OK, so I have decided to try ‘podcasting’ – of course I don’t know if you can really consider this a podcast, it’s just an MP3 file to download here where you can listen to me discuss the latest happenings in the arcade industry over the past week that we have posted about here on AH. I don’t have a lot of technology to work with though so right now it’s pretty plain, but as I become more comfortable with it and get some input from you guys, we can make it better.
For this first episode I discuss E3 and what involvement arcades should have with it; Metal Gear Arcade, H2Overdrive and the many other new games that have come along over the past couple of weeks. If you have any comments – good or bad or you just want to discuss the latest happenings over the past couple of weeks, post the comments here. As a side note, I did record this while on the job at my arcade and I even had a couple of people in playing games while I did it although they didn’t seem to notice what was going on. 🙂
Unfortunately I cannot upload the file directly to WordPress as apparently we need an upgrade to store even simple MP3 files on here now (which is a recent change), so you can find the file off-site by clicking here. It is about 37MB in size and it’s an MP3 but please let me know if there are any problems with the recording, I had an awful lot of trouble uploading it on the connection I am using.
Minor update: I just remembered that I forgot to mention a few other contributors, including Phil ver0 (who posts regularly in our forums) and Oga Shi. I apologize for forgetting to mention you both during the recording.
more volume please!!
Just some observations on your comments:
– why can’t we have arcade at E3?
Yes you do have the Sega’s and Bandai’s at the show that could include include their arcade divisions…but they wont! And the reason is that the consumer divisional executives hate the arcade division executives – they don’t like to share and they wish their bosses in Japan would drop them.
All attempts to joint promote have failed – just look at what happened last year at Sega, or between Capcom JP and US marketing. These guys need their heads banged together, but as consumer brings in 10x the revenue as amusement they get to playing being spoilt kids.
– Why doesn’t the AAMA or AMOA have a representation at E3?
Ha! Those guys would never admit that it existed, and most of them would not know where to start. These are the same guys that blew $25,000 on a PR plan that crashed and burnt before it had started. They are very bitter they failed and very bitter that people complain about how useless they are and are holding onto their job with all their might.
– What should WE do about E3?
The amusement scene needs a joined up international plan, with no vested interests or corporate back fighting. A plan would be to take a space at the show and arrange a party at the local LA GameWorks. The booth would allow information and development opportunities – the party would be a mixer and a chance for people to see the industry at its best.
NOTE – however there would be some vested interests in the consumer scene that would be VERY unhappy to see this supported.
– Will Metal Gear Arcade get a release?
I took notes from the video just to be sure – I notice that a number of sites are countering the international claims – let set the record straight: Comments from video: “… first we are preparing this for Japan first release of course we are aiming for worldwide release…”
– We have to make posts to correct them?
I tried and what they do is edit or delete your emails. They even tried to claim that I was wrong and then delete anyone who pointed out I was right – they are not playing fair Shaggy, thats just the simple facts!
– Why are they saying it ain’t so!
The bloggers and web mags do not want to cover a industry they cant control – they also do not like the fact we know stuff they don’t, and finally we don’t advertise in their industry and is a closed shop to them. When MGA arrives in the US most will delete their previous comments and hope that no one remembers!
– Why MGA Cabinet?
The 3D Goggles from initial reports sound like the same principle as ‘Continental Circuit’http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=3177&image=1
Thanks for the input Kevin. I thought that the volume was high enough but I will test it out further and make sure that next time it is sufficient.
In regards to E3:
I actually had similar thoughts about the reasoning behind why E3 is such a taboo for arcades but I didn’t have any substantial knowledge about it, just assumptions.
Maybe we should consider an Arcade Heroes/Stinger Report booth at E3 where we can represent the various companies for E3. that would be a long shot though 😉
Interesting on your attempts to make the proper corrections on MGA. So far I have not seen any of my posts edited or deleted but I also have not seen any responses to them.
We’ll just need to keep hitting away at it here and through friendly sources. It’s probably a good idea for us to do some print screens on posts of sites that claim that it’s not coming to the US so we can shove it in their face down the road.
The Stinger Report backers would agree with you that we need to arrange a E3 booth – and would love the support of AH and possibly the amusement trade. The situation is however that we would be blocked by EAS (E3 organizers) – they would not be happy about any “defocus” of consumer gaming business.
Regarding “keep hitting away” – as you know I am working on two features for the consumer game scene – when they are run I would like your excellent support as always – how about an interview for your podcast?
The most profitable and popular games websites concentrate almost exclusively on news. And it’s about volume, not accuracy. Few of the people reading would know anyway so it doesn’t matter.
The people who post for these websites aren’t journalists, they’re just worker monkeys who copy paste for cash.
Heres a good article about it:
http://insomnia.ac/commentary/beyond_the_videogame_news_racket/
If the arcade publishers bought advertising on consumer game websites they’d probably get more attention. It’s all about the payola. Nobody is going to go bothering to cover shit that doesn’t get them advertising.
The podcast was much better than I expected. The general quality of games podcasts tends to be appaling, but as this is a specialist area of expertise you know a fair bit about it’s much, much better than usual. You could always get another AH contributer on Skype and do a panel style discussion, but it’s not essential by any means.
As far as E3 is concerned I don’t know that it’s that important. The whole show nearly shut down entirely a couple of years ago because it had gotten so expensive to exhibit there, and there was so much news coming out at the same time loads of less hyped games were getting lost in the noise.
I don’t think adding arcade games to that mix would help. They’d just get ignored to an even greater extent.
The industry has lots of trade shows, but it needs more consumer shows as well. There are a few enthusiast ones running, like the Funspot tournament or Insert Coin 09 in the UK. The Penny Arcade Expo would be another excellent opportunity. I think that’s where things should be headed.
I thought that E3 05 made a mention about the new sega lingbergh games that were coming out later at that time. I’m sure they made a mention of it.
I don’t see why they can’t make a mention of arcade games since they come under the same cataglory as interactive entertainment. arcade companies should try and come up with games that have a connection between the home console and the arcade that makes the players want to go to the arcade and continue at home.
something like what sega and nintendo did 6 years ago with F-zero where you had to go to the arcade to unlock certain items such as new tracks and cars etc… konami should do a DDR where you have a card that saves all your data and that allows you to unlock new song and a points system where after you’ve been on the game after a certain amount of time it gives you a free go etc…
“The industry has lots of trade shows, but it needs more consumer shows as well. There are a few enthusiast ones running, like the Funspot tournament or Insert Coin 09 in the UK. The Penny Arcade Expo would be another excellent opportunity. I think that’s where things should be headed”.
its not just them that needs to be promoted to business people and operators but most importantly THE PLAYERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING THESE GAMES.
Thanks for the compliments and suggestions guys. I would love to do a panel discussion or have guests. We will see what we can do. Just LMK when we can do that editor. My brother has Skype setup on the PC here at the arcade so that is certainly and option.
when ever.