Comments on: Death of the arcade being greatly exaggerated by mainstream game journalists http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/ The Saviours of Coin-Op Wed, 23 May 2012 20:11:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: Charles Salvia http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-411 Charles Salvia Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:49:02 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-411 I'm not a member of the "consumer game software sector", and I realize there are plenty of video arcades still in existence. But "plenty" is a relative term here. In the 90s, video arcades were ubiquitous - almost every shopping mall had a dedicated arcade. Today, there are no major shopping malls in New York/New Jersey which have video arcades. Sure, you can still find video arcades - but you have to go out of your way to find them. This is why I used the term "nitpicking." The game journalists may be exaggerating the situation somewhat, but their point is still relevant: there are significantly less video arcades available today than there used to be, which can only reflect a significantly decreased interest in video arcades from the general public. I spent a good portion of my teenage years/early twenties in video arcades, and I have no wish to see them go, but the fact is they are simply not anywhere near as common as they were 10 years ago. I’m not a member of the “consumer game software sector”, and I realize there are plenty of video arcades still in existence. But “plenty” is a relative term here. In the 90s, video arcades were ubiquitous – almost every shopping mall had a dedicated arcade. Today, there are no major shopping malls in New York/New Jersey which have video arcades. Sure, you can still find video arcades – but you have to go out of your way to find them. This is why I used the term “nitpicking.” The game journalists may be exaggerating the situation somewhat, but their point is still relevant: there are significantly less video arcades available today than there used to be, which can only reflect a significantly decreased interest in video arcades from the general public.

I spent a good portion of my teenage years/early twenties in video arcades, and I have no wish to see them go, but the fact is they are simply not anywhere near as common as they were 10 years ago.

]]> By: editor http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-410 editor Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:35:19 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-410 Well Charles - 'nitpicking' seems a strong term when this whole site proves the reality of amusement interest. I actually did the calculations and in North America 'MORE' video amusement machines are shipped than in 1985! The reason is that unlike 'dedicated' arcades, the amusement industry is now split between FEC, cinemas, bowling centers, malls and attraction parks. As you are a member of the consumer game software sector I can understand that any critism of your market is bard to stand - but I would caution you to be more open minded and avoid misguided statements. Well Charles – ‘nitpicking’ seems a strong term when this whole site proves the reality of amusement interest.

I actually did the calculations and in North America ‘MORE’ video amusement machines are shipped than in 1985! The reason is that unlike ‘dedicated’ arcades, the amusement industry is now split between FEC, cinemas, bowling centers, malls and attraction parks.

As you are a member of the consumer game software sector I can understand that any critism of your market is bard to stand – but I would caution you to be more open minded and avoid misguided statements.

]]> By: Shaggy http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-409 Shaggy Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:08:38 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-409 Well Charles, do you have any idea of how many arcades actually exist out there or are you simply basing the idea on your "observations"? There are thousands of locations that carry arcade machines today, and this has been documented. I know of many places outside of major cities that have arcades and you can find many of them on websites like Arcade Finder and Arcade Fly. I just so happen to own an arcade that I opened up a year ago and this past month was our best ever. While arcades may not be as huge as they once were, labeling them as all dead simply because of diminished influence and numbers is ridiculous. My criticism is based on actual facts, something that this video was lacking sorely enough to the point that they had to change face and scramble to regain some credibility in the next video they made about the subject where they had some better fact checking. Of course another question I have to make to you is why do you care about this poor excuse for game journalism that this video was supposedly peddling? Well Charles, do you have any idea of how many arcades actually exist out there or are you simply basing the idea on your “observations”? There are thousands of locations that carry arcade machines today, and this has been documented. I know of many places outside of major cities that have arcades and you can find many of them on websites like Arcade Finder and Arcade Fly. I just so happen to own an arcade that I opened up a year ago and this past month was our best ever. While arcades may not be as huge as they once were, labeling them as all dead simply because of diminished influence and numbers is ridiculous.

My criticism is based on actual facts, something that this video was lacking sorely enough to the point that they had to change face and scramble to regain some credibility in the next video they made about the subject where they had some better fact checking.

Of course another question I have to make to you is why do you care about this poor excuse for game journalism that this video was supposedly peddling?

]]> By: Charles Salvia http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-408 Charles Salvia Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:51:20 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-408 Maybe the journalists exaggerate the situation somewhat, but the truth is that there are DRASTICALLY fewer arcades nowadays than there were in the late 90s. In the 90s just about every shopping mall/bowling alley/pizza parlor in America had some version of Street Fighter you could play. These days you basically don't see arcades outside of major cities. Even in Manhattan video arcades are rare. So, while arcades may not be totally dead, they are certainly not a part of everyday life anymore, and so your criticism amounts to nothing but nitpicking. Maybe the journalists exaggerate the situation somewhat, but the truth is that there are DRASTICALLY fewer arcades nowadays than there were in the late 90s. In the 90s just about every shopping mall/bowling alley/pizza parlor in America had some version of Street Fighter you could play. These days you basically don’t see arcades outside of major cities. Even in Manhattan video arcades are rare.

So, while arcades may not be totally dead, they are certainly not a part of everyday life anymore, and so your criticism amounts to nothing but nitpicking.

]]> By: Play Value Redeems itself with new arcade video « Arcade Heroes http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-407 Play Value Redeems itself with new arcade video « Arcade Heroes Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:23:35 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-407 [...] (such as the infamous “how do you play a sports game in the arcade”  comment) we as well as some others had some pretty strong reactions towards the video and in fact it received some lower ratings at the [...] [...] (such as the infamous “how do you play a sports game in the arcade”  comment) we as well as some others had some pretty strong reactions towards the video and in fact it received some lower ratings at the [...]

]]> By: RyanDG http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-406 RyanDG Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:56:57 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-406 The video is up on the ON Networks website. The link that I was given by e-mail was a link to Gametrailers. It seems that someone from Gametrailers "illegally hosted" the video on their network (similarly to what happens when someone puts up a TV show on YouTube!). You can find the video here - http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/play-value/the-death-of-arcades I've also updated my original post on my blog with the new link/embedded video as well. The video is up on the ON Networks website. The link that I was given by e-mail was a link to Gametrailers. It seems that someone from Gametrailers “illegally hosted” the video on their network (similarly to what happens when someone puts up a TV show on YouTube!). You can find the video here – http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/play-value/the-death-of-arcades

I’ve also updated my original post on my blog with the new link/embedded video as well.

]]> By: Nick http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-405 Nick Sun, 19 Aug 2007 04:37:53 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-405 Well the video is gone now. I guess they got made fun of by just about every other gaming blog/news site. Too bad nobody saved it. It's going to be hard to tell people about this video with a straight face. Well the video is gone now. I guess they got made fun of by just about every other gaming blog/news site. Too bad nobody saved it. It’s going to be hard to tell people about this video with a straight face.

]]> By: Stevie C http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-404 Stevie C Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:07:36 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-404 We operate arcade games and we make a healthy living out of it, so I guess it is not dead! You will never get the same feeling as sitting in a Driving game (like Daytona), sitting at home playing some half baked cockpit set up with a plastic steering wheel and a set of plastic pedals sitting on the floor! Or House of the dead in an enclosed big screen with full curtains!We also ran DDR for years and had a massive following for it! The players had the PS2 version but said it had nothing on the coin op version and spent heaps. Anyway hello from Australia. We operate arcade games and we make a healthy living out of it, so I guess it is not dead! You will never get the same feeling as sitting in a Driving game (like Daytona), sitting at home playing some half baked cockpit set up with a plastic steering wheel and a set of plastic pedals sitting on the floor! Or House of the dead in an enclosed big screen with full curtains!We also ran DDR for years and had a massive following for it! The players had the PS2 version but said it had nothing on the coin op version and spent heaps. Anyway hello from Australia.

]]> By: Nick http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-403 Nick Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:38:28 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-403 I keep forgetting another favorite line about the Neo-Geo. If nobody wanted the Neo-Geo then why the hell did it last for almost 15 years making it the longest running console ever? *Pssst! Editor, it's G4, not G3! I keep forgetting another favorite line about the Neo-Geo. If nobody wanted the Neo-Geo then why the hell did it last for almost 15 years making it the longest running console ever?

*Pssst! Editor, it’s G4, not G3!

]]> By: editor http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-402 editor Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:22:21 +0000 http://arcadeheroes.com/2007/08/17/death-of-the-arcade-being-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-402 "Mainstream"! - yeah they wish. No G3TV for those failures “Mainstream”! – yeah they wish. No G3TV for those failures

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