Arcades

Arcades have been around for generations and still provide an outlet of genuine entertainment. In the old days arcades had collections of pinball machines and everything was alive with multiple steel balls, brightly lighted spring loaded targets and a colorful screen that was ablaze with lights and the sounds ka-ching ka ching!!!

But things have changed in the game space for entertainment.

Given the popularity of in the Home Entertainment home electronic/computer games that allow for full motion and gestures by the players, and the dramatic growth of multi-player widely distributed games on line, why do arcades still continue to exist? Largely because arcades are meeting places and centers for fun and socialization that is simply impossible to duplicate in the home entertainment system.

Similar questions have been asked about why someone would want go to pay ten times the cost of a cup of coffee made at home or office by going to a place like Starbucks. The obvious answer is that Starbucks provides a social opportunity that can't be easily virtualized. The same rules apply to the continued success of arcades. They not only must keep their technology current and their virtual experience exciting, they also need to continue to provide a meeting ground to bring people with common interests together for a genuinely good time. This might suggest that there will be an increase of arcade like entertainment opportunities in social meeting places like bars, dances, and coffee houses. Arcades are not just for children. Arcades can help those that are physically challenged to fully participate in the feeling of a sport like bowling, golf or even soccer. Otherwise arcades may even show up in fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King should their managements recognize the opportunity for increasing the revenue stream. 

Arcades - they are changing and differentiating their target customers. Some cater to various age levels and sexes. Others cater to a variety of themes - perhaps on a fantasy theme, a war fighting theme or a high adventure theme. Challenges to parents leaving their child at an arcade are presented by the fact that these are not baby-sitting centers. Arcades are poorly supervised and certain games should be regulated because of extreme violence and adult content. The degree that this care and regulation is maintained in the USA is largely a matter of the city and state government. The old rule always prevails - Let the Buyer Beware. Parents should thoroughly check out arcade games before they allow their children free and unsupervised access.