Arcades are slowly dying because right now the economy is kind of bad, and opening any business is like baseball, it’s either a Home Run or an out.
I remember there was about 400 arcades in California alone, now it’s probably just down to the last 50s or less. And of course, there’s always online console, and gaming at home now, so people don’t really want to go out that much as often as they like to.
FFA was one of the arcades that stepped up big time in attempt to fill the hole left by the closing of SHGL. And man, did it deliver. Everyone knows about the 3s scene there as it speaks for itself. But it was also the training ground of some of the best MvC2 players to come out after the post SHGL generation. Guys like Chris Schmidt, Finesse, Fanatiq, and Illan were regulars there each week trying to knock Soo off the throne. There were times when Nor cal guys like Chunk and Cableguy would come down just to play. Those were some good times. If you wanted to get better, FFA had the competition to do it.
adding to the list we will be including the legends of Tomo Ohira and Jeff Schaefer to be filling in a time slot and giving us some history on the game of Street Fighter! might have some casual matches to entertain people and hopefully this event will continue to get bigger and better and the time nears!
did someone say “DUNK TANK?” hopefully this pans out and we will be having some people taking a plunge for donations! sherryjenix and chrissyfoofykins will be donating their eye candy for you guys and we will also be forcing everyones love em or hate em tekken personality Aris getting drenched in this event!
more commentators to include our USA SBO rep for UMvC3, killer kai and hopefully we can pair him up with another one of your favorite marvel players Clockwork(pending work schedule)
trying to get a Super Turbo tourney set up for a 6pm start time run by @iebattlegrounds who brought you the most recent stream of ST revival at EVO!
this event is just gonna get bigger and badder and all for a good cause. come help us out just by being here or tuning in, and if you have any services you might want to offer feel free to drop me a msg and lets do this!
hey everyone,
i’m doing an article on the Family Fun Arcade for The Daily Sundial and am looking for some sources that can talk about the arcade’s importance.
Unfortunately, i have not been able to talk to Ralph as he is a busy man and hasn’t returned my calls. I have talked to some employees and a couple of gamers but am looking to get someone’s perspective that was around the FFA prior to 2008.
Please email me at Albot310@yahoo.com if you’re interested in a phone interview or an in-person interview, if you live in the LA area.
Thanks,
Alex
This message is for Ralph…I have not seen you in almost 30 years. I am one of the original “hangouts” from when you first opened, when the movie theatre was still a few doors down. I realise you may not remember me, or John Doyle, Jim Cormier, Steve Laybourn, Steve Bogna, and many others though I dont know how you couldnt as you chased us out for various things over the years including “partying” on the roof. I would like to fess up and let you know that it was me who placed the Miller beer bottles on top of the sign, which remained there for quite a while. I also would just like to say that not many things make me sad, but hearing about the closing really struck a nerve. I have many MANY fond memories of Family Fun, including you putting “Feliz Navidad” in the numbered place of a Led Zeppelin song on the juke box as a joke. I do not live in SFV anymore but am going to try my best to make it by to see the place one last time. I hope this message finds you well and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Thanks for all of the wonderful memories. Sincerely, Keith Mullins
thats a pretty cool story if real hahah! im sure ralph would smile when i direct him to read it.
anyways, as the time is getting closer i need to make somewhat of a more solid schedule as to who and what is to be going on during the stream so we can put it out there and have people spread the word. if you are commentating or interested in doing so please contact me here or via twitter @SuperDojo and i will do my best to reply asap. also we have tentatively scheduled a 3s tourney and a ST tourney. would love to have more games scheduled and grudge matches are always fun so if you guys have any suggestions feel free to post up!
Watson > The story is all true. I have so many memeories of FFA and the surrounding area that I could fill this blog for hours. All about places around there that no longer exist like McDonalds (got my first tattoo at age 15 by John on the outside benches), The Wherehouse record store, FB Waterbeds, the movie theatre (that was now medical offices the last time I was there), The Akron (later a Circuit City), and Donut shop next door to it. I remember FFA from before video games even existed. When it had pinball, air hockey, foosball, and other types of mechanical games. That “one girl” that is mentioned in the story as occasionally visiting FFA now, I probably dated (or atleast knew) her Mom…hahaha. The last time I remember seeing Ralph was when he picked Jim & I up hitch hiking on Devonshire (in his brown? van) and he gave us a ride all the way to Chatsworth park.
I do have a question that maybe Ralph can answer… in the early 1970’s there used to be another pinball arcade cadycorner from FFA in the same shopping center where Sav-On drugs was. If the El Queso Grande mexican restaurant is still there, that is where it was before the restaurant existed. What was the name of it ? Also, I know of a group called “San Fernando Valley Relics” that is currently acquiring objects from some of the places that are vanishing (like FFA) for a planned museum and I am sure they would be interested in possibly acquiring the FFA sign for thier collection.
I am planning to make it by FFA sometime over the holidays to see it one last time, as are many of my old friends that I have spread the word to about its closing. At this time I just dont know what exact date that will be. I highly doubt it, but I am very curious to see if my initials are still where I carved them years ago.
Sucks that a great place has to shut its doors down due to economy. I was a weekly mvc2 player there from south central l.a. going up there 24 miles just for better mvc2 comp 2003-2008. Enjoyed every moment i was there and would always give it my all in every mvc2 battle. Thanks FFA for providing great figthing game competition 
much respect to ralph and the best to him in his ongoing struggles and future endeavors.
i have many memories at this place from my 3rd strike beginnings. this place is truly a mecca for fighting games period.
Having moved to Los Angeles 2 years ago, this was one of the places I wanted to go to. I’ve had the opportunity to go to Japan Arcade in Little Tokyo but everyone told me that this is the place to go to for a great experience. Hopefully, I can make it before the doors close.
just released the 1st trailer for this event thanks to red rapper! incase you didnt tune into WNF on levelup’s stream we will be showing it tonight on TRB stream and also have the link to youtube up shortly. this event is gonna be great imo. gonna have tons of action while trying to run tourneys non-stop for 24 hours along with a lot of history and background to street fighter and the FGC scene starting from the very beginning of it all. please tune in for a good cause and help with anything you can. just being at the event is a huge plus and joining us for “1 last fight” at FFA arcade to show ralph we truly appreciate what he has done with his life to make ours that much better.
more scheduling to be posted asap so stay tuned and try to come out and be a part of this! thanks.
I’d like to know at what time and in what capacity I can be helpful. I can’t stay the whole 24 hr period but if I know the best 3-5 hour window that it looks like people will be needed I will make it happen
since mvc3 is your game just show up during that tourney i suppose would be helpful to have people come during the crazy late hours though. after 2am till 12 noon sunday since thats when things might start getting quiet. but hey, youre a family man and have a regular job so i dont expect too much
It would be great if you guys could get Dogface to join the event, and possibly commentate etc.
so where is the stream bruvs?
However, I think they are on intermission right now.
Does anybody have info on actually entering the tournaments (UMVC3 specifically) or was it an invite only thing for playing?
Tomo + Jeff on stream soon.
Thanks for the great stream + event while it lasted. Got a blast seeing Tomo and Jeff chatting, would have loved to hear Watts + Wizard story time too, oh well! Farewell to another arcade 
Keep fighting!