GTL: Gamers Revitalize the New Age of Arcades
By Twin Galaxies Editorial Staff ·
Yesterday's gamers are today's arcade innovators, leading to an uprise in Gaming Cafes, Tabletop Bars, and Bar Arcades like Dave & Buster's and Game Haus Cafe. With technical advances and the promise of social sanctuary with like-minded people, modern arcades are much more than just cabinets.
The traditional arcade is once more on the rise, but is it the same type of arcade that dominated the streets back in the 80’s and 90’s, or are we seeing an all new kind of arcade experience with more focus on the community? Also, much as it fell from favor back then, do modern arcades have more staying power now or will they eventually fade just like their predecessor? On this episode of Game Talk Live, host Mandie Roman covers these topics and more alongside her panel of experts, this week joined by Matt Lewis, long-time gamer and cosplayer, Terry Chiu from Game Häus Café, and Robert Workman from Comicbook.com.
The panel starts the discussion with the reasons for the success of the arcade back in the day. With individual machines popping up in places like putt putt courses and bowling alleys, is it fair to say that early arcades were more of a social space than anything else? The panel then looked at the reasons why the arcade may have failed to stick around, especially with the rise of the home market.
"...in middle school, we saw the #arcade as this great egalitarian place where both the cool kids and the #nerds could go. The cool kids would play #DonkeyKong...I liked weirder #games like @atari #Tempest and #LadyBug." -Terry Chiu of @gamehauscafe
— GameTalkLive (@GameTalkLive) May 14, 2018
Live: https://t.co/sdxssVAIRL pic.twitter.com/63bfNkwdKz
The topic then turns to the fighting game community and their roots and continued support in arcades. The panel discusses what separates the FGC from other gaming communities, and how arcades can and have capitalized on those differences. The panel also looks at the rise of redemption style games, and whether arcades will trend more towards ticket collecting games over traditional coin-op single play games.
"I think that a huge element of @RedemptionGames is also generational. When I was 6 or 7-years-old, nothing was more appealing than, 'I’m going to go to @ChuckECheeses and play the big spin the wheel, #WheelOfFurtune or #SkeeBall.'" -@magumausagi
— GameTalkLive (@GameTalkLive) May 14, 2018
Live: https://t.co/sdxssVAIRL pic.twitter.com/7C5mGfxqEw
The panel then looks at the effect nostalgia has on the rise of arcades, and whether that is a sustainable resource. Discussion also looks at the availability of arcades in the modern age, and how new technology like VR can have an impact on the scene.
"We couldn't find a local #gaming café to go to...Four and a half years later we're still here!" -Terry Chiu of @gamehauscafe, on opening a #tabletop #gaming cafe#Glandal #SoCal #Gamers
— GameTalkLive (@GameTalkLive) May 14, 2018
Full Episode: https://t.co/sdxssVAIRL pic.twitter.com/gqiYA5od8s
Finally, the panel looks at the rise of tabletop games in places like Game Häus Café, and how people interact with each other when they are visiting an arcade as opposed to playing against each other online. With the focus on personal interaction, is it easier for people to "behave" when they are at an arcade?
"A big problem with #Online #games is the level of #toxicity... Places like #tabletop games or #arcades..really open up to anybody. You can go...and feel like you belong." -@thedcd
— GameTalkLive (@GameTalkLive) May 14, 2018
Full Episode: https://t.co/sdxssVAIRL pic.twitter.com/IggNppkJVH
This episode of Game Talk Live has wrapped up for today, but you can catch it in its entirety in the video embedded above. Meanwhile, don't miss out on the previous episode of Game Talk Live in which expert panellists discuss Twitch Bounties and their ability to empower creators.