Capcom “Reprinting” Arcade Classics Via NESiCAxLive Service in Japan

Recently Capcom launched a lawsuit against Tecmo Koei over “patent infringments” and a friend of mine who has formidable knowledge of the game industry stated that they must be in worse shape than thought to be taking such an action. It has been known for some time now that they have been going through various financial troubles and for quite a while so a websearch on the issue is more effective than pointing to a single story. I noticed this past month they were in the news a little more by releasing a bunch of Megaman games to the WiiU Virtual console and there was some talk the other day about a new fighting game being developed by them and DIMPS (who developed Street Fighter IV). When it comes to grabbing people’s attention, they certainly have been on the move.

It seems in this sudden awakening of the company to some degree that they also have remembered that they used to be an arcade company through and through. Thanks to Taito’s online arcade delivery service called NESiCAxLive, Capcom has announced that they are bringing 4 arcade classics back to Japanese arcades: Hyper Street Fighter II The Anniversary Edition; Street Fighter III Third Strike; Street Fighter Zero 3 and finally Vampire Savior. Since we do not have a system like this out West I don’t see how the company would take this beyond Japan (or to one extreme, reprinting boards which would be a huge expense they probably couldn’t undertake even if they wanted to) but who knows, maybe it could lead to some further arcade developments for them. The last original arcade title they put out was an odd pig-racing game based on Monster Hunter, Japan-only; otherwise they have given the various editions of Street Fighter IV the arcade treatment over there as well.

Here is the trailer for the NESiCAxLive support:

What are your thoughts? Good move on their part or just delaying the inevitable purchase by some other company like Nintendo? They do have a very extensive catalog of arcade games but it appears they are going for their strongest titles by name recognition first. I don’t think this will change their fortunes around but it might provide a little income which can help things in the short run seeing how NESiCA does give a small portion of per-play earnings to the IP holder. Then again, I imagine that most centers will just have old PCBs and cabs with these games in them already and with home releases to boot, it kind of saps the enthusiasm players might have for playing these titles. I know it’s apples and oranges but at my arcade my 90s Capcom fighters might make about $10 a week. Sometimes $20. It would be interesting to know how well these titles do over there. But you also have to take into account issues like saturation and competition with other fighters on the network (including Capcom’s own Ultra Street Fighter IV).