Arcades: The Decline

[unit003]

oh btw, most of the games I've ever seen were $.25-.50 at the most. At least wisconsin didn't screw us over for the cover charge!

[Aurora]

*Worthless post removed*

-Yoshi

[opa-opa]

I think a lot of the reasons for the decline of arcades have already been stated, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and point out that it's also partly the fault of game developers who stopped making the kind of games that will challenge you and make you want to test your skills.

What I noticed since the early 90's and around the time SF2 was introduced, was that the "skill based game" started to rapidly die off. Games like Shinobi which are hard, but not impossible to beat with 1 quarter, were being replaced by quarter-munchers and fighting games.

IMHO, it's games like Shinobi which keep the hardcore gamers going to the arcades. Even though they might have Shinobi on their home console or whatever, it still feels good to go to the arcade and beat the game on 1 credit, just to prove how bad ass you are. Sadly, games like that are pretty much extinct these days.

I agree that the popularity of fighting games was partly responsible for the decline of other types of games. I mean just look at SNK, they stopped making great games like Magician Lord once they realized they can just keep pumping out Fatal Fury and King of Fighter games and rake in the cash.

The sad irony is that the arcade industry catered to the masses of casual arcade goers for a quick profit, and ignored us hardcore gamers and faithful arcade fans. And in the end they lost both audiences.

[Plasma]

Could it be that gamers nowadays only see in one direction? I mean many are looking for something better or updated all of the time. Also, many forget the games that had a little more emphasis on their fun factor, even if the graphics are crap by today's standards. When was the last time you've seen anyone play Q*bert for eight hours straight?

[RoleTroll]

I'd like to see someone try to bring atmosphere to arcades. Arcade games, internet surfing stations, pay-per-view TV, gourmet coffee... the whole arcade scene needs to be brought into the 21st century.

Home DVD didn't kill theatres. People go there to see the same darn thing, just a few months earlier, pay high prices and put up with annoying strangers. It's an experience, largely for couples dating. Someone needs to figure out how to make arcades a necessary experience, a place people want to go apart from the graphics of the game.

[voltz]

This thread makes me feel like I'm part of a dying trend.
Being young wasn't as good as it could be, I knew of an arcade over by Jack's bar that always had the latest stuff. Killer instinct, mortal kombat, streetfighter, both shinobi games, god that place was a dream, only I got to see it when my parents were on a shopping trip and I managed to get about 15 minutes of free-time on my hands before they pack up and leave. Looking at it now, I can drive there all I want, only it's not there anymore, so because of this I'm almost spiteful to them for taking away what could have been the best experiance I'll ever have.

I'm trying to figure out how future arcades are supposed to stay in business. On one hand, they only attract crowds when they have new titles, but they cost a buck apeice to pay back on expenses and the other, I'll find a cab sitting in a bar or someplace if I'm lucky to find one, only it's an older title like street fighter or something that won't gather much interest. The way I see it, it's all going to the collectors. Emulation is the real future of classics and sadly the idea of playing someone is going to be thrown back by staying home and looking for challengers on the internet. I doubt I'll have any luck finding a good place to hang, but I'll be pretty happy should I locate something.

And another thing... if operators are willing to jack up the price so much, how are they going to keep you glued to the stick when your game is over so quickly from having the difficulty placed at it's highest setting?

[dog$]

One thing I've wondered lately:

What's stopping someone from making custom cabinets with a monitor, small LCD screen(s) for interchangeable marquee/cabinet art, and having the guts of a Mame'd Xbox or the like.

Games could be rotated with relative ease, and if the supporters are to be believed, nobody would notice a difference. Why wouldn't this work?

[Captain Canuck]

I'd like to see someone try to bring atmosphere to arcades. Arcade games, internet surfing stations, pay-per-view TV, gourmet coffee... the whole arcade scene needs to be brought into the 21st century.

Home DVD didn't kill theatres. People go there to see the same darn thing, just a few months earlier, pay high prices and put up with annoying strangers. It's an experience, largely for couples dating. Someone needs to figure out how to make arcades a necessary experience, a place people want to go apart from the graphics of the game.

That's pretty much how a few places are like in Vancouver. Rush used to be the best arcade with all the new games. Then they added tables and drinks. Then they added computers for CS like the internet cafes. That's where the money is at now I believe. Internet cafes are pretty succesful here. Playdium even has XBOX, PS2, and GC's for pay for an hour type of thing.

[Ex Ranza]

Something is telling me that the arrival of the Triforce will rekindle the flame of arcades. Just a gut instinct that the combined powers of Nintendo, Sega, and Capcom will give enough fuel to make arcades booming again.

I wish that were so, but the Triforce has been pretty quiet since its announcement, with the obvious exception of F-Zero AC. Don't know if the new Star Fox will cut it yet..

[Cheebs]

I heard that the Playland in State College might be closing this year. Their lease is up in the Spring, and they probably won't be able to afford to re-new.

Damn, that was the best arcade I knew of anywhere near here (and it's still a 4 hour drive). Strikers 1999, Metal Slug 3 and 4, Raiden Fighters, Silent Scope, Crisis Zone, Capcom Vs SNK, Revenge of Death Adder, 19xx, Punchout!!, Sengoku III....I could list games all day. All 25 cents each. It will be a sad day when they close...