[Arcade] Do Arcades still exist?

I grew up in the 80's when all we had to play video games at home on was the Atari 2600(pre-Nintendo). Back then we used to all meet at the local arcade. It was a big social gathering and alot of fun, but I feel that the kids of today, who sit in the solitude of their own homes,　playing the latest games, are missing out.

Arcades used to be the early teen equivilent of bars and clubs. Sure, you could play video games at home, just as you can drink a beer, or dance to music at home; but just as it seems more fun to drink in a bar with others, it was was the same playing video games in a dark, crowded arcade. Lately, I haven't seen many arcades. When I was growning up, you could go to an arcade on any given corner, even super markets had arcades.

Are there any other 30 somethings out there, that can remember playing video games, solely in arcades? I try to explain the difference to my son, but he doesn't have a clue to what I am talking about.

Video games used to be a social event, now everyone plays them in solidtude.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by ramoth

So while I agree, the arcade is probably dead (although Dave & Busters is doing an OK job of reviving it, kind of), I reject your assertion that people play games in solitude. Hell, just look at this website. Gamingforce. If gaming was a solitary and isolating activity, this website wouldn't exist.

I play online games, too. But I guess the concept of social activity has changed. I can drink a beer and chat online, but going to a bar with people all around you is a greatly different experience. Playing games in an arcade was only part of the fun, I think it was more social than that. Some of the best memories were of playing a game and doing so well, that a crowd of strangers gathered around you in awe. Afterwards, patting you ont he back and maybe buying you a Coke. Things like that can't happen with online play.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by guyinrubbersuit

You don't invite friends over for some Guitar Hero II duels or Halo slaughter or anything like that? You don't have any friends who ask you to come over? Your son doesn't play games with friends or go to a friend's house?

Unfortunatly, my son doesn't have friends come over to play games, or go to their houses. They usually play their games, alone at home and compare notes at school the next day. I think that he is missing out on half the fun. I bought him DDR and Donkey Konga for the GameCube when they came out a few years ago, and MarioParty, in hopes that he could be more social in his gaming, but he never plays them except with me or my wife.

If there were some arcades nearby, I would gladly give him a roll of quarters and send him on his way. I think it would do him good to play some games with kids his own age.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by speculative

This is similar to those people on their cell phones who never actually participate in "real life," whether while driving , shopping for groceries, or picking out a movie at the rental place. I've come to think these people actually have strong social phobia and couldn't go out in public without pretending to not notice those around them or actually take part in life.

I think this is becoming the norm in our society.

Anyway, I remember back in the 90's going to this arcade in a mall by my house. They had this game called "Gal Panic" which was basically a Breakout-type game that no one, and I mean no one,ever played. One day, the arcade was so busy and I was jonesing to play anything, so I plopped a quarter in "Gal Panic"

Well, as you knocked out the blocks on the screen, a digital picture of a girl was slowly revealed underneath. When I finished the level, a nude pic of a "high-school" Japanese girl was revealed. Each level hid a different pic of a Japanese girl. It was the single best arcade day in my life. Now I know how Indiana Jones felt when he found the Ark of the Covenant. Needless to say, half the arcade stopped whatever they were doing and started watching me play this game. That game suddenly became the most popular game in history!

The next day, when I went to that arcade, the game was gone.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It feels weird to be reminising about arcades. They were so much a part of life in the 80's. Makes you wonder what the teens of today will be reminising about 2020's.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Seriously, I remember the Intelle-voice for Mattel's Intellevision system.

"They are talking in a video game? OMG!!"

..and the Sega CD

"They have full motion video in a video game? OMG!!"

There hasn't seemed to be anything lately that has made me say OMG like they used to back in the 80's. Now we just take all the technology for granted.

How ya doing, buddy?