What would you do to revive the arcade?

[LBJeff]

I say make them cheaper. Or at least once you die the cost to buy more lives is drastically reduced. I love arcades but in order to walk into one and straight-up play to my satisfaction i would have to spend at least $50 and i just can't see myself doing that. The games, to me, just aren't addicting enough.

All you can play cards rock. Last time I went to Gameworks I payed 10$ for a 3 hour play card. It really lets me go balls out as far as what games I want to conquer. Those quarter munching games got a lot of play because I had no reason not to.

[dsheinem]

This thread sets up the next racketboy podcast nicely, as one of the guests was Joe LeVan, who runs Challenge Arcade in Reading, PA. Joe got into the business in the mid 2000s, after the arcades were already "dying," and has been able to come up with some inventive ways to find some success. Check out challengearcade.com to see some of what they have done (they have a big event coming up at the end of this year, for example), and keep on the lookout for the show, which will probably be up this week.

[Krooner]

Yeah, Prize money and free play comps are surely a goer as is adding beer. I'd throw chicken wings in too. Nothing can't be made better with chicken wings. But then greasy controls!!!

I suppose not having to pay rent on the machines would be helpful.

[JWatts]

Seems like things have to go to a community driven system. High scores that are stored on a server, tied to an account. No matter what arcade you go to, the same people have the high score, no matter where you set a high score, it shows everywhere.
Extend this into online play in the arcade. Hold nationwide tournaments where players are distributed across several arcades, each with crowds cheering on the local winners in fights against rival cities or arcades.
You have the create a level of excitement, a sense of community and a feeling of persistence.

[gtmtnbiker]

There is no logic for it,
-Its very very expensive compared to a $60 game that you can play to death(not to mention if you buy it when the price goes lower say $30)
-Money you pay goes away, at least you can sell the games you purchased , you can't sell the time you played with in the arcades.
-Systems are too powerful right now, I can't imagine more powerful machines will give you better game experience, graphics wise.
-In this busy world, who has time to drive to a place every few days just to get videogames fix

Totally agree. Arcades are a relic of a bygone era. When I was growing up, arcades had better graphics/games that could not be reproduced at home. Now that this is no longer true, there is no point in an arcade for me.

It might work if it was more like a social club where you can get like minded gamers together to have fun challenging each other. Something like a pool hall with leagues.

[CRTGAMER]

Starbucks and Seattles Best are popular. Coffe drinkers sitting there get jittery need something to do.

How about combining Coffee House with Arcade cocktail table machines using current games.

Could call it a play of words "Starcade", wait that name has been used.

Still, maybe it is a good idea?

[the7k]

The way you keep an arcade alive seems pretty easy to me...

1) Have something that 'pulls' patrons in. Booze seems to work for many. I've thought about having an arcade combined with a second-hand game store. You could even make this as easy as locating your store next to a place that pulls people in, like a pizzeria or something.
2) Focus on popular games that never got console ports. (6p X-Men, Simpsons, Aliens vs Predator)
3) Bring in popular games that'll keep people spending money. (Die Hard Arcade, Marvel vs Capcom 2, OutRun, Daytona USA)
4) If you can afford it, import some Japanese arcade units. (Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, and whatever will be popular among arcade-oriented console gamers, but is not yet available to them.)
5) Events. Have lots of events. Tournaments are an easy one, although I'm sure there's plenty of potential for other types of events out there - maybe have some cross over with your 'pull'. I've thought about having it where on whatever is the least busy day of the week, setting all the machines to free-play and just having people pay to get in the door.

[JWatts]

1) Have something that 'pulls' patrons in. Booze seems to work for many. I've thought about having an arcade combined with a second-hand game store. You could even make this as easy as locating your store next to a place that pulls people in, like a pizzeria or something.

Place in Nashville did this. I think they were in the Rivergate mall. It was pretty new when I stumbled upon it so it wasn't finished yet but they had a good crowd on both sides of the house.

[fedexin]

There was a time when you could find a Pac-Man machine stuck in a corner of every 7-11, and hotels had "game rooms" stuffed with machines. I almost wish I needed to visit the local coin-op laundromat to play the Neo-Geo 150 game bootleg machine now!

I think keeping the desire and spirit alive in our homes is key until a cultural revolution occurs and people start congregating en masse in places other than the home to play video games.

That, and maybe add gambling a part of it?

[BoringSupreez]

I wouldn't bring them back even if I could. Everytime I played one, I felt ripped off. It just costs too much to get good enough at the game to start enjoying it. I don't want to spend $5 on one play session when for that price I could own the Genesis version.