Arcades

[Scarlet spidey]

What do you guys think of them?
Are arcades dead?
If so, could they make a comeback? Why do you think they died?

 

[Havok83]

Arcades have been dead for years and no they cant make a comeback

I think they died bc of the home consoles. Why go out and throw away money on the arcades when you can play the same game for one price at teh comfort of your own home as many times as you want plus with more content.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

With the advances in home consoles and online gaming, arcades are dead. Sure you'll still have Dave and Buster's and Gameworks, but the hayday of arcades is dead and buried and I see no way of them returning. Home consoles are just too far advanced.

 

[Scarlet spidey]

What about games like Dance Dance Revolution, and racing games like Initial D and Maxi Tune? You really can't create that type of experience at home. And when you're playing games at home there's no real community aspect to it.

 

[Figs]

Arcades are dead. It still surprises me Capcom wants to bring out SF4 in arcade format first(if that's still true).

 

[Joker]

We have 2 arcades around here. We had 3, but the one that was actually in the small town I live in shut down after only a few months. But there's one in the mall, that focuses mainly on games where you can win tickets from, and then there's one in the theaters lobby, with stuff like DDR. But on a whole, I'd say yes, compared to what they used to be Arcades are in a sad state, and will never return.

It's a shame too, I remember playing SF2 and MK2 constantly at the arcades in Des Moines back in the day when I lived there. Good times.

 

[Timstuff]

There's a really awesome arcade about 20 minutes from where I live. There used to be another one that was a bit closer by that had all classic games, but I'm pretty sure they're gone now. I haven't been to the big arcade in a while, so maybe I should make a pilgrimage there soon... Last time I went there, I didn't even have a job or my own money yet, LOL!

It's a terrible shame that the American arcade scene has dried up. I think that American arcade proprietors need to take a closer look at what Japan's arcades are doing, because the Japanese arcade biz is still thriving as strong as it ever has. Something happened in America that caused arcades to dry up, but it either didn't happen in Japan, or they found a way to get around it.

I think that the key is for Arcades to offer as much fun and variety as possible. The big arcade near me also has laser tag, mini golf, and billiards, as well as a slew of solid games both old and new (plus a good concession stand). It's a good place for families, teens, or straight up game enthusiasts alike to spend an afternoon. Maybe that's the key to reviving arcades-- sell them more as amusement centers than just places to drop quarters on the way home from the mall.

 

[Figs]

There's a really awesome arcade about 20 minutes from where I live. There used to be another one that was a bit closer by that had all classic games, but I'm pretty sure they're gone now. I haven't been to the big arcade in a while, so maybe I should make a pilgrimage there soon... Last time I went there, I didn't even have a job or my own money yet, LOL!

It's a terrible shame that the American arcade scene has dried up. I think that American arcade proprietors need to take a closer look at what Japan's arcades are doing, because the Japanese arcade biz is still thriving as strong as it ever has. Something happened in America that caused arcades to dry up, but it either didn't happen in Japan, or they found a way to get around it.

I think that the key is for Arcades to offer as much fun and variety as possible. The big arcade near me also has laser tag, mini golf, and billiards, as well as a slew of solid games both old and new (plus a good concession stand). It's a good place for families, teens, or straight up game enthusiasts alike to spend an afternoon. Maybe that's the key to reviving arcades-- sell them more as amusement centers than just places to drop quarters on the way home from the mall.

That's the key to keeping them alive. There's a Dave & Busters not to far from where I live. You got all kinds of other games to play as well as drinks and a restaurant like area.

 

[Danalys]

the only place i know where they have arcades now is the cinema and bowling alley. gives people a way to waste a bit of time before seeing a film or waiting for their lane i guess. i think arcades will always have a place they just need to be different from home experiences. like pinball, pinball is basically the precusor to the arcade machine. and it's something that's difficult and/or undesirable to replicate at home.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Aside from Dave and Buster's there's really no arcades around me. There is one "family fun center" that has eh games.

I'm finally 21, so I can get into D&B's alone. Mm buffalo wings and time crisis, what better combo is there?

 

[Addendum]

The only arcade I know of in Memphis that is still open, is in one of the malls in town. All they have in there is racing games, DDR, and fighters. It sucks.

Back when I was in high school, about 1992-1996, there were a few arcades in town and the selection was excellent. There were the racing games, and the fighting games, but you also had some shumps, action games, adventure games, platform games, and the owner of one of them was pretty damn cool. He would encourage his customers (high school kids and the older gamers) to request games that they would like to play again. And so there'd be an area devoted to the old school games.

With the popularity of Live Arcade on the 360, and with Sony's version on the PS3, there's no reason for that guy in town to re-open his arcade

 

[terry78]

There was an arcade in Illinois I frequented every weekend, because it stayed open until like 3 in the morning and it was always the spot to go. It was a tad seedy, and people would bet on games and just be in there smoking weed and whatever...but it was good times. It had a koi pond in the middle of it, and posters on the wall of movies and random comic book ****, and a little bar/snack area in the back where you could chill and eat, or order drinks or whatever.

I go here sometimes, but I gotta drive like an hour to get there.

http://www.enchanted.com/amusementsLombard.html

 

[sandwraith]

You guys have not been to Asia much have you? Yes perhaps in the Western World where generally most kids or parents can afford a handheld or a console, Arcades are dead but in Asia, whether its Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and even Singapore (my home country), Arcades are alive and well. Not mushrooming mind you. But with a large amount of arcade goers to more than keep them afloat. Seriously, take Japan for example. Japanese men (or women) who work 9 to 7 tend to have a somewhat longer lunchbreak, about an hour and a half. It takes them all of 20 mins to finish their lunch, and then the gamer types head for an arcade conveniently located in the Central Business District of that town or city. They can drop over 30 bucks playing games in the space of an hour and still make an impact and thats not even including High school or college kids. So why does Capcom, Namco and SNK keep making arcade games? Simple, while the American market is big, the Asian market is exponentially BIGGER. They'll be able to net profits anyway. Arcades also provide them a form of advertising. You give a game a twirl at the 'Cade, you like it, you wanna kick ass at it, you buy it and train it.

I'm really not sure why arcades have "Died" in your minds but its pretty alive eastside.

 

[Joker]

I think most of us were aware that Japan and the rest of Asia is a different story for arcades, in fact I think a few people mentioned that American arcades shoud look at the Asian arcade buisness model to try and get back on there feet.

 

[sandwraith]

From the pictures I've seen, American arcades look pretty Slapdash. Coney Islandish concept.