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DaveMMR:

--- Quote from: Jdurg on June 22, 2008, 01:53:51 pm ---So if you want to get down to it, the Playstation is the reason why arcades died.

--- End quote ---

It actually goes back a little earlier.   The difference between arcade and home were "light years" apart in the early 80's (we're not just talking graphically, but game play too - even the NES version of Donkey Kong is missing the factory).  However, what the home consoles lacked in graphics during the late 80's it made up for in quantity.   The expansive adventures in Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., Metroid, etc. in the comfort of the family room didn't make trekking out to a shady arcade to play quick games seem appealing by comparison.

Luckily for arcades, SFII (and shortly thereafter, Mortal Kombat), gave a quick jolt to the struggling arcades.   But the 16-bit systems came pretty damn close to replicating them at home (graphics and gameplay).   

By the time the Playstation and N64 rolled around, the home systems were actually looking better than the arcade counterpoints.  That's when the arcades changed directions to wacky, complex contraptions instead of games.

Singapura:
The way I see it you can't really compare arcade games and computer/console games. Most arcade games are designed to make money by giving people a quick challenge. PC games don't need a fast return on investment so they are better suited for long term "story telling" type games. It's like comparing apples and pears. The way the documentary portrayed it was that arcade games are all over now and only games like Oblivion, WoW and the like have a right to exist.  The kids I see in the arcade today aren't interested in stories (they get that from WoW in the internet cafe next door) but want a fast round of Tekken or Guitar Hero. Schmups are very much alive here to with every arcade having a row of candy cabs with Raiden or Neo Geo multi boards. All the classics have disappeared though, not one Pacman, Galaga or Tempest left in the whole country. One funny thing I saw in epsode 4 was a feature on selling gear from MMORPG's on eBay. The example pages they showed only had (classic) cabs on them. Never seen those in WoW!  ::)

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