How to feel old in one easy step

[Dexter]

(Cue Grandpa Simpson voice....)

I had an hour to kill the other night and popped into an arcade (for the first time in YEARS), what amazed me was the amount of gimmicky arcade machines in the place (i.e. you kick a football, use a poolcue to play 'virtual' pool, scratch turntables, dance mats, do I need to go on??

Of about 50 plus machines in the place there was one machine where the game was the game, of its own virtues sans gimmicks. It was Ms. Pac man/Galaga reunion.

Ever feel old!!!!!!

Dexter

[skirge66]

All I needed to do to feel old was to show my 9 year old little girl donkey kong and frogger...she looked at me with a puzzled look and says..."daddy, but that doesn't look like frogger or donkey kong"

statements like that really grow the greys

[Frostillicus]

Of about 50 plus machines in the place there was one machine where the game was the game, of its own virtues sans gimmicks. It was Ms. Pac man/Galaga reunion.

That pretty much describes all the big ones these days like Dave & Busters...  

[shmokes]

Hah!  What I hear you saying is that the controller is not a valid part of the game?  Would it be better if racing games were played with joysticks too?  Kind of lame to put a gimmicky steering wheel/pedals on the game rather than allow it to be judged on "it's own virtues".  Technology is simply allowing for things that weren't possible in videogames twenty years ago.  Why should graphics improve, but control panels remain fixed in time?

You can't let that age thing get you man....you'll become a videogame bigot  

[shmokes]

This discussion just reminded me of that scene from Back to the Future II where he sees that "antique" videogame and tries to show off to a couple of younger kids and they shun it and say something like, "weird, you have to use your hands."  

[BillyJack]

That's like a baby's game!
 

[Dexter]

Hah!  What I hear you saying is that the controller is not a valid part of the game?  Would it be better if racing games were played with joysticks too?  

You hear wrong my friend!! Of course the controller is important, and for decent addictive games the right controller is the icing on a very tasty cake. Some of my all time favourites have dedicated controllers. What I was referring to was how funny it was to stroll into an arcade after so long (when video gaming is the blood in my vains) to be confronted by in-your-face all singing all dancing monster machines where the actual game took second stage to the gimmickery.

I'd rather play a highly addictive, frantic racing game with a crappy optical wheel than an average, bells and whistles piece of eyecandy with feedback steering wheel, monsterous surround sound, fluffy dice etc.

I think I have been taken up wrong a bit, I should have used one of these fellas at the end of my post --->

Just a lighthearted message, and I won't be becoming a bigot!! I always kept up to date with the latest consoles etc but got disheartened by the trend towards making graphical showcases with little playability, I now concentrate on retrogaming due to the nature of the games i.e. THEY'RE GAMES and can be enjoyed on your home cab as much as in the arcade.

Now let's see, new control panel plans...football, pool cue, turntables, dance mat.............

Dexter

[Rasher2k]

Its all about tactile feedback nowdays. It all started with the guns, wheels and roadbikes - they were cool back then, it just got out of hand and these new fangled contraptions are the 'in' thing now (apparently). Yeah, I still prefer the 'classic' controls too.

It's called the generation gap I believe. Suck it up old man.  

[shmokes]

It's funny, fifty years from now my grandkids will be playing a seemingly real game of pro football in their holodecks and I'll be sayin', "I don't get it, when I was kid we just had to watch a 2 dimensional screen and kick on a ball attached to a cabinet that couldn't go anywhere.  What's with having to run around up and down a football field.  Boy, when I was a kid we sure as hell didn't get tired playing videogames!"

[SirPoonga]

Now goto an arcade chain like Jillians and Gameworks, both of which are here in Minneapolis.  Goodbye minors at 10:00    Many a drunken gaming goes on then  

By me, Gameworks is mostly racing games, cool ones at that, and ticket games.  Both Jillians and Gameworks have a bar and bowling alleys.  Jillians is cockpit and shooters mostly.

[paigeoliver]

 Technology is simply allowing for things that weren't possible in videogames twenty years ago.  
You can't let that age thing get you man....you'll become a videogame bigot  

Quite a lot of the stuff they have now would certainly have been possible twenty years ago.

DDR, Pump it Up, and most of the other rythm games could have ran virtually unchanged on laserdisc hardware 20 years ago. Those games basically ARE laserdisc games, only without the laserdisc.

The only gimmick control I have seen that wouldn't have been viable in 1983 is those motion detectors in Mocap boxing. For all I know those could have been cheap and easy too.

Compare such classic games as Subroc 3-D (too weird), Crossbow (it really had a crossbow), Tapper (ooh, a beer tapper as a joystick), Baby Pac-Man (is it a pin or a vid?), Battlezone (a periscope, come on now), TX-1 (why would Pole Position need THREE screens), Sprint 8 (like the world really needed an 8 player driving game), and the list goes on and on.


The only difference between now and then is that the games got bigger and the joystick is no longer the most popular control. The steering wheel has moved up to the head, followed by the light gun, and THEN the joystick. Still the same 3 controls that were popular back in the old days though.

[Rasher2k]

Do these new interfaces require more or less skill to operate than they did 20 years ago?

The classic joystick button combo was all about hand-eye coordination and timing. The newer controls seem to have a much wider error margin. Or do they?

[Dexter]

Do these new interfaces require more or less skill to operate than they did 20 years ago?

I'd say they require more practise, thats all, but will you come back and chug coins into it to get the hang of the controls properly?

By the way, I'm 28 guys!

Dexter

[Frostillicus]

Mind you I like just about any iteration of an arcade game, so I'm not complaining here....

But the silliest controls I have ever seen in person (someday boonga boonga we will meet) is that kayaking game.  That giant paddle is just silly and the gameplay really blows - just a big gimmick.

[Smittydc]

Silly?  You have to try the horseback racing game -- you will laugh your ass off.

I was in vegas last week and walked through the arcade at the Luxor -- I was surprised how many classics were in there.  Besides the ms.pacman/galaga there was a donkey kong, missle command, asteroids.... still, most of the games were drumming, fighting, etc.

Some of the new games are fun, but the old simple games are still the most addictive.

[HeadRusch]

Well, you guys have kinda missed the point a bit...in essence, with the re-emergence of all these games, arcades (at least in the electronic sense) have now come 100% Full Circle.

I'm 32 now *sigh*, and I remember going to the local arcade in the early 80's..and sure they had all the games we call "Classics" today.

But, if you took a ride down to Lake Compounce Amusement Park here in Connecticut, and went to THEIR arcade, you were confronted with games that were:
1) The size of Volkswagons
2) Every one had a gimmick, a giant chair, a huge gun, a big this, a giant that...
3) Projection Screens.

In essence, these games were making up for their lack of "electronic whizbang" with the old fashioned way to get someones attraction, make them "feel part of the game".

Here are two good examples:
1 game was a giant chair, it rotated left and right.  You sat in it and there was a joystick in your right hand.  ON the screen (A large projection type screen that was wider than it was tall), would project these white "outlines" of airplanes...and you'd hear this loud "wooshing" sound effect (white noise)...and the joystick had a light up big white button, and the joystick moved the crosshair that was also projected on the screen UP and DOWN, and you swiveled the chair left and right...you got the crosshair on the picture of the airplane, pressed the button..and the "light" that lit up that plane went ou, you'd hear an explosion, and that was your "Hey, I shot down the airplane!".

I figure these games were from the late 60's or early 1970's....and damn I wish I had pictures of them so I could show you guys what I was talking about.

The Second one was even more bizarre, I THINK It was called "UFO" Something.  It was a big cylinder, with a periscope. like you were stepping into a giant coke can...and you sorta sat on this round bench inside the cylinder, and used the periscpe to look left and right (you'd have to sorta stand up and move around inside this thing, then when you saw enemies you culd plop down and shoot for awhile.  Another bizarre game.....it wasn't working the one time I saw it (Lake George, NY at one of those awful theme parks) but that was the gist of the game I think.

Now, here is the real sob story.  Lake Compounce sold out to HERSHEY PARK in the mid 80's....when they did, they liquidated all their ancient games.  I remember some of those huge games, that would require a moving truck (Forget putting those things in a toyota pickup!) to get outta there, were being sold for..$50 bucks...$60 bucks.

My point is this: today we've left the "joystick and electronics" age and gone back to "Environmental" Type games.

Why?

Lets face it, when was the last time a fighting game struck you as "original?"......games are starting to get tired again, and these "experience games" are now what they're using to draw in the crowds.

[MrArcade]

As I see it, there is one big reason for all the "gimicky" games now:

Home systems are pretty much as good as arcade systems.  In the 80's the atari 2600 was nowhere near as good as the arcade machines.

They need to attract the main audience....kids.  These kids have access to great graphic games at home, so they add the big flashy cabnet and controls that are unique so it is something you can't do at home.

I mean think about it, in the 80's most of us had 19" tv's as the largest in our home.  The arcade games were that same size.  Kids today play arcade games on monitors SMALLER than their tv at home!  They may have a 60" projection at home that blows the 25" at the arcade away.

Just my $0.25

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Here are two good examples:
1 game was a giant chair, it rotated left and right.  You sat in it and there was a joystick in your right hand.  ON the screen (A large projection type screen that was wider than it was tall), would project these white "outlines" of airplanes...and you'd hear this loud "wooshing" sound effect (white noise)...and the joystick had a light up big white button, and the joystick moved the crosshair that was also projected on the screen UP and DOWN, and you swiveled the chair left and right...you got the crosshair on the picture of the airplane, pressed the button..and the "light" that lit up that plane went ou, you'd hear an explosion, and that was your "Hey, I shot down the airplane!".

DUDE!!!!!!   I played that same airplane game in fort wayne indiana at the time it was in a mall called SOUTH TOWN MALL!    I was pretty young then, but i remember my dad sitting me on his lap while the chair whipped left and right and the light projected the images of the jets onto the curved screen in front of you. It almost seemed like an old drive in movie screen material or something.
Man, i've been beating my head in trying to remember the name of that game. lol
If i think of it i will let you know!
 man, what memories lol.

g~

[HeadRusch]

Hahaha I KNEW I couldn't be the only one!!!
That was definately one I remember......those games must have been pretty popular I'm guessing in the 60's...good luck on a name, its pre "video" so I'm not sure if there are websites devoted to non-video arcade amusement games.

I'm sure there are but, damn, where to begin looking?  Google Search "Old sitting in a chair arcade game where you shoot from this giant comfy chair"

[IIOIOOIOO]

Start looking for "EM" (electro-mechanical) games

[SirPeale]

I mean think about it, in the 80's most of us had 19" tv's as the largest in our home.  The arcade games were that same size.  Kids today play arcade games on monitors SMALLER than their tv at home!  They may have a 60" projection at home that blows the 25" at the arcade away.

You've missed the point.  Arcades used to be about going out with your friends, hanging out, and having a good time.

Now, you're shut in to your own house, you don't leave, and have little human interaction.

Bring back the arcades.

[nighthawk2099]

The problem is that kids and teens of this age, it seems, have no respect for people or property.  They over take the malls and arcades, acting as if it were their domain, and push the good kids and families out.  No one wants to go to places where people don't have respect enough to ASK "hey, I see you're in the middle of a (favorite game name here) game, do you mind if I jump in?".  They just pop in a quarter (after you have spent $3 to get to this point and finally about to beat this guy) and blow all you've been working at.  I'd don't think things will ever be the way arcades use to be.    There was always a type of "CODE" we all lived by durning the 80's.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

The problem is that kids and teens of this age, it seems, have no respect for people or property.  They over take the malls and arcades, acting as if it were their domain, and push the good kids and families out.  No one wants to go to places where people don't have respect enough to ASK "hey, I see you're in the middle of a (favorite game name here) game, do you mind if I jump in?".  They just pop in a quarter (after you have spent $3 to get to this point and finally about to beat this guy) and blow all you've been working at.  I'd don't think things will ever be the way arcades use to be.    There was always a type of "CODE" we all lived by durning the 80's.

I dont know man,   there were some real a-holes at the bowling alley i used to go to lol.   There were  a few guys that it didn't matter if you put money on the machine for your turn in line or not,  they just jumped on and dropped their quater in the coin box regardless.    
Its not really any different today as it was when we were growing up if you think about it.   There are always your class one a-holes and then those who are decent people.   Just have to go someone where there aren't as many a-holes. lol   I used to rat out some of the people at the bowling alley lol.   Actually  the owners always told me that if anyone was causing problems back the game room to let them know.  They knew myself and a few other guys plopped alot of quaters into their machines and didnt want a bunch of punk jerkoffs back there screwing around, so when some thugs were being a pain, i would meander off and about 5 minutes later they were thrown out of the place LOL.  It was great lol.
Yea yea, i know,cry me a river will ya lol.,
g~

[HeadRusch]

Yeah, as I recall there were plenty of jerks back in the day too.
I dont think anything has changed...we used to travel in packs, kids today travel in packs (definately more grrrrrlz in the arcades now though, before it was the dark, smokey domain of the young adult )..
.........I want MAME net-integrated.....so I can let everyone ELSE kick my @ss at Karate Champ

I need a rotating stick for Qbert damnit!

[nighthawk2099]

  I guess you're right.  I suppose I am just feeling the way my parents felt when they saw us young'ens hanging around the arcade late at night....  Man, I always said I'd never be like my Dad...huummmmm  I guess the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree....lol

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Heres another good one for everyone to chuckle at.
My son and i were watching one of the 3d arcade movies that we found on the net, it was the one where the song "stone in love" i believe was the song, but anyway lol,   he saw some quarters up on top of the machine where the marquee frame is and ask me " why are those quarters up there?"   I paused for a second and thought ..."WOW....he has never been to an actual arcade and had to wait in line to play a game before.." lol.      So i proceeded to explain that it was to reserve your place as the next player......then he  asked " but how do you know which quater is yours...?  "    to which i answered ...."  well, its like this. If you put your quarter up there you DO NOT walk away!!! "    lol   he just looked at me funny like " whatever dad" lol    kids just don't get the big picture i guess LOL
I thought that was funny and the first time in a long time i thought "wow, i really am i a different generation "  

g~

[spectre]

Now a days (i'm only 19 but i remember the old arcades...sort of) if you put your money up in line someone is sure to take it, no one would understand that now... another great thing was 7-11...they used to haev arcade machines in there before they took them out because too many people would go there and start fights over it, lol... at the time street fighter was there and i loved to play it, it was great, lol... but then they took it out because in my neighborhood (i live between 2 projects) everyone would fight in the lil arcade place cuz nobody wanted to wait in line to play it. always turned into one giant brawl...kinda like a real life streetfighter hahahaaaaa... but yea... they need more damn arcades around here... all we have around here is a flipper mcoys (mostly pinball, not bad but come on!), and some small arcades at the beach )they have good ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- tho like defender, pac man, galaga, joust, donkey kong...), and some crappy ass mall arcades with all kinds of super graphics enhanced zero gameplay stuff... anyway im ranting now... what i wanna say is... we need more damn arcades with classic games! whatever happened to pole position? i never see that around anymore in any arcades...

[shmokes]

I would never play Pole Position in an arcade that also contained Sega Rally, or Daytona, or Crazy Taxi.  Well...I might, but only for kicks.  Those other games are superior in every conceivable way (including gameplay).  And they are all old enough to be down to a quarter per play so Pole Position shouldn't have any cost advantages either.

[Apollo]

I played a game about a year ago where the controller was a real jet ski that you had to stand on. That was kinda bizarre. It drew a hell of a crowd though, by the time I finished the game there were about 30 japaenese tourists watching and taking photos lol.
Gimme a joystick and a couple of buttons any day.

[jakejake28]

i went to japan last summer, and holy cow! they have crazy stuff. i will never be the same again. neither will my wallet.

back to the point, i think the reason for the gimmecks is because classics like asteroids, star wars, etc. are emulated for consoles tenfold. street fighter has graced every fighter since 1992, as mortal kombat. donkey kong was on nes. nowadays there are cameras that can play these games, so why go to the arcade to pay for the same old experience you felt years age. we have nostalgia. they have parents with nastolgia. its not the same.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

I work with a guy who gets alot of stuff from one of his buddies that live in japan and man o man he brings some wild stuff in to work.  
I asked  him if he could get me an imported GODZILLA model
hehehe.   He declined lol.   bastard! lol

They do have some neat stuff though, just go to ebay and type in japanese import and wow, what a listing.

g~

[AlanS17]

Heres another good one for everyone to chuckle at.
My son and i were watching one of the 3d arcade movies that we found on the net, it was the one where the song "stone in love" i believe was the song, but anyway lol,   he saw some quarters up on top of the machine where the marquee frame is and ask me " why are those quarters up there?"   I paused for a second and thought ..."WOW....he has never been to an actual arcade and had to wait in line to play a game before.." lol.      So i proceeded to explain that it was to reserve your place as the next player......then he  asked " but how do you know which quater is yours...?  "    to which i answered ...."  well, its like this. If you put your quarter up there you DO NOT walk away!!! "    lol   he just looked at me funny like " whatever dad" lol    kids just don't get the big picture i guess LOL
I thought that was funny and the first time in a long time i thought "wow, i really am i a different generation "  

g~

Maybe I was just pushy but I didn't wait with my quarter. I just stuck it in the slot and heaven help anyone who tried to take my credit.  

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Maybe I was just pushy but I didn't wait with my quarter. I just stuck it in the slot and heaven help anyone who tried to take my credit.  

SOOOOO you were one of them!!!!! LOL   in the words of scorpian from MK. ......"GET OVER HERE!"  LOL   (groovy stoops down and swings a mighty uppercut  to AlanS17's  jaw **SOCK**   **splat...splat splat.**
lmao

G~

[wackychimp]

Here are two good examples:
1 game was a giant chair, it rotated left and right.  You sat in it and there was a joystick in your right hand.  ON the screen (A large projection type screen that was wider than it was tall), would project these white "outlines" of airplanes...and you'd hear this loud "wooshing" sound effect (white noise)...and the joystick had a light up big white button, and the joystick moved the crosshair that was also projected on the screen UP and DOWN, and you swiveled the chair left and right...you got the crosshair on the picture of the airplane, pressed the button..and the "light" that lit up that plane went ou, you'd hear an explosion, and that was your "Hey, I shot down the airplane!".

DUDE!!!!!!   I played that same airplane game in fort wayne indiana at the time it was in a mall called SOUTH TOWN MALL!    I was pretty young then, but i remember my dad sitting me on his lap while the chair whipped left and right and the light projected the images of the jets onto the curved screen in front of you. It almost seemed like an old drive in movie screen material or something.
Man, i've been beating my head in trying to remember the name of that game. lol
If i think of it i will let you know!
 man, what memories lol.

g~

I remember a WWII game that had basically movies of Japaneese fighters flying around.  You manned a big 50Cal machine gun and shot at them from the ground.  If you hit them, the game would cut ot one blowing up.  Sort of a precursor to Dragon's Lair.

Good times...