First Studio C Experience

[Larry the Tech]

What was your first Studio C experience like? The first time you saw Studio C, what did you think and what were you expecting?

The first time I saw one was back at my store in April 2004. I had known the store had moved for about two years, and I was expecting everything to be the same. On the way, I was determined that the "Chuck E Puppet Band" would still be there. I walked in and saw just the big room (the entire place) and was like, "Wasn't it bigger before?". I didn't go into the Showroom, still being kinda scared of them. I believe it was in the Skytubes when the show started, and I saw "the same Chuck E bot from the old store (not true)" with TVs showing the Chuck E costume "Interviewing people on the street". Wondering where the other characters are, the puppet characters finally appeared on center screen talking away. The curtains closed and I was confused, since I didn't hear the show.

[Shaddie Hiiragizawa]

My first experience with Studio C was in the summer of 2000. My local store had a 3-stage for as long as I could remember, so imagine my shock when I walked into the showroom to find that it now had a Studio C Alpha! (and still does) I remember really missing the old 3-stage and I didn't go back to that paticular CEC for some time...

[bzier]

I went back in Summer of 1999 visiting the new CEC in Brookfield, Wisconsin. My brothers had visited in 1998, and told me about the changes. After seeing it myself, I was quite surprised. I was impressed with the bot, but very upset they got rid of the rest of the band.

[cec080]

well it was the first time i walked into the Ann Arbor MI. location(334) (alpha 32bot)I'm playing games in the GR and listening for the show and I'm like what no show. Then all of the sudden the manager put's the show on and I look WOW!!!!! that visit we stayed for 4 hours and spent at least $200. I thought it was the coolest thing ever made!!! Great memories! Now I like the 2-3 stage better since i grew up with both of them@ the Southgate Mi. Dearborn Mi. and Canton Mi. store's respectfully!

[CECExtravaganza]

Well the first time I walked into a Studio C; was at my store( its always been a Studio C). It wasn't anything speacial to me, bacuase I was 8 years old, I didnt know what a Studio C was, it was CEC. I was there to watch chuck e, play games and eat pizza lol. Before that though, I was 6 or 7 seven, and I went to birthday party at the CEC in Sprinfeild, Pa. I think thats where it was. They had a 1 stage. That was before they built mine. So seeing to different CEC's with a different type of showroom, it felt a little different to me. I've mostly been around a Stdio C Alpha for most of my life.
Now if I saw a Cappa or a Beta, it would be a different story.

[YoungCaliHottie]

the first time i saw studio c was the alpha in lakewood, ca. i went there because a friend and i had been going to 2 stage stores around the area. and i was explaining to him how the lakewood store had far superior animatronics. when we walked in and say studio c i was like WTF!!!!!!!!!!! i was so freakin pissed the hell off!!!!!!! i grew up at the lakewood store with the rae. i remember cu as a kid and how confusing it was. also how it went from showbiz to showbiz pizza time to showbiz inc to cec (or whatever order that happened). and now this!!! i thought the control panel and bluescreen were cool and all. but i really missed my old 3 stage. i still havent recovered! and now our last 3 stage in fullerton is gone too. boo!

[Munch's Make Believe Band]

My first experience was the burbank ca store in 1999

[CEC3066]

Don't even get me started on Fullerton, Robbie Yeah it's been 15 months since the experience but in some ways the hurt still lingers.

[bzier]

Yeah...screw Fullerton. That place will forever be in infamy the one CEC I got booted out of. I really wanted to give that manager a piece of my mind, but then I thought that I could have lost my job over it, and it wasn't worth it.

[MMBBfan327]

I went back in Summer of 1999 visiting the new CEC in Brookfield, Wisconsin. My brothers had visited in 1998, and told me about the changes. After seeing it myself, I was quite surprised. I was impressed with the bot, but very upset they got rid of the rest of the band

I too, had my first Studio C experience at Brookfield, back in 1998. I remember they actually closed off another location (a really awesome former PTT; this place SCREAMED PTT when it closed), and opened a new one with the very second Studio C. At a young age, I thought having 2 CEC's was great, until they closed the former PTT. So I understandably thought, this newer location BETTER be worth it!! At first, seeing Studio C made me very upset and for some strange reason I've actually never been able to cope losing the older CEC, but over time I've grown to be 'better friends' with the new location (although they recently got rid of 100% of the great classic games and added crappier ones in its place), and I've been known enjoy the Studio C at times (or whenever kids aren't being gross on the blue screen)

[triplehpotter7]

I think my sentiments are similar to YoungCaliHottie's. I grew up on the RAE, and cringed and cried when CU took over. The MMBB was never, never, EVER the calibur of the RAE. Despite being a kid, I knew that the MMBB exteriors were simply cosmetic, and inside them were what was the RAE. It tore me up to see CEC make the RAE disappear like they were nothing. If it wasn't for the RAE and SPP, CEC wouldn't even BE in the spot they're in.

But, nonetheless, Studio C, Studio C... that is the topic, after all. =) The CEC near my house here in OKC is a Studio C. They used to be a 3-stage, and an SPP before that. I've only seen the Studio C setup from the outside, driving by. I just can't get myself to go inside and check out the new setup. The SPP roots I've had in that store are just too strong. If it was a 3-stage, maybe I'd go there, just for old time's sake. But as it is now, a Studio C Beta, and all the general bad press I've read on Studio Cs... I just can't do it.

So I'm gonna hit up the only 3-stage CEC I know of next weekend in Dallas, Texas. The "Redbird" location off S. Westmoreland. Feel free to hit me up if anyone wants to chat or chill. I'll probably throw some sort of post up when I decide to go. =)

[Shaddie Hiiragizawa]

OKC's got a Studio C as well? I knew it was bound to happen eventually...

[triplehpotter7]

OKC's got a Studio C as well? I knew it was bound to happen eventually...

Yup. Both of 'em. Studio C Betas, I think. 'cause I can see the swirly-thing from the windows driving by. It's definitely not a desk. (LOL) But yeah, both the north and the south OKC locations got Studio Cs. I bet they got those when they remodeled both stores, enlarging them considerably. I haven't been to the store since the early 3-stage days after CU, but I drive by the stores frequently, as I'm all over town quite a bit.

Tulsa has a Studio C, also. Which version, I'm not sure. I was on a madd tear a few weeks ago to find the nearest remaining 3-stage, and sadly, it's in Dallas. The last one in the DFW area, too. I might hit that up while I'm in Dallas for AnimeFEST!. ^_^ But from what other board members have been saying, that 3-stage is in poopy condition, so I might not go. =\

Just out of wonderment from the little info blurb in the corner there, you're in Oklahoma, too? If I may ask, where are you at? ^_^

[bzier]

If you want to see a 3-stage, hit up Redbird, but like I've said elsewhere, it's in bad shape. I was disappointed when I visited that location back in May. Much TLC needs to be poured into that show!

[Shaddie Hiiragizawa]

Just out of wonderment from the little info blurb in the corner there, you're in Oklahoma, too? If I may ask, where are you at? ^_^


Tulsa area.

BTW Tulsa's CEC has an Alpha

[MatHat13]

Methuen, MA. I went there the day it opened...I believe it was on August 28th in 2000, in fact, that was eight years ago today. LOL

Well anyway, it was the last Studio C Alpha installed...well at least that's the rumor I heard. When I first saw it, i was a bit younger still so I didn't mind it much, when i first saw puppet footage I thought it was a different showtape than I saw the Summertime logo on another screen, and 'Pizza Cabana' starts playing and they have the puppets singing along with it, I thought it was strange...but at the same time pretty new and exciting.

The Chuck robot I thought was amazing...and I was one of those guilty demon 11 year olds to climb up on his desk to see him up close...non abusing of coarse. I liked all the movements he had, I actually liked the Bird, and all the special effects on his stage.

The control consel was interesting, funny, when I first went, the the left small monitor out of the three of them had the paint activity like the CEC Fun Net site did at the time, next time I went there, along with all the other times, it was off. Zooming around the showroom on the center small monitor was also cool, as well as switching to the main show footage. The right one just showed footage of the kiddie area.

Blue screen was pretty cool too at the time, you know, Studio C felt so unique back than with the extra blue screen intermissions...I remember on that tape there was that 'Time To Fly' footage along with that open road footage if I remember correctly.

In all, it was pretty sweet when I first saw Studio C, good thing it was Alpha I saw first otherwise I might have been traumatized for life LOL.

I remember Everett, MA opened almost about a year later, which was closer to my home than Methuen...and my god...I think I was just all....WTF when I saw Beta for the first time. I just kind of thought....why does it seem like a five year old put this together??

[triplehpotter7]

If you want to see a 3-stage, hit up Redbird, but like I've said elsewhere, it's in bad shape. I was disappointed when I visited that location back in May. Much TLC needs to be poured into that show!

Hmm... like, how bad is it, though? If it's disappointingly bad, like you said, I really don't wanna waste the time or the money, you know? I'll just keep my memories if that's the case. But if it's at least watchable, barely even passable, then I'll check it out. ^^;

[triplehpotter7]

Tulsa area.

BTW Tulsa's CEC has an Alpha

I was wondering what Studio C they had. 'cause when I called them to ask them if they had the 3-stage or the Studio C, and they said the latter, I was bummed out. I was curious as to which Studio C it was, but, I didn't wanna trouble 'em with more odd inquires. =>

[Vega III CEC]

Hmm... like, how bad is it, though? If it's disappointingly bad, like you said, I really don't wanna waste the time or the money, you know? I'll just keep my memories if that's the case. But if it's at least watchable, barely even passable, then I'll check it out. ^^;In my opinion, Studio C's Chuck robot's worth taking a gander at. However, youll be sorely disappointed if it's a Cappa stage, or not an early test Beta. These bots have only a few more movements than the standard 3-stage bot... and if they're broken... You get the point and picture. I'd suggest going to Alpha since it's the most complex, and call before you go to one (if you so choose to go)and ask if it's in good repiar... Trust me, you don't want to see Studio C in disrepair. It's worse than seeing a broken bot or two on a 3-stage because the one robot is the entire show... It's something new you should check out but it can be disappointing after seeing it more than a few times.

[Chuck_E._Cheese_35]

Mine Was At Washington DC. Little Kids Where Hovering The Stage But Where Scared Of Chuck E.? It Was In About 2007? It Was My First The Only Thing My Son And I Did Was Watch Chuck. We Got A Front Row Seat. Anyway My Chuck Was Awfully Tall. I Think His Hand Was Hitting The Curtain. And I Went There Last Week Chuck And Everything Was The Same Way For 2 Years.

[Chuck_E._Cheese_35]

But They Lowerd His Hand

[JoshBrown]

wow....everythings coming back from the dead.............