Eh, I'd argue it was more the community of Rowland Heights and the 626 just didn't like a bunch of people hanging out all night. It's changing now, but the 626 is mostly boomer Chinese and Taiwanese expats. Kind of the same problem that hit Watson's Super Arcade. Whole lotta NIMBYs even thought it was in a shopping center.
Damn - I live across the country, and that close almost brought a tear to my eye. Like Sherry said, I'm sure that place kept a lot of folks out of trouble. Such a shame that the city didn't see it that way. Arcade culture (and the arcade industry) needs to make a comeback. I mean, are more and more young adults just going to remain isolated and just play games online, with only a relatively small dedicated base going around to compete in tourneys? Arcades were a way to socialize with people of similar (and maybe not so similar) interests, while having a good time, building healthy competition against your peers, and NOT getting into trouble. Don't know when - but it just needs to happen... And this is coming from someone that's quite a bit older (like "older than Valle" older), so maybe my perspective is a bit more Rose-tinted. Love this series RBG!!!
Damn...after Southern Hills Golfland in the OC closed (RIP), AI became me and my friend's go-to spot! So many memories of playing 3rd Strike, KOF, SF4, Rumble Fish and Hokuto No Ken and watching some amazing matches there! Miss those days 😭😭
Me and my homies used to frequent this spot back in the day. So lit. After a late night session at AI there was this sushi joint on Colima and Fullerton that stayed open until 5 or 6am and served alcohol after 2 as well as allowed smoking inside. If you knew, you knew. Rowland Heights was so dope back then.
@@okendo011 it was awesome. The peak of that particular era was probably more the early to mid 00's rather than the later half, and I wish it could still be the same. No way it would work these days, the restaurant would probably get busted by the local law enforcement due to social media.
Yeah! 2 bobas at Life Plaza, couple games at AI, then go over to Nogales to meet up with tuners to go racing. I even took a job interview over the phone once while chilling in the Egame cybercafe. It was the best place back in 2000-2008.
So many wonderful memories at AI! Hell, the entirety of the Diamond Plaza was a straight-up paradise back in the early 2Ks. It's places like AI that make me want to open and run my own arcade/gaming hobby shop. More people from all gaming generations need a place like this to connect with their communities and each other. That social aspect and in-person community vibe is what makes arcades come alive! Online competition is great, don't get me wrong, but there's something about seeing your friends and rivals face-to-face building those bonds over our favorite games.
I wasn't much of a regular back in the day. Didn't have a car back in my early college days. But I did hit up the place every chance I could after I had my car. It was a hell of great time. My friends would go and id catch up with them, play SF, KOF, Wangan, and the occasional HnK (fist of the north star). That spot helped me build my pvp confidence and take on way better players and really put my skills to the real tests. Long love Arcade Infinity.
It feels crazy to have experienced this arcade when SF4 was around. I used to spend days in high school really trying to be serious about the game and driving out there. Just everyone was so good, it was kind of intimidating actually. I did make some friends there though, it was definitely a decent area to be close to Orange County rather than LA.
Holy crap this was a trip down memory lane. One of the reason I got into fighting games was actually THANKS to Duralath! I remember my first time entering Arcade Infinity and deciding to sign up for a random third strike tournament, and it just so happened, that day it was random team pairings and I was paired up with him! He actually helped me learn the basics of the game and I was able to learn a lot watching him play.. even though I legit got my ass kicked every round but he hard carry XD. But man Duralath! If you reading this! I just wanted to thank you for really getting me into the FGC back in AI times! it was great man! and ever since i've been into fighting games! A little less now, but still! XD It's also crazy seeing how far Sherry has gotten to. I remember us starting around the same time and we'd have a few battles against each other at the weekly third strike tournaments. Its awesome to see how far she has gotten down her path! Its so nostalgic seeing this video and I'm glad to see and know that old familiar faces are doing well now too! :)
Despite me being a lifelong Tekken fan, AI made me appreciate Street Fighter. It helped me understand a sense of community from the Players, the RanBat/Tournys, and overall entertainment. Makes me wish that could've been born in SolCal.
Fubarduck used to run Arcade UFO in Austin. He always had all the new fighting games there. They had SF4 there in 2008 as well as Tatsunoko vs Capcom before it was released on console
Being there between 07-08, Friday Saturday night, drinking tall cans inside and outside, hiding in the back corner playing marvel2 until 2 3 in the morning. Those were the damn days. I remember trying sf4 and getting beat by someone who played me with just one hand. After that it was strictly marvel.
I started going in 2001, it was the first place I played cvs2 that year. Bought my 1st 3 candy cabs from them soon after. The Tao bros did us all a favor opening that arcade up. I can’t believe it’s been closed down for 11 years now :(
Was lamenting the loss of arcades and specifically AI today. Lo and behold... Along with Starbase in NorCal (2013 RIP) they were two incredible spaces for the FGC. Still miss them.
I miss AI man. I used to play Counter Strike and StarCraft next door. Then I heard that Ai got Tekken Tag, and I was all over that. Sadly I left SoCal and by the time I moved back it was closed. I remember I used to carry the AI business cards just so I can hand them to people looking for competition. And on the back I would write names of the players to look out for. Man I miss those arcade days.
I was there that first week. Pretty insane. Would travel between there and the bowling Alley in Long Beach playing fighting games. MvC2, 3S etc. E-games in that same plaza was awesome for DOTA but things got silly there after while. Good times~
I’m storing a few Candy Cabs for a friend and at least one used to belong to Arcade Infinity. Found a few AI branded tokens inside while I was cleaning it out. Only got to go a couple of times myself but the guys I went with played shumps as they had a pretty nice selection.
This what got me in to fighting games. Wasn't e sports and corporate at the time. It was raw shit talking, hype and alot of information being shared on a deep game. I miss this era. But its dead. Just corporate e sports now.
didn't know AI was a hotspot for SF4! I was one of those BEMANI nerds that wished I could make the trip down to play at AI, but I wasn't much for fighting games. still this was a great look at the scene at the time it looked like a wild time out there!
Just hope SF6 can re-ignite something like SFIV did. Due to SFV mishaps, other fighting games managed to take centre stage but they're missing something. Tekken 7 isn't in a good state at the moment with no communication with the Devs. DBFZ isn't as strong as it once was. GGStrive is the thing but it's too early for me to say anything. What I found amazing about SFIV even though I hated the game was it brought players from other communities and I could go up to Tekken players, Guilty Gear players, Marvel players, Mortal Kombat players and ask, do you want to play some SFIV? And I still played it. That's not the case with now. I want SF6 to come out and all these legends to come back and out and play. I want to see new blood in the scene making a name for themselves. I want to see established players from other fighting games putting their stamp on SF6. I'm not saying SF6 to dominate the FGC like SFIV did but for it to be that game that unites different communities and the "common link" not just players but Stream Monsters who don't play the game.
Agreed . 37 years old here and I was 1000% sure that the street fighter franchise was dead. SF4 brought my love of the FGC and series back from the dead
@@hypersphere True however tekken was EASILY the best fighting game and still is there was no competition, you saw goats like daigo struggling in tournaments because the game is not up to par even with their previous games, theres a lot more they can improve for street fighter to make it a better competitive experience even with many players it doesnt change the fact even to this day street fighter 5 is lowkey trash even compared to sf4
@@shameermalik4297 ok bro you like Tekken, that's great. What you're saying about Daigo is absolutely ridiculous, obviously you follow Tekken more than SF and that's fine. At the same time Daigo was struggling in SFV, another goat, Infiltration was dominating the game. it's nothing to do with the game being not up to par. Daigo just had to get better at SFV, and, eventually he did, like the boss he is!
Pretty sure TokyoGameAction in MA had it at the sametime. Unfortunately it closed but they definitely deserve a mention and I forgot to mention TGA had an official cabinet too
Let me be known Arcade Infinity was probably popping before SFIV. I was there visiting in my high school years in 2003. 09ers and SF4 players think they are special or something as if they developed the scene there.
I moved to LA in the beginning of 2008, and I'm grateful I was able to check out both Arcade Infinity and FFA before they closed down. This is coming from a guy from Virginia that use to read about these arcades in the back of Tips & Tricks magazines. I only went to AI once, and that was because I met some cool dudes at FFA and they brought me along for the ride. Thanks for this video! Do y'all have one for Family Fun Arcade too??
FFA was more my speed. The valley people were more down to earth. But they were also good. Plus the row of 3rd strike cabs. People blazing in the parking lot. AI had a more serious vibe
I don't understand why sf4 isn't in more arcades. We had a pretty good group coming out every weekend to our local arcade in PHX, specifically for that game, and then they took it away. I don't get it.
The death of arcades is by far one of the worst things ever for the gaming community this new generation will never know the feeling of your parents dropping you off with a bunch of quarters and spending your entire day gaming #Bringbackarcadegaming
There was nothing like AI. I miss it so much. I do not miss the bloody fights in Safari Zone next door and having to be locked inside AI by their security while the police sorted things out 😂😂
Not true the first arcade that got it was galloping ghost who has over 800 arcade machines you pay $15 you play all day it’s been in that arcade I say about 7 years now or more don’t really play games that I already played if you want to play street fighter V you go to Japan
