Classic games at libraries/arcades

[AAA177]

Anyone have a library nearby that has classic games in its archives? I got curious about this the other day. I assume some libraries must have sections devoted to our hobby. I know I've read about libraries being used as meeting areas for local enthusiasts who bring parts of their collection for the public to play, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a library having a collection that patrons can use.

 

Of course, how feasible is this? The theft issue would be a stumbling block, I'd have to imagine. But I'm thinking of suggesting this to my local library. Think about it: why can't some part of a library's acquisition budget be allocated toward buying Atari 2600/NES/Intellivision/arcade cabinets? They could be set up in a room and patrons could use them. Maybe something like a Defender cabinet could be checked out for thirty minutes, no different than what patrons do with computers/web access. What would be the chances of something like this getting off the ground?

 

Also, another question: although I have never been to one, obviously there are all kinds of classic-game exhibits/museums that are in one location or travel to expo centers. But, besides however many local small-business arcades exist, why hasn't a company tried to create a chain of them, under one brand name? I've always wondered why Gamestop, as an example, hasn't experimented with opening classic arcades, filled with all the stuff we see on Starcade...is there truly no market for it? What about a combination theater/classic arcade...ten screens showing the latest films, then a section with fifty-plus cabinets featuring Congo Bongo, Donkey Kong, Gauntlet, Popeye, all of them. Of course, acquiring those cabinets is probably an issue. I wonder if there would be any way for an arcade company to license them and then manufacture them on its own.

 

I just feel like this classic-arcade craze that seems to be bubbling underneath the zeitgeist (as evidenced by stuff like the Classic NES/SNES and the Flashbacks) should be exploding in the culture, but it hasn't really done so yet in the way I imagine. Any chance it might?

 

 

[Keatah]

Cost. Licensing. Lack of public interest. Physical space. Maintenance requirements. All conspire against the idea.

Edited January 20, 2018 by Keatah

[+x=usr(1536)]

Also, another question: although I have never been to one, obviously there are all kinds of classic-game exhibits/museums that are in one location or travel to expo centers. But, besides however many local small-business arcades exist, why hasn't a company tried to create a chain of them, under one brand name? I've always wondered why Gamestop, as an example, hasn't experimented with opening classic arcades, filled with all the stuff we see on Starcade...is there truly no market for it?

Is there a market for it? Yes, but it's small. Is there money to be made in it? Not really. More:

 

What about a combination theater/classic arcade...ten screens showing the latest films, then a section with fifty-plus cabinets featuring Congo Bongo, Donkey Kong, Gauntlet, Popeye, all of them. Of course, acquiring those cabinets is probably an issue. I wonder if there would be any way for an arcade company to license them and then manufacture them on its own.

 

What's important to understand is that arcade games are a constant expense.

 

First you purchase them. Then you turn them on in the morning, hoping that they'll make money while they spend it sucking down electricity. When they break, you have to pay someone (either on-staff or from outside) to fix them, and they're not taking in any money while that happens. They're also perpetually eating up floorspace that could be replaced with something that does make money, like another table with people sitting at it buying drinks.

 

These factors have been around since the first penny arcades came to be, and are some of the significant ones as to why barcades exist: food and drink makes money, games don't.

 

Going back to your theater example for a moment: ever notice how modern large-chain theaters generally put the arcade games that they do have in their own small room off of the main lobby? Have you ever wondered why that is?

 

It's because (in amongst the many calculations that they do when building a place like these) revenue per square foot is factored into both the projected and performance calculations for that location. They know that the games are going to be a sinkhole, financially-speaking, but they keep a small percentage of people within the building for a certain period of time. Someone will kill a few minutes playing a game before their movie starts rather than going to the Starbucks across the street; with any luck, that will lead to them buying a Coke at the concession stand. The square footage that the game room occupies is basically a loss leader.

 

I just feel like this classic-arcade craze that seems to be bubbling underneath the zeitgeist (as evidenced by stuff like the Classic NES/SNES and the Flashbacks) should be exploding in the culture, but it hasn't really done so yet in the way I imagine. Any chance it might?

If anything, it's about as saturated as it's going to get. Most people just don't care, and, barring a fad that creates a bubble of interest that later bursts, it's probably going to stay fairly constant. Well, until those of us old enough to have been playing games in the '70s and '80s start dying off, at which point our kids and grand-kids are going to have to figure out how to finally dispose of all of those Pac-Man cabinets that nobody cares about anymore.

Edited January 20, 2018 by x=usr(1536)

[AAA177]

Thanks for the replies. Cost and market potential is definitely an issue, as both of you have mentioned. Usr, that is a great summation of the situation/challenges.

I wonder, therefore, if that issue argues for consolidation of all the IP in this industry. If all this old IP is doing nothing substantial for the various rights-holders, could some entity with deep pockets start buying it all up and then create a more favorable scale? Maybe a PE firm? Could a patent-investment company also buy those rights up as a side business? It's too bad there isn't a Bob Iger-type in the video game industry that might recognize the value that might be there in all this old IP (I say "might" because as the replies indicate, figuring out the future cash flow from all this stuff is tough, with very little visibility). Obviously rights-holders would want to ask for more than the intrinsic worth (I've often assumed this is why we don't see, as an example, the E.T. game on a Flashback, or NES Home Alone on a mini-console), but overpaying (as Iger arguably did for Pixar) for classic-game portfolios and marrying that with big companies with great balance sheets could conceivably make the proposition feasible. If Disney owned all the Sega games, for instance, it could make a Congo Bongo movie (assuming Sega still owns that). I know some of the major games have been active in terms of licensing, but I'm talking about all the stuff that probably will never be collected easily...Monster Bash (the one with Dracula and the candles and the sword) is an example off the top of my head. Obviously many 2600/Intellivision games are other examples.

I wonder, too, if there was a lot of consolidation of classic-gaming IP, could a subscription service for it be set up? Could there be a Netflix with thousands of these games offered? Could Netflix use games like that itself to increase growth of subscribers? Could Netflix be the entity that acquires the rights to all the source code out there in this industry?

Thanks again. (X=usr(1536) brings me back to the days when I tried to learn BASIC-game programming via Antic magazines; never succeeded, unfortunately.)

Edited January 20, 2018 by AAA177

[keepdreamin]

It's called roms. Ask Keatah, he'll explain all about it.

[+LS650]

Not the same thing at all, but when I was a kid, the small public library in my town had a cocktail version of Omega Race. Loved playing that game!

[Tanooki]

Nothing like that around here, but there are a couple actual locations that still have a healthy selection of pins and arcade cabinets to play. Other than that, it's random where you find one at a random location. Libraries wouldn't bother they sell off old books enough they're not going to carry such risk as this stuff.

[HoshiChiri]

One thing I think would put a lot of libraries off of games- SOUND. Games are noisy, libraries are decidedly not. You'd need a room with a door, which would only increase the odds of vandalism or theft, and wouldn't block all the sound (especially when the door was opened.)

 

Public perception factors in too. Video games don't really have a reputation as a proper, educational artform. I'm well aware a lot of books/music/movies libraries have are pure entertainment, but they can at least argue for artistic & cultural merit. Games are a much harder sell.

 

I think it's a situation that calls for ramp-up. Start with some educational PC titles. Get people used to the idea. Expand from there.

[Eltigro]

I have heard of libraries having games available for check out, but I haven't personally seen any.

 

As far as arcades in general, the "barcade" seems to be a pretty popular version of this right now, but I think it's more that the arcade machines and such bring people in to buy drinks and food. I don't think the games themselves are the money makers.

[Keatah]

Public perception factors in too. Video games don't really have a reputation as a proper, educational artform. I'm well aware a lot of books/music/movies libraries have are pure entertainment, but they can at least argue for artistic & cultural merit. Games are a much harder sell.

 

Whenever I talk videogames anywhere, I need to carefully ease them into the conversation. I am usually successful if I start with advanced flight simulators or "specialized" emulation projects.

 

 

[Keatah]

I have heard of libraries having games available for check out, but I haven't personally seen any.

 

Several libraries in my area (in the mid-80's to mid-90's) had all sorts of things. And they covered the popular platforms too, like C64, Apple II, and Amiga. But little or no Atari. They were equally balanced between games, educational, technical, or whatever else was popular. Then as the PC started taking over (and the 8/16 machines aged), their collections were auctioned off or given away, to be replaced by educational CD-ROM only titles. No recreational action games anymore.

 

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I also want to add that arcade cabinets tend to attract druggies and riff-raff. Something most towns don't want. And then there's amusement machine operator licences that sometimes have to be acquired. And some towns ban these things outright.

 

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I believe the best "arcade" experience one can have is to either go to one of the arcades themselves like D&B or 257. One that isn't too crowded and has their machines packed in - unlike Galloping Ghost, or Underground Retrocade. The open space is a necessary part of the ambiance and promotes socialization. Arcades in nice neighborhoods (back in the day) were really nice and populated with great folks. Somewhere it all went south.

 

Anyways, then go home and set up M.A.M.E. Play some 80's music. And conduct your own self-guided learning with the internet.

 

To get you started enjoy this vid!

 

Edited January 21, 2018 by Keatah

[jhd]

The University of Calgary library has a collection of modern and classic video games (and the associated hardware). I am not a student there, so I cannot speak to the details of the collection.

 

The Calgary Public Library has a modest collection of published strategy guides and, at one point, a small lending collection of then current (PS 2 and PS 3) games. A very quick search of the online catalogue did not show any titles at present.

[thetick1]

I only know about Barcade. There are a few of them around the NYC metro.

The original one is: http://barcadejerseycity.com/games