Hi all! I run a video game arcade in London, UK.
It's one of the last video game only (no ticket or redemption machines) locations in England, that still imports new titles from Asia.
In no particular order about how video game only arcades can survive in the West, this articles reason is: "Online gaming"."
Let's say you walk into the arcade, and there is no one there. As a gamer, what really gets you going is playing with, or challenging someone 1 on 1. It could be any genre you want; it's always more exciting against a human opponent. That's why arcades flourished in the earlier days, they were a hangout to meet and make new friends. Today we are used to comparing records and players globally, whether it's mobile or console. Arcade games are no exception.
Using the game in the picture, "Pump It Up" as an example (photo taken March 2017 at Las Vegas Soho, London), this is a music game where you use your feet to hit the arrows in time with the music. It uses both a local and online ranking system. The player can create a profile, and login using a USB or swipe card. This allows you to set local and online arcade records. This means that even if your community is small, you can still see the global player base and challenge these scores.
Today we have access to Youtube and social media. This means we can follow our game idols on fan pages, watch their videos and interact with them. This transforms a niche scene into a global community. Having the opportunity to challenge the top players, or just a friend in another city/country is priceless. You can easily use social media to discuss the game with other players, all before you have even entered the arcade! Other genres are no exception to this rule. Repeat play means returning hardcore players and guaranteed steady venue profit. This competitive drive is one of the reasons why video game arcades, if run correctly, can compete with the home console market.
Are you running any games online, or do you play online games in your local arcade?
Let me know!