Death of Arcades

Note

Before you read I think there should be a little context to where this is coming from. A while ago I read a interesting article on Shoryuken.com about the current state of north american arcades which I can't find or else I would link it for you. I had a length comment on it but the site wouldn't let me post the comment for some reason, so I thought I would make it a blog.

Also some of the parts might seem weird since I am refering to the article itself, if I find it I will link it right away.

Actual Blog Post

This article is dead on. The popularity of console gaming and online play, where people can play other real people from the seat of their own house is too good to pass up just to go to an arcade so I can see a person face to face. In my town of Hamilton I can't even find a legit arcade, the closest thing we have is a place called Pownz which is more or a console scene than anything. Weirdly made cabinets holding Xbox 360's and a 10 dollar cover charge to play for the day. Its fine, buts it's not the same as an arcade. A place as specialized as that only really gets the "elitist" gamer whose sole purpose of being there is to show you his combo he's been working on and then call you out for not playing well with comments like "Well it seems they let anyone play here now." Note: Someone actually did say that at Pownz, it was the douchiest thing I've ever heard.

The arcade scene is also very daunting to people who just play on consoles, especially with fighting games. A 2 hour drive from my house is a mall with an arcade; it's really sweet, sit down cabinets, Japanese versions of 3rd strike, the whole deal. But a lot of people don't go in because the whole place is pro. I had fun messing around with Makoto in 3rd strike but as soon as someone sits down to play you there's no mercy. I get double perfected because I don't know how to parry and dude on the other side might as well be J playing Makoto as well. So I end up just playing at a empty Tekken 6 cabinet.

As said in the article I think the problem with arcades now is not only the type of people it brings (most elitist players who will call you out for being a noob) but also the business model. Tokens and coin slots are too easy to manipulate, if they change to something like a reloadable card you can buy for that arcade specifically then load money onto it when you feel like it and that money doesn't expire off the card I think that would be a good fix. But of course it might be to expensive for arcades to implement since they're not making that much money as is.

In the end, I think that having a home console, playing friends online from your own house is better for most people than going to an arcade and getting "serious" about a game. Sure they might have games like DrumMania or GuitarFreaks but even those have come to home consoles. The way things are moving, I'm sad to say that arcades (at least in North America) is on the edge of its life. Unless you city, town, or even neighbourhood has a scene of some sort arcades aren't going to be around other than some mall or pizza shop having a old Time Crisis machine or something. Arcades have to become a inviting and cost effective place for people to want to go there.

Question to the Reader

What do you think, can the North American arcade seen come back to its previous state or is it never going to come back? Did you even enjoy arcades when they were around? Can you think of anything that would help the arcade sceen?

So I've decided to just go with the Kotaku day numberings of TGS. So day will be a special blog covers both days 3 and 4! I hope you enjoy.

TGS Day Three

First we're going to start off with day three. I can't say many reveals got that excited this day, but there are a couple I am interested in.

Neverdead

Though this game looks like a typical shooter, the quirky attitude of the trailer gives it some charm to separate it from the rest. The trailer starts with a guy talking about his time with Louis the Sixteenth. Then eventually he gets smoked by a monster and his head pops off, but he's still alive. So he can't die from blunt force, but he is also immortal. Some of the gameplay shows the main character taking off his limbs and using them as grenades. In that aspect it reminds me a lot of Stubbs the Zombie, which was also a great game.

I can't wait to see how the game actually deals with death, if there is any. Getting smoked by some monster, getting all your limbs fly off and ragdoll around seems like a lot of fun. .

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Lords of Shadow has yet to get me really interested in it. To be honest I was more excited by Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. At TGS Konami released a really long trailer show off the game, and it's looking good! I like the fact that they're not trying to punch the "This is a Castlevania" game motif into your face.

A lot of the demon designs look really cool, and unique. This is a really good thing in my prespective because it's really easy just to make a red guy with horns and call it a demon. Each character has their own interesting personality and to be honest I can't wait to see more of this game now. Though I really wished they would have shown some gameplay.

TGS Day Four

Day four brought more announcements that I am really excited for. The fighting game releases are the most exciting for me but also the fact that a new Disgaea is going to come out is awesome!

Tekken Tag Tournament 2

When arcades were still something to go to here in North America, I remember days when me and my friends would pump money into Tekken Tag with both of us picked Eddy Gordo. We both knew he was "cheap" but since we didn't know anymore characters if one of us didn't pick him we were obviously going to lose.

The new Tekken Tag Tournament trailer shows a lot more of the tag mechanics in action, using juggles while switching between characters as well as some awesome looking tag team moves. Mainly my hype for this game is nostalgia, but it's good nostalgia.

Disgaea 4

Nippon Ichi Software has been having a tough time lately, with shares plummeting and sales for games not getting to where they want them to be. So it was only a matter of time before a new Disgaea was announced and shown, since that is their main franchise.

What I come to expect from a Disgaea game is all in the trailer they've shown, from insane special attacks to crazy looking characters. They also showed some new things you can do with stacking all your characters, like getting blocked off treasures and some new tower specials. Another changes is was looks like being able to merge two of the same monster into one bigger monster, and even being able to magichange that bigger monster into a huge weapon.

More crazy is what I want from a Disgaea game and they sure as hell delivered. I just can't wait to see what the new late game stuff will be like. I also hope that the achievements aren't as insane to get as Disgaea 3.

Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition

Super Street Fighter 4 has been out for a while but over in Japan the long awaited arcade release is finally coming out, along with a few additions. Yun and Yang from Street Fighter Third Strike are the biggest official reveals for the arcade edition. From the looks of the gameplay they play a lot like their Street Fighter: Third Strike counterparts.

Yun still has his dive kicks and his super that let him combo combatants over and over again in third strike is his super in this game. Yang is the character I'm looking forward to playing the most, and he still has all of this third strike moves as well. Though reports say his dive kick won't come out a low as Rufus's, his other moves look badass. His super makes two shadow copies of himself so you can keep the pressure on with normals and his ultra animations look really cool.

There will also be balance changes introduced to the game for all/most characters. From minor things like damage being toned down on characters moves or changes to move properties like how Juri's fireball kick will combo naturally now. These changes have the possibility to change up the game dramatically, and I can't wait until those changes come to the console version. Though there has been no announcement for Yun and Yang coming to console I would say it's safe to assume they will come sometime.

Tokyo Game Show: Day 01 02?

I'm still a little confused on what day of TGS it is. We need swatch time FAST!

TGS is on another day, and another day means more announcements. There were some more big announcements this day as well, but the pre show reveals will be hard to top.

Last Guardian

Team Ico have a great track record for making great unique games. Their first game is the princess saving simulator Ico, and the second being the massive monster hunting game Shadow of the Colossus. From what they've released so far of Last Guardian it seems like Team Ico is mixing the two styles together into one great looking game.

With the release of the new trailer it shows some more light-hearted aspects of the Last Guardian, also finally something that looks like gameplay. The trailer starts off with our little man sneaking on top of the giant beast, and playfully waking it up. This is the whole tone of the trailer, very fanciful, and adorable! A lot of teamwork between the hero and the creature shows off some of the puzzle solving elements and just how attached the two character are to each other. Some combat was also shown but not too much, the dog-thing and the boy defeating some living suits of armour.

I know it's terrible to say but I can only think of one way for this game to end, and that is with one of the two characters dying. I know it's terrible to say! But *Spoilers* think of the way the other Team Ico games ended. Shadow of the Colossus ended with you failing to save the girl and turning into a corrupt colossus yourself. And in Ico the game finishes with your fate unknown after being knocked out by the Queen surrounded by a collapsing castle.*End Spoilers*

Yakuza 5: The End

Even though Yakuza 4 is set to release in 2011 here in North America, in Japan they're already announcing their 5^th game. The Yakuza series has been known for being a little wacky with some of the side stuff you're able to do, but with Yakuza 5 they might have gone off the deep end. Zombies are the main focus of the new Yakuza game, you heard me right; zombies.

In 2008 Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan or Yakuza Kenzan came out in Japan as a spin off to the Yakuza series set in the samurai days. Though this game wasn't numbered and this new Yakuza game is. So I don't know if it will actually be a continuation of Yakuza 4, but I think that would be too crazy even for Japan.

In a recent Kotaku article they interview the producer of the game, Masayoshi Kikuchi, he the team wants to branch out and make new experiences with the Yakuza franchise. And that they don't want to stop making the Yakuza franchise.

In the trailer we find Haruka, the girl our hero Kazuma Kiryu rescued in the first game captured again by an unknown assailant. Then everything pans out to see that Kamurocho has been destroyed taken over by zombies. It doesn't show any gameplay but we eventually see Kazuma and his three friends carrying guns looking like they're going to take back Kamurocho. Left 4 Yakuza? Am I right, am I right! ... I'm sorry.

Other

• Shadow of the Colossus & Ico HD Remake
• Ni No Kuni's TGS Trailer
• Tron Bonne and X-23 join the Marvel vs Capcom 3 cast

Tokyo Game Show: Day 00

TGS officially starts tomorrow, but that didn't stop the announcements from coming early. Some big new titles have been announced along with some impressive looking original IPs. Some of these games I am already looking forward to just based off these announcements and I can't wait to see more as the week continues.

Devil May Cry

While the announcement of a new Devil May cry isn't a surprise to anyone. The fact that it is being made by Ninja Theory is. They have a lot to prove though, there last game Heavenly Swords was not a terrible game, but it wasn't fantastic either. My own personal worry is the gameplay aspect of the new DMC. So far there hasn't been any public gameplay on Enslaved, Ninja Theory's game that is due soon. But based off of Heavenly Sword the action did look nice, but wasn't all that fun to play. Though that was in 2007 so I am willing to give Ninja Theory the benefit of the doubt.

The other thing that changed is the overall style of Dante. Since the game is going to be a prequel seeing Dante in his teens, he's looking like a younger demon hipster. I have to say I'm all for it, I think this is a nice change of pace from the white haired hero we are all used to and it will show us another side on Dante. Well, a cockier than we've ever seen (If that is even possible).

Asura's Wrath

Asura's Wrath is new IP that is made by Cyber Connect 2 surprisingly. A developer that is mainly known for making the .hack series and Naruto: Ultimate Ninja games. From the trailer it looks like it has the particular type of Japanese crazy that I long for.

All I can gather from the trailer is that you play a hulking red rock skinned looking dude, who can take as many spears to the chest as he wants. Also eventually grow 4 more arms and try to stop a giant earth crushing fist that comes from space. Was seems to look like gameplay has the red guy swinging around huge pillars, and smashing smaller enemies faces into other smaller enemies faces.

Seeing the trailer I can't see how things can get any crazier in that game. But then again I don't make games, so I'm sure something can get crazier than I giant stone statue in space punching the earth just to kill one man.

Other

• Ninja Gaiden 3: Ni Oh
• Valkryia Chronicles 3

So far the Tokyo Game Show is showing off some big announcement, and just cool looking games in general. I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Stay tuned to this blog every day for new posts about TGS.

Vanquish: Demo Impressions

Platinum Games is known for their over-the-top creations. With games like Bayonetta and Mad World, it's no surprise that Vanquish is as fast paced and stylized as it is. The game is a 3rd person cover based shooter with a focus on blazingly fast and stylish game play. The demo lets you play through a short level where it's action all the time and finish it off with a big boss battle.

It's wise to note that Vanquish is a new creation by Shinki Mikami, the creator of the original Resident Evil. The game revolves around Sam Gideon, a scientist for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) who uses a specialized suit called an Augmented Reaction Suit to battle evil Russian robots. Sam is surprisingly badass for a scientist, showing no fear when fighting robots and taking the chance to smoke whenever he can. This suit allows you to boost around the level while sliding on your knees like a robotic rock star, and slow down time using an ability called Augmented Reality Mode. The game also has a scoring aspect to it. You rack up points for getting headshots, killing enemies, and for overall time completed at the end of a level.

Using boost to get around the level is critical to your survival. Enemies will shoot at you constantly and bosses will unleash Robotech-like amounts to missiles. So you'll want to be getting to as fast as you can. The weapons in the game all come from one base called the BLADE system. As you find weapons on the battlefield you don't actually pick them up, the BLADE system scans them and then morphs into that gun. Also guns can be upgraded to hold more ammo by scanning the same type of weapon you are holding while at full ammo capacity or by finding an upgrade pickup that an enemy drops.

The look of the game is a very stylized futuristic look. Everything is very visually appealing from the BLADE system morphing into other guns, to the heat waves coming off your suit when you overheat from boosting or using slow mo too much. The games style also is reminiscent of another Shinji Mikami game that came out for the Gamecube called P.N.03.

The demo has gotten me hooked on the game play and I can't wait to see more when the game comes out October 19th this year.

Return of Fighting Games

In the 90s and early 2000's, fighting games where a big deal. Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter ruled the arcades which are now nonexistent. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 brought all of your favourite characters from each universe into the ultimate throw down in the year 2000. But then fighting games started to die off. More fighting games did come out but they never reached the height of popularity that they did before. But with the release of Street Fighter 4 in 2009 fighting games have come back in a big way and have captured the hearts and minds of many once again. But will fighting game have the strength to stay in the eyes of the masses or will they again fall to the wayside.

I remember when I used to play fighting games on the PS2, games like Soul Calibur 2 and Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore. But fighting games never gripped me like RPGs or Action Adventure games did. Fighting games to me were something to do when friends were over because it's the easiest choice for a multiplayer game. This was also in a time where the arcade scene was dying here in North America and the wild popularity of games like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo and Mortal Kombat have long since passed. Recently fighting games have made a big comeback and have even stopped me from playing big name releases like Uncharted 2 because I'm having so much fun playing them.

If there is one thing that will represent how big fighting games have become it is EVO. EVO is the world's fighting game championships and since the release of Street Fighter 4 it has gained a massive spike in popularity. The most recent one was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in none other than Caesars Palace. Not only was it held in such a grand arena, the conference hall was packed wall to wall with people from all over the world. People even flew from different continents to be a part of the action. Simpler reasons are just the shear mass of people who are playing these games now. Other than the few friends I mentioned before I would play DOA2 with it took a lot to try and get other friends to play fighting games. But now many gamers are using resources like shoryuken.com and their favourite gaming websites to play with other and improve their game.

What surprises me the most about the popularity is the fact that fighting game are relatively hardcore games. There are many things to think about other than just what combos you're going to use in a match with another person. Things like the match up, other player's relative skill, mix-ups, mind games. How to counter certain situations, and all these things have to be thought of on the fly. It feels like an MMO, there always something new to learn and discover, new combos to try, new characters to master and overcome. It is a game that takes dedication and the fact that so many people are trying to become the best tells me that fighting games are back.

With games getting easier and more accessible to more people it is a surprise how popular a hardcore genre like fighting games has come but into such popularity. And with other even more hardcore fighting games coming out like Blazblue, it seems fighting games have come back in full force, and are here to stay for a while.

Top 5 Badasses

I felt like making a top # list since they're easy and I haven't updated my blog in a while. I'm sure these characters are up for debate on weither or not they should be on this list at all but this is my list. Hopefully you enjoy reading it.

5) Travis Touchdown ( No More Heroes)

To start off the list we meet with Travis Touchdown. The otaku that every gamer strives to live up to. He’s nerdy, he’s bad with women, he owns a beam katana, and he’s badass. First making his debut on the Wii with No More Heroes, Travis has to fight his way through the assassin rankings in order to become number one. He is

so badass in fact that when he kills his foes he is able to make them explode in blood and coins. I have no clue how he does that but it happens. Travis does eventually become the head honcho of assassins, but what does he do when he gets there? HE WALKS AWAY FOR 3 YEARS! Basically just telling the world “Yeah, I’m too awesome for you people, I’ll fight my way back up again later”. No denying how badass that is.

4) Bayonetta ( Bayonetta)

Bayonetta as many of you may know is a witch who battles angels in order to appease demons. If you are taking on heavenly forces with your own skill then you are automatically a badass but she doesn’t stop there. She not only beats them into a bloody pulp she does it with style, and an alluring sex appeal. If a character can suplex giant 3 headed angel dragon all while possibly making it look like a stripper dance they deserve a spot on this list.

3) Gene (God Hand)

Gene is a unique guy. One day he is trying to save a girl from a bunch of thugs then he gets his arm cut off. Then he mysteriously gets his arm back inform of the god hand which gives him super strength and fighting skills. Gene has no bounds when it comes to fighting styles because he can make up his own combos on the fly. Genes got it covered and he threw in some Bruce Lee kicks in there just for good measure. He can also kick someone into space, even when he is inside a building. Enough said.

2) Dante ( Devil May Cry 3)

I specifically chose Devil May Cry 3 Dante because this is when Dante was in his prime. He’s a young up and coming son of Sparda who knew no limits and just did as he felt like. After the first boss fight he gets shot at with a rocket launch, now he could have just dodged it by stepping sideways, but no. Dante felt the need to pull a back flip and ride the missile around the room for no reason before kicking it into the air and making a hole in the ceiling, and that doesn’t even come close to the most badass things he does in the game.

1) Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza)

Kazuma is the Dragon of Dojima, the ultimate badass. He has been the main character in the Yakuza series for three games now and soon four, and in these games he has basically stopped an all out gang war mainly by himself. He’s trained in martial arts and can fight a whole Yakuza clan by himself. While he’s not fighting, he’s awesome with the ladies, awesome at videogames, and is even nice enough to help out total strangers. Kazuma Kiryu is a badass with a cool head on his shoulders, he can beat the crap out of anyone who gets in his way and does it all without super powers. Don’t get in his way or he’ll plant his snake skin shoe in your face.