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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 weren’t in my union at university then I probably wouldn’t 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 what’s changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is why most cost around £1 to play, but you don’t really get your moneys worth with most games as the playing time isn’t as long as it should be. Playing a machine for the first time probably doesn’t 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. Similar to the scene in the Simpsons where Millhouse fills the machine with coins and moves the character to the side and gets trapped and game over appears. Being ripped off a little?
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 didn’t 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 today’s 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 today’s 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 today’s 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. These arcade machines are very fun to play but it does seem a bit too expensive, in saying that though playing against a few mates on a racing game can e a lot of fun.
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 today’s 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 aren’t 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 wouldn’t 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 aren’t 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. Arcade machines usually have the best mode of input, shooting games with great guns, or punch bags for some boxing games, they have their benefits but seem to be part of a dying breed and becoming part of the "gaming classics"
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off straight away and the experience usually doesn’t last as long as one would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isn’t much that can be done to save it. or is there? The consoles are taking over and I choose the console over the arcade. I still think it’s 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?
Recently a new arcade machine appeared at my union, retro classics containing a few of the old retro arcade classics like asteroids, space invaders, out run, pac man and a few more. I did play these just to see how good they were and they were fun to play but later that day I found out that one of the computer labs at uni has some of the old classics like asteroids built into the OS of the computers. I spent all afternoon on friday playing these games for free instead of shelling out in the arcade machines.
Also I have seen some right strange arcade machines, there was one where you had to use a hand peripheral with the index finger extended to prod a bottom, you picked the character the bottom belonges to (Girlfriend, thief, mother, old man etc) and prod their bottom as hard as you could. It may well be the silly ideas like this that keep it going that little bit longer.
Is the arcade slowly fading away? In recent months the number of new additions to the arcade scene has dropped and dropped.
Maybe we could see a replacement to the arcade? Getting with the times maybe a new style of arcade is needed where instead people play on a global network against other people, I know we have console games and PC games that allow on-line access but if we make them of a much greater standard (there would be no need for a single player so they could be a lot better).
We have internet cafes, could we see gaming cafes? Where the PC's/consoles/arcade machines all allow different on-line games to play against various people. I think it could be a decent addition to the world of gaming.
We play against the machine with no real reward for the money we spend, we could see exclusive games to the arcade network to attract people to play them and also winning against other human users from around the world offers a lot more reward then playing the machine.
Also the machines would need to be cost effective, more gaming for your money that is currently available in most machines.
Well it is an idea anyway.
Personally I think arcades need something new or else they will just slowly disappear and never be seen again. The idea I mentioned may not be as good as other ideas could be but surely if something new dosn't appear then it could well be the end for 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 what’s changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is why most cost around £1 to play, but you don’t really get your moneys worth with most games as the playing time isn’t as long as it should be. Playing a machine for the first time probably doesn’t 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. Similar to the scene in the Simpsons where Millhouse fills the machine with coins and moves the character to the side and gets trapped and game over appears. Being ripped off a little?
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 didn’t 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 today’s 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 today’s 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 today’s 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. These arcade machines are very fun to play but it does seem a bit too expensive, in saying that though playing against a few mates on a racing game can e a lot of fun.
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 today’s 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 aren’t 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 wouldn’t 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 aren’t 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. Arcade machines usually have the best mode of input, shooting games with great guns, or punch bags for some boxing games, they have their benefits but seem to be part of a dying breed and becoming part of the "gaming classics"
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off straight away and the experience usually doesn’t last as long as one would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isn’t much that can be done to save it. or is there? The consoles are taking over and I choose the console over the arcade. I still think it’s 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?
Recently a new arcade machine appeared at my union, retro classics containing a few of the old retro arcade classics like asteroids, space invaders, out run, pac man and a few more. I did play these just to see how good they were and they were fun to play but later that day I found out that one of the computer labs at uni has some of the old classics like asteroids built into the OS of the computers. I spent all afternoon on friday playing these games for free instead of shelling out in the arcade machines.
Also I have seen some right strange arcade machines, there was one where you had to use a hand peripheral with the index finger extended to prod a bottom, you picked the character the bottom belonges to (Girlfriend, thief, mother, old man etc) and prod their bottom as hard as you could. It may well be the silly ideas like this that keep it going that little bit longer.
Is the arcade slowly fading away? In recent months the number of new additions to the arcade scene has dropped and dropped.
Maybe we could see a replacement to the arcade? Getting with the times maybe a new style of arcade is needed where instead people play on a global network against other people, I know we have console games and PC games that allow on-line access but if we make them of a much greater standard (there would be no need for a single player so they could be a lot better).
We have internet cafes, could we see gaming cafes? Where the PC's/consoles/arcade machines all allow different on-line games to play against various people. I think it could be a decent addition to the world of gaming.
We play against the machine with no real reward for the money we spend, we could see exclusive games to the arcade network to attract people to play them and also winning against other human users from around the world offers a lot more reward then playing the machine.
Also the machines would need to be cost effective, more gaming for your money that is currently available in most machines.
Well it is an idea anyway.
Personally I think arcades need something new or else they will just slowly disappear and never be seen again. The idea I mentioned may not be as good as other ideas could be but surely if something new dosn't appear then it could well be the end for the arcade.
I agree with PB and Gasmask's views. you can't recreate the atmosphere at home but for a £1 a go, is it worth it? spend £35 for 35 gos or spend £35 on the game for home use and have unlimited gos. You decide.
I don't think arcades will die as they are popular on holidays and after a game of bowling. It may not be popular now but if games like dance dance revolution keep coming, it will rise again.
I don't think arcades will die as they are popular on holidays and after a game of bowling. It may not be popular now but if games like dance dance revolution keep coming, it will rise again.
I totally agree with pb. Arcades can be top banana fun, and even the games I've got at home are fun to play in the arcade.
Dance Dance Revolution is so much more fun with a big group in the arcades; light gun games are always better on the big screen with the more accurate hardware, but for me, the ultimate arcade experience is the 3-screen deluxe F355 cabinet. There's nothing like it. Sheer bliss.
On a retro note, I discovered a little arcade last weekend that had a load of old-school 2D shoot'em'ups. I love those games, and nearly did my wrist a mischief battering the fire button. And I got the no.1 spot on the Galaga high-score board. Nice.
Dance Dance Revolution is so much more fun with a big group in the arcades; light gun games are always better on the big screen with the more accurate hardware, but for me, the ultimate arcade experience is the 3-screen deluxe F355 cabinet. There's nothing like it. Sheer bliss.
On a retro note, I discovered a little arcade last weekend that had a load of old-school 2D shoot'em'ups. I love those games, and nearly did my wrist a mischief battering the fire button. And I got the no.1 spot on the Galaga high-score board. Nice.
Arcade is dead.
Shame, many good memories of mine are in an Arcade..
£1+ a go its just not worth it anymore.
Shame, many good memories of mine are in an Arcade..
£1+ a go its just not worth it anymore.
Arcades are going in and out of fashion all the time. Many people said they were dying when the 'new' SNES and Megadrive were able to replicate some of the arcade's power, but they stayed because kids found it a good place to meet and the feeling of being in an arcade cannot be replicated at home.
There's something about the overloud arcade music from many different cabinets at once, the glare of all those screens and the feeling of being able to enjoy yourself with friends and strangers around you. It's a bit like the cinema, you can get home cinema kits now that do a great job of replicating this on a smaller scale and you can even have people round to watch movies with you, have the snacks and everything else, but many people who have the set-up still go to the cinema because, at the end of the day, it's a different atmosphere.
Atmosphere is what the arcades are all about, not to mention those addictive little penny shoving machines and the one arm bandits. It wouldn't be the same without them and you can't tell me that you can replicate an arcade racing cabinet with a console steering wheel, it just isn't the same. Nice post though.
There's something about the overloud arcade music from many different cabinets at once, the glare of all those screens and the feeling of being able to enjoy yourself with friends and strangers around you. It's a bit like the cinema, you can get home cinema kits now that do a great job of replicating this on a smaller scale and you can even have people round to watch movies with you, have the snacks and everything else, but many people who have the set-up still go to the cinema because, at the end of the day, it's a different atmosphere.
Atmosphere is what the arcades are all about, not to mention those addictive little penny shoving machines and the one arm bandits. It wouldn't be the same without them and you can't tell me that you can replicate an arcade racing cabinet with a console steering wheel, it just isn't the same. Nice post though.
POP becuase for some reason it doesn't think I've posted here.
I am invisible! Cool. :)
I am invisible! Cool. :)
I'm beggining to think the same thing, consoles are the way to go now, arcades are something you use when you go on holiday and then you only use the decent ones where you get to sit in a car and race or something.
This weekend I went to Blackpool and we all know how many arcades are there and I did use them but I only went on the games that were interactice in a way a console couldn't be for instance I went on about three different variations of those punching ones where you get to hammer something and the rowing one (which ruled but tiring) I more or less ignored all the others they just don't appeal, most people however igored all the arcade machines and headed to the daylight robbery that is slot machines.
I too saw some weird machines but one in particular made me laugh, a pool game where you have the cue (attached to the manhine) and you look at the screen to play, what the hecks the point? There was a real pool table about 5 metres away, this is the loners machine and yes it cost the same amount of money to play as the real pool table.
Good post. I think arcade will carry on as it is for a while it'll be a while before it will fade away completely, I agree that it needs a boost of life though.
This weekend I went to Blackpool and we all know how many arcades are there and I did use them but I only went on the games that were interactice in a way a console couldn't be for instance I went on about three different variations of those punching ones where you get to hammer something and the rowing one (which ruled but tiring) I more or less ignored all the others they just don't appeal, most people however igored all the arcade machines and headed to the daylight robbery that is slot machines.
I too saw some weird machines but one in particular made me laugh, a pool game where you have the cue (attached to the manhine) and you look at the screen to play, what the hecks the point? There was a real pool table about 5 metres away, this is the loners machine and yes it cost the same amount of money to play as the real pool table.
Good post. I think arcade will carry on as it is for a while it'll be a while before it will fade away completely, I agree that it needs a boost of life though.
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 weren’t in my union at university then I probably wouldn’t 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 what’s changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is why most cost around £1 to play, but you don’t really get your moneys worth with most games as the playing time isn’t as long as it should be. Playing a machine for the first time probably doesn’t 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. Similar to the scene in the Simpsons where Millhouse fills the machine with coins and moves the character to the side and gets trapped and game over appears. Being ripped off a little?
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 didn’t 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 today’s 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 today’s 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 today’s 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. These arcade machines are very fun to play but it does seem a bit too expensive, in saying that though playing against a few mates on a racing game can e a lot of fun.
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 today’s 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 aren’t 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 wouldn’t 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 aren’t 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. Arcade machines usually have the best mode of input, shooting games with great guns, or punch bags for some boxing games, they have their benefits but seem to be part of a dying breed and becoming part of the "gaming classics"
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off straight away and the experience usually doesn’t last as long as one would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isn’t much that can be done to save it. or is there? The consoles are taking over and I choose the console over the arcade. I still think it’s 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?
Recently a new arcade machine appeared at my union, retro classics containing a few of the old retro arcade classics like asteroids, space invaders, out run, pac man and a few more. I did play these just to see how good they were and they were fun to play but later that day I found out that one of the computer labs at uni has some of the old classics like asteroids built into the OS of the computers. I spent all afternoon on friday playing these games for free instead of shelling out in the arcade machines.
Also I have seen some right strange arcade machines, there was one where you had to use a hand peripheral with the index finger extended to prod a bottom, you picked the character the bottom belonges to (Girlfriend, thief, mother, old man etc) and prod their bottom as hard as you could. It may well be the silly ideas like this that keep it going that little bit longer.
Is the arcade slowly fading away? In recent months the number of new additions to the arcade scene has dropped and dropped.
Maybe we could see a replacement to the arcade? Getting with the times maybe a new style of arcade is needed where instead people play on a global network against other people, I know we have console games and PC games that allow on-line access but if we make them of a much greater standard (there would be no need for a single player so they could be a lot better).
We have internet cafes, could we see gaming cafes? Where the PC's/consoles/arcade machines all allow different on-line games to play against various people. I think it could be a decent addition to the world of gaming.
We play against the machine with no real reward for the money we spend, we could see exclusive games to the arcade network to attract people to play them and also winning against other human users from around the world offers a lot more reward then playing the machine.
Also the machines would need to be cost effective, more gaming for your money that is currently available in most machines.
Well it is an idea anyway.
Personally I think arcades need something new or else they will just slowly disappear and never be seen again. The idea I mentioned may not be as good as other ideas could be but surely if something new dosn't appear then it could well be the end for 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 what’s changed now?
Firstly the cost, arcade machines are now expensive to make and that is why most cost around £1 to play, but you don’t really get your moneys worth with most games as the playing time isn’t as long as it should be. Playing a machine for the first time probably doesn’t 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. Similar to the scene in the Simpsons where Millhouse fills the machine with coins and moves the character to the side and gets trapped and game over appears. Being ripped off a little?
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 didn’t 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 today’s 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 today’s 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 today’s 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. These arcade machines are very fun to play but it does seem a bit too expensive, in saying that though playing against a few mates on a racing game can e a lot of fun.
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 today’s 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 aren’t 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 wouldn’t 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 aren’t 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. Arcade machines usually have the best mode of input, shooting games with great guns, or punch bags for some boxing games, they have their benefits but seem to be part of a dying breed and becoming part of the "gaming classics"
I myself hardly ever play on arcade machines, the price puts me off straight away and the experience usually doesn’t last as long as one would wish. Looks like the arcade is dying and there isn’t much that can be done to save it. or is there? The consoles are taking over and I choose the console over the arcade. I still think it’s 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?
Recently a new arcade machine appeared at my union, retro classics containing a few of the old retro arcade classics like asteroids, space invaders, out run, pac man and a few more. I did play these just to see how good they were and they were fun to play but later that day I found out that one of the computer labs at uni has some of the old classics like asteroids built into the OS of the computers. I spent all afternoon on friday playing these games for free instead of shelling out in the arcade machines.
Also I have seen some right strange arcade machines, there was one where you had to use a hand peripheral with the index finger extended to prod a bottom, you picked the character the bottom belonges to (Girlfriend, thief, mother, old man etc) and prod their bottom as hard as you could. It may well be the silly ideas like this that keep it going that little bit longer.
Is the arcade slowly fading away? In recent months the number of new additions to the arcade scene has dropped and dropped.
Maybe we could see a replacement to the arcade? Getting with the times maybe a new style of arcade is needed where instead people play on a global network against other people, I know we have console games and PC games that allow on-line access but if we make them of a much greater standard (there would be no need for a single player so they could be a lot better).
We have internet cafes, could we see gaming cafes? Where the PC's/consoles/arcade machines all allow different on-line games to play against various people. I think it could be a decent addition to the world of gaming.
We play against the machine with no real reward for the money we spend, we could see exclusive games to the arcade network to attract people to play them and also winning against other human users from around the world offers a lot more reward then playing the machine.
Also the machines would need to be cost effective, more gaming for your money that is currently available in most machines.
Well it is an idea anyway.
Personally I think arcades need something new or else they will just slowly disappear and never be seen again. The idea I mentioned may not be as good as other ideas could be but surely if something new dosn't appear then it could well be the end for the arcade.