Comments on: Sega’s Four Point Arcade Revitalization Plan

By: fuzaku2

fuzaku2 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:05:21 +0000

Second and fourth point sound pretty stupid. The idea of introducing "casual games" is an extremely dangerous one, since at least 90% of them end up just being bad games advertised to people who are unable to tell just how bad they are. Welcoming casual games means welcoming bad ones, and lots of them (compare: shovelware-syndrome of Wii and NDS). Even core games can be played casually and by casual players (they'll probably suck at them, but this is their problem and they can work it out for themselves by lowering the difficulty level, aiming for survival instead of hi-score, competing with other casual/bad players etc). And even if you're casual beyond any help, there's always the UFO catcher left. Floor space in game centers is much more limited and valuable than shelf space in console game retail stores. I'd hate to see cabinets of classic games disappear in order to make room for these new casual ones.

The idea of making cabinets more simple is another grave mistake. Making cabinets for multiple arcade boards will just make them look and work more like the game consoles everyone owns at home, so why should one bother going to the game center then? The NeoGeo MVS especially suffered from this outside of Japan, since people owning a home system just used the arcade version as a means to try out the new games, they would just buy the ones they liked for their NeoGeo at home. With the advent of online competition, arcade ports for home systems are now more capable of replacing game center visits than ever. So what arcades need these days is clearly the opposite: cabinets need to be more flashy, with multiple screens and more complex (or more intuitive, for that matter) controls. The rythm games gave arcades a period of revival because their controls were something your home consoles hadn't. Gundam Senjou no Kizuna was a success because of its impressive simulation of a mobile suit's cockpit. Here, the PSP-port will never come close to recreating the feel of the original cabinet. Ports of such games will be more of a supplement rather than a competitor. Cabinets in order to stay attractive need to do things that your home consoles don't, and therefore they need to get more customized to their game than ever.

The first one will be interesting to watch, though.

By: fuzaku2

fuzaku2 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:05:21 +0000

Second and fourth point sound pretty stupid. The idea of introducing "casual games" is an extremely dangerous one, since at least 90% of them end up just being bad games advertised to people who are unable to tell just how bad they are. Welcoming casual games means welcoming bad ones, and lots of them (compare: shovelware-syndrome of Wii and NDS). Even core games can be played casually and by casual players (they'll probably suck at them, but this is their problem and they can work it out for themselves by lowering the difficulty level, aiming for survival instead of hi-score, competing with other casual/bad players etc). And even if you're casual beyond any help, there's always the UFO catcher left. Floor space in game centers is much more limited and valuable than shelf space in console game retail stores. I'd hate to see cabinets of classic games disappear in order to make room for these new casual ones.

The idea of making cabinets more simple is another grave mistake. Making cabinets for multiple arcade boards will just make them look and work more like the game consoles everyone owns at home, so why should one bother going to the game center then? What arcades need these days is clearly the opposite: cabinets need to be more flashy, with multiple screens and more complex (or more intuitive, for that matter) controls. The rythm games gave arcades a period of revival because their controls were something your home consoles hadn't. Gundam Senjou no Kizuna was a success because of its impressive simulation of a mobile suit's cockpit. Cabinets need to do things that your home consoles don't, and therefore they need to get more customized to their game than ever.

The first one will be interesting to watch, though.

By: abasm

abasm — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:41:57 +0000

It seems that, nowadays, arcades are relegated to rhythm and light gun games exclusively. My local laundromat has a couple of standard Neo-Geo cabinets with Metal Slug and Marvel vs Capcom. I think I've had more fun there than at any arcade in recent memory.

By: Sami Elo

Sami Elo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:59:21 +0000

This is very promising. Sega seems to have a good concept for revitalizing arcades.

By: Mazen

Mazen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:14:45 +0000

I visited the largest indoor theme park in the world Sega Republic in Dubai its the largest inside building area I've ever seen “there is a massive Sonic/Robotonic Roller coaster” also the theme park is frustratingly filled with people,
there are posters on the wall saying Sega will open 7 more huge themeparks in the Middle East.

By: Humberto Saabedra

Humberto Saabedra — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:22:52 +0000

SEGA's plans might work to revitalize a market used to the amusement center, but it really needs to make a concerted effort to get people talking about arcades again in the US.

I figured I would be spending more time and money on arcades at this point, but I find myself struggling to even find one that isn't outside city limits and actually has a decent selection of games and the GameWorks location near Gamestop HQ is getting worse in quality.

By: honorless

honorless — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:29:41 +0000

Interesting. They're probably not the only ones, but Cave offered the same “revenue-sharing” option with Deathsmiles 2. I wondered if game centers were taking them up on it; guess it must be an attractive option if Sega's planning the same thing.

By: malek86

malek86 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:33:12 +0000

I'm all for more arcade games. I sure hope Sega can revitalize the business (though it's looking difficult right now).