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Once a favorite activity of geeks worldwide, going to the arcade to play video games began fading away in the mid-1990s, just as going to the arcade to play pinball had done a decade before. A few arcades survive, but the days of gamers lining up to toss quarters into "Street Fighter" or "Mortal Kombat" are long gone. It's easy to see why: The advent of advanced gaming systems allows you to experience the same action at home, minus the dungeon-like lighting, the deafening game noise and the premature exhaustion of your lunch money for the week.
I get tired of seeing the "geek" characterization retconned to apply to people who frequented arcades in the '80s. Yes, the word applies to people into video games (especially online PC games, and especially especially online PC RPGs) these days, but anyone who thinks the arcades of old were primarily filled with "geeks" has clearly never been to one.
Arcades were typically dark, smoky, noisy, and not very well-supervised. This attracted a rougher and/or less intellectual crowd than "geeks" tend to be. Those characteristics also made arcade prime spots for drug dealing. Also, physical fights breaking out were not unheard of. Additionally, the games were not deep or intellectual like many PC or console games are today. They were designed to pull in as many quarters as possible; the average game lasting perhaps 3 minutes.
Most of the "geeks" in the '80s were at home either doing homework, or playing something like "Dungeons and Dragons", or using their home computers; and the hardcore geeks were posting on BBS systems via their acoustic-coupling modems.
Most of the people who frequented arcades back then never got all that good at any of the games, and today don't really care about the classic arcade games that they dubbed around on in the '80s. The arcade was more of a social hangout than anything else, with videogames as a bonus timekiller. The relatively few "geeks" that did go to the arcades back then tend to be the ones that really got into the games; got really good at at least a few of them, and are still highly nostalgic about them today. We've all gathered here (lol). You can see even more extreme examples of rare arcade "geeks" than the typical KLOVer by watching "The King of Kong".
Arcades were typically dark, smoky, noisy, and not very well-supervised. This attracted a rougher and/or less intellectual crowd than "geeks" tend to be. Those characteristics also made arcades prime spots for drug dealing. Also, physical fights breaking out were not unheard of.
we just need to hold tight until the next amazing thing comes out
The SAME THING was said about going to arcades before Street Fighter came out. Ask any Operator that was around 84-90 or so. Then all of a sudden the industry got a huge shot in the arm. It will happen again, we just need to hold tight until the next amazing thing comes out.
Matt
Redemption machines is the only thing keeping some arcades afloat. At our PuttPutt here its Slot Machine Redemption Machines.
Cherry Masters, MegaTouch and Golf games can't keep the industry alive forever.
I think hybrid EM/Vids will be the next big thing. Something an xbox can't.
virtual sex machines?
Like I said, all we have to do is hold out for the next big thing.
Matt
There wont' be a "next big thing" as far as arcades go. Our entire culture has changed in the past 30 years. Fewer and fewer people go "out" for entertainment at the theater, gameroom, family fun center... and more stay home and watch movies in their home theatres, play games in their home arcades/gamerooms or on their console systems, etc.
There has been a HUGE shift in this in the US and it isn't going to reverse any time soon!!
Wade
Really? I happen to know that the movie theatre business is up vs 2007/08. Sitting in your house watching a movie isnt anywhere near the experience of seeing a new flick on a huge screen with awesome sound and 400+ strangers...
Matt
Yes, really.An occasional blip due to the tanking economy doesn't mean much IMO. Movie theaters are going the way of the drive-in theatre. Just a matter of time. At some point, new releases will debut over cable/internet instead of at the theaters. People are getting richer (building nicer and nicer home theaters), pickier and less tolerant of movie theaters (and the smelly guy sitting next to you, the kid behind you kicking your seat, and the people in front of you who talk the whole movie).
Wade
Yes, really.An occasional blip due to the tanking economy doesn't mean much IMO. Movie theaters are going the way of the drive-in theatre. Just a matter of time. At some point, new releases will debut over cable/internet instead of at the theaters. People are getting richer (building nicer and nicer home theaters), pickier and less tolerant of movie theaters (and the smelly guy sitting next to you, the kid behind you kicking your seat, and the people in front of you who talk the whole movie).
Wade
There wont' be a "next big thing" as far as arcades go. Our entire culture has changed in the past 30 years. Fewer and fewer people go "out" for entertainment at the theater, gameroom, family fun center... and more stay home and watch movies in their home theatres, play games in their home arcades/gamerooms or on their console systems, etc.
There has been a HUGE shift in this in the US and it isn't going to reverse any time soon!!
Wade
Luke: No. No. That's not true. That's impossible!
Darth Vader: Search your feelings, you *know* it to be true!
Luke: [anguished] No! No!