End of an era? Arcadia high score ranking "pausing" Feb 2015

[adversity1]

This is apparently a scan from the October issue of Arcadia going on sale this Friday.

https://twitter.com/fnacco/status/527091094064865281


The notice states that the Arcadia score rankings, which have been ongoing since at least 2006 to my knowledge, and are the last official national Japanese print media score rankings, will be "pausing" at issue 168 in February, 2015. Submissions will also be ended as of 1/18. The notice says that updates to the rankings past issue 168 will be notified on Arcadia's website or in a future issue of the magazine. So the notice stops short of completely ending the rankings per se, they are "taking a break".

I know that there has been some discussion in Japanese high scorer circles of shifting to an online page to record scores, so perhaps Arcadia will do something like that, or there may be a player initiative down the road. Either way, until the future of this column is decided, Japan will not have a regular print-based score ranking.

[Mero]

Unfortunate, hopefully in the future they can get them up on their website (or someone else can) if it's not going to be in print.

[NTSC-J]

The notice states that the Arcadia score rankings, which have been ongoing since at least 2006 to my knowledge...

Since the 80s!

While I imagine the online records (if they go that route) will work just fine, there's something about seeing them immortalized in print that made it more special. Sad.

On the bright side, online records would mean faster updates and potential for photos or even footage.

[drboom]

Videos would be awesome - like a go to for superplays! And somehow they should get a copy of that Donpachi DVD and pop that up.

[Strikers1945guy]

there's something about seeing them immortalized in print that made it more special. Sad.

Especially if you were the new or current record holder! Would be like seeing your news story get published in the local news paper. Can`t replicate that with a few pixels online.

[pixelcorps]

I think a number of certain US "World record holders" would be glad to see it go.. Less evidence that they aren't as good as they think they are.

[Gemant]

The notice states that the Arcadia score rankings, which have been ongoing since at least 2006 to my knowledge

ARCADE hi-score database started with Gamest magazine in may 1986. So are almost 30 years consecutive of hi-score achievements.

On the bright side, online records would mean faster updates and potential for photos or even footage

I doubt about this. Videos are excluded from japanese hi-score culture... and is difficult also for images. I hope at least to see a good comment about the hi-score. Comments are the most important things in the hi-score pages in Arcadia.

[spadgy]

But... you can't 'pause' arcade games.

Bad 'jokes' aside, this does seem a shame. It's near impossible to really rationalise, but I too like the idea of them being in print – especially with nearly 30 years behind them – and somehow print lends just a shade more authority to the rankings.

Next you'll tell me developers will stop releasing games on disks or something.

[DEL]

Its bad news, plus I don't think the Japanese players will suddenly change their ways and get heavily involved with online rankings etc.
Maybe....

spadgy wrote:

Next you'll tell me developers will stop releasing games on disks or something.

They never should have switched from Cartridges in the first place . Discs are dirt cheap to produce. Gradius V & Otomedius Excellent both 'freeze' on disk.