Also I'm not sure how old the B-series is, but my time frame here has to be around 97-99, I don't know exactly when or for how long they were there, but definitely before the 2000s.
Edit: my sister says the B-series looks too early 90s for it to be right, and also said it was closer to 97-98. Do we know how old the B-series is?
it has been forever but I have to ask was it a touchscreen that you remember and if so was there a coloring game?
So I do remember a coloring game involving Ronald McDonald characters, and some other people in the tumblr post also remembered a coloring game. However, I don't know if it was this McDonalds or a different location where I had seen this coloring game. I mean probably because it fits the theme, but as for the other cabinet with the weird circus game, I don't think it was touchscreen. Buuuut...I could be wrong.
Hello! Made an account just to comment on this thread. I also distinctly remember playing on arcade cabinets and I am also interesting in finding out this answer.
My cousin had a lot of birthday parties at McDonalds when these cabinets were around, so I have asked my aunt if she has any pictures of us playing at these machines.
I've attached a picture of what I think I remember them looking like. I remember one having a touch screen act as a mouse in particular. I remember them being tall but could be my iffy memory at play with the height. I also remember one having a trackball to colour but that machine I don't remember as clearly. I also identified as one of the games I played on these machines being Sesame Street Numbers (youtu.be/3G0puCDfYAI). Maybe this was the Big Bird game you are thinking of? I hope to help you in finding these machines!
Hello! Made an account just to comment on this thread. I also distinctly remember playing on arcade cabinets and I am also interesting in finding out this answer.
My cousin had a lot of birthday parties at McDonalds when these cabinets were around, so I have asked my aunt if she has any pictures of us playing at these machines.
I've attached a picture of what I think I remember them looking like. I remember one having a touch screen act as a mouse in particular. I remember them being tall but could be my iffy memory at play with the height. I also remember one having a trackball to colour but that machine I don't remember as clearly. I also identified as one of the games I played on these machines being Sesame Street Numbers (youtu.be/3G0puCDfYAI). Maybe this was the Big Bird game you are thinking of? I hope to help you in finding these machines!
There's a real chance we are remembering the same thing. The most common aspect of my memory was a circus elephant, which is why I thought that CD-I game with the circus seal was what I was thinking of. However, I definitely also remembered Big Bird. Part of me wonders if I colluded Snuffy with the circus seal, maybe in my McDonald's both games were available.
Kidzone was the biggest contender for these machines.
Good news everyone! The person I responded to in the Twitter thread about the circus seal being in the game, just got back to me! I sent them a link to the thread. I'll link their response below:
I'm thinking we need more eyes on this search, maybe I can submit it to a lost media youtuber to cover it more extensively? A lot of people know what we're talking about, and it seems we have a lot of parts, but not definitive answers.
What we know: 1. McDonald's definitely had funky arcade machines(kiosks?) in the late 90s nationwide, or at least it was not just local in my case. 2. These machines had chairs, CRT screens, touch screens, and one of the games involved coloring. 3. These predated the Nintendo Kiosks.
What isn't certain but is possible: 1. Kidzpace made these machines. I'm pretty certain on this as they obviously had a working relationship with McDonald's since the mid 90s. I dunno why it would randomly be another company, but we don't have definitive answers yet. 2. Could have been Philips CD-i consoles slapped into a kiosk, which maybe makes more sense than we realize?? They later made the Nintendo Kiosks, and Philips had a working relationship with Nintendo. 3. Could be Sega Pico slapped into kiosks. I think the only connection is the Sesame Street game. 4. The games were really bad. This is according to my sister, and I don't doubt it but bad is a subjective thing. I dunno If they were made badly, were bad cuz they were the Philips CD-i games, were actually bootlegs, or they were just incredibly kiddy. 5. There's a game with a Circus Seal 6. There's a game with Big Bird
Good news everyone! The person I responded to in the Twitter thread about the circus seal being in the game, just got back to me! I sent them a link to the thread. I'll link their response below:
I'm thinking we need more eyes on this search, maybe I can submit it to a lost media youtuber to cover it more extensively? A lot of people know what we're talking about, and it seems we have a lot of parts, but not definitive answers.
What we know: 1. McDonald's definitely had funky arcade machines(kiosks?) in the late 90s nationwide, or at least it was not just local in my case. 2. These machines had chairs, CRT screens, touch screens, and one of the games involved coloring. 3. These predated the Nintendo Kiosks.
What isn't certain but is possible: 1. Kidzpace made these machines. I'm pretty certain on this as they obviously had a working relationship with McDonald's since the mid 90s. I dunno why it would randomly be another company, but we don't have definitive answers yet. 2. Could have been Philips CD-i consoles slapped into a kiosk, which maybe makes more sense than we realize?? They later made the Nintendo Kiosks, and Philips had a working relationship with Nintendo. 3. Could be Sega Pico slapped into kiosks. I think the only connection is the Sesame Street game. 4. The games were really bad. This is according to my sister, and I don't doubt it but bad is a subjective thing. I dunno If they were made badly, were bad cuz they were the Philips CD-i games, were actually bootlegs, or they were just incredibly kiddy. 5. There's a game with a Circus Seal 6. There's a game with Big Bird
You mean on the machines? Honestly, I dunno if it was like a classic arcade machine, I really should just be using the word kiosk at this point. A lot of the examples I've seen so far are usually just multi colored hunks of plastic, probably to match the Play Place. Maybe there was like a generic McDonald's gang pic on it, but I'm kinda thinking not.
You mean on the machines? Honestly, I dunno if it was like a classic arcade machine, I really should just be using the word kiosk at this point. A lot of the examples I've seen so far are usually just multi colored hunks of plastic, probably to match the Play Place. Maybe there was like a generic McDonald's gang pic on it, but I'm kinda thinking not.
It's just some pieces of speculation, not fact
Please call me SWN or Wandom. She/he/they/it/ve Minor
All of them used capacitive touchpads for directional controls. This made it easier for restaurant workers to clean, since kids would eat and play without washing their hands.
The chairs were custom, face-shape-backed stools with spring centering.
Year was ~'98.
I'm surprised by the lack of photos or owners. This is the sort of festive thing that a hardcore McDonald's collector would have in their rec-room.
All of them used capacitive touchpads for directional controls. This made it easier for restaurant workers to clean, since kids would eat and play without washing their hands.
The chairs were custom, face-shape-backed stools with spring centering.
Year was ~'98.
I'm surprised by the lack of photos or owners. This is the sort of festive thing that a hardcore McDonald's collector would have in their rec-room.
Honestly I do find it bizarre that McDonald's collectors don't have these machines either, or at least I never pursued that lead? Maybe contacting hardcore McDonald's fans would get us some pics.