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A new arcade opened near me!

Think that's bad? I went to an arcade the other day and not only were games giving out tickets as prizes, they were also giving out chips. Not unlike gambling chips used at a casino.

But for kids.

And they didn't even have any pinball, either.
 
We have a bunch of those "arcades" near my other house. Every time I walk by them on the boardwalk I get depressed. They used to be pretty awesome back in the 80s and 90s. They went to shit in the 2000s along with everything else.
 
To anyone who wasn't aware of this fact:

The reason that arcade versions of mobile games are so prevalent in today's arcades--even those that actually have good video games--is because they are what keep the doors open. Redemption games bring in WAY more income than ANY video games, without exception, and recognizable redemption games (as well as coin pushers) bring in more income than unknowns. Deal or No Deal was insanely popular and made a ton of money.

You could have a DDR machine played by pairs on a Saturday from open to close, and yet Flappy Bird or Crossy Road will make several times more income even on an average day. Why? Well, for one thing, games average 20-30 seconds rather than 10 minutes. Not to mention, you can win something. And, folks already know how to play.

Here in New York, in 2015, Nanuet Arcade opened. It was full of video games from the early 80s through just a few years ago. There were rare Japanese games like Road Fighters 3D, recent games like Initial D 7 and the latest IIDX, DDR, and other Bemani, classic beat-em-ups like Alien vs. Predator and The Simpsons. Crazy Taxi, Mocap Boxing, Area51, earlier things like Ghosts 'N Goblins and Turbo. And other than a few prize machines in the front, there was no redemption. Almost all of it was video games.

It was obvious that the owner was passionate about these games, and about arcades of the 80s and 90s, and opened what was exactly his ideal, dream arcade. I was there the day it opened, and boy, was it nice. But I knew it wouldn't last. Without redemption games, how would he make any money?

Sure enough, a little over a year later, it closed forever.

Scoff if you want, but be thankful for Flappy Bird, Crossy Road, Deal or No Deal, and all of these other redemption games. Because without them, you would never get to play Time Crisis 5, DDR Ace, Initial D 8, or basically any arcade game anymore, because there would be zero arcades left outside of barcades. If you don't have redemption, or a bar, you're toast. At least, in 2017, that is how it is.*

* The only exceptions are mega-arcades like Funspot that have so many hundreds of games that they become destinations. But even then, I wonder how they can afford to stay open.
 
Unless you're lucky enough to get a Round 1 near you, you're way better off going to a barcade if you want the classic arcade experience as opposed to stuff like boardwalk arcades and D&B. That stuff is all redemption machines now because those make way more money than the games. D&B did location tests for Tekken and Pokken and didn't go through with either because neither made enough money.
 
Around Nashville we got a series of arcades (all run by the same dude, so one big collection really) that combine to rival Galloping Ghost pretty easily. Chuck E Cheese is on the next block over from the main fighting game location hilariously enough.

It's not entirely hopeless yet. Arcade auctions and techs still roam around, just a lot of things are in private collections or random barcades at this point.

Edit: R1 is okay. I like those places for different reasons than why I like our traditional arcade. I can play Neisca and other shit at R1. I can't play Rival Schools or some of the older shmups I like there though.
 
I recently found one myself which is excidingly rare in this part of the woods. It had Final Fight, Simpsons, Cap America and SF2Turbo.

Bare basics for games, but it's the area that's important here.
 
AmyS said:
I'm 25 miles from the greatest arcade in North America, perhaps the world.

rtmqSjd.jpg
Click to expand...

Prove it. :D More photos, please.
 
yyr said:
To anyone who wasn't aware of this fact:

The reason that arcade versions of mobile games are so prevalent in today's arcades--even those that actually have good video games--is because they are what keep the doors open. Redemption games bring in WAY more income than ANY video games, without exception, and recognizable redemption games (as well as coin pushers) bring in more income than unknowns. Deal or No Deal was insanely popular and made a ton of money.

You could have a DDR machine played by pairs on a Saturday from open to close, and yet Flappy Bird or Crossy Road will make several times more income even on an average day. Why? Well, for one thing, games average 20-30 seconds rather than 10 minutes. Not to mention, you can win something. And, folks already know how to play.

Here in New York, in 2015, Nanuet Arcade opened. It was full of video games from the early 80s through just a few years ago. There were rare Japanese games like Road Fighters 3D, recent games like Initial D 7 and the latest IIDX, DDR, and other Bemani, classic beat-em-ups like Alien vs. Predator and The Simpsons. Crazy Taxi, Mocap Boxing, Area51, earlier things like Ghosts 'N Goblins and Turbo. And other than a few prize machines in the front, there was no redemption. Almost all of it was video games.

It was obvious that the owner was passionate about these games, and about arcades of the 80s and 90s, and opened what was exactly his ideal, dream arcade. I was there the day it opened, and boy, was it nice. But I knew it wouldn't last. Without redemption games, how would he make any money?

Sure enough, a little over a year later, it closed forever.

Scoff if you want, but be thankful for Flappy Bird, Crossy Road, Deal or No Deal, and all of these other redemption games. Because without them, you would never get to play Time Crisis 5, DDR Ace, Initial D 8, or basically any arcade game anymore, because there would be zero arcades left outside of barcades. If you don't have redemption, or a bar, you're toast. At least, in 2017, that is how it is.*

* The only exceptions are mega-arcades like Funspot that have so many hundreds of games that they become destinations. But even then, I wonder how they can afford to stay open.
Click to expand...

Sad but true. 😔
 
Trojan X said:
Prove it. :D More photos, please.
Click to expand...
They have hundreds of games, lots of shmups, fighting games, etc. They have an F-Zero AX machine that's the best (when it's running)

Downside: it's a small storefront building that is full of arcade games so it gets very hot in there

Game list

Used to be unlimited free play for $15 but they've expanded and raised it to $20. But once you pay you're good all day, can leave and come back and they're open until 2am
 
Fighting games aside, at least Dave & Busters is getting actual new games. The Luigi's Mansion game is really good and is actually exclusive. As I mentioned earlier they generally have the new version of Time Crisis 5 (which doubles its level count). You can always find at least 2 more decent light gun games in addition to that (Deadstorm having its bonus levels that you can't play in the PS3 version).
 
Dynamite Shikoku said:
I don't know what dave and busters is. This is the place:
http://www.timezone.com.au/popular-games.php
Click to expand...

Those games suck.

Brian_FETO said:
They have hundreds of games, lots of shmups, fighting games, etc. They have an F-Zero AX machine that's the best (when it's running)

Downside: it's a small storefront building that is full of arcade games so it gets very hot in there

Game list

Used to be unlimited free play for $15 but they've expanded and raised it to $20. But once you pay you're good all day, can leave and come back and they're open until 2am
Click to expand...

Those games kick ass.
 
yyr said:
To anyone who wasn't aware of this fact:

The reason that arcade versions of mobile games are so prevalent in today's arcades--even those that actually have good video games--is because they are what keep the doors open. Redemption games bring in WAY more income than ANY video games, without exception, and recognizable redemption games (as well as coin pushers) bring in more income than unknowns. Deal or No Deal was insanely popular and made a ton of money.

You could have a DDR machine played by pairs on a Saturday from open to close, and yet Flappy Bird or Crossy Road will make several times more income even on an average day. Why? Well, for one thing, games average 20-30 seconds rather than 10 minutes. Not to mention, you can win something. And, folks already know how to play.

Here in New York, in 2015, Nanuet Arcade opened. It was full of video games from the early 80s through just a few years ago. There were rare Japanese games like Road Fighters 3D, recent games like Initial D 7 and the latest IIDX, DDR, and other Bemani, classic beat-em-ups like Alien vs. Predator and The Simpsons. Crazy Taxi, Mocap Boxing, Area51, earlier things like Ghosts 'N Goblins and Turbo. And other than a few prize machines in the front, there was no redemption. Almost all of it was video games.

It was obvious that the owner was passionate about these games, and about arcades of the 80s and 90s, and opened what was exactly his ideal, dream arcade. I was there the day it opened, and boy, was it nice. But I knew it wouldn't last. Without redemption games, how would he make any money?

Sure enough, a little over a year later, it closed forever.

Scoff if you want, but be thankful for Flappy Bird, Crossy Road, Deal or No Deal, and all of these other redemption games. Because without them, you would never get to play Time Crisis 5, DDR Ace, Initial D 8, or basically any arcade game anymore, because there would be zero arcades left outside of barcades. If you don't have redemption, or a bar, you're toast. At least, in 2017, that is how it is.*

* The only exceptions are mega-arcades like Funspot that have so many hundreds of games that they become destinations. But even then, I wonder how they can afford to stay open.
Click to expand...
Money, the obvious root of all evil. This works was a mistake
 
A new barcade with PC and console booths, and classic machines from Pac-man to Blitz 2000 opened up near me. I finally got to play some Initial D in a sitdown cabinet.
 
yyr said:
To anyone who wasn't aware of this fact:

The reason that arcade versions of mobile games are so prevalent in today's arcades--even those that actually have good video games--is because they are what keep the doors open. Redemption games bring in WAY more income than ANY video games, without exception, and recognizable redemption games (as well as coin pushers) bring in more income than unknowns. Deal or No Deal was insanely popular and made a ton of money.

You could have a DDR machine played by pairs on a Saturday from open to close, and yet Flappy Bird or Crossy Road will make several times more income even on an average day. Why? Well, for one thing, games average 20-30 seconds rather than 10 minutes. Not to mention, you can win something. And, folks already know how to play.

Here in New York, in 2015, Nanuet Arcade opened. It was full of video games from the early 80s through just a few years ago. There were rare Japanese games like Road Fighters 3D, recent games like Initial D 7 and the latest IIDX, DDR, and other Bemani, classic beat-em-ups like Alien vs. Predator and The Simpsons. Crazy Taxi, Mocap Boxing, Area51, earlier things like Ghosts 'N Goblins and Turbo. And other than a few prize machines in the front, there was no redemption. Almost all of it was video games.

It was obvious that the owner was passionate about these games, and about arcades of the 80s and 90s, and opened what was exactly his ideal, dream arcade. I was there the day it opened, and boy, was it nice. But I knew it wouldn't last. Without redemption games, how would he make any money?

Sure enough, a little over a year later, it closed forever.

Scoff if you want, but be thankful for Flappy Bird, Crossy Road, Deal or No Deal, and all of these other redemption games. Because without them, you would never get to play Time Crisis 5, DDR Ace, Initial D 8, or basically any arcade game anymore, because there would be zero arcades left outside of barcades. If you don't have redemption, or a bar, you're toast. At least, in 2017, that is how it is.*

* The only exceptions are mega-arcades like Funspot that have so many hundreds of games that they become destinations. But even then, I wonder how they can afford to stay open.
Click to expand...

Yup. Ticket exception games are the whales that keep the lights on in the place that feed our DDR addiction. Round 1 Taunton is mostly ticket redemption games or claw games, but they still have all the fighting and rhythm games that you could ask for, and that's all I need. More over, those ticket redemption games keep little kids from stomping on the pads because their parents dropped them off unsupervised to get 5 minutes of peace.

OP, talk tot he management of your arcade and see if they have plans to get more traditional arcade games. In this day and age, you really have to make your voice heard in order to get the games that you want. It's how we got 8 Initial D 5th drive cabs and 4 Tekken 7 machines here.

Dynamite Shikoku said:
I don't know what dave and busters is. This is the place:
http://www.timezone.com.au/popular-games.php
Click to expand...

Wangan Midnight 5 is a good get. Someone there knows what they're doing. Just gotta talk to them OP.
 
GG has a bunch of conversions and games in the complete wrong cabinets and hacked up just to work. Funspot is better for people that care about how the games were originally presented. There's no real "best" way to do it as real arcades back in the day had lots of conversions as well. Personally, I like to see things as intended.
 
Hell yeah, Galloping Ghost is the shit. I've been there twice, the F-Zero AX machine is fun and they've got plenty of fighters and shmups to keep me busy for hours. I can go from Mark of the Wolves to Ikaruga to Super Monkey Ball to TMNT Turtles in Time, it's wonderful.

I just wish their Super Hang-On machine was working properly, the last time I went the turbo wasn't functional :(
 
Shaneus said:
Get the fuck out.
airplane-departing.jpeg
Click to expand...

Captain Rage Quit 69 said:
Hell yeah, Galloping Ghost is the shit. I've been there twice, the F-Zero AX machine is fun and they've got plenty of fighters and shmups to keep me busy for hours. I can go from Mark of the Wolves to Ikaruga to Super Monkey Ball to TMNT Turtles in Time, it's wonderful.

I just wish their Super Hang-On machine was working properly, the last time I went the turbo wasn't functional :(
Click to expand...

Here's their F-Zero AX cab.

TVPWf0c.jpg


They've also got a full Galaxy Force II super deluxe machine.
 
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