The future of arcade hardware

[mehguy]

What lies for the future of the arcade hardware business? Dedicated pcb boards are almost dead. when was the last time they were used? most hardware is literally a custom pc in a box. Take the sega nu hardware for example. It came in 2013 and the specs it uses are parts you can pick up at any computer store. What are your opinions?

[juji82]

If this helps to keep arcade gaming running lowering components / development costs, why not?

[mehguy]

Aint that the truth. But i mean like in terms of how times of changed and the future. I wasnt trying to complain, just pointing out past vs future.

[Ed Oscuro]

You know arcade game companies aren't getting their way the ingame timer starts at 6 and a half minutes. Also the game looks suspiciously like mobairu to me. Stegahᵗᵐsaurus

[gray117]

There was a significant advantage, once upon a time ago, to essentially 'compete' with other commercially available hardware solutions. Either for horsepower, cost or combination of the two.

Consoles then occupied a wierd niche of how to bring something of this experience home at a competitive price point.

There simply isn't a big enough advantage to be had in this area anymore. The advantage isn't even necessarily software based for some of the latest arcade fads... but hey you get the meaning - you essentially should be thinking about whether you have something you can port to/from easily in order to save costs and attract the developers and thus games you want...

For similar reasons the two main 'horsepower' console competitors these days are two near identical pcs/laptops.

Pushing that horsepower aspect is still an interesting race, but it's such a collaborative process these days we essentially know where it's coming from - and to show it off we still need to port software to and from it...

The real intrigue comes from people doing things differently - most recently based around taking advantage of mobile technology... You'd have to assume something to do with mobility and vr will be the new hot arcade thing in a year or two... For our more traditional games? More networked pcs and multi boxes... As for jamma and that kind of arcade hardware? Just for the hobbyists I'm afraid... But hell, there's people trying to develop arm pcb platforms, and release new cartridge consoles, so at least it's not dead?

[beatsgo]

The real intrigue comes from people doing things differently - most recently based around taking advantage of mobile technology... You'd have to assume something to do with mobility and vr will be the new hot arcade thing in a year or two... For our more traditional games? More networked pcs and multi boxes... As for jamma and that kind of arcade hardware? Just for the hobbyists I'm afraid... But hell, there's people trying to develop arm pcb platforms, and release new cartridge consoles, so at least it's not dead?

I believe the mobile/online aspect of gaming is where the arcade industry is making strives towards to the past decade. eAmusement which is Konami's online service for their arcade games is a good example how to implement it, though it does have a few kinks. Particularly with the introduction of their PASELI points (pay for Konami currency) and online only aspect restrict certain features.

[Drachenherz]

Maybe something like this, but much more sophisticated:

[Ed Oscuro]

So basically a Hang-On machine?

Pretty much none of the hardware trends are going in favor of arcades, and that's a Good Thing. It is much better that hardware is more affordable so that people can own it themselves.

The only thing that I could see helping the operator-owned idea make any comeback is technology that requires physical space (i.e., dedicated AR suites).