Tour Michael Jackson’s Ultimate Mega Geek Den
After getting a glimpse of Michael Jackson’s personal arcade, I worry that I, too, may be suffering from Peter Pan syndrome.
The arcade’s been posted online as a fully explorable panorama. From Crazy Taxi to Guitar Freaks to Han Solo frozen in carbonite to the 360-degree spinning Sega R360 jet fighter cabinet, Jackson amassed a collection—much of which was auctioned off earlier this year.
It’s notable that the collection seems to be frozen in time during the mid 90s. That’s right around the timeframe of Jackson’s notorious $US22 million molestation settlement. Though, more fairly, it’s also the same era that consoles really started to cut into the arcade experience. [Pinesane via Kotaku]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
This reminds me of the Hansel and Gretel story.
The guy seriously grosses me out.
glamajamma
@CameraShoe_GitEmSteveDave: It's still better than going to the airport.
Jackhole
@Hello Mister Walrus: I think it might be one of those old Top Gun arcade cabinets.
Xeno
I bet it would've been cool to chill with Michael in the arcade and talk about Star Wars and video games.
@pixelpushing: When asked about the lego Darth Vader, Michael replied: Yeah, I built that with my brothers, Toledo, Geranium, that other guy, and my sisters Toyota, Quality, and that one with the nipple.
@Mediocre: Not so cool. Light saber color is wrong. EPIC FAIL :-)
lschofield
I have a newfound respect for him!
pastrychef
@Save me: Us and the Borg, yes.
@H2H: ah! One down and one to go? Thanks for link.
Everythng is simply amazing. And yes, some may need some maintenance. But I doubt anyone can find a better model anywhere else. Simply jaw dropping.
Anyone know if we can download the entire virtual tour? I'd love to save this.
@CameraShoe_GitEmSteveDave: Until about 3 months ago, i'd take an encounter with a pedofile over an encounter with a PDF file.
Adobe has finally made the PDF a little more manageable and less horrible.
drewheyman
Pedophile or not I am wondering if MJ was good at Dance Dance Revolution?
Gazdagreat
I actually own something in that arcade. The posable Spider Man with the silver base. I won that in the Spider Man Sweepstakes at Blockbuster. Something like 1 of 2,000. Sweet...
acadapter
@BPL5683: Hey, they got to play with all that stuff and just got molested in return? Looks like the kids got a good deal. /joke
Hello Mister Walrus
Arcades were really a national treasure. Something this younger generation will never get to know or appreciate fully. With their consoles and online gaming.
The-Ohio-Player
@BuyingPowerTools_GitEmSteveDave: Thank you, and please send the hate mail to me, not SteveDave.
That is a seriously cool arcade. That Lego Darth Vader is impressive.
Mediocre
I was trying to figure out WHY the Darth Vader looked so pixelated while the rest of the photo was so high quality... Then I realized it's made of LEGOS! That's awesome. I don't know how I managed to miss hearing about one of those, I love both Legos and Star Wars.
In my own life, I have come to peace/piece with the minifig version.
pixelpushing
As a favor to our Curves, I am hosting/posting this picture for her:
@Evildead22: This was taken in a abandoned store/mall that was slated for demolition that was used to display the pieces, I'm guessing to avoid traipsing through Neverland.
@[sjsandteam.wordpress.com]
Just an extortion scam on a fragile minded person.
H2H
New variant on the term 'ManCave'... BoyCave?
Great collection.
pixelpushing
I've tried to avoid prying into MJ's life and not giving into the media jungle, but this was worth a look, as it's also the most impressive 3-D "virtual tour" thingie I've ever seen. Either someone put a hell of a lot of work into this or the software for doing this sort fo thing has come a long way fast.
I would really like to see how he had this set up at his home, i.e. if he followed a "theme", or had things arranged in like a timeline fashion, etc...
@BPL5683: Really? The impression this collection left on me was that he really was just a kid at heart, constantly trying to experience the childhood he never had. But, then, I'm an optimist and seek the best of people.
Ok I guess not, my bad!
For someone who had that much money, it sure looks all beat up and uncared for. Water stains on the ceiling, stains on the carpeting, the edges of the walls seem to be disintegrating... probably smells moldy down there too. There are a few cool things, but for the most part it looks like a bunch of junk.
Evildead22
I believe the auction earlier this year was cancelled, was it not?
Alcoves, you use this word yes?
He's got the Lost World: Jurassic Park light gun game.......one of those stole an entire years worth of allowances from me.
holy crap batman that's an amazing collection ... lethal enforcers ??? I used to love that game
lilaliendog
@BPL5683:
Lol... He needs an Admiral Ackbar statue.
IT'S A TRAP!
Toribor
@BPL5683: Predators are usually pretty smart and master manipulators; Add some "Jesus Juice" and you're in.
Man, that guy had a strategy. What better way is there to lure prepubescent boys into his lair. With an arcade like that I bet they were fawning all over him.
Looks like everything needs maintenance. Innertube is falling out of that front wheel on that bike.
I have to give props. That's pretty badass.
@Stephen King's "It".
Hello Mister Walrus
@BuyingPowerTools_GitEmSteveDave: If anyone would build one, it would probably be MJ.
@BuyingPowerTools_GitEmSteveDave: those were fast but not too comfortable.
Matingmonkey is a proud eMac owner
my god that is one impressive arcade collection. I see cabinets I haven't seen since the 90's like that 6 player Xmen one.
Jim Topoleski
Is that a real life version of Mr. Garrison's "IT" over on the far right of the picture?
In the real picture his Darth Vader is really holding a Flesh Light.
Manteca
I find it interesting that there is no "Moonwalker" arcade cabinet to be found anywhere in the room...maybe he had good taste in games after all...
~JYH
@ Hello Mister Walrus
" Michael Jackson, however, is sort of a real life version of Stephen King's "It". "
too soon.
Austin MORRIS
@CameraShoe_GitEmSteveDave: Sorry, you needed to be between the ages of 8 and 10 to see it in his home.
yougottabekidding
@robotrousers: Unless he stops it again! :P
yougottabekidding
@Paradise:
Yeah I was about to point that out... I only saw one on the Super Mario Bros cabinet, what else has them?
HibikiRush
anybody else get a chuckle out of the "Please Do Not Touch" signs?
@bucho54: Found a later one, 18-Wheeler was released internationally in 2000.
@bucho54: ... and Rush 2049 came out in 1999... and I am probably the only one who cares.
@bucho54: *HipHop Mania 2 that is.
He kept getting things until at least 1999 (Blitz 99 and Beat Mania 2). Those are the latest games I could find so far.
I'd love to know how many times he said fuck it and got geared up like Boba Fett and roamed around the mansion.
anyone notice the Zoltar machines? It's in the pinball area and left near the E.T. statue. I think they are from the movie BIG.
SuramaAte
@Evildead22: if it wer in Neverland, those wouldn't be water stains on the carpets.
Snorbalp
@Gazdagreat: Probably not. After 1986, he only had like 3 moves he would do over and over again until the day he died.
Jestermeister
@CameraShoe_GitEmSteveDave: He gave simple instructions to his people: 1) here is the list of games my kid friends and I like. 2) Put star wars and super hero shit and shit from the 80's all over the place, and 3) spread pictures of ME and my narcissistic personal logo in as many places as possible.
Jestermeister
@SaturdayMorning: Yeah, he managed to stop it temporarily. Now that he's dead, they'll probably go ahead with it.
god, money was not an object to him.
seriously the entertainment value/cost/size of a Digg Dugg arcade machine is totally not worth it.
deliciousburglar
@Jim Topoleski: Anyone think this reminds them of richie rich the movie?????
hhkim515