Home Gaming Beer and Bubble Bobble at Barcade

Beer and Bubble Bobble at Barcade

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barcade

Pop-up bars and restaurants are all the rage with hipsters at the moment, which is generally reason enough to wholly ignore them. This one that I’ve seen floating about on the internet for the past few days though is one worthy of attention, as it combines two of our greatest loves; beer and games.

Called Barcade, it brings together the fantastic union of overpriced alcohol and under-priced arcade games. Opening at the Alexander Theatre in old JHB’s Braamfontein on September 26, the bar will only be there for 3 months before its gone, moving to some other part of the country where hipsters are likely to gather, or disappearing in to the ether completely.

It’ll play host to 10 arcade machines that are likely illegally hosting unlicensed roms. That’s okay though because you’ll be able to play all of them for gratis, getting your nostalgia on in games like Bubble Bobble, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat and Pac-Man.

Food, in the form of US-centric bar snacks, will be supplied by the folks from market favourites Taylor’s Good Food which you may have never heard of unless you have a waxed moustache, ride a bicycle and own a vintage tweed jacket. Still, seems like a good time; good games, good food and good booze.

We got wind of this from two popular local blogs, who seem to have received the same press release and a thesaurus.

Here’s what MyCityByNight had to say:

Barcade is a new pop-up bar and video game arcade with a focus on retro games, craft beer, premium drinks and classic American bar food that is scheduled to open at the end of September. The pop up is set to call Braamfontein in Jozi home for around 3 months and is something that most people are probably going to really enjoy, considering that it combines pretty much everything that was good from the 1980?s into one new, shiny package.

While the folks at We are Awesome said something completely different:

Barcade is a new pop-up bar and video game arcade in Johannesburg, that concentrates on retro games, craft beer, premium beverages and fantastic American bar food. The pop-up bar will be situated in Braamfontein for about 3 months, and is something that most individuals are likely going to truly delight in, considering that it joins about everything that was great from the 1980?s into one new, glossy bundle.

More info at BarcadeJozi.

Last Updated: September 17, 2014

63 Comments

  1. Jedi Consular Kromas

    September 17, 2014 at 12:42

    Seems fun. I might pop in with some friends and then trash them at Street Fighter for free drinks. 😛

    Reply

  2. Gavin Mannion

    September 17, 2014 at 12:43

    lulz, taking some potshots at the other blogs for posting press releases :P.

    I’d love to know how the guys behind the idea forgot to send the PR to gaming sites? I mean… wouldn’t that have occurred to them at some point?

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      September 17, 2014 at 12:44

      Wouldn’t that be too mainstream?

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Assassin

      September 17, 2014 at 12:50

      Why don’t you ask your resident hipster?

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      September 17, 2014 at 12:56

      Gaming sites don’t show up on iPhones.

      Reply

      • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

        September 17, 2014 at 12:56

        But I’m using my iPad to post this. And all the really hip hipsters have iPads. It’s known.

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          September 17, 2014 at 12:57

          iPads work 😉 Trololo

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief Assassin

          September 17, 2014 at 12:57

          So you are a hip hipster? Hurrah!

          Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 17, 2014 at 13:16

          When you say “laptop” you mean Macbook right?

          Reply

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            September 17, 2014 at 13:36

            No. 🙁

    • Jedi Consular Kromas

      September 17, 2014 at 12:57

      Maybe we are too PC Master Race for them to think we will play arcade games? 😛

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        September 17, 2014 at 12:58

        But aren’t those the majority of all your backlog? trololo

        Reply

        • Jedi Consular Kromas

          September 17, 2014 at 12:59

          Yeah I still need to finish Tetris but I am waaayyy too busy enjoying another nibbles playthrough.

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            September 17, 2014 at 13:00

            HAHAHA!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 17, 2014 at 13:25

            So’s Umar I think, he’s always carrying on about Snake, SNAAAAAAAAKEEEEE

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 17, 2014 at 13:14

        PC Master Race doesn’t need them anyway, MAME & cheap drinks in the comfort of your own home.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 17, 2014 at 13:05

      They asked John to do it, who’s John? Exactly

      Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 17, 2014 at 12:44

    I like to learn something new every day… why did today’s lesson have to be “what is a pop-up bar or restaurant”?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Assassin

      September 17, 2014 at 12:46

      Ditto dude

      Reply

    • Viking Of Science

      September 17, 2014 at 12:50

      “You will not find a more wretched hive of scum or villiany, than a pop-up bar.”

      Reply

      • Lord Chaos

        September 17, 2014 at 12:51

        You clearly haven’t been to Loftus. 😛

        Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          September 17, 2014 at 12:52

          Replace Loftus with Lords*

          Reply

    • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

      September 17, 2014 at 12:52

      Is it okay that I still don’t know what a pop-up bar or restaurant is? Also, since they’re co opting already licensed establishments, aren’t they more like “changed theme and name bar or restaurant”?

      Like giving a facelift to an aged and outdated celebrity?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 17, 2014 at 12:53

        No it’s not okay. Geoff worked hard to express his disdain so eloquently, and you don’t even read it. Shame on you!

        Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          September 17, 2014 at 12:54

          No! No! No! He tells us that they are all the rage, but he doesn’t really provide me with any sort of useful definition. I assume they pop-up places they’re not wanted? Or do they just surprise people (like they pop-up from behind your mums pot plant and then get you wasted)?

          *edit: Although I’m very well versed in what a Barcade is. But not what the parent Pop-up Bar is. Assume I live under a rock. 😛

          Reply

          • Viking Of Science

            September 17, 2014 at 12:57

            That sounds kinda “rapey” though….

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            September 17, 2014 at 12:59

            Well Wikipedia says that pop up bars/restaurants are not really all that new and that they’re popular in the US of A as well as Cuba. So assume that when the pop-up bar pops out from behind your mums pot plant, it’ll not only have great alcohol, but also tons of pure cocaine.

            That’s not “rapey”, it’s just considerate. 😛

    • Jedi Consular Kromas

      September 17, 2014 at 12:58

      I would have thought it would be something like pop up video. You walk in and a little pop up appears with useless facts about bar entrances and so forth.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 17, 2014 at 13:00

        I thought it was because they’re filled with cardboard cutout caricatures of real people.

        Reply

        • Jedi Consular Kromas

          September 17, 2014 at 13:01

          Nah they actually have hidden XBones inside so the NSA can spy on our drinking habits.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Assassin

            September 17, 2014 at 13:02

            Consular nogals ne?

          • Jedi Consular Kromas

            September 17, 2014 at 13:12

            I am a diplomat at heart. At least when it comes to issues of galactic importance.

            I also had to very diplomatic with my pc so it would at least try to run KotoR.

            Time for that game to get an HD facelift.

          • Admiral Chief Assassin

            September 17, 2014 at 13:23

            Dude, I actually started up KotOR2 this week, with the restored content mod and the droid planet. Giving this a go!

          • Jedi Consular Kromas

            September 17, 2014 at 13:32

            I played about 3 hours of KotoR last night. My leave is kicking in next week so Ill have some splendid gaming time while I wait for Dragon Age. Already got KotoR 2 prepped and ready to go once I finish 1.

          • Admiral Chief Assassin

            September 17, 2014 at 14:20

            Have you got the Restored Content Mod? What about the droid planet?

            (Doing Male Guardian currently, still Peragus)

          • Jedi Consular Kromas

            September 17, 2014 at 15:26

            Yeah I just googled “Top 5 Kotor 2 mods” and downloaded those. 🙂

  4. Admiral Chief Assassin

    September 17, 2014 at 12:45

    Since I have not seen the inside of any bar/club for some ages, I have a question:

    What is the going rate for the following drinks:

    – Dubbel brannas and coke
    – 500ml mug of golden deliciousness
    – Average shooter

    Reason being I get my drinks for free at work, so I have no idea what things cost

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      September 17, 2014 at 12:47

      Round about the price of a Steam special

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 17, 2014 at 12:48

        lol that’s a good way of looking at it. 2 beers or Tomb Raider? No wonder I’ve (almost) stopped drinking.

        Reply

        • Mossel

          September 17, 2014 at 13:04

          I calculate everything in terms of draughts.

          Reply

      • Admiral Chief Assassin

        September 17, 2014 at 12:49

        Ah, so I’ve not been missing out by going out in this mad place called “public”

        Reply

    • Mossel

      September 17, 2014 at 13:01

      Cant comment on brannas filth.
      But a good brewski will set you back anything from R20-R40 for 500ml. Depending what and where you buy. Shots should be about R10-R25 for jaggermeister.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Assassin

        September 17, 2014 at 13:27

        I’m happy! The more people buy Jägermeister, the nicer toys I get in my server room and office!

        Reply

    • Brady miaau

      September 17, 2014 at 13:01

      “Reason being I get my drinks for free at work, so I have no idea what things cost”

      Take home or drink at work? Or certain days? I worked at a place once that had a pub that opened at certain times and the drinks were stupidly cheap, but not free

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Assassin

        September 17, 2014 at 13:09

        …staff account

        Reply

  5. RinceThis

    September 17, 2014 at 12:55

    AHAHAHAHAH! Nice.

    Reply

  6. SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

    September 17, 2014 at 12:55

    I feel like this sort of event would fit in perfectly at the Old Biscuit Mill….

    Reply

  7. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 17, 2014 at 12:58

    But seriously, is it as cool as this place?

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      September 17, 2014 at 13:00

      Probably considerably fewer LAYSSERRR LAAAIIIITTTS

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        September 17, 2014 at 13:02

        You mean LAAATEEESS?

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief Assassin

        September 17, 2014 at 13:07

        Does this place even still exist?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Assassin

          September 17, 2014 at 13:10

          (website dead, so I’m assuming dit het sy gat gesien)

          Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 17, 2014 at 13:04

      INTERACTIVE COUNTERS!

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Assassin

      September 17, 2014 at 13:05

      Teh lolz!

      Reply

  8. Brady miaau

    September 17, 2014 at 13:00

    Ah, bubble bobble. I sucked at that game, but I played and played and played and played and played. It helped me understand I have very little patience and tolerance for mistakes.

    May be worth popping round, ordering a neat milk and having a go.

    Reply

  9. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 17, 2014 at 13:17

    Wow, those tags HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Reply

  10. Guild

    September 17, 2014 at 13:21

    Sounds like plans for an evening out

    Reply

  11. Ross Woofels Mason

    September 17, 2014 at 15:13

    So these are basically Shabeens for people with money?

    Reply

  12. brad coetzee

    September 17, 2014 at 15:34

    http://barcadebrooklyn.com/about/faq/

    Last two questions………name is Trademarked so I recommend they change the name from Barcade to “Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.”

    Reply

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