Arcades seem to not work in the US anymore. In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong (the major scenes where I have stayed in Asia), we still have very good arcades with strong followings. Even in smaller cities there are arcades doing well. From what I see of Japan, it seems to be similar (better in fact). If anything, competition has forced some of the ‘lesser’ arcades to close, but what happens is that more people flock to the ‘major’ arcades.
However, the love doesn’t seem to be there in the US. When I was in Socal, I was a regular to Super and R1 for the five months I was there… I basically made it out to Super for WNF (though I didn’t always participate in the tourney) every week except two I think. On top of that I went to R1 twice a week. And I ate it up in gas costs, it was a 120 mile drive (both directions combined) and, while in China I normally spent an hour plus on the subway to get to the arcade, I only spent a few dollars for a train ticket, as opposed to $20+ for gas (not to mention driving in traffic is, really, really annoying) >_< And even when I’m willing to drive the distance, there is a limited number of other people who will go. In China there is normally a few dudes at very least who will show up everyday (and weekends would be packed), whereas in Socal you had to make sure friends were going to show up to the arcade to get any decent games in. That might just be a cultural thing.
Anyway I’m not surprised that Super is in as much trouble as it is, it didn’t seem like anyone went outside of WNF/TRB. And the music crowd seemed to go to R1 (which makes sense, they had the newest music games there). It sucks but what can you do
Wow, that was painful to read Watsons struggles as an arcade owner.
The most eye-catching part of that was 'And for what? ’ The sacrifices and mental toll that comes along with sustaining an unsustainable business.
This is the part where I usually rant how arcades are a long dead business outside of Japan (and even that…) and managing one with dated video games is nothing but insanity, but I hope he can turn things around.
I can see and feel he has a passion for the ol’ arcade scene but theres absolutely no reason for him to be suffering this much. financially and mentally.
I hope he makes the right descision for his own sake, even if that means closing doors.
Actually, one other thing worth pointing out is that fighting games are like, the least profitable game one can put in an arcade, since one of the players gets to play ‘for free’ if he wins. Behind them is probably shoot em ups. You can’t run an arcade without music/racing games and especially without ‘casual’ games (like pachinko, gambling machines, photo booths). Focusing on one genre (and one unprofitable genre at that) is kind of a bad idea, especially without actual arcade cabs.
Still as a FG enthuisiast I love the idea and I am really humbled to have had a chance to play at Super for so long.
Super already has the flat fee pay model for casual and tournament events (which is most of the week).
Mike is right that arcade exclusive titles are necessary, especially if you factor in the casual crowds which is a much bigger demographic than any hardcore competitive scene (that won’t even come out to support).
In case anyone hasn’t realized it yet, donations are not a real long term solution, not only for arcades on life support but also for the FGC as a whole. Donations provide a very temporary ease for the real problem which is lack of profitability and stagnant growth in the community/consumer base as a whole. It’s a sad joke that people can throw around the term “esports” but an arcade with the deepest roots in the community that hosts weekly tournaments watched worldwide can barely stay afloat. And you have “top players” who have to beg for paypal donations to fund their “professional” lifestyle. Really?
That’s why esports are retarded, it’s not fucking sport, it’s not a fucking livelihood, it’s a fucking hobby, this esports shit is poison.
I guess that’s a completely different subject tho I’ll stop here.
Personally i dont feel this is correct at this point in time.
Lets take funland london as an example, it had loads of driving, dance whatever it had pretty much everything from fighters to photobooths and it was in the heart of london and it still had to close, even the casuals dont use arcades anymore
Society changes it’s just one of those things that cannot be avoided, or changed.
#1 I doubt you have read Ayn Rand so you are just name dropping shit that other people tell you that you should disagree with and you follow like the political sheep you are. #2 you calling bullshit got proved to be wrong so take your defeat like a man instead of lashing out at people and going on some huffington post inspired rant. #3 It isn’t just about business, there is a lot of emotion involved because of peoples love of the sport, not money. Anyone who loved money would not operate an arcade.
If I were in the same situation, i would partner with an existing niche business as an attempt to create synergy between two groups of enthusiast. First I would try the brewpub culture. Any person willing to spend 6 bucks for a pint of beer would be willing to play an old video game while doing it.
You are right, it creates unrealistic expectations from gamers who think they can make money off their hobby instead of persueing college or work.
Part of the issue is that handful of individuals worldwide in all the competitive gaming scenes could make a living. Most of a players winnings end up going to expenses like travel and income tax.
There like 2 maybe 3 Star Craft II players who can (actually) making a living of their winnings, and that will only stay as long as the game stays reliant and Blizzard feeds into it. Also before you look at each player’s winnings factor in their cost for travel, air fare, hotels, food. And Keep in mind Star Craft is the exception not the rule. Yes the current top favorite makes in winnings more than most doctors, but that is out of how many players. http://www.sc2earnings.com/ only reports the top 50 players of what could be hundreds of players. The 50th player for the top Americans division only makes $2,000 in winnings a year, that doesn’t cover travel costs.
The other Professional gamer in all of eSports, MLG and the FGC ect… might have just barely the same number of people who makes a viable salary. A good number of the top competitive FGC gamers still live with their parents, no offense to you pros out there but last thing we need is a teen with delusions of grandeur thinking he can make a decent salary from Street Fighter.
And those who make a living does so with a combination of tournament cash prize winnings and corporate sponsorship. And those corporate sponsors are fleeting, you are their sales person to sell their merch and showing other players how good you are with Brand X merchandise. Moment you start to loose, use another brand controller, or the company have to start downsizing that sponsored player now becomes a unemployed gamer living in his mom’s basement.
Slight change of topic
I truly wish watson all the luck in the world keeping his business and lively hood afloat
This is exactly why i say just give it up. Guys who care about the arcade scenes are old people w/ priorities. They went home & became a family man. The young ones dont have the nostalgic like we experience. Elephants screaming, japanese dude singing daytona, & announcers yelling boomshakalaka at the background as your opponent goes to the change machine determine to beat you. I have about 17 arcade cabs at my home, got all the best fighting games ever head2head(Hyper Fighting, ST, CvS2, Vampire Savior, Rival School, Hokuto No Ken, Alpha series, KOF98, etc…), have 4 player setups of Wrestlefest, Knights of Valour, Gladiator, Oriental Legends etc, shmups like DonPaichi & Striker 1945 plus none of this get hardly any play. They would rather bring their own setup & play Street Fighter 4, Marvel3, & Blazblu.
I agree about the whole graphics thing, i think part of the problem about playing old fighting games is that they are pretty much in everyone’s home already thru emulation. Why pay when i can play at home. So for a successful business you need to be able to have an environment that can’t be emulated. From what i’ve read they already do this with weekly tournaments. So if they aren’t coming what’s the point of keeping it afloat. Dont be that captain going down w/ his sunken ship.
^Dude your post makes me sad, but its true. Alot of us old guys Guiled up. Watson I really do hope everything turns out for the better with your new plan.
Those who still longed for the arcade experience, grew up, and bought their own machines. This stream monster next gen crowd is a weird bunch, difficult group to lure in and make revenue off.
bad emulation too, since it feels nothing like the real arcade experience. Eg compare MAME detailed options available (refresh rate, filters, brightness, controls, volume, inputs etc) to Capcom’s options for recent 3S, DS:R and Jojo.
the first tries more to bring the experience closer to the original arcade, while the second tries just to push forward a product without any attention to minor details that make emulation worthy.
I used to visit that place in early 2000 when it had still a decent line-up of arcades of all genres. fighters too like 3S, Guilty Gear, KOF2000, MvC1, Tekken 4 etc SF4 too a little later on.
but it was impossible to play more than 1 hour. very expensive. In older times you could play 10 credits with the same coin.
I wouldn’t consider inviting your friends to play arcade machines in your basement “the arcade experience”. I may not be entirely qualified to comment on this due to growing up in a generation without the arcade being a major player. The closest thing to an arcade right now would be LAN parties and tournaments and even those don’t really take the role that the arcade had. Arcades are more or less a neutral site for individuals to play games on a regular basis. Pretty much a gym for those that play video games. Sure you could painstakingly spend the money required to get every single gym exercise in your own home, but would it really replace the gym? I would make a witty observation on part of the reason arcades have died, but I’ve already been flagged enough.
If we can have gyms and movie theaters why can’t we have arcades? It doesn’t even have to be an arcade in the traditional sense. We could have everything be on consoles like Next Level Arcade. Just as long as we don’t start playing RTS games, FPS games, and MOBAs in these place. I dread the day when those become arcade games.
Well would having those games attract more people? It may become profitable to have both fighting games and those types of games to keep people coming.
Yeah or maybe merge with a video rental store and a record store while you’re at it.
Honestly, sell the arcade before it drives you into financial ruin.
petran79 it’s possible then we might have crossed paths then, i used to be there all the time 2001 to 2004
But yeah when you think at 50p a game and at times more for other games in the capital city and it was pretty busy at times and it still couldn’t pay the rent what chance has anybody else got?
