What would you do to revive the arcade?

[the7k]

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.

That's why, if I had an arcade, I'd focus on the games that you couldn't get a Genesis version for.

I never really felt ripped off by arcades (well, except at Dave & Busters - $1.25 per play on HotD4? Are you f'en kidding me?). If you didn't like the game, you'd only have wasted 2 quarters, at most. If you did like the game, you could pay as much as you want until you get bored with it.

It was basically like renting a game from a movie store, except with much better graphics/sound and a community built up around it. No one will ever walk up and challenge you while you are playing a rented copy of SF2 at home.

[MrPopo]

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.

The Pink Gorilla (retro store) in the University District of Seattle recently got a bunch of arcade machines in. I still need to get around to visiting it, but from what I've heard it's been doing fairly well so far.

[LBJeff]

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.

The Pink Gorilla (retro store) in the University District of Seattle recently got a bunch of arcade machines in. I still need to get around to visiting it, but from what I've heard it's been doing fairly well so far.

Whoa damn, I didn't even know that store existed. Put that on my list of places to go check out. Looks like it has gotten favorable reviews, including decent pricing, which in Seattle is a good thing.

[Limewater]

Looks like it has gotten favorable reviews, including decent pricing, which in Seattle is a good thing.

Hmmm... So in Seattle, favorable reviews and decent prices are considered good things. Interesting... Thanks for clearing that up.

[J T]

The Pink Gorilla is pretty cool. They have a few good classic arcade cabs there, and some nice Japanese shmups and rhythm games. When it started the games were only a quarter, but they've gone up to 50 cents, which just seems like too much in these days of buying classic games through Steam or GOG for just a few bucks. They seem to rotate arcade cabs in and out of there though, so that at least helps keep it fresh. I stop in there every once and awhile to see what they have. The used games are a bit overpriced when compared in general to Big Al's next door or even to GameStop. They do get in harder to find games though and they do occassionally have the better deal on things. They also have some rare collectables. They have these cool Shank models right now that I've been debating buying, even though the game isn't out yet. Only 200 were made and they're all signed by the game developers. They could be worth a lot some day if the game is a success.

[LBJeff]

Hmmm... So in Seattle, favorable reviews and decent prices are considered good things. Interesting... Thanks for clearing that up.

No problem Jackass, considering most stores I've gone to in Seattle are horribly overpriced. Any other dickhead, internet bitch uncalled for sarcastic comment?

[J T]

Hmmm... So in Seattle, favorable reviews and decent prices are considered good things. Interesting... Thanks for clearing that up.

No problem Jackass, considering most stores I've gone to in Seattle are horribly overpriced. Any other dickhead, internet bitch uncalled for sarcastic comment?

Take it easy. It was just a little grammar joke. Don't get too pissed.

Sorry, limewater. We have had a lot of cold rain here in Seattle lately, so some of us are in a bad mood. Plus our regularly excessive use of coffee makes us jumpy.

[MrPopo]

Hmmm... So in Seattle, favorable reviews and decent prices are considered good things. Interesting... Thanks for clearing that up.

No problem Jackass, considering most stores I've gone to in Seattle are horribly overpriced. Any other dickhead, internet bitch uncalled for sarcastic comment?

Take it easy. It was just a little grammar joke. Don't get too pissed.

Sorry, limewater. We have had a lot of cold rain here in Seattle lately, so some of us are in a bad mood. Plus our regularly excessive use of coffee makes us jumpy.

Not me. I love the rain.

[J T]

Welcome to Seattle. Have a cup of FUUUUU!!!!!

[nickfil]

You want to hear something that'll break your heart?

SO my buddy teaches spanish to kids over at this local whatever the fuck school. He is pretty into the community there and when he can, he also watches a handful of boys who don't really have anywhere else to go after school. You know- trying to keep them out of trouble in philadelphia.

He gave me a call a month or so ago. The kids love video games and wanted to see if he could bring them by. Check out the collection and play some games. I was down. They came by. One was like 8 and i think the other 2 were like 10 or something i don't know.

So they get up to the arcade that i have and turn and look at me and say.....

"how does it work?"