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You should be exceedingly worried. If Sega has no ownership of arcade locations, they lose a very big reason to make machines for the arcade. For Sega, the money was in owning the complete operation.
Konami don't have their own arcade shops, but they still make many arcade machines. Sega would do the same thing.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So they are not operating Sega World or Arcade Centre, but still making arcade the machine? If that is the case I am fine. I was rather worry about the end of Arcade. Especially with Racing Games.
You should be exceedingly worried. If Sega has no ownership of arcade locations, they lose a very big reason to make machines for the arcade. For Sega, the money was in owning the complete operation.
I do miss SegaWorld London though.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You only find some 20+ year old aracade machines in cinemas and in adult enternainment venues and the like. Due to youth protection laws there is no difference between gambling machines and arcade machines, which turn those places into 18+ entertainment stuff.
Actually in Japan I believe the arcades also have curfews for kids under 18.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Konami don't have their own arcade shops, but they still make many arcade machines. Sega would do the same thing.
Maybe not the best example since they have seemingly switched to pachinko as their primary business model.
:’( Spent three weeks in Tokyo for my honeymoon a few years ago. I know of no experience that for me can rival the type of joy of spending late nights in an arcade (not saying it’s the pinnacle, just a unique experience). Even my wife who is a non-gamer found it a thrill. Perhaps with the shut downs it will consolidate to a few profitable centers that can remain. Individuals can’t afford Dancerush Stardum or those gu…
I grew up, and spent most of money, at the arcades. Luckily, a friend introduced me to MAME 22 years ago. I still play Golden Axe, Alien Storm, Altered Beast almost every day after work. I actually prefer MAME to the real thing. Wireless controllers, pause, auto fire settings and whatnot. I wish Gens was as alive as MAME.
The perennial fighting games and giant robot battles still pull crowds from their appreciators, as something of the core of the arcade business. That, and the two floors of UFO crane games still seem to hold fairly strong sway from what I've seen. The pandemic situation made things worse for arcades, but like many things that you've heard of many times before it only accelerated an inevitable decline. I think the move here would be first to downsize, then maybe specialize.
Note Sega is divesting from arcades (the places of business), but they still make machines that go into arcades.
GameWorks, the American-based joint venture started by Sega and Dreamworks, closed all of its remaining locations last month. RIP the downtown Seattle arcade.
On the upside, Round 1 is steadily expanding throughout the US. For those who don't know, Round 1 is a Japanese arcade company that also has US locations, and they import many only-intended-for-Japan arcade cabinets to said locations, including some that are only in Japanese. Their rhythm game sections in particular are basically unsurpassed by American standards, it's like stepping into a slice of Tokyo.
GameWorks, the American-based joint venture started by Sega and Dreamworks, closed all of its remaining locations last month. RIP the downtown Seattle arcade.
Wow, I was about to ask if anyone knew what this meant for GameWorks. Even if I was too young for the golden age of American arcades, I’m glad I got to experience their twilight. The vertically-integrated, destination-class concept was clearly the end-state for the industry, but it was still a blast to go. We still have barcades, which are fun, though they tend to be exclusively retro-gaming, appealing first and fore…