An Era in Gaming close to collapse?

[Melbosa]

 http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/conte..._position=link1

To think I spent much $$$ and time on these and still to this day want an original machien for my house, as well as a table top packman and afterburner arcade.  Hopefully by the time I can afford one, they're still being made.

[Mr. Analog]

 Sadly, the arcade industry is dying, Pinball is the first casualty. Pinball machines cost a lot of money to maintain and aren't usually a draw for gamers anymore, so I can understand why arcade operators have mostly ditched the silver ball for the cold, calculating CPU housing cabinet. Still, it's a shame because I think pinball is one of the more interesting and challenging ways of spending a quarter.

Farewell pinball, we hardle knew ye...

[Darren Dirt]

 That article starts off with a Stern tone.

Then Midway through the verbiage, there is... ah, I'm sorry, I'm masking my inward sorrow with outward wit. Forgive me, but dammit if I didn't love the randomness inherent in the pinball classics, even (and especially!) the modern generation with the lightboard/pixels like Terminator2, ST:TNG, and even SuperMario (had a bunch of great sound clips!)

Stop talking, and start chalking!
Run The Red Light!
Hey! I want Taxi! (<--Gorby)

-oh, the pain is too much to bear...

PS: there is still hope in getting the ol' Simpsons ("Whoa, Momma!" <--Bart) game, perhaps - "Stern credits the stable sales of traditional pinball machines to increases in nostalgic home buyers, which now account for roughly 20% of total sales -- and the number keeps growing..."

[Bryan]

 Afterburner? garbage!

you need a shooter style game like 1942 or Raiden.

[Shayne]

 *yawn and good riddence*

I want an original Mortal Kombat machine...oo...or an MK2 machine.  THat would be choice.

[Bryan]

 nice... for a fighting style game in my basment id have togo with the original Double Dragon (couldnt play enough of that one)

[Mr. Analog]

 I'd go with a multi-cart NEO-GEO unit; Samurai Shodown II, Bubble Bobble and Metal Slug X!

[Darren Dirt]

nice... for a fighting style game in my basment id have togo with the original Double Dragon (couldnt play enough of that one)

...or Bad Dudes, that was suprisingly good too - as was Shinobi (throwing stars, slice them baddies Miho-style!)

[Tonnica]

 Raiden. Oh man, I love that game.

I'm not sure if they still do but the lodge at Fawcett Lake used to have a Raiden/Golden Axe cabinet. A pinball machine too come to think of it. That was pretty sweet.

[Shayne]

 ...or that overtop air combat game....1942?  1943?  i cant remember, but that would be good.

Maybe the best way would be to get one of those new cabinat machines that are just a PC with emulators.  Probably best.

[Bryan]

nice... for a fighting style game in my basment id have togo with the original Double Dragon (couldnt play enough of that one)

...or Bad Dudes, that was suprisingly good too - as was Shinobi (throwing stars, slice them baddies Miho-style!)

Did you ever play the two player Ninja Gaiden arcade? that was f'n sweet you could flip around lamp posts and run up walls and crap. that was a great game

[Bryan]

...or that overtop air combat game....1942?  1943?  i cant remember, but that would be good.

Maybe the best way would be to get one of those new cabinat machines that are just a PC with emulators.  Probably best.

i think you're right on both, I believe there was 1942 and 1943 was the sequel... f'n sweet arcade games

[Bryan]

 Hey I am a "Vassal" , wtf is a Vassal?

[Mr. Analog]

Hey I am a "Vassal" , wtf is a Vassal?

Take your pick:

• A person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for homage and allegiance.
• A bondman; a slave.
• A subordinate or dependant

[Bryan]

 Not too sure I like any of those. ah well. What about the old track and field arcade where people would litterally smash the buttons trying to run faster?