What ever happened to the American arcade?

In North America, gamers are now generally divided into two distinct generations: those that grew up in the midst of the vibrant video arcade culture of the '70s and '80s; and those born since.

The latter group's experience with arcades is primarily through redemption-machine-filled restaurants like Dave & Busters and maybe a few neglected cabinets at their local movie theater or bowling alley.

[ritsuka666]

Arcades extinct?nope.they may be diminishing but you just can't kill off the arcades, just because we have powerful home gaming consoles and pc's that enable us to play those games at home.

[SnakeCQC]

paying a quid for a few minutes is always a rip off most people have consoles or pcs that far exceed the archaic machines

[neogeo]

I miss arcades so much. My best memorys. I did not mind spending money on games that looked twice as good as my snes. Street fighter. KI. And on. Real girls would even go there after school. Not nerds, real hot sluts.

[JsonHenry]

^^ I always went for the real hot sluts too. The games were also awesome compared to the consoles we had at home. Once I discovered my PC could play those games though.. not even the sluts got me out of the house anymore.

[iceman06]

I think I played Real Hot Sluts...it took me years and damn near my college savings, but I beat that game...oh..wait...TMI!!! Seriously, the arcades were about the social aspect of gaming as much as the games themselves. Texting, Facebook, and Twitter have all but eliminated the need to be social these days (at least with the younger generation). So, it's hard for them to understand the allure of the arcade. However for the arcade generation, nothing can beat the memories of bad food, poor lighting, loud noises, and the smell of nickel permeating your palms as you walk away from a night of gaming...20 quarters lighter...but much happier for the experience.

[C_Menz]

At least in my town we have 2 somewhat large arcades. In the summer(our main tourist season) there is always at least 50 people in them and at times it is packed full. Nothing beats a classic arcade break while you are at the beach for the whole day.

[dedicatedtogamers]

The arcades were awesome not just because of the games (which can now be comfortably played at home), but because of the atmosphere. It was fun to be playing a shmup or a beat 'em up by yourself and then some other kid comes up, drops a quarter, and starts playing with you. It was fun to be watching that SFII cabinet, slapping down a quarter and declaring "I'll take winner" while 5 other people are huddled around the same cabinet, each also wanting to take on the champ.

[vallencer]

Most people in america are anti social and don't like being stared at while playing games. That's what I believe happened to them. I miss arcades though.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

I really missed those days. Now they are replaced with "phantoms" of players online that never chat, lag up online servers until they start to lose which is followed by the mandatory disconnection. You couldn't do that in my old arcade because if you gave up before the game is over your face would hang on the wall of shame for a very long time. If the quitter wants retribution, he/she will have to fight his way back in the ranks respectfully and eventually he would be accepted even he lost all of his previous matches.

Players who exploited game glitches, arcade bullies (Experienced gamers who beat on newcomers to a game series.) or Cheesemeisters ( a.k.a Fire ball spammers/one trick ponies) were given even worse treatment because they would have their butt escorted out before they game was even finished or worse which was a beatdown from the top flight gamers in the arcade. (I was one of the "guardians" who did this and my screen name was my moniker from my love of Kyo Kusanagi in the KOF series. I just gave it an original flair :D)

Arcades weaved tight knit gaming communities that online games will never achieve in my opinion due to the actual face time and the large amount of like minded players who are always willing to give new people a hand in teaching them the ropes. Just hearing the sounds of button mashing coupled with digital violence was enough to make my heart race, an experience I never felt when battling someone behind a television screen or a computer monitor...

Long live arcades in this world and the next.....

[Jake_the_Dog]

They died with the rise of home consoles.

[neogeo]

If Bill gates gave me all his money. I would spend every Billion and build a new age of next Gen Arcades. I would lose money and go broke but die happy.

I would dump so money into the hardware just to make sure they are at least 5 times as powerful as any next gen system, so even if kids did not show up much they would still be forced to go to bed at night knowing that the Arcade version of whatever game they own is better. Just like I had to when I was a kid.

[Leonex]

Pac Man Arcade....Pasadena Ca.....