The End of Arcades!!!!!

Sean P Kelly · 07-05-2008, 09:03 AM

I just read in the newspaper today that the Funland Arcade in downtown Toronto (a place that I semi-regularly check out) is closing at the end of the month and being replaced by (yet another) clothing store.

One of the reasons the article said the arcade was closing was that new arcade machines are now few and far between (they were lucky to get one new game a year), which gave patrons little reason to return (other than to crowd around the DDR machines).

So, is this the end of arcades or are they just being regulated to smaller venues like movie theatres?

Redshirt · 07-05-2008, 10:30 AM

Plenty of people play the arcade games in the walmart here where I live.

Dr. Furball · 07-05-2008, 11:59 AM

I think arcades have been disappearing since about...2000?
I believe that's the reason Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was released straight to consoles.

***Ace Mercury*** · 07-05-2008, 12:24 PM

Arcade games are a dying breed, I'm afraid. It's been kept on life support by a smattering of shmups, fighters, and DDR, but it's just not as profitable when you have to build the hardware too.

Panfan · 07-05-2008, 12:32 PM

I don't think there are any arcades (unless you count Chuck E. Cheese) near my house. The only arcade I actually know of is way up north, and the only interesting game they have there is an oldschool Jurassic Park game. There's also a sub place nearby with a Simpsons arcade game.

It's really sad, but as long as I have movie theaters, hotels, and Pizza Huts (unfortunately, mine got rid of their Neo Geo) I'll be fine.

1-up Salesman · 07-07-2008, 10:50 PM

Hmmm The only arcades I have besides ChuckEcheese is like Larry's Pizza. Their arcade sux

Metal Man · 07-07-2008, 11:08 PM

All the camping KOA places I go to have arcades...

...But their machines are all ancient.

Joker · 07-09-2008, 01:28 PM

^ Las Vegas casino's all carry nicely stocked arcades with up to date titles and the latest CGI/Graphic's Interfacing games available to the public. Laughlin, and other resorts where family fun is a major draw usually have the better arcade games out there. Also many tourist attractions like Disneyland, 6 Flags and Knotts have really good arcades, but again its because of the family setting. Outside of those areas, it really is a dying breed now that home consoles can match the graphical power of an arcade machine while giving you the added benefit of a reset button instead of coin slot.

Metal Man · 07-10-2008, 02:43 PM

Oh, yeah. I also saw some in South Dakota's casinos, in Deadwood.

heh · 07-10-2008, 06:42 PM

american arcades are dead. it makes me sad

W-Team Leader · 09-09-2008, 07:28 PM

Not the Maryland or Tampa, FL arcades.

Dr. Furball · 09-10-2008, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Joker

^ Las Vegas casino's all carry nicely stocked arcades with up to date titles and the latest CGI/Graphic's Interfacing games available to the public.

Good point. I remember seeing a couple when I was in Vegas. Although the only games I played were Donkey Kong and Marvel vs Capcom.

Dux is not you · 09-10-2008, 06:32 AM

Wait, it isn't just the end of arcades... It's the end of everything!

SephirothKirby · 09-10-2008, 12:26 PM

I miss DDR

Luigi Pwns All · 09-10-2008, 06:05 PM

Theres still a DDR in a Quaker Stake I want to once.

Sean P Kelly · 09-12-2008, 08:32 PM

I find a lot of newer arcades now have more "ticket" games than video games (though there is a fun "Deal or No Deal" arcade game that combines the two)

Rob284945 · 10-26-2008, 06:51 AM

Pure arcades are basically dead, except for Gameworks, but I don't really like going there. In Seattle we have a great bar called Shorty's, which has over 15 pinball machines and even has tournaments on weekends. It's pretty cool.

SephirothKirby · 10-26-2008, 07:03 AM

Well, you know, since this was bumped-

A new arcade opened up in Austin, the owners must be loaded, they have the most expensive and newest machines.

But it warms my heart, you never hear about new Arcades opening.

Pretty nifty.

Dizzy · 10-27-2008, 07:59 AM

There's a place a few miles from my neighborhood called Arcadia. It has a lot of arcade and ticket games.

I think it even has a Donkey Kong machine.

RoboidTheRoboto · 12-24-2008, 10:09 PM

i miss the good old days of the arcades

such as Final Fight

07-05-2008, 09:03 AM	#1
Sean P Kelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,789 Thanks: 19 Thanked 58 Times in 46 Posts	The End of Arcades!!!!! I just read in the newspaper today that the Funland Arcade in downtown Toronto (a place that I semi-regularly check out) is closing at the end of the month and being replaced by (yet another) clothing store. One of the reasons the article said the arcade was closing was that new arcade machines are now few and far between (they were lucky to get one new game a year), which gave patrons little reason to return (other than to crowd around the DDR machines). So, is this the end of arcades or are they just being regulated to smaller venues like movie theatres?

12-24-2008, 10:09 PM	#20
RoboidTheRoboto Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Gender: Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i miss the good old days of the arcades such as Final Fight Last edited by RoboidTheRoboto; 12-24-2008 at 10:09 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

07-05-2008, 10:30 AM	#2
Redshirt Wiggidy Wack Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: A place with things Gender: Posts: 16,699 Thanks: 704 Thanked 1,006 Times in 695 Posts Blog Entries: 50	Plenty of people play the arcade games in the walmart here where I live.

07-05-2008, 11:59 AM	#3
Dr. Furball Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mad Science Academy, 12th Floor Gender: Posts: 1,125 Thanks: 185 Thanked 97 Times in 60 Posts	I think arcades have been disappearing since about...2000? I believe that's the reason Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was released straight to consoles.

07-05-2008, 12:24 PM	#4
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Arcade games are a dying breed, I'm afraid. It's been kept on life support by a smattering of shmups, fighters, and DDR, but it's just not as profitable when you have to build the hardware too.

07-05-2008, 12:32 PM	#5
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,251 Times in 1,339 Posts Blog Entries: 15	I don't think there are any arcades (unless you count Chuck E. Cheese) near my house. The only arcade I actually know of is way up north, and the only interesting game they have there is an oldschool Jurassic Park game. There's also a sub place nearby with a Simpsons arcade game. It's really sad, but as long as I have movie theaters, hotels, and Pizza Huts (unfortunately, mine got rid of their Neo Geo) I'll be fine.

07-07-2008, 10:50 PM	#6
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	Hmmm The only arcades I have besides ChuckEcheese is like Larry's Pizza. Their arcade sux

07-07-2008, 11:08 PM	#7
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	All the camping KOA places I go to have arcades... ...But their machines are all ancient.

07-09-2008, 01:28 PM	#8
Joker Lord of Vampires / God of Vengeance Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: The Planet of Eternal Darkness Gender: Posts: 11,117 Thanks: 3,273 Thanked 580 Times in 364 Posts Blog Entries: 6	^ Las Vegas casino's all carry nicely stocked arcades with up to date titles and the latest CGI/Graphic's Interfacing games available to the public. Laughlin, and other resorts where family fun is a major draw usually have the better arcade games out there. Also many tourist attractions like Disneyland, 6 Flags and Knotts have really good arcades, but again its because of the family setting. Outside of those areas, it really is a dying breed now that home consoles can match the graphical power of an arcade machine while giving you the added benefit of a reset button instead of coin slot.

07-10-2008, 02:43 PM	#9
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	Oh, yeah. I also saw some in South Dakota's casinos, in Deadwood.

07-10-2008, 06:42 PM	#10
heh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: lo-ca-tion; Noun- 1. a place or situation occupied: That house is in a fine location Gender: Posts: 9,849 Thanks: 710 Thanked 955 Times in 628 Posts	american arcades are dead. it makes me sad

09-09-2008, 07:28 PM	#11
W-Team Leader Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: A house Gender: Posts: 498 Thanks: 13 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Not the Maryland or Tampa, FL arcades.

09-10-2008, 12:26 PM	#14
SephirothKirby Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Those who criticize our generation forget who raised it. Gender: Posts: 7,213 Thanks: 373 Thanked 760 Times in 447 Posts	I miss DDR

09-10-2008, 06:32 AM	#13
Dux is not you Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Not Columbia Gender: Posts: 1,976 Thanks: 92 Thanked 113 Times in 74 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Wait, it isn't just the end of arcades... It's the end of everything!

09-10-2008, 06:05 PM	#15
Luigi Pwns All Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: IN YOUR EYE SOCKETS. Gender: Posts: 546 Thanks: 30 Thanked 20 Times in 18 Posts	Theres still a DDR in a Quaker Stake I want to once.

09-12-2008, 08:32 PM	#16
Sean P Kelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,789 Thanks: 19 Thanked 58 Times in 46 Posts	I find a lot of newer arcades now have more "ticket" games than video games (though there is a fun "Deal or No Deal" arcade game that combines the two)

10-26-2008, 06:51 AM	#17
Rob284945 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Gender: Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pure arcades are basically dead, except for Gameworks, but I don't really like going there. In Seattle we have a great bar called Shorty's, which has over 15 pinball machines and even has tournaments on weekends. It's pretty cool.

10-26-2008, 07:03 AM	#18
SephirothKirby Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Those who criticize our generation forget who raised it. Gender: Posts: 7,213 Thanks: 373 Thanked 760 Times in 447 Posts	Well, you know, since this was bumped- A new arcade opened up in Austin, the owners must be loaded, they have the most expensive and newest machines. But it warms my heart, you never hear about new Arcades opening. Pretty nifty.

10-27-2008, 07:59 AM	#19
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,162 Times in 805 Posts Blog Entries: 116	There's a place a few miles from my neighborhood called Arcadia. It has a lot of arcade and ticket games. I think it even has a Donkey Kong machine.