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I went to a Dave and Buster's for the first time in many years last week, and couldn't believe the number of people who were lining up playing games, especially

I went to a Dave and Buster's for the first time in many years last week, and couldn't believe the number of people who were lining up playing games, especially the VR ones. Is it just me, or are arcade games making a comeback of sorts?

extr 8y ago
I would agree, my city has seen two arcade bars open up in the last year or two and both are incredibly popular. VR is cool but neither one of them has one, here the draw is usually some type of craft beer tie-in, one has a serve yourself bar (with a carefully selected draft list) and distributes electronic cards to track your tab, and the other one has a micro-brewery in the back. They're located close to and serve as a really natural extension of a typical craft brewery scene, where people bring their kids and dogs to the breweries for the day and eat/drink/hangout for hours. Having games around just gives you a reason to stay longer, now there's something for kids to do and it's not purely an alcohol consumption event. It's not like D&B where you're on the hunt to win tickets and prizes, they're actually focused on stocking games that are fun. Who wants to hang out and play legal gambling simulator 2019 when you have all the classics and name-brand modern stuff to choose from. Playing NFL Blitz 2000 is a shitload of fun and I'm willing to blow a lot of quarters proving to my mates I'm the undisputed champ. Same with DDR/Mortal Kombat/Crazy Taxi/Pinball/Skiball and all the other stuff they stock. Nothing like the games mentioned in this article.
jedberg 8y ago
I think a big reason arcades were popular before was because the home gaming experience wasn't the same, since the arcades had big screens and better equipment. I think VR brings us back there -- most people can't yet afford the best VR helmets with motion platforms. So you go to the arcade to get that.
phkahler 8y ago
>> Is it just me, or are arcade games making a comeback of sorts? It's you. The heyday for arcades was in the early 1980s. Every corner drug store had a game or two. Every bowling alley had a room full of games. The local ice cream shop had a few table-top games, as did the local movie theater. They were everywhere. Sometimes we'd decide where to go based on which games were where. Going to a big arcade was a thing too, but today they are the only place left that has these tihngs. BTW, this whole thing reminds me that I won big at Dave & Busters recently and I need to go back and see if that's reproducible. Big ticket prize seemed easy to get once I played with the right goal in mind.

extr 8y ago

I would agree, my city has seen two arcade bars open up in the last year or two and both are incredibly popular. VR is cool but neither one of them has one, here the draw is usually some type of craft beer tie-in, one has a serve yourself bar (with a carefully selected draft list) and distributes electronic cards to track your tab, and the other one has a micro-brewery in the back. They're located close to and serve as a really natural extension of a typical craft brewery scene, where people bring their kids and dogs to the breweries for the day and eat/drink/hangout for hours. Having games around just gives you a reason to stay longer, now there's something for kids to do and it's not purely an alcohol consumption event. It's not like D&B where you're on the hunt to win tickets and prizes, they're actually focused on stocking games that are fun. Who wants to hang out and play legal gambling simulator 2019 when you have all the classics and name-brand modern stuff to choose from. Playing NFL Blitz 2000 is a shitload of fun and I'm willing to blow a lot of quarters proving to my mates I'm the undisputed champ. Same with DDR/Mortal Kombat/Crazy Taxi/Pinball/Skiball and all the other stuff they stock. Nothing like the games mentioned in this article.

jedberg 8y ago

I think a big reason arcades were popular before was because the home gaming experience wasn't the same, since the arcades had big screens and better equipment. I think VR brings us back there -- most people can't yet afford the best VR helmets with motion platforms. So you go to the arcade to get that.

phkahler 8y ago

>> Is it just me, or are arcade games making a comeback of sorts? It's you. The heyday for arcades was in the early 1980s. Every corner drug store had a game or two. Every bowling alley had a room full of games. The local ice cream shop had a few table-top games, as did the local movie theater. They were everywhere. Sometimes we'd decide where to go based on which games were where. Going to a big arcade was a thing too, but today they are the only place left that has these tihngs. BTW, this whole thing reminds me that I won big at Dave & Busters recently and I need to go back and see if that's reproducible. Big ticket prize seemed easy to get once I played with the right goal in mind.