Man, that kind of makes me sad. While I would never call Mortal Kombat beautiful, I agree with it's sense of escapism. That is why I play video games. It's terrible when children have to find a way to be a kid these days

I agree, makes you appreciate the things you have at home or even in your pocket.

These kids really are escaping some shitty reality through games, though like that kid send in the article, there is alwyas a game over.

Journos tend to be fairly dumb, no offense, but is he sure it isn't a terrorist recruitment spot? I know they do it in Iraq. Most people target the young in such places for military purposes even the USA, in our country (malls ect). Though in areas like Iraq the arcades are put there by the terrorist groups themselves, and they tend to look legit.

Usually the military don't even move on these locations because their full of children and unarmed associated terrorists (militants).

From the nature of that blog I wouldn't be surprised if the journo was oblivious.

It annoys me people have to instantly assume terrorism with anything remotely connected to the middle east.

Just take those images for what they are, escapism from the harsh reality of living under horrible conditions.

I can't believe these kids are wasting their money on playing games.

Whats wrong with wasting money on games? You don't know how much it is and if they can afford it, it's surely a good thing for them to keep them in sorta good spirits facing their horrible lifes... As the guy says, better they spend it in games than in drugs...
Besides, people in the first world waste money on games aswell even though they have much better options.

I tried to find the other pictures. As far as I can tell, there aren't any. What kind of photojournalist only takes one picture?

I'm with Volomon, sadly. Not just terrorists, all kinds of militia do this, even drug dealers here in Brazil...

Thanks a lot internet, for taking something sweet and ruining it.

I don't care if it's the "truth" or not, that's not what the damn story was about. It's about people who love games, just like you, and you went and shit on them.

Ya kind of sad people don't realize the depth of reality in what I said, but I give leeway to them, it's easy to be ignorant when you sheltered from reality. It's not necessary a bad thing, I sometimes wish I didn't know everything that I know or have seen.

"how good you've got it" haha Go watch Tron. For the most part this is what gaming was like 25 years ago.

With the pessimistic paranoia around here, I'm amazed agoraphobia isn't more widespread. =\ I mean yeah, there probably are instances where things like these wind up creating new terrorists, but this piece was meant to instill a sense of hope in all of us. Even in one of the more hellish places in the world, it's possible to escape that even for just a few minutes. But no, that's apparently not what we're supposed to think about. No, this arcade isn't really a good thing at all, as it spawns more Enemies of Freedom(TM) to plague the world. Come on. Our beloved and cherished hobby is quite possibly giving strength for people to carry on, and all you can think about is this supposed seedy underbelly and how everyone involved is going to turn into a child soldier or suicide bomber?

People call me negative and pessimistic quite a bit, but I've apparently got leagues to go compared to the people here.

CRKFIEND: Uhh, perhaps you should have read the actual story. Nobody said anything about pirated games. Nobody said anything about kids who have a home and a TV and console to play games on. The article is about street rats and beggars who've pretty much never had shit getting a chance to have some fun.

Nice story.

this is a great and deep story, someone should start a donation or something i would happily give up a dreamcast so those kids can get some powerstone 2 fights goin. Too bad stories like this dont hit the news for soccer moms and politicians to look at, all we care about in the US is "Grand theft auto led to killing spree by a 15 year old boy" type shit. But hey great for those kids.

@pedrovay2003 Not everyone can be unquestioning and accept everything as it is drones. Some of us have to think. That's part of what's wrong with this country we accept everything at face value, or even worse make up excuses to explain away any negative side of something they deem favorable.

Some people might want to bury their heads and not care if it's "true" or false and pretend it's a happy day every day, the rest of us have to live with reality.

That is a bit depressing, but at least these kids are being exposed to classics...Now I feel awful for tiring of new releases every month.

Being Negative does not equal living in reality.

I'm sorry, Daxel, but does that mean that the opinion is any less valid? The only reason you people are perceiving the "negative" opinions as negative is because from your viewpoint the story is positive. Some of us don't need to get our positive vibes from a story on the internet. If the truth is negative then so be it, but i would like to hear truths. I'm glad these kids can get some enjoyment out of games, I really do, but if something more seedy and sinister is happening in these arcades I'd like to hear about that as well.

@smackfilla: It doesn't make the opinion any less valid, but it make it horribly placed.

If you wanted the truth, you'd take yourself to fucking Afghanistan and find out for yourself if they're harboring terrorists in their arcades. Then come back and write you're very own article about it.

Yeah, "truth hurts", "maybe you can't handle the truth" and all that hard ass bullshit applies, but it only applies when we're faced with the actual truth. So when you bring me proof of these arcades actually training and recruiting would-be terrorists, then you can say "This Is The Truth, Nut Up And Take It."

Until then, you're just being annoyingly pessimistic about a subject that's already painted in a negative light by every other form of media out there. I don't need to to tell me how the real world works. They pay people to tell me how the real world works.

I don't know how you people can come into a relatively feel good story to come out of a place of pure turmoil and distress, fucking ruin it with your pessimistic bullshit, and then hide behind the veil of "It's My Opinion, I'm only speaking the truth". Apparently, happiness doesn't exist to you motherfuckers, so I'm going to let you in on a little secret;

HAPPY SHIT HAPPENS TOO.

Fuck.

Daxelman, you're my fricken hero for that comment.

Jesus fucking christ. How about you all shut up and take these pictures as what they are clearly trying to be: a way for us westerners to realise how easy we have it.

You all need to have some fucking compassion for your fellow human beings. You can so fucking tell most of you are American.

I didn't read the article too much and only saw a few pictures that didn't show anything other than regular, aged arcade cabinets running games.

I didn't see any "computers hooked up to moniters." the journalist should have taken better pictures to support his story :/

@Daxter

There are two more on Tiny Cartridge and I believe whatever issues of CSM has this article on it will feature the full photo story.

@Daxelman

It does if the reality is negative.