2000-2009: A Decade In Gaming (2007) Preview

Added:Wed 18th Jan 2012 14:54, Post No: 24

I just read this site is being killed off !! OMG - I always read here quite a bit... 

...for anyone wanting to keep up to date with Xbox news, thisisxbox is still going strong

Added:Fri 13th Jan 2012 23:49, Post No: 22

thanks to people like gwynne dixon many great game's have been shuned becasue they dont like them, a prime example is the saboteur, an awsome 3rd person adventure set in WWII in paris with an irish guy called sean where you seak revenge against a nazi war lord, if you can forgive the games minour missgivings such as scanty clad women who just for the record are not naked (even with the code/dlc there only topless) the rest of the game is suprisingly enjoyable and very satisfying.

but alas the developer just like many folded and wend into liquidation cause the majority of gamers this gen go by reviews/reviewers opinions rather than actually trying the game them selfs.

just for your information gwynne, activision pretty much shut bizzare creations down almost imedietly after blur was released, if activision hadnt taken over im fairly sure bizzare would still be going and developing PGR5 as that franchise of racing had served them very well in the past ever since its incarnation on the dreamcast back in 1999 (MSR Metropolis Street Racer) also as sega were re-releasing their back catalouge of DC game's as BC are no longer with us MSR will never get a HD remake which i can assure you many people wanted but will never see.

Added:Tue 03rd Jan 2012 14:56, Post No: 20

It was a tricky point to make to be honest, purely because arcade gaming has become so mixed in with different genres and platforms across the years.

My main point was to say that boxed-product arcade games on consoles - the likes of Blur or Bodycount, for example - are a dying breed. Publishers will be reluctant to invest in these kinds of games in future given how poorly they've been performing of late.

I was using the reference to arcade cabinets to point out that these kinds of console games emerged from them in the first place. Also, while I'm not denying that arcade emporiums can still turn a profit in places and do still exist, it's true that their business has been marginalised and they're not the forefrunt of new gaming that they were in years past. Quite to the contrary, usually they're old games that have been upkept or refurbished (not that I don't love playing those games still - I do).

So, amusement arcade gaming has undoubtedly receeded and now boxed-product arcade console games are doomed to a similar fate. No doubt hobbyists and fringe businesses will keep the style of gaming alive, but the mass-market mainstream appeal is as good as dead.

As I point out at the end of the article though, there are still opportunities and creative possibilities to keep arcade gaming alive on consoles. Dedicated amusement arcade enthusiasts such as yourself are evidently doing a great job keeping the culture alive too (long may it continue).

Which I suppose leads me to the obvious questions: what part of the amusement arcade industry do you work for, when is this trade show, and what's it about?

Also, respect to you for picking me up on the Trocadero closure. Shame on me for not double-checking.

Added:Tue 03rd Jan 2012 01:29, Post No: 18

@Freeradical, thanks for your comments - I had created a reasonable reply to the article but for some reason the 'comment' software dose not like it.

Anyway - correction, the Troc has closed and is now only hot four crane games - all the videos are about to be moved - in London there is however County Hall, and outside of London there are a number of bowling venues and cinemas with strong FEC tendancies.

I think you may not be aware of what the moder amusement industry represents - the traditional whole machine arcade us not viable, all amusement is FEC (additional) now - arcades are secondary spend to the main venue operation - and this is not small this sees over 10,000 machines in operation. 

I was in a modern Service Station recently as well as one arcade at Heathrow  and they all had videos and most were sub 2001. That said - you are right that this is not as strong as it use to be (96) - but not dead and still turning a profit!

Look we have a big amusement trade show in Feburary - would you guys like us to cover it for TVG? Email me if this is of interest.

Added:Mon 02nd Jan 2012 14:35, Post No: 16

This editorial seems to miss some of the big developments in the amusement scene and the number of new openings of venues - also the brand new Weston pier that saw bumper attendance last year. Best not to write without a little research no matter what time of year!