>>11787>Is it bad that my favorite class of games, arcade games, were the original nickel-and-dimers?You probably like those games because they have very tightly focused game-play mechanics. The arcade business-model was kinda mid, not the best but also not the worst, you got to play games and you got a social gathering place. In these days computer technology was so bulky and expensive that it was either that or nothing. The only real downside to arcades was that people payed money an never ended up owning any games.
>In fact, why haven't we seen a resurgence of arcadesThat might be coming tho, i've seen a youtuber talk about a arcade store owner opening a second venue, i think they just charge a small entry-fee and then all the games are free. It's mostly retro stuff but they are still building new games too apparently. For modern games there is arcade potential too: Good quality fully featured VR-gear with "full-body immersion" like a strap-in walking simulator rig and full body temperature/kinetic simulation, that stuff costs about the same as a arcade cabinet way back when. It's also very bulky too. All in all very suitable for arcades.
Whether there will be a retro and VR arcade revival, will depend on some factors:
If this becomes a open technology scene, with a organic culture that freely shares technical expertise, and builds on top of free open source technology models, it'll take off. But it could also just become a corporate walled-garden trying to build a locked down franchise model, that will completely flop. Because this has to be tinker friendly for it to not be a sterile environment with lots of out-of-order arcade booths, guarded by disinterested under-payed corporate serfs.
Btw: the Soviets had publicly funded arcades that worked like a public library. Tho most of their games were WW3 simulators, because most of computer scientists that build those, started out as technicians in the military.
>the video game industry has continued to struggle with the falling rate of profitI think the video game industry struggles more with the falling rate of spending power of the masses. Capitalism diverting more surplus towards war and militarism lately is what's squeezing the entertainment industry. The falling r
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