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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.
I see the arcade dying out in the not to distant future just because it is no longer more advanced than the console market and there is a lot more money to be made in the console market, the games don't offer a different experience anymore and unless that changes soon then arcade industry may slowly dissapear.
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.
I see the arcade dying out in the not to distant future just because it is no longer more advanced than the console market and there is a lot more money to be made in the console market, the games don't offer a different experience anymore and unless that changes soon then arcade industry may slowly dissapear.
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.
Oh, the good old days when arcades ruled. Now they just seem to be a second option to playing on a console.
The reason why most people preferred to go to the arcades (when they had enough money) was because the games machines were more powerful than the average console at the time. They had a better sound system. graphics and most maintained joysticks for multiplayer abilities. Now, technology has caught up with the arcade and now most of the things we saw in arcades have been made aerial, for playability at home.
This is a good thing as it saves money, but it has destroyed the true advantage that arcades originally had over playing at home. Still, there are a huge range of arcade games like surfing, horse racing and so on, that contain peripherals most people would prefer to stay in an arcade, and even if they were made for playing at home they would come at a very dear price(probably more than the original console prize).
Go into an arcade and you'll instantly see, feel and hear the difference than playing at home. Everyone's playing and you have to join in the fun. There is a great atmosphere in an arcade that always makes you want to play more and more.
Arcades will never die because better peripherals are always being made to outsmart the usual household material. You find a wider variety of games in arcades that you won't meet on your home console or PC. The good thing about arcades is that all the games aren't made by certain console developers, but just certain secondary creators that are in some way experimenting with different genres. The bad thing about arcades is obviously the price. The average price to play on a decent game in an arcade is £1 as you said, and most people find it a bit expensive just for one go. If this continues we may well see the end of arcades, but I'm sure sometime soon that prices will drop and arcades will become more open to the greater aspect of gaming.
What's the fun thing about going to an arcade nowadays? Well, overall it has to be the atmosphere created and the "arcadey" playability of the games. They're always fun multiplayer wise, and once you pop you feel you can't stop!
Good post Ali!
:D
The reason why most people preferred to go to the arcades (when they had enough money) was because the games machines were more powerful than the average console at the time. They had a better sound system. graphics and most maintained joysticks for multiplayer abilities. Now, technology has caught up with the arcade and now most of the things we saw in arcades have been made aerial, for playability at home.
This is a good thing as it saves money, but it has destroyed the true advantage that arcades originally had over playing at home. Still, there are a huge range of arcade games like surfing, horse racing and so on, that contain peripherals most people would prefer to stay in an arcade, and even if they were made for playing at home they would come at a very dear price(probably more than the original console prize).
Go into an arcade and you'll instantly see, feel and hear the difference than playing at home. Everyone's playing and you have to join in the fun. There is a great atmosphere in an arcade that always makes you want to play more and more.
Arcades will never die because better peripherals are always being made to outsmart the usual household material. You find a wider variety of games in arcades that you won't meet on your home console or PC. The good thing about arcades is that all the games aren't made by certain console developers, but just certain secondary creators that are in some way experimenting with different genres. The bad thing about arcades is obviously the price. The average price to play on a decent game in an arcade is £1 as you said, and most people find it a bit expensive just for one go. If this continues we may well see the end of arcades, but I'm sure sometime soon that prices will drop and arcades will become more open to the greater aspect of gaming.
What's the fun thing about going to an arcade nowadays? Well, overall it has to be the atmosphere created and the "arcadey" playability of the games. They're always fun multiplayer wise, and once you pop you feel you can't stop!
Good post Ali!
:D
AH! Finally someone who shares my interest in arcade games! I must have done topics like this about three times before... and got just as many replies!
Anyway, I don't think the arcade is dead yet. In the West the arcade has just become a collection of machines in the local bowling alley, but in Japan they're still quite big in their own right.
The cheif problem is how to tempt people into the arcade whent hey can enjoy console games graphically just as good as the arcade game. The solution is to offer unique ideas like the sniper riffle on Silent Scope, or the 3 screen booth on Ferrari 355.
However, such development comes at a cost- something that only a handdul of companies can afford. Sega control 60% of the arcade sector, and that's set to rise, with Namco owning almost all the rest of it. If Sega could turn around the arcade industry then they'd have control of a big market!
That said, with Sega and Namco having just teamed up with Nintendo to make the Triforce board, and with Microsoft to make an equivalent console based board, it looks like the companies are just going to port their console games over. There are the odd original games- Namco is working on a game with a sword peripheral- but what's needed is far more originality.
Here's to next year's JAMMA show!
Sonic
Anyway, I don't think the arcade is dead yet. In the West the arcade has just become a collection of machines in the local bowling alley, but in Japan they're still quite big in their own right.
The cheif problem is how to tempt people into the arcade whent hey can enjoy console games graphically just as good as the arcade game. The solution is to offer unique ideas like the sniper riffle on Silent Scope, or the 3 screen booth on Ferrari 355.
However, such development comes at a cost- something that only a handdul of companies can afford. Sega control 60% of the arcade sector, and that's set to rise, with Namco owning almost all the rest of it. If Sega could turn around the arcade industry then they'd have control of a big market!
That said, with Sega and Namco having just teamed up with Nintendo to make the Triforce board, and with Microsoft to make an equivalent console based board, it looks like the companies are just going to port their console games over. There are the odd original games- Namco is working on a game with a sword peripheral- but what's needed is far more originality.
Here's to next year's JAMMA show!
Sonic
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.
I see the arcade dying out in the not to distant future just because it is no longer more advanced than the console market and there is a lot more money to be made in the console market, the games don't offer a different experience anymore and unless that changes soon then arcade industry may slowly dissapear.
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.
I see the arcade dying out in the not to distant future just because it is no longer more advanced than the console market and there is a lot more money to be made in the console market, the games don't offer a different experience anymore and unless that changes soon then arcade industry may slowly dissapear.
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.