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Drafts And Donkey Kong On Tap At New Fishtown Bar

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The draw at one of Philadelphia's newest bars is more than just booze.

Sure, there are a couple dozen beers on draft, "It's all microbrew, American craft brew.  Everything's fresh; it's a different menu all the time."

But manager Pete Langway says there's plenty more to do with your hands.

"Arcade games from the golden era of video games, early 80's mostly."

Thirty-five of them: Ms. Pac-Man, Frogger, Double Dragon, "Hence the name Barcade."

It's now open at 1114 Frankford Ave. in Fishtown.

"We built beer drink shelves next to each game, and I guess those will be food shelves as well."

Randy traveled from Warminster to grab an early high score.

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A chalkboard at Barcade lists the names of the high-scorers. (Credit: Ian Bush)

Bush: "Am I going to mess you up? What are you playing here?"

Randy: "Donkey Kong."

He says he was tough to beat back in the day, but still deftly maneuvers Mario to rescue Princess Pauline. "I thought my skills, being like 45, would be diminished. But, hey, I can still do it -- good win for the old guys."

Langway says, if you remember playing these games when you were younger, it might make you feel a little old.

"To be 21, that means you were born in 1990. All these games are from the 80's, but a lot of people are familiar with them from emulations on computers. And everybody knows Pac-Man, Tetris, Frogger."

Bush: "Do they get harder after you've had a few?"

Langway: "I think it's kind of like bowling: after a couple, you get better, but after about four or five you get really bad."

Reported by Ian Bush, KYW Newsradio 1060

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