Talk:Amusement arcade

Pinballs?

Should it here, or should it in some other article, mention that pinball machines sometimes existed in what were loosely described as "video arcades" or vice versa? --Daniel C. Boyer 01:03, 19 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Here would be a good place. But it should also be noted that their presence declined as video games become more popular. It should probably also be noted that they declined in popularity with the arcade owners because fixing them was so costly compared to video games and that retrofitting video game cabinets into new games was easy, but pinballs couldn't (normally) be retrofitted. —Frecklefoot 15:03, 19 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Purikura?

Are you sure that Purikura means "photo booth"? My understanding was that Purikura was a particular brand of photo-based machine (abbreviation of "Princess Clara"?) which also had several spinoffs. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hyphz (talk • contribs) 18:19, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

Purikura is a combination of the japanese katankana for print (purinto) and club (kurabu) = purikura — Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.220.19.21 (talk) 09:56, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

Decline date?

"This decline is due mainly to the fact that after 1994 arcade game companies failed to stay ahead of the technology curve and would release games that had graphics equal to or worse than the video game consoles of the time."

I really question the date of when Arcades supposedly declined. In 1994, Primal Rage was released, which was a major sucess in the arcades. In 1995 MK3 was released. A big name in arcades, as was Street Fighter Alpha, and Sega Rally Championship. This is among others in the following years of the late 90s. Honestly I would put the decline around when the ps2/gamecube/xbox generation came. That would be from around 2000 onwards. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.0.101.141 (talk) 02:36, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

while it is true that there were some major arcade hits (Soul Calibur 2, Virtua Fighter 4, Dance Dance Revolution), most arcades in Europe and the United States closed because the lack of new visitors. Playstation 1 and Dreamcast could rival most arcade titles at the time and the arcades didn't draw new crowds because it was no longer the pinnacle of computer gaming. So the decline of the arcade machines was rather with the appearance of PS1, Dreamcast and 3D accellerator cards for PCs. Felsir 11:47, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

I have to agree with the 1994 date, as though it surprised even me to see that listed, one should take note that it states 'decline' and not 'death.' Arcades are more or less dead as we used to know them, I know that in my city alone we went from having one in each mall to just one, and it's a Namco Time-Out featuring primarily Namco products (Time-Out used to be independant, sold out to Namco when arcades were declining many a year ago). -- Dan N. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.21.144.217 (talk) 05:07, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

But still, until '97/'98, consoles lagged behind arcades. Basically, all 2d games were better on arcades, and just about all 3d ones were better on consoles. Is that a safe conclusion? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.122.63.142 (talk) 13:39, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Actually, by Wikipedia standards, all this discussion is moot. We really need a reference that states when the arcades started to decline, which states when, where and why. Just discussing it here without a reference amounts to original research. Just trying to help things progress. — Frecklefσσt | Talk 13:13, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

I have statistics from Vending Times for 1996, 2004, 2005, and 2006. I'm attempting to find stats prior to 1996. Here is what I have so far:

1996 Total Revenue $6,049,705,000 (all amusement revenue)

2006 Total Revenue $6,218,000,000

For that period, amusement revenue has been flat, but has not decreased. The numbers can be broken down by catagory. For instance, video game revenue in 1996 was $1,768,000,000. In 2006 it was $935,000,000. So in that period, video game revenue was reduced by about half. In 1996 redemption revenue was $265,000,000. In 2006 it was $868,000,000. So that catagory grew by a factor of three. These numbers come from the Vending Times Census of the Industry. They are numbers supplied to Vending Times through a yearly census they take of the industry. There is too much information for me to try to give here. The numbers I just gave don't include revenue from pinball or skill cranes....Asher196 (talk) 19:04, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

This is exactly the type of referenced information the article needs. Of course, pre-1996 numbers would be invaluable. Thanks for taking the lead on this! — Frecklefσσt | Talk 14:20, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

I would have to concur with 1994 as the start of the decline. I recall going to a good number of the numerous arcades in the Las Vegas, NV, area, and seeing practically nobody during the weekdays, and only on Friday and Saturday nights did these arcades experience any business. I can recall by 1996 that many arcades were just plain abandoned by the consumer, though still staffed to the mall or venue hours, which means at least $50 a day had to be paid to a skeleton crew (one full time, one part time for five days, and four part times for weekends). I think most arcades kept carrying games that were WAY past their prime, like Samurai Shodown, Mortal Kombat 3, Killer Instinct, etc. while these games were translated to the home console (despite some versions of translation being shoddy in my opinion), and many people just had no need to go to the arcade after that. The only arcade that was crowded in Vegas during these years, that wasn't in a casino, was Mary K's, because it was near UNLV, and seemed to be bustling with crowds all the time until the moronic owner switched it to an Internet cafe and disappeared within weeks of that bad idea. (Mary K's, though near UNLV, was also in a crime-ridden neighborhood, and ergo, most people didn't need to go to them for Internet cafe services.) Sierraoffline444 (talk) 04:22, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

Overlapping

I think this article should be merged with "arcade game". It is useless to have two overlapping articles on the same subject --128.214.205.4 14:19, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

I agree with the anon here -- I've been disambiguating arcade tonight, and many, many pages link "arcade-style game" (or the equivalent) to "video arcade" sted "arcade game", which is pretty poor. A video arcade is not much more than a place where arcade games are played. The content from this article on the arcades themselves, on video arcades and culture, the decline of the arcade, etc. could easily be added. Woodshed 07:18, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

I disagree. While a video arcade is a place where arcade games are played, there is more information that goes along with arcades themselves than is appropriate in the arcade game article. There was a whole culture that encompassed the 1980s arcades when they were popular in the United States. While it goes largely unexplored in this article (so far), it may be expanded to include that information in the future. I think a distinct article on this topic is appropriate. — Frecklefoot | Talk 16:00, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

I agree. The same topics are being described twice. Frecklefoot, you are describing video game which is not the topic at hand.

An amusement arcade is simply a place without arcade games. Redundancy is unavoidable in this case. Kortoso (talk) 23:44, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

Confusing line, added Clarifyme tag

"presently families are the largest arcade constituent, mainly because the lack of standard new games being released in arcades (arcades now are comprised mostly of deluxe games..." -- The person who wrote this apparently assumes that readers will understand what he/she is talking about. I for one do not. What's a "standard new game"? What's a "deluxe game"? Why should the former be less popular with families and the latter moreso? -- 201.50.251.197 14:14, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

Etymology

Can anyone give information about how the word "arcade" came to be used for this meaning? Balfa 15:43, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Merge Game Center

"Game center" is the Japanese synonym of the video arcade, I believe. The Japanese article defines the game center as a "facility where arcade game machines are installed." The word "arcade game" exists but for the building they use "game center" even if the place is small. The two articles should be merged unless the Game Center article is meant to cover arcades in Japan. Shawnc 13:56, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I have to agree with a merge. But what about a larger article that incorporates other kind of amusements, like medal games, skeeball, etc, e.g. the Family fun center addresses kiddie places like Chuck E. Cheese. Maybe a Entertainment complex article is what's needed? [[Ewlyahoocom 06:29, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

Merging sounds like a good idea. Even if they are region specific, they are at the core the same concept and should be in the same article. My two cents. (Guyinblack25 ^talk 22:16, 6 August 2007 (UTC))

2000s

"However, other games, such as Sega's Cycraft driving simulation game use newer features such four speaker surround sound with a subwoofer for low frequency effects."

Sega was using 4 speaker surround and subwoofers back in 1995 with Super GT.----Asher196 (talk) 16:46, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with Image:Galaga.png

The image Image:Galaga.png is used in this article under a claim of fair use, but it does not have an adequate explanation for why it meets the requirements for such images when used here. In particular, for each page the image is used on, it must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page. Please check

• That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's description page for the use in this article.
• That this article is linked to from the image description page.

This is an automated notice by FairuseBot. For assistance on the image use policy, see Wikipedia:Media copyright questions. --23:25, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

German link

The link to the German wikipedia shows a different topic. Spielhalle is mostly considered to be a casino-like place. 134.99.38.61 (talk) 13:10, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

I don't speak German, so I can't resolve the problem. But if you do speak German, find the correct article on the German wikipedia and change the link from this article to that one. If it doesn't exist, you're welcome to translate this one to German (if you're fluent in both German and English). — Frecklefσσt | Talk 16:24, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

Commonwealth English Redirect?

In my experience, in the United Kingdom and especially in the 1980's the Video Arcade was usually called the 'Arcade Hall', sometimes shortened to just 'Arcades'. Though the games played in the local Arcade Hall could also include a few pre-computer era games, like pinball. Perhaps, Video Arcade, though more or less self-apparent in meaning, is a uniquely American expression; I don't know what they call it in Australia? I would put a link in to this article or redirect for people that search for 'Arcade Hall' but I don't know how to. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.193.61.125 (talk) 15:52, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

To create a redirect:

1. Create a link somewhere with the term you want to redirect, in your case [[Arcade Hall]] (or, more correctly [[Arcade hall]] since it isn't a proper noun). It will show up as a broken link (i.e. red or with a question mark after it depending on your settings)
2. Click on it
3. An empty editor window will open for you to fill in content
4. Insert #REDIRECT [[Video arcade]]
5. Save the page (with a summary of what you did)

Then anyone clicking on a link for "arcade hall" will be automagically redirected to Video arcade. But this is all moot since redirects should only be created when a need exists. If there already aren't broken links going to arcade hall, there isn't a need to create a redirect for the term. But you're welcome to add what they are called in the UK (with a valid reference would be even better). Happy editing! — Frecklefσσt | Talk 16:24, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

I can't do that because I do not have a login address with wikipedia. What also concerns me is that though Arcade Hall is a very commonly used word in Britain to mean Video Arcade, arcade hall I think could also be used, much less commonly, to describe a kind of architectural feature within a building.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.193.61.125 (talk • contribs)

Wow, are unregistered users forbidden from creating articles now? This is all moot, however. Did you read my response above? There is no need to create a redirect (yet). I already checked, and no one uses the term "arcade hall". I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying there is no need for the redirect page. It sounds like you are concerned about the confusion of the term with another one, an architectural feature. That's what disambiguation pages are for, not redirects. Fear not, there is no need right now.

If you really want to create articles, create an account. It's free and offers more privacy. Also, sign your posts on Talk pages with ~~~~ (user name and time are automatically inserted). — Frecklefσσt | Talk 17:15, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

Lots of people use the term Arcade Hall in Britain, just search the term Arcade Hall in google images and you get loads pictures of British Video Arcades! Are you saying I made up the term!? Never wondered why no British people comment on this page? Amusement Arcade is almost as good a term as Arcade Hall though Amusement Arcades is a very, very quaint term, it almost sounds 19th century, very outdated and hardly ever used by people that would have played arcade games in the late 70's and 1980's. Thanks for the information about disambiguation pages, I did not know they existed until now. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.193.61.125 (talk) 17:23, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

No, I'm not trying to imply that you made up the term. I simply said that no one here on the 'pedia has tried to link to the term yet. If you come across the term and it results in a broken link, go ahead and create the redirect page. But if you want to create it just so that it exists in the off-chance that someone someday may use it, please don't. We generally don't like to create pages until they're needed. Unused pages clutter up the 'pedia.

I also said that you can mention in the article that video arcades are called arcade halls in Britain. Then in the chance that we ever need a redirect page for the term, users redirected to this article will understand why they were redirected here. Peace, love, joy. — Frecklefσσt | Talk 18:55, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

Confusing Introduction

I have confusion with this line: "A video arcade (also known as an amusement arcade in the United Kingdom, game center (ゲームセンター, gēmusentā?) in Japan, fliperama in Brazil or as an "arcade") is a venue where people play arcade video games that are housed in colourfully-decorated cabinets"

"...in Japan, fliperama in Brazil or as an "arcade") is..." This is specificly the trouble point. I do not know what its trying to say, so I cant really correct it. But clearly, something strange is going on in that sentence. 74.128.56.194 (talk) 09:39, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Article name

Copied from my talkpage:

Excuse me, where was the discussion to change the name from Video arcade to Amusement arcade? Seems like there should have been something on the talk page.--Asher196 (talk) 14:04, 3 July 2011 (UTC)

The article is about amusement arcades so it made sense to give it that name - I didn't think the move would be contentious so there was no discussion. Do you feel that the previous name was more accurate? SilkTork *^{Tea time} 14:12, 3 July 2011 (UTC)

"Penny Arcade"

The usage of Penny Arcade is up for discussion, see Talk:Penny_Arcade_(webcomic)#Requested_move -- 65.94.79.6 (talk) 03:25, 28 June 2013 (UTC)

Citation needed for usage of "penny cascades" or "penny falls"

I've always understood those to refer to particular types of machines, and a google search will show many machines for sale under those names. Does anyone have a reliable source that those terms have been used to refer to the arcades themselves, rather than just specific machines within them? 82.10.238.127 (talk) 17:15, 10 May 2014 (UTC)

Merger proposal

I propose that Arcade game be merged into Amusement arcade. Reason: multiple cases of redundant information. Discuss. Kortoso (talk) 23:40, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

References

I updated the inline citations with formatting and pertinent information. Most were just a title with a URL; now they have author, date, publisher and access date information. I left the last citation as-is since I'm not sure what to do with it. It's just a link to a page with three links to photos of old Chuck-E-Cheese token cards, and I'm not sure it's a sufficient source for the claim it supports. Please message me with any comments or concerns.--Tremulocity (talk) 05:08, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Edit: Oops, I just tried saving it and I didn't know you couldn't use archive.today. So there's still a dead link since web.archive.org doesn't archive that site. Sorry.--Tremulocity (talk) 05:11, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Electro-mechanical games

Made a link to a subcategory of Arcade Games rather than electro-mechanical, which furnished a dead-end for most readers. Kortoso (talk) 22:42, 12 June 2015 (UTC)