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Is it now time to say goodbye to the arcade forever? Well not right now
but certainly some time soon? I used to be a fan of the arcade but now I
visit one or play arcade machines very little. If they werent in my
union at university then I probably wouldnt see them much at all. So
here is my latest post all about the wonders and the future of the
arcade.
When I first started playing games I used to love going to the arcade
and using my spare change to play on the likes of Out Run, space
invaders, ghosts and goblins and other great arcade machines. Games cost
about 10p 25p to play and lasted quite long if you were good at them.
There was a certain kind of magical experience when you played an arcade
machine, the graphics were a superior quality and most of the games were
amazingly fun to play. So whats changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is
why most cost around £1 to play, but you dont really get your moneys
worth with most games as the playing time isnt as long as it should be.
Playing a machine for the first time probably doesnt last that long as
you try to work out what to do and then realise that the words Game
Over have appeared before you. Definitely not worth the hard earned
cash you have just parted with.
Home consoles these days have the hardware and software abilities to
match (or come close to) most arcade machines, which means you can
experience the same and more from the comfort of your own home and you
only pay to own it, no £1 each time. Also arcade machines didnt allow
any saving so with home consoles you can save your progress each time
you play making each go different. Home consoles allow the play when
you want where you want so you can lie in bed and play away until you
really need sleep, then when you awake you can resume from where you
left off. Also most arcade games (well the good ones) get released on
home consoles and usually have enhanced features like extra levels and
characters. So most would probably rather wait and play it at home
instead of trying to find an arcade and play it for a few minutes until
there money runs out. Most of todays games cost around £35, which is
like 35 goes on an arcade machine, think how many times you play your
favourite games. A lot more than 35 I would think.
Another point is controlling the machine. There are good and bad points
for the arcade here. Lets start with the bad then.
The main bad point is that most of todays consoles have a wide range of
peripherals compared to when the arcade was a popular place to play
games. Now you can get light guns, steering wheels, skateboards,
fighting simulators. Before these were all only found in arcades which
made playing them feel more interactive than on a console.
The good point is similar to above except it is the other way around.
Some arcade machine offer an interaction that with todays consoles is
not possible (or would cost far too much) games like silent scope are
good on the PS2 but with the sniper rifle in the arcade version it feels
more realistic, which makes it that little better than the PS2 version.
This is also similar with motorbike, Jet Ski, skiing games as there is a
better input device to play the game offering a better experience and
sometimes making the game more fun to play.
My own view is that arcade machines are indeed dying out and will soon
become a thing of the past. For the one reason that todays consoles are
powerful enough to create arcade like graphics and offer a very similar
experience. With consoles only going to get better in the future arcade
developers will have to try harder to make them better which will cost
more to develop meaning we will have to pay more to play them. Which
could kill of the arcade machines forever. Arcades these days arent
really worth it, only to see what games to expect on consoles in a few
months or to play when you are there and need to fulfil a gaming urge.
But on a plus point for the arcade machines, there is a small percentage
of arcade games that offer an experience that just wouldnt be right on
a home console, usually because the way the user interacts is a large
input device (like the wack attack game). In the past arcade machines
were something to show what to expect on future consoles, these days
they are just an alternative to console gaming. The console market today
is huge so most die-hard gamers will rather stay at home and play games
than go to an arcade for an experience that is nowhere near as good as
playing a whole game at home with your friends, the game will be no
better at the arcade (something it used to be in the past) which is a
reason why the arcade may well be a dying industry.
Unless you are the person who likes a high score for all others to see
or have a place in your heart for the arcade then you probably arent
bothered about the arcade industry in the slightest, as long as you get
games for your consoles. But is there a good point to arcade games that
could benefit console gamers? Most arcade games are now available on
consoles, so do some developers try games out in the arcade to see what
they are like and how they play before the work on the console version,
adding extras to make it a better game. Without the arcade version would
the game have been as good?
Can the arcade be saved? Maybe if they find a way to attract people to
play the games, maybe make them cheaper and hope more people play it or
maybe make it exclusive to the arcade, But that probably wont bring them
as much profit as releasing it on a console would.
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off
straight away and the experience usually doesnt last as long as one
would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isnt much that can
be done to save it. The consoles are taking over and I choose the
console over the arcade. I still think its a sad day when arcade
machines are becoming less and less popular, who knows what effects
arcade machines have on the console market. A lot of big named companies
are making games for consoles only and have scrapped all future arcade
projects so maybe the fact they are concentrating more on console games
is better for the huge percentage that prefer the console to an arcade
machine. With internet gaming set to be the next big thing in terms of
console gaming then we could see another drop in the popularity in
arcade machines until they eventually become a thing of the past.
So what are your views? Is the arcade industry one which will soon come
to an end? Has it got its good points in terms of console gaming? What
can be done to save it? What was your favourite game in the arcade as a
kid?
but certainly some time soon? I used to be a fan of the arcade but now I
visit one or play arcade machines very little. If they werent in my
union at university then I probably wouldnt see them much at all. So
here is my latest post all about the wonders and the future of the
arcade.
When I first started playing games I used to love going to the arcade
and using my spare change to play on the likes of Out Run, space
invaders, ghosts and goblins and other great arcade machines. Games cost
about 10p 25p to play and lasted quite long if you were good at them.
There was a certain kind of magical experience when you played an arcade
machine, the graphics were a superior quality and most of the games were
amazingly fun to play. So whats changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is
why most cost around £1 to play, but you dont really get your moneys
worth with most games as the playing time isnt as long as it should be.
Playing a machine for the first time probably doesnt last that long as
you try to work out what to do and then realise that the words Game
Over have appeared before you. Definitely not worth the hard earned
cash you have just parted with.
Home consoles these days have the hardware and software abilities to
match (or come close to) most arcade machines, which means you can
experience the same and more from the comfort of your own home and you
only pay to own it, no £1 each time. Also arcade machines didnt allow
any saving so with home consoles you can save your progress each time
you play making each go different. Home consoles allow the play when
you want where you want so you can lie in bed and play away until you
really need sleep, then when you awake you can resume from where you
left off. Also most arcade games (well the good ones) get released on
home consoles and usually have enhanced features like extra levels and
characters. So most would probably rather wait and play it at home
instead of trying to find an arcade and play it for a few minutes until
there money runs out. Most of todays games cost around £35, which is
like 35 goes on an arcade machine, think how many times you play your
favourite games. A lot more than 35 I would think.
Another point is controlling the machine. There are good and bad points
for the arcade here. Lets start with the bad then.
The main bad point is that most of todays consoles have a wide range of
peripherals compared to when the arcade was a popular place to play
games. Now you can get light guns, steering wheels, skateboards,
fighting simulators. Before these were all only found in arcades which
made playing them feel more interactive than on a console.
The good point is similar to above except it is the other way around.
Some arcade machine offer an interaction that with todays consoles is
not possible (or would cost far too much) games like silent scope are
good on the PS2 but with the sniper rifle in the arcade version it feels
more realistic, which makes it that little better than the PS2 version.
This is also similar with motorbike, Jet Ski, skiing games as there is a
better input device to play the game offering a better experience and
sometimes making the game more fun to play.
My own view is that arcade machines are indeed dying out and will soon
become a thing of the past. For the one reason that todays consoles are
powerful enough to create arcade like graphics and offer a very similar
experience. With consoles only going to get better in the future arcade
developers will have to try harder to make them better which will cost
more to develop meaning we will have to pay more to play them. Which
could kill of the arcade machines forever. Arcades these days arent
really worth it, only to see what games to expect on consoles in a few
months or to play when you are there and need to fulfil a gaming urge.
But on a plus point for the arcade machines, there is a small percentage
of arcade games that offer an experience that just wouldnt be right on
a home console, usually because the way the user interacts is a large
input device (like the wack attack game). In the past arcade machines
were something to show what to expect on future consoles, these days
they are just an alternative to console gaming. The console market today
is huge so most die-hard gamers will rather stay at home and play games
than go to an arcade for an experience that is nowhere near as good as
playing a whole game at home with your friends, the game will be no
better at the arcade (something it used to be in the past) which is a
reason why the arcade may well be a dying industry.
Unless you are the person who likes a high score for all others to see
or have a place in your heart for the arcade then you probably arent
bothered about the arcade industry in the slightest, as long as you get
games for your consoles. But is there a good point to arcade games that
could benefit console gamers? Most arcade games are now available on
consoles, so do some developers try games out in the arcade to see what
they are like and how they play before the work on the console version,
adding extras to make it a better game. Without the arcade version would
the game have been as good?
Can the arcade be saved? Maybe if they find a way to attract people to
play the games, maybe make them cheaper and hope more people play it or
maybe make it exclusive to the arcade, But that probably wont bring them
as much profit as releasing it on a console would.
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off
straight away and the experience usually doesnt last as long as one
would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isnt much that can
be done to save it. The consoles are taking over and I choose the
console over the arcade. I still think its a sad day when arcade
machines are becoming less and less popular, who knows what effects
arcade machines have on the console market. A lot of big named companies
are making games for consoles only and have scrapped all future arcade
projects so maybe the fact they are concentrating more on console games
is better for the huge percentage that prefer the console to an arcade
machine. With internet gaming set to be the next big thing in terms of
console gaming then we could see another drop in the popularity in
arcade machines until they eventually become a thing of the past.
So what are your views? Is the arcade industry one which will soon come
to an end? Has it got its good points in terms of console gaming? What
can be done to save it? What was your favourite game in the arcade as a
kid?
Page:
Goten wrote:
> Hang on a minute, I have read this somewhere before.
what? I doubt it. I did write something on arcades before but that was quite a long time ago. Its all from my own thoughts and views.
> Hang on a minute, I have read this somewhere before.
what? I doubt it. I did write something on arcades before but that was quite a long time ago. Its all from my own thoughts and views.
The coin-op market is dying off because the consoles are closing the gap between the games. In fact, the console versions turn out to be better than the arcade versions, because of improvements and extra features. But, that said, the arcades can be seen as gaming cinemas, where you can go and play games before they come out on consoles.
Back in the '90s, I used to love going to the arcades, putting in the ten pence peices to play games such as Gouls and Ghosts and Street Fighter (as well as the fruit machines as well). I couldn't get enough of it. But, that was the '90s. Now, to play the latest arcade games, it'll cost about a pound, because it costs more to make the machines and the games.
The whole basis of arcades used to be playing games that were always one step ahead of the games that you could bplay at home. That was quite evident in the days of the commodore and the NES. It could even be said for the days of the Megadrive and SNES. But consoles have got more and more powerful, and have now got to the point where it is the console games that seem to be one step ahead of the arcade games.
Of course, the arcade games come out before the console versions do, as the films in the cinema. But when the games do come out on the console, they normally have drastic improvements over the arcade original, much like DVD versions of films now do.
If anything, the arcades are good if you want to get a preview of the game, see what it is like, and then you can decide whether or not to buy it. But once the game is bought, it is unlikely that you will play the arcade version again.
This doesn't always apply I suppose. Even though I have played the PS2 version of Time Crisis 2, and all of the extra features, I still play on it in the arcade. Why? I suppose this can be related to films. A film is always at its best when watched in a cinema, with all the surround sound and bigger picture. Can the same be said for games? In a way yes. Games can be seen as being at it's best when played in the arcade. For some reason, I had more fun playing the arcade version of Ghouls and Ghosts than I did on the consoles.
Its a tough old world out there.
Back in the '90s, I used to love going to the arcades, putting in the ten pence peices to play games such as Gouls and Ghosts and Street Fighter (as well as the fruit machines as well). I couldn't get enough of it. But, that was the '90s. Now, to play the latest arcade games, it'll cost about a pound, because it costs more to make the machines and the games.
The whole basis of arcades used to be playing games that were always one step ahead of the games that you could bplay at home. That was quite evident in the days of the commodore and the NES. It could even be said for the days of the Megadrive and SNES. But consoles have got more and more powerful, and have now got to the point where it is the console games that seem to be one step ahead of the arcade games.
Of course, the arcade games come out before the console versions do, as the films in the cinema. But when the games do come out on the console, they normally have drastic improvements over the arcade original, much like DVD versions of films now do.
If anything, the arcades are good if you want to get a preview of the game, see what it is like, and then you can decide whether or not to buy it. But once the game is bought, it is unlikely that you will play the arcade version again.
This doesn't always apply I suppose. Even though I have played the PS2 version of Time Crisis 2, and all of the extra features, I still play on it in the arcade. Why? I suppose this can be related to films. A film is always at its best when watched in a cinema, with all the surround sound and bigger picture. Can the same be said for games? In a way yes. Games can be seen as being at it's best when played in the arcade. For some reason, I had more fun playing the arcade version of Ghouls and Ghosts than I did on the consoles.
Its a tough old world out there.
Is it now time to say goodbye to the arcade forever? Well not right now
but certainly some time soon? I used to be a fan of the arcade but now I
visit one or play arcade machines very little. If they werent in my
union at university then I probably wouldnt see them much at all. So
here is my latest post all about the wonders and the future of the
arcade.
When I first started playing games I used to love going to the arcade
and using my spare change to play on the likes of Out Run, space
invaders, ghosts and goblins and other great arcade machines. Games cost
about 10p 25p to play and lasted quite long if you were good at them.
There was a certain kind of magical experience when you played an arcade
machine, the graphics were a superior quality and most of the games were
amazingly fun to play. So whats changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is
why most cost around £1 to play, but you dont really get your moneys
worth with most games as the playing time isnt as long as it should be.
Playing a machine for the first time probably doesnt last that long as
you try to work out what to do and then realise that the words Game
Over have appeared before you. Definitely not worth the hard earned
cash you have just parted with.
Home consoles these days have the hardware and software abilities to
match (or come close to) most arcade machines, which means you can
experience the same and more from the comfort of your own home and you
only pay to own it, no £1 each time. Also arcade machines didnt allow
any saving so with home consoles you can save your progress each time
you play making each go different. Home consoles allow the play when
you want where you want so you can lie in bed and play away until you
really need sleep, then when you awake you can resume from where you
left off. Also most arcade games (well the good ones) get released on
home consoles and usually have enhanced features like extra levels and
characters. So most would probably rather wait and play it at home
instead of trying to find an arcade and play it for a few minutes until
there money runs out. Most of todays games cost around £35, which is
like 35 goes on an arcade machine, think how many times you play your
favourite games. A lot more than 35 I would think.
Another point is controlling the machine. There are good and bad points
for the arcade here. Lets start with the bad then.
The main bad point is that most of todays consoles have a wide range of
peripherals compared to when the arcade was a popular place to play
games. Now you can get light guns, steering wheels, skateboards,
fighting simulators. Before these were all only found in arcades which
made playing them feel more interactive than on a console.
The good point is similar to above except it is the other way around.
Some arcade machine offer an interaction that with todays consoles is
not possible (or would cost far too much) games like silent scope are
good on the PS2 but with the sniper rifle in the arcade version it feels
more realistic, which makes it that little better than the PS2 version.
This is also similar with motorbike, Jet Ski, skiing games as there is a
better input device to play the game offering a better experience and
sometimes making the game more fun to play.
My own view is that arcade machines are indeed dying out and will soon
become a thing of the past. For the one reason that todays consoles are
powerful enough to create arcade like graphics and offer a very similar
experience. With consoles only going to get better in the future arcade
developers will have to try harder to make them better which will cost
more to develop meaning we will have to pay more to play them. Which
could kill of the arcade machines forever. Arcades these days arent
really worth it, only to see what games to expect on consoles in a few
months or to play when you are there and need to fulfil a gaming urge.
But on a plus point for the arcade machines, there is a small percentage
of arcade games that offer an experience that just wouldnt be right on
a home console, usually because the way the user interacts is a large
input device (like the wack attack game). In the past arcade machines
were something to show what to expect on future consoles, these days
they are just an alternative to console gaming. The console market today
is huge so most die-hard gamers will rather stay at home and play games
than go to an arcade for an experience that is nowhere near as good as
playing a whole game at home with your friends, the game will be no
better at the arcade (something it used to be in the past) which is a
reason why the arcade may well be a dying industry.
Unless you are the person who likes a high score for all others to see
or have a place in your heart for the arcade then you probably arent
bothered about the arcade industry in the slightest, as long as you get
games for your consoles. But is there a good point to arcade games that
could benefit console gamers? Most arcade games are now available on
consoles, so do some developers try games out in the arcade to see what
they are like and how they play before the work on the console version,
adding extras to make it a better game. Without the arcade version would
the game have been as good?
Can the arcade be saved? Maybe if they find a way to attract people to
play the games, maybe make them cheaper and hope more people play it or
maybe make it exclusive to the arcade, But that probably wont bring them
as much profit as releasing it on a console would.
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off
straight away and the experience usually doesnt last as long as one
would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isnt much that can
be done to save it. The consoles are taking over and I choose the
console over the arcade. I still think its a sad day when arcade
machines are becoming less and less popular, who knows what effects
arcade machines have on the console market. A lot of big named companies
are making games for consoles only and have scrapped all future arcade
projects so maybe the fact they are concentrating more on console games
is better for the huge percentage that prefer the console to an arcade
machine. With internet gaming set to be the next big thing in terms of
console gaming then we could see another drop in the popularity in
arcade machines until they eventually become a thing of the past.
So what are your views? Is the arcade industry one which will soon come
to an end? Has it got its good points in terms of console gaming? What
can be done to save it? What was your favourite game in the arcade as a
kid?
but certainly some time soon? I used to be a fan of the arcade but now I
visit one or play arcade machines very little. If they werent in my
union at university then I probably wouldnt see them much at all. So
here is my latest post all about the wonders and the future of the
arcade.
When I first started playing games I used to love going to the arcade
and using my spare change to play on the likes of Out Run, space
invaders, ghosts and goblins and other great arcade machines. Games cost
about 10p 25p to play and lasted quite long if you were good at them.
There was a certain kind of magical experience when you played an arcade
machine, the graphics were a superior quality and most of the games were
amazingly fun to play. So whats changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is
why most cost around £1 to play, but you dont really get your moneys
worth with most games as the playing time isnt as long as it should be.
Playing a machine for the first time probably doesnt last that long as
you try to work out what to do and then realise that the words Game
Over have appeared before you. Definitely not worth the hard earned
cash you have just parted with.
Home consoles these days have the hardware and software abilities to
match (or come close to) most arcade machines, which means you can
experience the same and more from the comfort of your own home and you
only pay to own it, no £1 each time. Also arcade machines didnt allow
any saving so with home consoles you can save your progress each time
you play making each go different. Home consoles allow the play when
you want where you want so you can lie in bed and play away until you
really need sleep, then when you awake you can resume from where you
left off. Also most arcade games (well the good ones) get released on
home consoles and usually have enhanced features like extra levels and
characters. So most would probably rather wait and play it at home
instead of trying to find an arcade and play it for a few minutes until
there money runs out. Most of todays games cost around £35, which is
like 35 goes on an arcade machine, think how many times you play your
favourite games. A lot more than 35 I would think.
Another point is controlling the machine. There are good and bad points
for the arcade here. Lets start with the bad then.
The main bad point is that most of todays consoles have a wide range of
peripherals compared to when the arcade was a popular place to play
games. Now you can get light guns, steering wheels, skateboards,
fighting simulators. Before these were all only found in arcades which
made playing them feel more interactive than on a console.
The good point is similar to above except it is the other way around.
Some arcade machine offer an interaction that with todays consoles is
not possible (or would cost far too much) games like silent scope are
good on the PS2 but with the sniper rifle in the arcade version it feels
more realistic, which makes it that little better than the PS2 version.
This is also similar with motorbike, Jet Ski, skiing games as there is a
better input device to play the game offering a better experience and
sometimes making the game more fun to play.
My own view is that arcade machines are indeed dying out and will soon
become a thing of the past. For the one reason that todays consoles are
powerful enough to create arcade like graphics and offer a very similar
experience. With consoles only going to get better in the future arcade
developers will have to try harder to make them better which will cost
more to develop meaning we will have to pay more to play them. Which
could kill of the arcade machines forever. Arcades these days arent
really worth it, only to see what games to expect on consoles in a few
months or to play when you are there and need to fulfil a gaming urge.
But on a plus point for the arcade machines, there is a small percentage
of arcade games that offer an experience that just wouldnt be right on
a home console, usually because the way the user interacts is a large
input device (like the wack attack game). In the past arcade machines
were something to show what to expect on future consoles, these days
they are just an alternative to console gaming. The console market today
is huge so most die-hard gamers will rather stay at home and play games
than go to an arcade for an experience that is nowhere near as good as
playing a whole game at home with your friends, the game will be no
better at the arcade (something it used to be in the past) which is a
reason why the arcade may well be a dying industry.
Unless you are the person who likes a high score for all others to see
or have a place in your heart for the arcade then you probably arent
bothered about the arcade industry in the slightest, as long as you get
games for your consoles. But is there a good point to arcade games that
could benefit console gamers? Most arcade games are now available on
consoles, so do some developers try games out in the arcade to see what
they are like and how they play before the work on the console version,
adding extras to make it a better game. Without the arcade version would
the game have been as good?
Can the arcade be saved? Maybe if they find a way to attract people to
play the games, maybe make them cheaper and hope more people play it or
maybe make it exclusive to the arcade, But that probably wont bring them
as much profit as releasing it on a console would.
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off
straight away and the experience usually doesnt last as long as one
would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isnt much that can
be done to save it. The consoles are taking over and I choose the
console over the arcade. I still think its a sad day when arcade
machines are becoming less and less popular, who knows what effects
arcade machines have on the console market. A lot of big named companies
are making games for consoles only and have scrapped all future arcade
projects so maybe the fact they are concentrating more on console games
is better for the huge percentage that prefer the console to an arcade
machine. With internet gaming set to be the next big thing in terms of
console gaming then we could see another drop in the popularity in
arcade machines until they eventually become a thing of the past.
So what are your views? Is the arcade industry one which will soon come
to an end? Has it got its good points in terms of console gaming? What
can be done to save it? What was your favourite game in the arcade as a
kid?
Page: