whats the deal with modern arcades... *rant*

[Sephroth57]

I was introduced to videogames at a very young age, at just 3 years old i had a NES system and i could get pretty damn far in mario. since then my parents always took me to chuckee cheese, eventually we moved to the NJ shore and i was introduced to the boardwalk, a wonderous place of multiple arcades and games everywhere. i grew up going to the arcades and now in my 20s i go there often with my friends to hang out. but enough background...

i remember arcades used to have like at least 2 rows of just upright machines, some good beatem ups, fighting games, etc. now i walk into an arcade theres like 7-8 deluxe machines with giant screens, shooting games, DDR (which i love), etc. now this isnt necessarily a bad thing technology has advanced to allow better gaming. but does this mean the uprights have to leave!? maybe its just me, but my boardwalk that ive been going to since i was 6, has changed from mostly videogames, to mostly point redemption and giant shooting games and cheap attractions that are fun only once (the thing that vibrates your hands while you hang on).

why dont they use the new graphics and technology and make a really good beatem up, people would play it. arcade managers are only worried about the money, i understand its a buisness. but they wont even take risks on new games unless its proven. i was talking to a manager the other day about why he didnt have any new capcom games and he said "eh for the money i could add another DDR machine and make more"..

im not really sure what the point of this rant is, im just mad i search the entire boardwalk for ANY capcom fighting game, the only thing i found was a MvC1, which is like so old... wheres capcom vs SNK, chaos, soul cal 2, KOF, guilty gear.... not even just fighters... gahh i dunno. im gonna stop typing now  

[DaveMMR]

What happened (among other things) is that the home console technology caught up and even surpassed the arcade technology.  Joystick games just don't make the arcade operators money anymore.  Besides there's more money to be made releasing games to the consoles than the dying arcade industry (unless it's DDR, which has become something of a spectator sport in the arcade I visit).

Believe me I'm just as upset as you are.

[menace]

there's a small arcade in a sports bar near here.  If you watch when people bring their kids in, they all head to the redemption machines and pump money into them at obscene rates--i generally have to shove the kiddies aside to get to the area 51 machine (which has since been replaced with yet another redemption machine)

It's all about the cash and the fact that someone our age is NOT the target audience.

[Sephroth57]

i really hate redemption games with a passion, anyone with basic math skills could deduce unless the random .05% chance you hit a jackpot on a slot machine or something, that its totally not worth it to play them. you spend like 20$ and get 10k points, which buys a cheap stuffed animal you couldve won in a crane, or a corded phone you can get at walmart for 5$.

[MadEditor]

This remembers me something quite funny...

Remember "Back to the Future 2"

When, in the future he plays a shooting game and the childrens says something like " stupid game you have to use your hand !! "

Apparently we're almost there

[abrannan]

It's all about the almighty dollar.  Fighting games are quite the moneymaker, but their earning potential drops off sharply once the home console version is available.  Which means the game has only about 6 months to make it's cost back before it becomes a drag.  Whereas the games that require special hardware, or provide some other form of experience that can't be easily replicated at home continue to make steady money for the operators.  Even a several year old DDR 3rd Mix will attract fairly steady players, though they'll constantly gripe that it's not the latest version.  By comparison, a Soul Calibur 1 or Tekken Tag machine will hardly attract any gamers (except for me, who feels the need to drop $.50 into any Soul Calibur machine I come across.)

[JAMMA Guy]

My arcade hasn't really changed much (... about the only thing that has changed is that it went from a dark dungeon to a lot of lighting ... I guess it's less scary to the younger crowd that way ... lol.  They also added a security guard   )

Still a ton of uprights (mostly fighters).

There's a few deluxe machines ... few drivers and few shooters and the rest are the newly released fighters.

Maybe it's just your location.

As for the "home console technology caught up and even surpassed the arcade technology" statement ... I don't agree with that.  The arcade systems are always more powerful than the home consoles.

Take the NAOMI system ... had twice the main and graphics memory than the Dreamcast (four times the sound memory) ... at best the Dreamcast games were a best attempt home console version but not a direct port nor were they superior.

It's always been that way (there's a reason the arcade system's cost in the $1000's and the home console versions are only a fraction of that price   )

[abrannan]

I thikn the comment about home consoles surpassing arcades is more related to the fact the a lot of games (fighters in particular) are enahanced by the time they make it home.  Compare the arcade version of Soul Calibur to the Dreamcast version.  The Dreamcast version looks a LOT better, and has at least one additional fighter (Cervantes), in additon to the moves being tweaked for the characters.  This isn't even taking into account the additional features the home version has, such as handicapping, team battle modes, etc.  By the time you add it all up, the only reason you'd play in an arcade is for an audience, or new human opponents.

But I do agree that what games an arcade has is very location specific.  Hopefully we won't get to the point where there are big arcade conglomerates who regulate what games are going to be in their arcades, like what radio has become.  It's already started that way with Jillian's, Dave and Busters, etc.  

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARCADE

[DaveMMR]

I thikn the comment about home consoles surpassing arcades is more related to the fact the a lot of games (fighters in particular) are enahanced by the time they make it home.

Not to mention "Crazy Taxi".  I think that was the very last game I ever pumped quarters into like mad.  Then the Dreamcast version came out and I suddenly had to desire to feed that big machine any longer.

I'll now rant about modern arcades:

I hate paying for games with a magnetic striped card.  Sorry, but I can keep track of what I'm spending a lot better with quaters than I can by playing a game that costs "780 points".  Gameworks in Vegas deducts actual money amounts from cards but Jillians uses the aforementioned points system.  Irregardless, even with the occasional lost quarter, I feel I get ripped off less with the old mechanical coin switch than with some computer taking money off my account.

Secondly, it's really hard to have fun at these arcades when a 30 second game is costing me $2.00.  

Ahh the heck with all this, I'm firing up my X-Box and staying home.  

[Dartful Dodger]

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARCADE

The last local arcade by me, is now a used book store.

Internet multiplayer games are the arcades of the future present. When our kids are our age the AI's for games will be so advanced we wont need any human interactivity at all.

[Luxury]

As long as it has a Raiden II cabinet (which SO many of them still do to my delight!) I'll be happy.  

[blue]

I'd agree that the type of arcades in you have access to is region specific. I live in Winnpeg,MB and there aren't a lot of arcades here but the few that we have have mostly standups. Fights, beatem ups and 4 player spots games. Now granted I don't frequent every arcade in the city, but i can't recall seeing any DDR games anywhere other then the night clubs.

One of the main arcades here, MagicLand, is unfortunately turning into an online network computer lounge. When I first started going to there is was strictly arcade and nothing but, now its 2/3 computers and less arcades. But I guess that

[Santoro]

I hate paying for games with a magnetic striped card.  Sorry, but I can keep track of what I'm spending a lot better with quaters than I can by playing a game that costs "780 points".  

**Ding ding ding**  That is the correct answer.  The whole point is that you have no idea how much money you are wasting on the game.  

Sort of the reason you can't find a clock at a casino.

[Sephroth57]

we dont have anywhere around here with those card things yet, i guess its really based on where you live. the boardwalk near me is a very tourist attraction kind of place so i guess the best thing for the arcades are the big flashy games. but you think SOMEWHERE on the entire boardwalk out of about 8 arcades, there would be a capcom vs SNK2 !   one arcade has a SC2 way in the back so theres never any human opponents which is the whole point since i beat it to hell on my PS2.

[MasTequila]

Home consoles have made the arcades hurt, no doubt about that.  When kids can play at their house lots would rather do that than pump quarters into a machine.

Anyway at a movie theater near me there are some fighters (2 i think) a gauntlet dark legacy beat em up, a galaga, a bunch of shooting and driving games, and DDR.  I think that people go to more ofthe stuff they cant get on their home system.  Now with DDR on the consoles you may even see a decline in them in arcades.

[AlanS17]

I have one friend that PREFERS fighting games on consoles (I think he's retarded). But it shows you why some types of games don't make as much money in arcades anymore. Personally, I don't play many games to win against the machine. Even games like Ms Pac-Man... I play against the high score.

The reason I like arcades is because you CAN play against other people, but there are plenty of others who would just rather be anti-social and just get together with their small group of nerd friends huddled around a 13" TV to play the latest version of whatever fighter has already been out in the arcades for at least half a year... *whew* Ok... I think I feel a bit better now...

[Floyd10]

Gameworks in Vegas deducts actual money amounts from cards but Jillians uses the aforementioned points system.

I take it that you live somewhere near rotchester too.

either way, i was thinking the same thing as all of you guys. we need a chain of arcades. F*** Pottery barn.

[abrannan]

Gameworks in Vegas deducts actual money amounts from cards but Jillians uses the aforementioned points system.

I take it that you live somewhere near rotchester too.

either way, i was thinking the same thing as all of you guys. we need a chain of arcades. F*** Pottery barn.

Um...  Jillians is a national chain.  So is Gameworks, and Dave and Busters, and Tilt, and Aladdin's Castle, and Chuck E Cheese's...  They're all either Evil or Dead.  

[Floyd10]

lol. on evil or dead. I didn't know that there was more than one Jillians on the planet. Something MUST BE DONE!

And on the chain comment, I mean Just an arcade, and it has to be good too... lol

[DaveMMR]

Gameworks in Vegas deducts actual money amounts from cards but Jillians uses the aforementioned points system.

I take it that you live somewhere near rotchester too.

either way, i was thinking the same thing as all of you guys. we need a chain of arcades. F*** Pottery barn.

Um...  Jillians is a national chain.  So is Gameworks, and Dave and Busters, and Tilt, and Aladdin's Castle, and Chuck E Cheese's...  They're all either Evil or Dead.  

Yup but he was close.  I live in Nassau County two steps away from Queens.  Jillians is more of a trendy food place/bar/dance club (depending on location) than it is an arcade anyway.

[Floyd10]

coolies. Im upstate

[abrannan]

I didn't know that there was more than one Jillians on the planet. Something MUST BE DONE!

And on the chain comment, I mean Just an arcade, and it has to be good too... lol

There are:

36 Jillians in the US
33 Dave and Busters in the US
14 Gameworks in the US (Plus Guam and Kuwait)

I think the days of just an arcade are over, you need the high margins of alcohol and food to keep an arcade of any size running.  

[Sephroth57]

I have one friend that PREFERS fighting games on consoles (I think he's retarded). But it shows you why some types of games don't make as much money in arcades anymore. Personally, I don't play many games to win against the machine. Even games like Ms Pac-Man... I play against the high score.

The reason I like arcades is because you CAN play against other people, but there are plenty of others who would just rather be anti-social and just get together with their small group of nerd friends huddled around a 13" TV to play the latest version of whatever fighter has already been out in the arcades for at least half a year... *whew* Ok... I think I feel a bit better now...

exactly, i feel the best part of playing a fighter in the arcades is the fact you have unknown opponents, you dont know their character, their style etc. not even fighters any kind of game, i have DDR at home but i hardly play it anymore. i used it to train myself but i go to the arcade and play cause its just more fun with people.

although there is a small community of DDR/Initial D players around here we all kind of know each other since were at the arcades like 3 times a week. but honestly i think im the only "normal" guy out of all of them. theyre either smelly, losers, annoying, or some combo of all of them lol.

[Floyd10]

A-social ---daisies---

[fredster]

I don't think I've seen a real arcade since 1992. The ones that were around here went out because they had cherry master's and 8 liners in the back paying for the games in the front.  When the cops cleaned them out, they couldn't make it on kid's quarters, so they folded.

The only games I see making real money are GT's in bars, some megatouch machines, etc. I set up a MK 2 in a video store and made 7.50 for 2 weeks on it.  The crane made $175. a week. Hmm, which one should I work on? Hmm.

I see some arcade machines at the walmart and some in a mall around here.  But they pulled the ones in the mall recently. Guess the guy had problems with people beating on them.

The big money in arcades are those hunting games here.  Big Buck Hunter makes a lot of cash. Also GT is always a big money maker.   Fighter games are really out because parents don't want their kids playing them. Hunting games are in because adults think they are cool.  GT is a family oriented one, but is great in bars.

I personally detest fighting games. My son likes all the MK series though.  I was an asteroids/galaga fan in '79-'83.  After that I had to get a job. I have an asteroids deluxe in the garage and that handles my urges.  I do like gun games like t2 and alien storm.  But I give up when it comes to X men or Simpsons.  Scrolling fighters are boring. All you do is keep punching and dropping quarters.

[Sephroth57]

well the other problem is there are a lot of new technology, awesome games coming out only in japan, because they think there is no market for them here but i highly disagree. "anime" and japanese culture is becoming popular in the US among HS and college kids ive been into anime for a long time but now you can see it on normal TV all the time, granted its watered down.. but thats not my point

Initial D, a driving game based on an anime, is HUGE in arcades now. you 1on1 race other drivers on mountain roads , using all kinds of cool import cars, and you can buy a memory card from the machine for a dollar that saves your car, prints out your stats , areas cleared, etc. it gives you a reason to come back and keep pumping quarters into the game. in japan there are all kinds of games like this. remember when gauntlet legends came out? i dunno about you guys but i was obsessed.. hell i own a dark legacy machine =P

anyway im kinda off topic now but here look at this link.. what i wouldnt give to wander japanese arcades for a week  
http://www.a-key.jp/about_frm.html

take a look through segas japanese website if you wanna see some other badass games we will never see in our lives

[abrannan]

remember when gauntlet legends came out? i dunno about you guys but i was obsessed..

I remember all too painfully well.  Remember how Legends had the top 10 screen that listed players by number of credits inserted?  I was number one at the University of Cincinnati game room, with 300+ credits at $.50 a credit.  At the time, I was also dropping $10/day into Soul Calibur, every weekday of a 12 week quarter.  You do the math.

[Floyd10]

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, sir! If I had your money, id buy the damned machine.