Baldwin discusses Galaga addiction shame

By Ellie Gibson Published 13 January, 2009

It was the only way he could "go beta".

Hollywood star Alec Baldwin has revealed it wasn't just drink and drugs he was addicted to in the eighties - he also had a thing for arcade game Galaga.

That's according to a new book featuring personal testimonies of addiction, as reported by the New York Post.

Baldwin recounts how, after a busy night drinking wine while driving down the motorway and putting things up his nose, he would often end up at the local arcade.

"I would play videogames from, like, 9am to 11am, and I would wind down. Then I'd go home and go to bed," he reveals.

"This was the only way I could go 'beta' and go into that state I needed to be, where I could calm down and take my mind off everything. I didn't want to see anybody, talk to anybody, deal with anybody."

At the time, Baldwin was a star on TV show Knots Landing, making big pots of cash - presumably paid in 10p coins. But he was best-known to the owner of the local arcade, Julian, for his Galaga mania.

"Julian would put the key in the lock and open the door, and he would just kind of look at me like, 'Wow, I'm glad I'm not you,'" recalls Baldwin.

"'You got no idea, Julian. Julian, I need you. I need you to get that key and open the f***ing door and let me in. I got to play Galaga."

Rumours that Kerry Katona was seen banging on the door of Croydon Play2Win last night screaming "Let me in, I need my Jambo Safari fix" are completely made up.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (21) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GamesConnoisseur #1 3 years ago

    Keep him away from X360 and Galaga Legions, anyhow think that Pacman Championship gonna actually be the worse one for his addiction level though!

  • MoFo #2 3 years ago

    "You are worthless Awic Bawdwin" - Kim Jong Il

  • Mr-Bozzey #3 3 years ago

    wow that was a pointless bit of news. cant see how alex baldwins so called addiction all of what 2/3 hours a day to a 80's machine some how affects or even changes my veiw and emotions im feeling right now.

    and those emotions and veiws would be i dunno annoyed because we need more killzone 2 news and not news on some shitty actor whos only creditable roles are being blown up in films made by 2 guys who created the most offensive cartoon possible in the history of cartoons.

  • Eraysor #4 3 years ago

    I demand more Hans Bwix related news.

  • DB2k #5 3 years ago

    wonder why he didn't just buy the machine...

  • Duckula #6 3 years ago

    Sounds like the plot to a 30 Rock episode.

  • LiamK #7 3 years ago

    "2 guys who created the most offensive cartoon possible in the history of cartoons."

    More offensive than Pocahontas? Wow.
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/09 @ 10:06

  • Mr-Bozzey #8 3 years ago

    "More offensive than Pocahontas? Wow. "


    well south park pretty much hits everyone when it comes to insult and offensive

    the gay coumminty
    jews
    the disabled coumminity
    the aid positive coumminty
    the black community
    the scientology community
    Celebritys
    aliens
    mexicans
    starving african children
    veitnam vets
    ex presidents
    other cartoons
    obese people
    suicide
    asian community
    goverment
    france
    porn and the sex industry
    video game community
    interracial love
    incest

    but then again .... i suppose thats not as bad a explorer falling in love with a native indian in a disney film now thats probably the most shocking tabboo in our time =/

  • schachmatt #9 3 years ago

    Yeah, he now obviously wants to appeal to the target group of nerdy gamers, but you have seen through the charade.

    On a side note, I think people would click on gaming news, too, if they were featured here - EG could still add catchy words, like porn, stars, porn stars and even Galaga, for the search engines in the code or something.

  • spudsbuckley #10 3 years ago

    Stop with this shit.

    It is irrelevant. Why not report every single time anyone mentions any game ever if you're going to report this?

  • muters #11 3 years ago

    I sometimes like to play a bit of Viva Pinata after a half pint glass of shandy. Where's my media coverage?

  • TriggerHippie #12 3 years ago

    Whats up tomorrow? How Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards practised for the Calgary Winter Olympics with marathon sessions of Electric Dreams "Winter Sports" on his spectrum 48k?

    I can't wait!
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/09 @ 11:10

  • Lukus #13 3 years ago

    I wish everyone would stop pissing and whining about certain news articles.

  • quantumsheep #14 3 years ago

    Despite this news, I *still* love Galaga! :)

  • Pastici #15 3 years ago

    Oh noes a bit of fun news that doesn't mention a recent console or PC game, whatever shall we do!?
    Relax and have a little laugh? Never!

  • Gastrian #16 3 years ago

    Bozzy, when you consider that Pochahontis was originally about 12-13 when this happened and the explorer was in his 40's it is like Disney making a cartoon based on the expolits of an aged ex Glam-Rock singer taking a trip to Thailand.

  • Mashum #17 3 years ago

    I can just imagine a coked up Baldwin acting his socks off outside the local video arcade. "You.. just... gots... ta.. let me in Julian!!"

    Excellent.

  • BadBoyBonner #18 3 years ago

    Ellie Gibson

    "presumably paid in 10p coins" - erm, presumably not or he wouldn't have been playing many arcade machines in America.

    TriggerHippie

    "How Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards practised for the Calgary Winter Olympics with marathon sessions of Electric Dreams "Winter Sports" on his spectrum 48k?" - that would probably explain why he was so appalling a it! lol

  • LowEnergyCycle #19 3 years ago

    Mr-Bozzey - "and those emotions and veiws would be i dunno annoyed because we need more killzone 2 news"

    There probably isn't any new Killzone 2 news. Jeez, it doesn't take much to annoy you, does it?

  • bonker #20 3 years ago

    ""presumably paid in 10p coins" - erm, presumably not or he wouldn't have been playing many arcade machines in America. "

    I know, it just beggars belief, it really does ...

  • Shrike #21 3 years ago

    I don't want to alarm anyone but I think someone let a youtube comments argument out in here.