After a few months in operation, I firmly believe Glitch Victoria is a lounge with rack and stack games for those wanting to flex their alpha status to friends. That’s fine if you’re after a night out in Victoria, but as for connecting with the gaming community, they need a proper outreach person. That’s because the attempts I’ve seen have mostly come from the community itself. There was a group asking if they could host a night of fighting games for those who registered, and now there’s a relax and hang out thing with Coastal Collector’s Market, which is a swap meet for trading card games.

With only two true cabinet games at the time of writing and me hearing that they do not want to step on Quasar Arcade‘s toes, they’re taking the smart position. When Jurassic Park Arcade is the only game worth playing, dropping two tokens ($2) per go hurts. Even during the arcade boom, those cost a buck. Everything else is carnival fare.

That could mean trouble attracting regulars. When there’s nothing unique pulling people in, not everyone’s going to bother showing up. At the time of writing, I do not see this place as built for hardcore gamers. Also, I don’t see a problem with working with other operations so that they can pull out those cabinet games from out of storage and let other stores turn them on. Cherry Bomb Toys and Quasars did that, and I was there to play Atari’s Tempest as often as I can! I don’t see why Glitch is being shy with that idea.

At present, when store fronts are afraid of working together, I figure this is a place for people living downtown wanting somewhere to hang out. If one place is closed, the other can fill a niche.

When patrons are cheering at football on TV instead of someone nailing a critical hit with some game off in a corner, nah, this is not my scene.

When I’m most likely older than most of their staff and mentioned I had fond memories of Johnny Zees, the server most likely had no idea why that’s important to the reinvention of Nerd Row, which is now located on Yates Street rather than Johnson and Broad. If this place wants to stick around, they need to design a cocktail honouring Victoria’s ‘Mayor of Yates Street.’ 

I’d raise a glass to Pierre Gauthier, the former manager of the Odeon theatre. This operation exists across the street, and anyone who runs a business here knows him! He had the passion and personality that made this block matter. As an important local, to not acknowledge him and his legacy feels like a missed opportunity. I’ve known him since the 80s, as that misfit kid who was there for every genre film that his theatre played, before Tillicum Mall was built, and Silvercity was erected.

Glitch Victoria offers decent food. The burgers are solid. Their poutines are generally tasty, but they’re not truly special. For a licensed bar trying to have a bit of that Planet Hollywood vibe, what they’re offering is a mixed bag. The pop culture references are everywhere and without a specific focus, they are just that. Set decor. They can cater to the Nintendo and Marvel Comics crowd with a few decorations, but that doesn’t define a nerd bar. Mind you, calling this operation a glitch is ironically accurate.

Since they’re trying to be home for video game enthusiasts, their scattered approach isn’t quite working …. yet.

As for their cocktails, ranging from Broken Down Mario Kart to Melon Kombat (originally from Sandbox VR). I’m curious. Ultimately, I had to try the Hulk Smash (El Tequileno Blanco Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime Juice, Sugar, Gummy and Popping Candy) first, and was largely disappointed. There were no gummies as the menu claimed, and if there were popping candy, they melted by the time the drink arrived on my table.

At least the tea light screwed onto the bottom is a nice touch. But honestly, I thought I was drinking a margarita. Sadly, there’s no place to match what EXP Restaurant brought to Vancouver BC. Sadly, this operation is gone, and as for GRETA, the vibe is sort of there and they at least have a great variety of classical and modern cabinet games to enjoy. Sadly, Glitch is not ready to invest in Space Invaders FRENZY, which is easily my most favourite bar and arcade game. 

At least on the mainland, the EXPerience requires maintaining a delicate balance between gaming, geekery and drinking culture. They ran tournaments, cosplay nights. Right now, staff admit they’re still figuring out what they represent as part of the new Nerd Row.

Would I go back? I’m in no rush. Growing pains are expected as the managers decide on what this operation will represent long term. For downtown residents, it’s a hangout. For anyone else? Not worth the trip when free parking doesn’t happen until 8pm onwards. Oh, and when I spoke to Don about this place and he was there with other pals, he said they need to tune the air flow on the air hockey table; the puck flew off and nearly hit someone in the face!

3 Blokes out of 5