Ground Kontrol

Ground Kontrol is a bar and video arcade in Portland, Oregon, United States. Recognized as one of the best arcades in the US  it is known for preserving games from the Golden Age of Video Arcade Games. It also serves as a venue for DJs, live bands and Rock Band events. Also of note is its collection of 28 pinball tables. Ground Kontrol is meant to be a social experience blending the hard core and casual gamer with video games and pinball machines both new and old.

Notable events
A high score competition was held jointly at Ground Kontrol, Aftershock RetroGames Arcade in Madison, Wisconsin and the Houston Area Arcade Group Expo in Houston, Texas in June 2004. Twin Galaxies maintained the results of the competitions for world record consideration.

"Slugfest" is a fighting game tournament sponsored by and held at Ground Kontrol featuring a rotating selection of fighting games in a head-to-head elimination tournament.

On September 2, 2008, Ground Kontrol hosted a launch party for Rock Band 2 in conjunction with Liquid Development and Someday Lounge. Attended by developers from Harmonix Music Systems, it provided a preview of the game ten days in advance of its official release.

On September 8, 2009, The Beatles:Rock Band was made available one day prior to the official launch in time for a special Beatles centric Rock Band Tuesday.

The second annual Portland Pinbrawl pinball tournament was held at Ground Kontrol on April 18, 2010. Jeff Gagnon won the tournament, with 2009's winner Cayle George placing 5th. The number two ranked player in the US, Keith Elwin, finished 9th overall.

Ground Kontrol was the winner of three arcades competing in Stride (gum)'s "Save the Arcades 2" contest. The owners have said they plan to use the $25,000 prize to expand the upper floor and buy more games.

Music Selection
A sound system inside Ground Kontrol is used for background music. In the evening, local and visiting DJ's play different types of music varying by the day of the week. The sound system and stage is utilized for Rock Band Tuesdays which also serves to provide the music for that evening.
 * Monday "Service Industrial Night", Industrial Music
 * Tuesday "Rock Band Tuesdays", Various
 * Wednesday "TRONix", Electronic Music
 * Thursday "Second Variety", punk rock/rock/garage
 * Friday "Journeys by DJ", hip-hop, electro, dub, dance and more
 * Saturday "Reaganomix" 80s new wave music, pop and electro
 * Sunday "Black Sunday", Heavy Metal Music

Recognition
Ground Kontrol was recognized in the "Best of the City" list for 2008 in Portland Monthly Magazine for Rock Band Tuesdays. In July, 2010, Sunset Magazine included Ground Kontrol in the "Best of Portland: Hotels, Dining, and Attractions 2010" publication calling it the "Old Hot Spot" in Portland's Chinatown.

History
Since opening in 1999, Ground Kontrol has undergone several changes. The arcade was originally created and opened by Betty Farrier, and Kneel Cohn of the band The Dead Stars On Hollywood. In March 2003 it came under new ownership by Timewarp Incorporated. Also of note is the September 2004 move to a new location and the addition of a beer and wine bar in May 2005. Guitar Hero nights began in the summer of 2007 and switched to Rock Band on November 20, 2007, that game's release date.

In the 2005 film The Comedians of Comedy, Brian Posehn visits Ground Kontrol's original location on SW 12th Ave in Portland, OR.

The 2006 documentary film "High Score" features an interview with co-owner Anthony Ramos at Ground Kontrol.