Are arcades gone for good?

[Peench]

Given our demographics I'm pretty sure it is safe to say that most everyone who frequents this site has spent a fair amount of time in an arcade at some point in their life. More quarters passed through my hands into arcade machines than the number of voices in Britney Spears head these days.

But I can't remember the last time I was in a real arcade. I take that back, on Saturday I was at Dave and Busters, but I can't really consider that an arcade. Nope, I consider it a way for D&B to make money off people who want to eat and do something indoors, because their games all sucked. I wish I had my camera because there were too many games to count that were missing entire colors (I kid you not, one game was entirely red - the whole thing - and people were still playing!!); ghosted images; contrast shot, stuff out of order. It was pathetic.

I don't really consider D&B an arcade like the old school arcades we all used to frequent. Where the machines were well-worn but always maintained; where the pinball machines made the most noise; where the new games were highlighted and had lines out the door. No, those arcades seem hard to find these days.

Have they gone the way of the dinosaur? Are they all extinct? And if so, is it because of the leaps and bounds console games have made? Namco apparently thinks so. I somewhat agree. I'd rather enjoy a game from the comforts of my couch than pay more than necessary to play on a screen smaller than mine that isn't calibrated and looks like ass (and not a nice looking ass, but a nasty one... with pimples).

So when was the last time you were in an arcade? Have you contributed to their decline by not going?

[MadBryan]

Arcades were a big part of my teen years, and I have alot of fond memories of hanging out with buddies and flirting with girls that wandered in

[Twilight]

Last summer I went camping with my girlfriend near Wier's Beach in NH. They have an oldschool board walk there complete with an arcade. I popped in to look around and there was an awesome selection of arcade machines from the late 70's up to the newest. Any of you older guys remeber "Hogan's Alley"? There is an old one! I also played Crossbow, Beast Busters and Cyber Sled. That was a great couple of hours, but nothing the arcade comes up with will ever top the new home consoles. Why blow $10 in the arcade when you can get a used game from EB for that price? R.I.P. arcades.

[lovekeiiy]

I can't really think of the last time I actually paid to play an arcade game. The last time I remember was back in March or April of 1993. The last time I walked into any kind of arcade was about six months ago at the movie theater. I haven't been to a true arcade since I was in eight grade, well maybe eleventh grade if you're willing to count one of those mini-golf places, which did have a lot of arcade games in the building (3/4 of it).

Really, most arcade games I see are just something to earn a little extra cash for some kind of business. Selections are very few; anywhere from two to six machines. I woud hang out with people, but I would just watch. But I never really got into fighting games like Street Fighter. I enjoyed games like Stunt Driver, Hang On, Punch Out, Neo Geo All-Star Baseball, and Star Wars. I did like the original Street Fighter where you literally pounded on the machine to determine how strong of hit you wanted to do. I did like the original Dragon's Lair game (the one on laser disc). I stunk, but it was fun to play and watch.

Yes, arcades are a dying breed. I don't think they'll go completely away, but they're going to be in specific areas. My guess, amusement parks or something similar. With where game consoles and online gaming is today and will be in the future, how can the local arcade really compete? What do they have to offer over them? Back when I was young, arcade games had better graphics, game play, and that "social" aspect to gaming. Sure they were designed to suck quaters, but since it was fun, one didn't mind; think of 1942.

[Crippler]

Oh shit, that's right. The boardwalk arcades. I just skewed the results. I should have voted 1 month - 1 year then. Other than the boardwalk, there really are no arcades around my area anymore. No malls have them. If I seen an arcade, I would be in the arcade and would play at least one game. Tron was killer in the arcades. As was my addiction to Virtua Fighter 2. Best damn fighting game ever.

[Causedawg 83]

We have a Tilt in our mall, which is an arcade. The guy who runs it is a standup guy who puts a lot ot time into making sure all of his machines run great. I didn't step foot in there for the first several years it existed, but now I go in every so often and drop a quarter or two since I know the guy.

Funny thing: When we bought some of his arcades from him for our bowling center, one of the games we bought was Marvel Vs. Capcom. The red was completely gone from it too. After replacing a board, everything worked great and he sold it to us. It had taken me a while to figure out what was wrong with it, though.


Oh, and as for your other question: I kinda doubt that the leaps and bounds that consoles have made are the cause of the decline of arcades. I think it might have something to do with internet gaming, Live, and other network gaming methods. Ultimately, that's what keeps gamers home.

[Causedawg 83]

This is something I've been working on in my office right this morning: Village Bowl Arcade

I'm not very good at writing professional sounding write ups, so it may not be that good. The pictures need some work as well.

It's kinda related to this thread, even though we're not a true Arcade. I've tried making it so that we have a selection of games that people get excited about, rather than just having something to plug quarters into when they're waiting on a lane. I've also spent a good amount of time up there with my tools working on them to make sure they're always in good working condition... so I think we at least somewhat meet Peench's description.

[Lord LouDog]

Okay, by 6 years I mean an actual, factual arcade, not the Dave and Busters sorry excuse of the game room. When consoles where able to produce better graphics, the arcade just faded away, sad really.

[WormholeXtreme]

the only reason I've been to an arcade is becasue we have a meeting there for work 3 or 4 times a year. they have meeting rooms that are rented out. At Dave n Busters. And afterwards work pays for any games, drinks, food, bowling, pool ,etc.
Otherwise I would never set foot in an arcade. I was in arcades all the time in the late 70's and early 80's

[KEEZY]

I voted with Dave and Buster's in mind, but that doesn't count. Luckily the boardwalk arcades do count.

MadBryan, did you ever play at Krazy Kats in Dayton? I think it was on Smithville. I spent a good amount of time there with my dad. I miss that ish.

[ishmaelj1]

I am not really sure whether or not a Dave and Busters is considered an arade, but I was at one of those just recently. If they do not count then that last time I was at an arcade what at our local amusement park that shut down last year.

[zombie]

The arcades need to get out of the 80's. Link the games to the Net and then show the "leaderboards" I once imagined a Madden League, where 11 guys go and play online against 11 other guys. With the winners winning prizes, money, beer, etc...Thousands of teams, all vying to be the best. THis is what the arcades to aspire to.