The Attraction of Arcade Conversions

[Duddyroar]

But Sega GT doesn't have the F355 engine running things

True, but you don't need all those extra cars and all the endless tuning options. Just one car suits me fine. When you start to add things like extra cars and stuff you lose focus - the GT series bores me to tears as a result.

In the market today- we are told games like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear are AAA mind-blowing games much more worthy than any arcade game

The joke is that although Metal Gear Solid 3 takes over 10 hours to complete, major demands are never made on the player. The game engine is terribly basic, combat is limited and most of the time is taken up by cutscenes. Compare this to the demands made in most 'arcade' games. Arcade titles are pure gameplay with none of the window-dressing modern 'action' titles seem to have. The sooner people realise that gameplay length doesn't equal challenge the better.

[Trevize]

Arcade for me is : "Plug your hands and play games" this don't means only cabinets games are arcade-style, I will make you laugh but Splinter Cell is an arcade game for me (I play short sessions of 10 mn of infiltration, all the menus are clear, control is realy easy, the game will last me 2 month or more, what could I expect more ?).
But I approve, We are lacking of true entertaining arcades games like Sega did in the past (and still). Recently I bought Sega Rally 2 on my PC (ebay = 1? was quite happy) I played it like 45mn or more, and I remembered it was the funnier game I have ever played (with RoadRash), still now I love it so much,my PC did transform into an arcade machine (but Force Feedback isn't realy good on my logitech with this game, I play with pad).

What I try to say is : The genre still exist but it evolved, all the game that are easy to take in hand are arcade for me (even the arcade mode of Gran Turismo).
So what do we lack ? Quick games with high score competition ? It still exists, mostly on PS2, Japanese games, there's a lot of arcadish games.

So what do we all really lacking ?
Sega's powerslides, I think most of us want this back again (me the first), when you say "arcade" in my ears, my mind instantanly drow a force feedback wheel cabinet running Daytona USA or another race game.
We got all the others genres on home machines.

The last point is 2D plateformers and shoot games : they were mostly all considered as arcade games ... They should try to make new ones, like Guilty Gear succeded with beautifull graphx, why a new 2D ghouls and ghost with such detailed animations and beautifull background could'nt work ? Editors will try it one day or another.

[Leon Retro]

Some good points Trevize. Daytona is a game that has never really been ported well to the home. Oneday I will hopefully own a 2-player Daytona machine- the best way to enjoy this fantastic game


Arcade style gaming is all about tight focused design without the cluttered superficial hassles that other genre's have.

For me arcade gaming should be pick-up and play. Any gamer should be able to get in to the action- and the core experience should be immediate and without distraction.

The genre is all about having the option to learn techniques and take the gameplay to another level beyond what you thought possible. The fundamental rule though should dicatate that even at it's most basic level the most unskilled players should be able to get pleasure from the game without feeling they are over-burdened with unnecessary complication.

Accessible is what the A in Arcade stands for. No padding or fillers- just pure gameplay!

[baad bwoy]

I think in many arcade style games, the unskilled player, is going to have a problem, in that they are likely fail quite a bit, imo to get the most out of arcade games you need to have some sort of experience to get anywhere, this might be why the casual gamer doesn't have much interest in these type of games, as they can be harsh and incredibly unforgiving.

[gingerj]

casual gamer doesn't have much interest in these type of games, as they can be harsh and incredibly unforgiving.

You mean casual gamers can't be bothered to master a system if it shows any difficulty.

[Leon Retro]

I think in many arcade style games, the unskilled player, is going to have a problem, in that they are likely fail quite a bit, imo to get the most out of arcade games you need to have some sort of experience to get anywhere, this might be why the casual gamer doesn't have much interest in these type of games, as they can be harsh and incredibly unforgiving.

The only arcade title that comes close to unforgiving is VF4 imo. The majority of arcade style games are user-friendly and easy to play. Games like Soul Calibur can be completed and enjoyed by anyone- but there is a lot of room for improvement and skill. It's the same with Ridge Racer and other arcade racers- anyone can race and complete the games- but when the game is mastered it becomes poetry in motion.

Arcade games should never be unapproachable. They should greet all gamers with open arms. Arcade gaming is about thrills, pleasure and excitement for all. The hardcore fanatics can get what they want from the genre and so should the more casual gamers.

[Molloy]

Even VF4 is pretty easy to appreciate on a superficial level. There are only 3 buttons and there's very little emphasis on big combo strings or tricky special moves. It's mostly about timing.

The last few Cave shooters have been alot more accessable than in the late 90's when you had alot of nightmarish stuff like Cyvern. I'd say most average players could last 5 minutes on ESPgaluda on their first go.

[JU!]

The reason i play these type of games is a quick blast, and there fun i ain't always got ages to plough into games so Arcade games allow this.

[Wools]

When I was younger part of the attraction of arcade games was that they were so loud, stylish and graphically so far ahead of what I had at home.

That was part of the attraction and thrill, having something I could play so rarely and finally having it in the house.

The DC was the first console I brought on launch day and the excitment of Seing SEGA Rally 2, Virtua Fighter 3 and eventurlly Crazy taxi along with Soul Calibur running at home was astonshing.

Happy memories

[baad bwoy]

You mean casual gamers can't be bothered to master a system if it shows any difficulty.

Yep thats exactly what I am saying, I imagine they probably wouldn't see the point in making the effort to learn.

[Duddyroar]

That was part of the attraction and thrill, having something I could play so rarely and finally having it in the house

Yeah that's true. Back in the early 90's I remember seeing Virtua Fighter running in my local arcade and I simply couldn't believe how amazing it looked. Compared to the home consoles of the time it seemed like lightyears ahead in terms of power. Virtua Racing had the same effect on me. However it was technically modest titles like King of Fighters and Street Fighter that made the biggest impact on me - the 16-bit home versions simply weren't as good and at the time I couldn't afford an AES.

With the release of the DC that 'technology gap' was effectively removed. There was little point in pumping coins into an arcade machine when you could take a carbon copy home for under ?40. I know I started to visit arcades a lot less when I got my DC - I prefered to listen to the hype and simply wait for the home release of the best arcade games.

The ironic thing is that the DC was a machine built around the arcades - it needed them to provide its AAA titles. However by giving arcade power to home console users it removed the need for the arcades and actually ended up putting another nail in the coffin.

[baad bwoy]

I think the DC is my favourite console at the moment, and I seem to finally be getting to grips with f355

[Duddyroar]

I think the DC is my favourite console at the moment, and I seem to finally be getting to grips with f355

Heh. It took me well over a week to get to grips with F355. With any other game I would have given up after an hour, but I just knew it was worth sticking with - and as a result I ended up enjoying the best racing game money can buy.

[Baseley09]

I love that, with the wheel im in dream heaven.

IMO Crazy Taxi w/ wheel offers me the best arcade experience outside of Neo Geo.