Of the more than 600 Chuck E. Cheese locations around the world, fewer than 50 restaurants still use the quarter-century-old “Studio C” animatronics that use those floppy disks. Other restaurants have a version of the show using modern technology, and some have no animatronics at all. (Ars Technique there is a story about the use of floppy disk by Chuck E. Cheese with a more detailed description of all paleotechnologies.)
Eventually, Chuck E. Cheese plans to ditch animatronics entirely and focus on new on-screen entertainment (plus an even more retro approach: a live person in a mascot costume). There was a major overhaul first announced in 2017but renovating the restaurant is an ongoing process, and it could be a year or two before the last of the animatronics are finished.
Tom Persky – owner floppydisk.comlargest floppy disk supplier still in existence. His business has several directions: through him you can buy blank disks or send your old floppy disks for transfer to more modern media. Persky will also be programming discs for wholesale clients, and he confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Chuck E. Cheese was indeed a longtime client. He said he was sad that he would lose the company as a customer.
As for why restaurants still use floppy disks, Persky told BuzzFeed News that floppy disk technology, although outdated, is actually extremely reliable. “If you're looking for something that's very stable, really unhackable, it shouldn't be Internet or network based,” Persky said. “It's pretty elegant for what it does.”
Press representatives for Chuck E. Cheese confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the chain uses floppy disks. However, they were very cagey about what other information they were willing to share, and a few days later they told us that the company would not be officially involved in this story.
However, a longtime Chuck E. Cheese employee who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the company echoed Persky's sentiments.
“The floppy disks work surprisingly well. The animatronics, lighting and timing data for the show are all on the floppy disks,” the employee told BuzzFeed News. “I've seen a few of the new Studio C Chuck E. running on a combination of flash drives and SD cards. But usually new installations cause hardware problems, and it's easier to just keep older devices running.”
Even after Chuck E. Cheese phases out floppy disks, they will likely continue to be used in other applications, such as medical devices, for some time. While the thought of it may make you nervous, Persky insists it's a good thing. “Why don't you use USB? Well, let's say your life depends on it,” he said. “If you have a choice between a USB flash drive or a floppy disk, choose the floppy disk every time.
“It’s one thing if your animatronic bear doesn’t smile on command,” he continued. “It’s another matter if your medical device fails.”
