Topic: Recreating Arcades for the Digital/Microtransaction age

So, I've been thinking really hard the last few days about this thing called Free-to-play and the idea of microtransactions... and how to use them in a way that us so-called gamers would not consider evil or send the industry into a downward spiral.

So, one thing led to another, and I began thinking about how Arcades have become very digital nowadays — gone are coin slots and physical tickets, replaced by cards that hold all the information (and money). Then, I had this idea: what if you made arcade games for smartphones (or even dedicated game consoles)? People seem to like microtransactions, so why not create a digital, good old-fashioned dime arcade? You pay 10¢ for a continue, just like in a real arcade. It could have old-school, real arcade games (like Pac-Man, etc.), but those might not be quite as popular because you can get them outside of arcades now, in many, many formats. But my main idea is to make new, arcade-style games specifically for the format, and I think it would be pretty cool!

What do you all think? Could it work? Could it catch on? Or would people lose interest quickly?

Play coin arcade. Experience the arcade feel by using play coins you've earned to play many arcade games!!!

That's an idea too! It'd give me something to do with my 300 play coins I never spend.

Why would anyone want to bring back arcade-like play, especially with the arcade mentality of "Pay to Win"? That was as much a Scam back then as "Freemium" is now.

@Gioku: They did have that idea for Game Room on Xbox 360 but its failed. The token is usually cost $0.50 per play.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/xbox360/989157-game-room/answers?qid=...

I don't think this would go down to well with the average consumer being prompted to make a transaction every time they die.

Arcades used micro transactions before phones even had screens.

Well it is depended on the trend. Its work in the past but its didn't work for some company in the past as well. Motion controllers were done long before Nintendo Wii and 3D were done long before Nintendo 3DS and even 3D Blu-ray player including movie theatres.

Well, when you're in an Arcade, you don't usually play just one game for a long time... you take like $5-$10 and browse around... the idea here would be to have a wide variety of games, and people would play each for a little while. Prizes would have to be involved somehow, unfortunately I don't think people are content with just highscore hunting anymore... maybe just things as simple as wallpapers, things like that. That could be fun!

@Gioku: You could try it if you wanted to AND have a money to do so.