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Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:04:44 PM

Title: Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:04:44 PM: F-Zero AX got me thinking about the state of arcades, and I was wondering if bringing AX to the US would be profitable for Nintendo and Sega. Seeing as how many arcades are closing down, I've seen many of my favorite arcades closed down and replaced with bike shops and whatnot, really sad. I think the reason arcades are doing so poorly is because of the cost to play on the machines, I stopped playing in the arcade when they began charging 50 cents for a game. This was (and I think still is, haven't checked) the price to play ONE game, ONE game. All the older machines allowed you to play 25 cents, I would have rather played Marvel vs Capcom and House of the Dead instead of Pac-Man and Centipede. But it was just to expensive for me, I was about 11 or 12 at the time and not many kids had enough money to enjoy the machines. I couldn't ask my parents for money because they wouldn't give it to me: "Hey mom can I have some money?" "For what?" "I wanna go play at the arcade" "NO, I don't want you wasting your money playing Pac-Man and Marvel and Capco" "Uh, it's Marvel VS CAPCOM" "It doesn't matter"

Another reason for the inevitable demise of arcade gaming is the actual games, we haven't had another Pac-Man or Donkey Kong caliber game since, well, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. I don't really remember if there was advertising for arcade games back in the day, well at least not for a certain company that owns a certain italian plumber and happens to be our favorite game company. If there wasn't, these arcade manufacturers would have had to relied on word of mouf to get the word around about their games. We need another top notch game that'll get people to go to the arcade and hopefully it'll be F-Zero AX, Nintendo and Sega would then be credited for saving the arcades.

I think a way to save the arcades would be to give players more bang for their buck. Because the amount they charge to play is way too much, and IMO, the majority of arcade players are or were kids and teens ages 7-17. Arcade manufacturers should let let their customers get more plays for their money. They should use those thingies that take dollars and give players about 5 or so "continues." I think this would attract a lot more people to the arcades.

I've noticed that PC rooms have been getting more popular nowadays, this is even more competition for arcades. Most PC rooms let you play for about an hour for $2, this is a much better price than what it costs to play at an arcade, but if you get lucky, you can find one that lets you play an hour for only $1. And a lot of people would rather play Counter Strike, Diablo, and StarCraft. The only downside to PC rooms is that you encounter lots of problems on their PCs, and that takes up valuable gaming time.

But intill a system like this appears, arcades will be slowly withering away. This is why many people look to consoles and PCs to satisfy their gaming needs. I truely hope that arcades don't go under, but I still refuse to pay 50 cents to play a game that will mostly likely hand me my @ss on a plate ( yeah I know I suck so don't bother pointing it out).

What do you guys and gals think?
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:10:23 PM: I SAY YOU GET ALOT OF KIDS AROUND YOUR AREA TO GO TO YOUR ARCADE AND SPEND ALOT OF COINS ON THE GAMES AND PROTEST THEM AND BEG AND PLEAD THEM NOT TO SHUT DOWN

THEN ONCE YOU SAVE YOUR ARCADE EMAIL A FRIEND THAT LIVES IN ANOTHER AREA AND TELL THEM TO DO THE SAME AND THEYLL EMAIL ANOTHER FRIEND...ECT...ECT...
AND AFTER A WHILE YOU WILL HAVE SAVED THE ARCADE COMPANY!!!!!

NOW THAT I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION CAN YOU ANSWER MINE.......................wHERE CAN I GET A FREE WEBSITE???? IF YOU CANT THATS OK..............but........................please try.........

edited for OBNOXIOUS PERIODS BREAKING THE TABLES, AM I RITE?
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:16:28 PM: Your scaring me BlueKitten

Thanks for responding, but I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon.

As for your question, I'm not a tech head so I don't wouldn't know how to make a website either, sorry. If you do find out how to make one, let me know, I'm interested in making my own website too.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:18:20 PM: I was just kiddin around it is 2:30 in the mornin here so im a bit tired lol
allthough it would be pretty cool to have that actual arcade thing happen lol
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 10:20:29 PM: With the insane popularity of Dance Dance Revolution, which can't fully be emulated at home, I don't think arcades are going to die out. DDR machines in malls attract a lot of people who end up playing a lot of other games, too, if only waiting for their turn. I'm hoping the connectivity between F-Zero GX and AX will encourage a lot of people to go to arcades, too, and hopefully play some other games, as well. It's nice to see big companies like Sega and Namco still supporting arcades- I hope that doesn't change soon.

Then again we could always try BlueKitten's method- at the very least we'd get on the news.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:21:30 PM: Yeah I'm pretty tired to, it's 12:25 am where I live, so I had to take breaks as I was writting all that.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:22:40 PM: where do you live
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:22:58 PM: Don't they charge $1 to play DDR?
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:23:59 PM: Quote
Originally posted by: BlueKitten
where do you live

LA, California
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:24:00 PM: i dont know
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:25:19 PM: i live in lacy lakview texas
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:26:42 PM: Quote
Originally posted by: BlueKitten
i live in lacy lakview texas

Wow never heard of it, small town?
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 10:27:31 PM: It depends on the arcade- at mine personally I believe it's 75 cents for 4 songs and you it'll let you fail the first song. It used to be 50 cents for 4 songs but they jacked up the price when they got DDR Extreme.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:29:17 PM: 50 cents for 4 songs is a good deal though, hell if I wasn't so shy to dance in front of people I'd shell out 75 cents too.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 10:35:52 PM: You really should try- I was shy my first time, too, but the other people really don't care, even the regulars. Everyone sucks their first few times (I couldn't complete even the easiest songs without a lot of help), and nobody will laugh at you for doing bad. If you can, though, make sure you go after someone who's REALLY bad, because then you can't help but look good in comparison.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:42:06 PM: Pick on the weak eh? Ok, I'm convinced now I'll just have to look for an arcade nearby...

I can challange some one who sucks more than me, It'll make me look good and make them look worse.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:46:07 PM: HAVE YOU HEARD OF WACO
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:46:47 PM: No, can't say that I have.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:48:19 PM: HOW ABOUT FORT WORTH
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:49:50 PM: Yeah, I heard of Fort Worth, but I don't know where it is though.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:52:47 PM: well waco is around fort worth and lacy lackview is around waco
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:53:42 PM: Must be very hot over in Texas.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:57:20 PM: ONLY WHEN YOUR OUTSIDE WITHOUT A FAN AHD NO SHADE
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 10:57:27 PM: Is that the same Waco where that shoot-out was? ...........................cool.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 10:59:01 PM: Do you mean old school cowboy-style shootouts?
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 10:59:23 PM: which shoot out
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 11:01:16 PM: No, where the guy with the hostage(s) holed up in his house and the feds tried to get him out. There was a huge shoot-out, it was all over the news a few years ago. Surely someone must remember.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 11:02:43 PM: I never heard about it, never really was into the news much back then.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 11:02:52 PM: probly(hey how do you really spell probly)
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 11:03:39 PM: probably
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 11:04:36 PM: Bah, you guys are hopeless. Go here.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 11:04:37 PM: REALLY!!!!!!!
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 11:06:05 PM: HEY I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKIN ABOUT HOW CAN ARCADES BE SAVED

LOL
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 11:07:07 PM: Yeah, well what are you gonna do?
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 11:08:16 PM: Personally, I really don't see how arcades could be going out of business, at least not mine. Even during down times it's packed full of people, and not just DDR-ers. Crazi Taxi and SC2 get a lot of play as well (especially since preordering SC2 at the EB in the same mall will give you 3 free plays). They've got some great prizes you can win with tickets, too, just like Chuck. E. Cheese (which was founded by Atari inventer Nolan Bushnell)!

And you know you don't have to type in all caps all the time.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: BlueKitten on August 02, 2003, 11:08:25 PM: HEY WERE DO YOU GO IN THE LINK
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 02, 2003, 11:10:58 PM: All the arcades around where I live closed down.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 02, 2003, 11:11:18 PM: I'd suggest either the FAQ or the Timeline- should give a basic overview of it all.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: ThePerm on August 03, 2003, 12:14:44 AM: arcades are filled with alot of crap nowadays. What they need to do is get rid of the uncalibrated shooting games. Save Tiem Crisis and Silent Scope X, add more classic coop games like ninja turtles or the xmen game. Make sure theres soem dance machines liek DDR and my favorite Pump it up. My arcade is tryign to correcti ts problems..their goign to get f-zero real soon
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: CO_Hawke on August 03, 2003, 12:18:49 AM: That's good to hear, hope they all turn it around. Can't wait to play F-Zero at the arcade.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on August 03, 2003, 04:16:14 AM: I got in shape, made a lot of friends, and show off my mad skills in arcades. I declare August GO-TO-THE-ARCADE-MONTH!
Title: RE: Can arcades be saved?
Post by: aoi tsuki on August 03, 2003, 04:27:00 PM: i play a little bit at the arcades, but my interest in it's died down. i was into the games before they hit the US, although i never bought my own set (decent pads were way too expensive for my modest interest). i eventually picked up Konamix when i worked at Gamestop, but my interest had waned by then. i keep telling myself i'll get back into the games, but everything after 5th Mix just turned me off. i'm not a eurobeat fan, and most of DDR's music is, and DDR MAX tries to infuse some trance into the mix (pun?) and it just doesn't work for me. If the music's not there, there's no point in me playing. Down with DDR MAX, up with Samba de Amigo.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 03, 2003, 04:41:47 PM: My arcade just got Samba de amigo, actually- it gets a LOT of play from people waiting to play DDR.
Title: RE:Can arcades be saved?
Post by: Uglydot on August 03, 2003, 08:22:56 PM: I have always loved arcades, but the amount of money it takes to play the games now is a big turn-off. I find myself looking for older games so I can play for a while. I tend to need to learn a game to get good at it, and in an arcade setting, that is hard when it costs so much. Die Hard has always been a mainstay for me if an arcade has it because of this. And I just can't skip over Silent Scope. I also play a lot of fighting games. I really don't think the arcade industry can be saved in America the way things are going. Elsewhere, I really can't say.