Gaming is huge business.

Apps like Angry Birds generate hundreds of millions of dollars, while franchises like Call of Duty can famously take over a billion dollars in revenue with a single product launch.

In the mainstream media, you'll read articles such as "Nintendo shares are up 200% since the launch of ' Pokemon Go ,' but that's not the main reason why", which you can read here.

For many of us, long before apps and consoles, our first introduction to gaming came in our early years at arcades.

Despite the rise of on-the-go gaming and mobile consoles of the last few decades such as the Nintendo Gameboy, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Sony PS Vita and Nintendo Switch, traditional arcade gaming is here to stay.

What does this all have to do with travel?

Well, regular readers of the @goodwithtravels page will know that I'm spending time in South Korea, where gaming is huge.

[If you haven't yet caught up, you can read about my experience barbecuing my meal by the side of the road, or trying the exclusive-to-Korea Starbucks Avocado Blended drink]

Walking around the trendy area of Hongdae, Seoul, I stumbled across the Zzang Games gaming arcade.

Growing up as a huge fan of the **Time Crisis **arcade franchise, and knowing how big a gaming community there is in Korea, it was too good an opportunity to turn down a visit inside.

Thus, I stepped inside and the sights inside did not disappoint:

• Games I didn’t know existed.
• Games I didn’t understand.
• Games that seemed to complex to even play, yet had fans in rapture!

The building included three floors of fun, with machines of all shapes, sizes and styles.

There were of course, the familiar faces of Hello Kitty and the characters from Mario Kart:

Even the stairs were in keeping with the theme

There were water-themed games, electronic games, team games, solo games, shoot-em-up games, sports games and more.

It’s fair to say that many of the games were lost on me (in part because of the Korean language!), but I could relate to the individuals’ sense of enjoyment and momentary capture in the games they were playing.

Some games I hadn’t seen, but recognized, such as this spin-off of Guitar Hero, which I can only assume is called something along the lines of Drummer Hero.

And indeed another, DJ Hero:

I even managed to spy some local teens dressed up as their favourite anime characters:

Finally, a Fun Fact:

Did you know that it’s common in Korea for couples to dress the same?

For example, this couple here wearing the same t-shirt, shorts, shoes and even bandana!

And that is that

All in all my first experience of Korean gaming culture in the form of an arcade was a positive one - despite losing heavily to some locals at Mario Kart. I'd always previously considered myself a pro, so clearly there is progress to be made on my part.

Have you been to Seoul?

Have you ever combined gaming and travelling, perhaps even at an arcade?

I'd love to hear your stories, and don't forget to follow along the @goodwithtravels story:

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