At what point is a collection an "arcade?"

[Compute]

It's not an arcade unless there are arches along both sides *ducks*

(Thanks, Google.)

To me, "arcade" is more atmospheric. You could make an "arcade" with one game as long as the atmosphere is correct. I've played arcade games in a basement, and I've played them in someone's basement that happened to be an arcade. If there's a dryer next to Galaga, then it's not an arcade. Unless it's a coin-op dryer, in which case you're in a laundromat.

 

[Scuba Steve]

3 working pins = 7.5 arcade games though.

I completely agree with you on that!

 

[Zud]

Well if 15 is an arcade, then my 70 in the house is a mental issue. LOL

I am right there with you!

 

[MonsterBash]

I agree with the space to game ratio. I have 7-8 games in the garage that were all summertime pickups that haven't made it to the basement yet. When They are all on and a couple friends over it really does have an arcade like atmosphere.

My basement is 2100SQ (not finished) with 15 pins and another 8 or so arcades...with a ball bowler..chexx hockey...skee ball..etc. Strangely..when the same people in the garage go down in the basement it doesn't have that same arcade feeling.

 

[kcfreeloader]

Funny, i've been to adult bookstores that advertise having an arcade, but i can never find even one game in there!

To me, when it becomes an arcade is when you finally have that feeling. For me that feeling came when i invited my sister and her family over for a game night.

To me the things that made me stop and say "whoa, i have an arcade!" were,

Period music playing,
The sounds from many games being played at once,
Guests,
Guests challenging each other at games,
Guests obsessing over a game trying to get a high score,
Being able to have all your games on at once,

But the most important thing to me, to call it an arcade, you have to be able to turn off all the lights in the room, and their still be enough light from the games to make additional lighting unnecessary.

 

[knight76]

For mine you have an arcade when you:

1) Have a dedicated area set aside predominantly for arcade games, Garage, Games Room, Basement etc.
2) Have multiple arcade games housed there. Not sure what the minimum should be but...
3) Have multiple types of arcade games. IE, Pinball, Video, light gun, Driving, Redemption etc.

The most important part I think, is the multiple types of games. I think a garage with a few pins, a few cabs, a driving game and light gun game is more an arcade than a room full of video games alone.

My garage has 4 pins, daytona twin, upright neo geo, super offroad. It's the variety that makes the arcade.

 

[vintagegamer]

It's pretty simple actually- as soon as you give the room a name, it has been christened as an arcade.

 

[gamefixer]

Cool! Me too.

(but I'd probably set the bar higher... 15 game min)

I'm going to set it even higher. Open your doors and charge people money to play the games, thats an arcade. Having a bunch of games in your house is just that, not an arcade.

Maybe a "game room" is more appropriate?

 

[gamefixer]

Strangely..when the same people in the garage go down in the basement it doesn't have that same arcade feeling.

Thats cuz its hot and stinky in the garage, just like the old school arcades used to be.

 

[sohchx]

I like to think at least 10 machines would qualify as an arcade

 

[tec9]

So good points made in this thread....
I agree with the statement made about the change machines, and also about being able to turn the lights off in the room and still have enough light because of all the machines. Pinball machines are a plus....
I think you need more than 5 machines to be a "Arcade" otherwise you might just be a gameroom

 

[jow]

I think to call it an arcade, you need:
1. A dedicated room. Basements cut it, but garages don't. Garages are where your car should be stored, not your crap...not matter how pretty your crap is.

I respectfully disagree...

http://gameroomjunkies.com/index.php/2011/08/26/gameroom-showcase-the-garage-arcade

 

[RetrOmatic]

Well if 15 is an arcade, then my 70 in the house is a mental issue. LOL

holy crap sticks !!!!!! 70 + ?? , " STARCADE " more like it [ goldstarcade ]

 

[RetrOmatic]

I have 5 cabs, which according to the Oxford English dictionary constitutes an arcade/game room.

haha LMAO ,, show me where it says that in the oxford dictionary !!!!

very funny post that one .

 

[smalltownguy2]

Its not an arcade unless you have friends over PLAYING those games and having a good time.

Winner winner chicken dinner!!

Aint no fun unless you can enjoy it with others. Otherwise it's a museum.

Toys were meant to be played with.

 

[toolguy]

I guess people could even say it's not an arcade until you have the machines all on their own electrical circuits!

 

[smalltownguy2]

I guess people could even say it's not an arcade until you have the machines all on their own electrical circuits!

.

 

[toolguy]

[

I'm joking of course, but you know, having dedicated circuit breakers on your breaker box and 20 amp outlets just for the games.

 

[88mph]

If we're talking dictionary definitions, the one on dictionary.com is an interesting one:

"an establishment, public area, etc., containing games of a mechanical and electronic type, as pinball and video games, that can be played by a customer for a fee."

If you were going by that definition, almost none of us would qualify. Most of our 'arcades' are not public, part of a business establishment or charge fees.

 

[nesjess]

haha LMAO ,, show me where it says that in the oxford dictionary !!!!

very funny post that one .

No joke, this is from the Oxford English Dictionary online. I know there are arguments as presented, but if we go by this definition, technically, all of us with two games or more indoors that are capable of running coins have a video arcade.


arcade(ar·cade) noun

1 a covered passageway with arches along one or both sides. a covered walk with stores along one or both sides. Architecture: a series of arches supporting a wall, or set along it.
2 short for video arcade

Origin: late 17th century: from French, from Provençal arcada or Italian arcata, based on Latin arcus 'bow' (see arc)

video arcade(vid·e·o ar·cade) noun

an indoor area containing coin-operated video games.