Outside, the arcade appears to be just an ordinary building. Inside, there is a gold-mine of video arcade games. With each one flashing its computerized graphics across the screen, video arcades are more than just simple-minded computer games. Instead they are gateways, where I go to exchange my reality for endless worlds of fantasy. Millions of choices give me the chance to learn new skills and strategies and provide me with a sense of accomplishment.

At the arcade I see more than just television monitors with computer images on them. Instead, each video game jumps out at me as an entirely different world where I am free to escape the pressures of everyday life. A world where I can forget that I am a student at Cal Poly and become anything I want anywhere, and anytime I choose.

Each video game represents a window into a world of fantasy. Some days I brave the cold waters of the ocean while I destroy evil enemy agents as I play "In The Hunt." Other days I grab my fishing gear and head for tropical waters to brag about anything and everything I catch as I play "Fish Tales." And still other days I push my adrenaline to the max., flooring it across the world in my midnight black "Bad Boy" Porsche playing Segas "Out Runners."

Sitting down to play an arcade game, I feel that I have started on a mission; which means much more than just passively watching the video screen. It is a mission to outmaneuver, outlast, and outsmart the computerized enemies on each level of the game. But before I can accomplish my mission, I must learn the skills and strategies that will allow me to master each level.

Watching other people play, I can learn the skills and strategies needed to conquer a new game. I focus in on the movements that people make with their hands as well as the kind of image(s) or moves it produces on the screen. When I feel confident enough to simulate that action, then I make an attempt.

My mind is swamped by a torrent of emotions and questions when I make a new play. On one hand, I feel nervous and full of anxiety and at the same time I ask myself "How exactly did the other person do that move? Did she maneuver her hand this way or that way?" This experience is a total rush of feelings that can only be relieved when I put my hands to the controllers and give it my best try. Often times it just doesn't seem to work for me at first. But after repeatedly practicing the same motion I am able to use it frequently and with ease.

I try to use new moves in combination with old plays. For example, swinging the joy stick three-quarters of the way around while pressing the "B" button to throw a fire-ball in "Street Fighters 2." This involves more concentration then learning the new movement itself, since now I must focus deeply on coordinating the movements of my hand with what I see on the screen in a very short amount of time. With strong persistence I can use many combinations of moves to increase my mastery of the game.

Finally, there is the thrill of victory when I am not only able to master new levels but also beat the game itself. Instantly, a rush of feelings floods my mind with the jubilant satisfaction of victory as I watch the arch enemy fall or be blown to its demise. Then, I feel that I have accomplished my mission. I have become one of the few people who put forth the time, energy, and effort in order join the elite who can master this video game. In addition, I have gained the wisdom, experience, and expertise that few will ever experience when they play this game.

Video arcades are more than just rooms full of computer games with colorful screens. They are gateways where I can go and exchange my reality for their fantasy. Perhaps many people will never discover the hidden treasures inside their local arcades. But for me, the video arcades will always be the gateway from which I can escape the life I live now and feel the excitement of lives I could only dream of before.