The Top half of your post is only half true though (just my opinion)
Alot of Arcade managers or owners do NOT know what’s hip, what’s new, what’s interesting enough to at least gain a miniature fan base at there local gaming location, let alone the type of games that appeal to the local competitor.
The thrill of competition is what creates a solid gaming community, no matter what the game, DDR MAX #2 and all those after it, San-Francisco Rush, War, Soul Calibur, NBA Hangtime, NBA JAM T.E., Street Fighter (under all plat forms) Virtua Fighter & Tekken (You get my point).
People blame online gaming, or home console systems for the Arcade drought but in all honesty along with that is total ignorance (Number #1) on behalf of the men & women in charge, as well as the gamers/competitors.
The most recent generation is all about shit talk, THEN learning the game later.
People usually read about a certain game, gain interest through word of mouth, find a glitch or two, hop online, then butcher it and label themselves “The Best”.
Gamers now-a-days like to hide behind there internet or headsets, not really looking for a true challenge.
If we all REALLY believe in leaving something for our children too go to with there friends, if we all truelly believe in the thrill of competition, we would host gatherings, or attend our local arcades, show some interest, put ourselves out there a bit, someone in charge will see, take heed to your lead by example tactics, and possibly take in any helpful information.
Here in Atlanta, I helped start a Tournament scene smack dab in the heart of the city, a local Arcade inside a tourist attraction entitled Underground Atlanta.
Along with some great gamers & friends Clint aka EWDF, EJ aka DAH, Brandon aka Slayer X4, and many more, we convinced the owners to allow me too host tournaments there, they trusted us because when ever we came into there precious lil’ arcade we brought people, we kept the game or games running, even when the casual gamers came in it produced a crowd, it drew attention to an otherwise drab arcade.
I hosted a total of 112 Tournaments at that location and with the help of our gaming community, the money we produced for the couple who ran it and owned it, they retired 12 years before they expected to do so, sold the arcade back in 2004 or 05.
I have made some very good friends and became a part of a larger and still growing family in E.M.S., thanks too myself and others we have a legit scene here, thanks to the South’s big brother Shinblanka we have one of the hottest and largest tournaments held in the south “Final Round”
If I were you guys, I’d post in you thread more often, find some place to meet middle of the road, get those competitive juices flowing, we would love to see some cats from New Mexico come represent themselves.
“Just a suggestion fella’s” !!