Talking With Nolan Bushnell

Milktoast writes "Joystick101.org has posted their interview with gaming legend Nolan Bushnell. The arcade guru who founded Atari, invented Pong, and started Chuck E. Cheese talks about the decline of the arcade, education, robotics, and gaming as a narrative. "

For a different perspective

[vandemar]

There is an article at shoryuken.com [shoryuken.com] about the reasons for the decline of the arcade. It makes some excellent points on why the home console is not responsible for it.

The true future of the arcade lies in game houses.

[t0qer]

Have you ever heard of a "Game House"? They're really popular over in Asia, and are just starting to come here. Basically a high end PC running windows with counterstrike, quake, starcraft and diablo on them. Usually 30 or so per location, all networked together and recieving a internet connection from a T1 line. There is one that opened up in silicon valley, berryessa area called rivalution 1172 N capitol ave if you want to check it out. They charge 5 dollars an hour, and are making money hand over fist. I've spent a total of 72hours watching traffic in the place to confirm that on average they have 20 users per hour.

So the future of the arcade is going to be these game houses. Their popularity is simply because of the multiplayer capabilities of these games, the rising costs associated with system maintenence, the slowing economy, and the lack of home based lans with 10 or more pc's. Also for the most part, games are played by kids who don't have the money to shell out for a brand new video card (GF3 for 600 anyone?)

The arcade is dying because we got old boys like nolan in there who aren't willing to change with the times. Let's face it, the whole industry resembles nothing from the atari days. Today's arcade goers are smarter than we were, most kids today know that an arcade machine is probably not too much different than that PC or console they have at home. Back then arcade operators banked on that "magic box" appeal. Today's kids know what makes the magic.

Todays kids want so much more from gaming. They want a social atmosphere, where things like teamwork and comradere are what defines the game. Todays kids want to feel like they are a part of a larger community, which is something the arcades of past never offered.

So it's time you arcade operators evolved, I just told you what the kids want. Sell off your machines, break out early from your leases, maybe keep the street fighter and tekken machines, lease a bunch of PC's so you're not stuck with 80k @year to get new computers, and your off and running.

BTW i've been looking into station management software, does anyone know of any?

--toq