adds more and more geek fuel to the fire."
But it wasn't long ago that just one or two arcades were in town, Kaelin said.
"I can think of five arcades that I could drive to just around the Austin area, and you couldn't say that five years ago," Kaelin said.
Kaelin has been a part of the industry since 2005 when he opened his video game resale shop in the Texas capital. His mission was to keep on the dying tradition of the "classic video game store"—think GameStop, but cooler. The store sells a little bit of everything, from the now-ancient Atari to XBOX gear in stock, and they're in higher demand than ever.
The company has expanded to 12 locations and won the "Best Video Game Store" category in Austin so many times the city expanded its criteria. According to Kaelin, its success is all about nostalgia.
Kaelin has found that there's a sweet spot for old games: once they reach 20 to 30 years old, they're ready to be dusted off the shelves and give new adults more feel-good memories.
For Leander native Danny Ugarte, that game is Dance Dance Revolution, an on-your-feet arcade game first made in 1999. Ugarte remembers playing the game as a kid—now, years later, he's using it as a way to keep occupied during the pandemic.
Leander resident Danny Ugarte comes to Cidercade for BLANK but makes sure to check out other old-school games before he goes. (Claire Partain/Austonia)
"It definitely helped, especially since gyms were closed and things like that," Ugarte said. "That helped me keep up with exercise."
Ugarte's been going to Cidercade for around six months now, usually with a friend or two in tow, as they hang with other "DDR" enthusiasts every few weeks. Occasionally he'll dabble with an old Mario Bros. game as well, and he's more into retro games than the cutting edge ones.
"I just think it's important to kind of keep these old games because they were what inspired the new games," Ugarte said. "With the new games it kind of loses its charm... this is what I grew up on, and coming back to this makes me really happy."
While some are motivated by childhood memories, Kaelin said his customers are a mixed bag. The user-friendly nature of older games gives it more widespread appeal than many modern games, and Kaelin has seen anyone from kids to older customers enjoy a good game of Galaga or Street Fighter.
"It's fun for me to see all the different ages and different reasons for getting into retro gaming in stores," Kaelin said. "It brings all those people together."
Unlike most businesses that struggled during the pandemic, Kaelin said that staying a home got people gaming more than ever. Now that some semblance of normalcy has returned, they're also more eager to go somewhere outside of the home, making for a perfect storm for gaming businesses nationwide.
"Unlike anything else, it's gotten a lot more popular in the past several years before COVID, and then especially during the past two years with the shutdown," Kaelin said. "We're definitely in a kind of Renaissance period where I think people are, you know, in much larger numbers going out to local stores to shop because they've been unable to do that in the past. It's a great time to be into retro gaming."
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Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.