• E3: Could VR bring back the games arcade?
    43 replies, posted
Idk how it is in places like the US, but I was under the impression that arcades were still successful.
Thinking on it, I think Steam has a higher potential to bring back arcades. Depending on the game, developers could potentially sell monthly subscriptions that enable their games to run on an arcade mode, complete with monetization options and bookkeeping tools. At the very least, you could potentially play Skullgirls away from home if that were to happen.
I could see VR Arcades ending up akin to a short lived sub-division of the arcade, if it was even considered such. In the early 90's there were places where you could play Genesis, SNES and Neo Geo games via a series of monitors set up with controllers wired under them. It was like $2 for half an hour of Genesis or SNES play, $4 for Neo Geo. They were mildly successful for a while as paying $2 to play something was cheaper and easier than saving the $200 or so to buy a console when you are a child.
[QUOTE=pentium;50539963]The argument ballooned out because I said it wwouldn't work and people cited me from previous arguments where I compared old tech to new tech, then it derailed further from there. The whole point of the article was "Will VR mark the rebirth of the arcade?" My answer is "no".[/QUOTE] Jeez, I knew you didn't like any tech made after 2005, but this is just hilarious.
[QUOTE=Elspin;50539697]You've covered the inaccurate assessment of the technology ("let's judge VR based on where it was 2 decades ago")[/QUOTE] everything pentium uses is 2 decades old tho so i'd say it's a fair comparison for him
I think it's a good idea, but I'd wait for an omni directional treadmill. Something like this: [video=youtube;7uO8Z34f0xE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO8Z34f0xE[/video]
Treadmills today are at the same point in tech as VR was in the 90s. Big, clunky, and doesn't work that well. They need a revolution of their own to become feasible for home use.
While I don't have any personal use for VR, I can definitely see VR arcades becoming a thing, I'd shell out $10 an hour to play some VR games. Any kind of vehicle sim game like racing, flying, or mechs I'd easily be sold on. Rail shooters also would be neat with a VR upgrade. I think the problem is that the VR experience of today is still in it's infancy (with earlier ideas being more of a conception). What would be cool is 4D movies using VR.
The big hurdle for VR arcades (which is where I see VR actually taking off) is the sanitation of the headsets. They'll have to be wiped down after every player or pinkeye will be a very real concern. Also, I think modular coop games would work well in VR for arcades. Like, have a game set during a huge battle, then have the battle run for like 4 hours and have players play 15-30 minute chunks where they can contribute to the battle. That way you could have many players on at once for large pushes but the game remains playable if you're having a slow day, and you keep track of each person's contribution over multiple visits so when they come back they'll have their same rank or unlockable weapons or whatever. Hell you could keep their progress with a phone app or a dongle or something, that way you could set up a franchise so they can keep their progress in any of your arcades. Arcade built VR games could well be a profitable business in a few years.
[QUOTE=Janus Vesta;50551041]The big hurdle for VR arcades (which is where I see VR actually taking off) is the sanitation of the headsets. They'll have to be wiped down after every player or pinkeye will be a very real concern. [/QUOTE] Lice. Never forget lice. eugh
[QUOTE=Orkel;50549356]Treadmills today are at the same point in tech as VR was in the 90s. Big, clunky, and doesn't work that well. They need a revolution of their own to become feasible for home use.[/QUOTE] I am not sure whether walking treadmills like that create or solve problems. [editline]19th June 2016[/editline] Like how much do people actually want infinite walking space.
[QUOTE=Orkel;50549356]Treadmills today are at the same point in tech as VR was in the 90s. Big, clunky, and doesn't work that well. They need a revolution of their own to become feasible for home use.[/QUOTE] Honestly, I'm skipping the VR treadmill revolution and waiting until I can just plug my brain stem into my computer for full sensory simulation.
[QUOTE=ClarkWasHere;50551094]Lice. Never forget lice. eugh[/QUOTE] Headsets with replaceable covers/ "socks" would definitely be the direction they go. I can also totally see chains like Dave & Busters being all over this.
[QUOTE=Orkel;50549356]Treadmills today are at the same point in tech as VR was in the 90s. Big, clunky, and doesn't work that well. They need a revolution of their own to become feasible for home use.[/QUOTE]They don't need to be feasible for home use, that's the point of an arcade.
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