Yep I remember specifically at the cade I went to growing up, their Dragon’s Lair machine had a 2nd screen on top of the cap so that the whole crowd could see the action. It was quite a site.
Hot games were awesome, they were like new events. Everyone gathering around giving advice and tall tales, trying to secure a spot to play, showing off and being excited when that one kid definitely knew what they were doing, it was a lot of fun.
For us I remember Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, Blitz, and Tekken being the major ones. And then the lesser ones like Virtual Fighter, whatever racing game was new, and just because it was completely ridiculous the Aerosmith shooter where you shot discs at bad guys lol
Ridge Racer was awesome and just so much better than the other racing games at the time. Especially when you put the camera just a few inch from the asphalt.
Are you thinking of Super Sprint / Championship Sprint? That game had either 2 or 3 wheels on the cabinet. Every trip to the roller rink included a couple games of Super Sprint for me. Great Game!!!
When the small grocery store in my area got Super Mario Brothers there were always 4 or 5 people queue'd up and playing it. That store was a basic grocery story but they did cater to youth with expendable change. Lots of the bulk candies; a few different kinds for 5c, better ones for 10c, good mini candies for 25c... etc
Before or after school, that place always had kids spending some change on something. Once the NES became a household item, that store changed dramatically
The corner convenience store had the magazines right across from the arcade machines. You'd okay a few rounds of street fighter or mortal Kombat, then sneak in a pork at the gaming mags before the clerk would complain.
I could never get the game going. Something about putting your quarters in at the right moment. Sucked every weekend I went to try play that game and never could.