Arcades

[speedlolita]

I would consider the community part of the equipment to properly enjoy a lot of these games Been meaning to say this before, but would be good to get some of us down there in a group one weekend if anyone fancies it.

Maybe, but recently they removed Third Strike!

And I don't play Crud Fighter IV.

DoDonPachi 2 Bee Storm was there last time though, was nice to play that. And I guess Guilty Gear wouldn't be too bad to play..

Most likely- it ain't much to look at from the outside. A little giveaway a few years back was a little Mushi flyer on the window when they got the PCB downstairs.

That's how I found it, but it was early 2009 and it was a BlazBlue flyer. They had two Mushi PCBs at the time.

[Skull Commander]

We get sit down Outrun 2, and lightgun games at our aracde, and there is a couple of badly kept older titles (Crazy Taxi, Gauntlet Legends), but they never have any fighters or shooters.

I remember in my tennage years going to a place in the city centre. It was a very small arcade which was 3/4 fruit machines, but at the back they had a very good selection of games. This was the place that I first played Soul Blade, Samurai Shodown 1&2, King of the Fighters, Killer Instinct etc.

Nowadays it's all fruit machines

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

You lot don't know how lucky you are.

There are no cabs I know of anywhere in Leicestershire, the only real arcade in Nottingham shut down a few years ago and there's nothing in Derby.

Actually, I think the last proper cab I saw was my old woody and I sold that 4 years ago!!!

[speedlolita]

Heh, I still prefer the Versus City in Troc to Casino. If it's really closing I'll be quite sad.

[Skull Commander]

Why do we think there is not much proper arcades now? Obviously the popularity of them declined a few years ago, but would there be enough people interested now to sustain them all over the country?

Were arcade operators to quick to "kill" the traditional arcade?

I get the impression there is now a decent amount of people who would visit aracdes if they had decent fighters and shooters, not just in London but all over.

[endo]

I think you're right in that there's a decent number of people on forums and the like who are a bit nostalgic for the old arcades of their youth, but I think when it comes down to it most people can't be bothered getting off their arse and actually going down to the arcade. Ultimately, now that there's seldom any difference between the arcade release and the home release of games, why would people shlep to some grotty room full of fruities just to play something (at a quid a time) they can play in their own front room? Of course you get the odd game that just can't be reproduced in the home (or can, but cut down in some way) but they're few and far between these days.

I reckon there probably is some sort of market for proper arcades, but they need a serious image overhaul and I'm buggered if I know how you'd make it a viable business- probably aiming at what remains of the competitive fighter/shooter hardcore, but is that enough people to actually make a business work?

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Of course you get the odd game that just can't be reproduced in the home

HDR/SSFIIT, KoF98 etc...

Yeah I'll play on XBL, but nothing will ever match the feeling of one of the 'local legends' coming in, sitting next to you and putting 30p into the cab.

That '1-on-1 being watched by a big group' atmosphere was so much better than this online **** you have these days.

[kernow]

People aren't interested in fighters or whatever anymore. Arcade ops make far more money from driving games and lightgun games at a quid a credit.

Best old school arcades in the UK are in peoples houses

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

People aren't interested in fighters or whatever anymore. Arcade ops make far more money from driving games and lightgun games at a quid a credit.

Best old school arcades in the UK are in peoples houses

I'm back in Devon in August, I'll make sure to pop over and abuse your cabs

[speedlolita]

Best thing about Casino is two credits on Initial D for a quid.

[dvdmike]

The Arcade on the front in Weymouth had a full size Rambo cab

[Vince]

There’s only a Sega arcade near me as far as I’m aware, not been in there in a while but they had some dance games, Out Run 2 etc, plus a MAME cab, which surely isn't legal. That said its closing down soon I believe.

I do understand why arcades are closing, but I do also think it’s a shame, for me arcade gaming is the still the best and purest form of gaming. There’s something about going into a room full of great games, hanging out with friends etc, plus you get to see other players, learn tactics and have some completion chasing scores. It makes me sad that this is now nearly gone, and I feel sorry for the younger generation who missed the days when arcades where more prolific.

[goldmouth]

Kernow got it right with "Best old school arcades in the UK are in peoples houses"

tis sad its going out of fashion but it makes it all the more exciting when you find that gem you havet seen in ages! i remember visiting my grandparents in cyprus, going to this fish shop in the middle of nowhere and finding metal slug 2 jamming in the corner for 20p a throw!

SMASH! now thats a good time

[Alex_976]

Skegness is still quite good gamewise, though trying to find a Sega Rally without screen burn or a broken gearbox still remains a challenge.

[kyo_244]

my brother (the cheeky git) works for an arcade exhibition called Game On, it was in london a couple of months ago. he borrows machines from them! ive been messing with his daytona twin recently.

Kernow got it right with "Best old school arcades in the UK are in peoples houses"

tis sad its going out of fashion but it makes it all the more exciting when you find that gem you havet seen in ages! i remember visiting my grandparents in cyprus, going to this fish shop in the middle of nowhere and finding metal slug 2 jamming in the corner for 20p a throw!

SMASH! now thats a good time

Any chance that was in Larnaca mate? I live here now and theres still a fair amount of decent arcades kicking about over here. Really old school ones aswell like wonder boy and lady bug!

Im not saying that they've been well maintained however.. that's a different story..