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Wait, you guys have arcades where you live?? There used to be a proper arcade in my city years ago but it shut down.
These days the closest we get are a couple of bars that have lots of arcade games. But it’s not the same. Because it feels like a bar, not an arcade, even though arcade machines are there.
Where can I move to that there are real arcades?
Very interesting article, but title isn't super accurate. From the article, JVS is an I/O (or just input?) standard, not video standard.
Asking the question that the title (incorrectly) implies: were there standard formats or codecs in which arcade games encoded their promotional intro videos that would loop to bring in new players? Or was this more or less at the manufacturer's discretion? As one of the most storage-hungry assets compared to game logic, textures, and audio, there must have been tremendous attention placed towards reducing the size of…
> If I can’t go to the arcade, at least I can bring a favourite game home, right? Wait, you guys have arcades where you live?? There used to be a proper arcade in my city years ago but it shut down. These days the closest we get are a couple of bars that have lots of arcade games. But it’s not the same. Because it feels like a bar, not an arcade, even though arcade machines are there. Where can I move to that there a…
Maybe one of these would fit your description: galloping ghost in IL, Asheville pinball museum in NC, Game Galaxy in TN.
> If I can’t go to the arcade, at least I can bring a favourite game home, right? Wait, you guys have arcades where you live?? There used to be a proper arcade in my city years ago but it shut down. These days the closest we get are a couple of bars that have lots of arcade games. But it’s not the same. Because it feels like a bar, not an arcade, even though arcade machines are there. Where can I move to that there a…
Can you describe what a "real" or "proper" arcade does feel like, if not a place with lots of arcade games? Maybe one of these would fit your description: galloping ghost in IL, Asheville pinball museum in NC, Game Galaxy in TN.
I've got a vintage arcade cab at home, with its old CRT, since a few years now: originally it wasn't a JAMMA cab then someone modified it to be JAMMA because at some point JAMMA "won" in the arcade world. Everything is still working, including the money slots (they're still using old 20 "Francs", belgian coins that is and I still have 4 of these coins). But I wired a button to the pin that adds money: easier/faster. I put one my PCB in "free play" mode too (using dip switches on the PCB itself).
I've got a few original PCBs and some bootlegs, all vintage.
But mostly I'm hooking a Raspberry with a Pi2JAMMA adapter and then I've got thousands of games working (most are crap, some are little gems).
When it's all JAMMA it's convenient: I can just swap PCBs or the Raspberry Pi and turn the machine on and everything just works.
On a semi-related sidenote many criticize old arcade game saying they were "exploitative because you had to put coins" but, honestly, I find that complete bullshit. If you played these games a bit, you could get good at it and finish the game on one credit, playing for 30 minutes or even 45 minutes on one coin.
I can guarantee you: many modern games are much exploitative than these old arcade games. Be it in-game ads or in-game buying or all the A/B testing to make sure its addictive etc.
Another benefit of these old arcade games: they're simpler, which kids do love. My six years old daughter loves our arcade machine and often asks me: "Dad please, can we turn the arcade on?". I don't have to worry about her getting ads or disturbing videos or being spied upon.
Then of course playing Robotron 2084 with two joysticks, as it is meant to be played (no buttons used in that game) is great. The fast-paced action, incredible responsiveness and original controls (one joystick to move in eight directions, the other joystick to fire in eight directions) makes for timeless fun.
I don't play games on PCs / console since a very long time. But once in a while I turn on the good old arcade and play a bit...
It's a great thing to have at home.
Wife loves it: it's in the living room. It has presence too. Visitors typically loves it, even if they're not into videogames at all.
It also doubles as a very convenient laptop stand!
Noooo HN, don't get me started again : ) I've got a vintage arcade cab at home, with its old CRT, since a few years now: originally it wasn't a JAMMA cab then someone modified it to be JAMMA because at some point JAMMA "won" in the arcade world. Everything is still working, including the money slots (they're still using old 20 "Francs", belgian coins that is and I still have 4 of these coins). But I wired a button to…
Asking the question that the title (incorrectly) implies: were there standard formats or codecs in which arcade games encoded their promotional intro videos that would loop to bring in new players? Or was this more or less at the manufacturer's discretion? As one of the most storage-hungry assets compared to game logic, textures, and audio, there must have been tremendous attention placed towards reducing the size of…
It's generally called 'Attract mode', and at least from what I recall from the golden era arcade games (from the mid '80s up until the mid '90s) it's never an intro video, rather something done completely in-engine. Unless you're thinking lasergames, but that's ... all video.
> If I can’t go to the arcade, at least I can bring a favourite game home, right? Wait, you guys have arcades where you live?? There used to be a proper arcade in my city years ago but it shut down. These days the closest we get are a couple of bars that have lots of arcade games. But it’s not the same. Because it feels like a bar, not an arcade, even though arcade machines are there. Where can I move to that there a…