Poll: Arcade games are Illegal in this town

[GamerPhate]

Here is the question I just thought about. Ok.. so we go back 29 years ago, what games where even OUT back then as an arcade format? (Can someone do a wiki search for me ? lol I'm curious what titles were even OUT back then)

The reason why I need a list is to see what games where voted so horrible that they shouldn't be allowed there. I mean, geeze all I could guess would be like Pong... Pac man? I don't know I think it is just censorship at its worst.

 

[XT inc]

It's not really a loss for their town I mean Considering how rare a good arcade is, it's not like they are missing much.

I went to do a basic search for new arcade games and I couldn't even really find a manufacturer who still makes the units amidst the sea of flash game sites.

Part of their Death was the economy shifted and instead of 4 games for a dollar it was a buck a turn, and when you're a kid going to the movies kicking some time before the show, you know good and well not to bother at the arcade if you want your snacks. The games never stopped being arcade perfect, but at the higher price points it's less fun to have your ass beat while losing money hand over fist.

 

[GamerPhate]

Oh America, how you amuse me.

Sigh, yes, it is almost Simpson's like how we preach "Land of the Free" and all this good stuff. We have more freedoms striken from us than we are aware. Nothing is really free, it is all regulated.

 

[GamerPhate]

It's not really a loss for their town I mean Considering how rare a good arcade is, it's not like they are missing much.

I went to do a basic search for new arcade games and I couldn't even really find a manufacturer who still makes the units amidst the sea of flash game sites.

Part of their Death was the economy shifted and instead of 4 games for a dollar it was a buck a turn, and when you're a kid going to the movies kicking some time before the show, you know good and well not to bother at the arcade if you want your snacks. The games never stopped being arcade perfect, but at the higher price points it's less fun to have your ass beat while losing money hand over fist.

There really aren't that many left, but I am sure they do exist. And now that I think about it, they likely aren't based here these days. Probably over in China, and good luck searching those and contacting them unless you speak and read Chinese fairly well.

As far as the town, yeah I suppose in the great humanity of the lack of arcade gaming entertainment, I suppose only around 4,300 souls versus the rest of the world are being forsaken. But still, in a town that small, there probably really isn't ANYTHING to do anyways. And there is a somewhat upswing in the vintage arcade games market currently. Although the total American market is on a downswing just because there are really no jobs for the skilled people left, and so consumer confidence is going down, because no one can afford to buy anything.

But yeah the other point you bring about is the rise in the cost of playing an arcade game. Back in the day a quarter was still somewhat a good amount of money. You could make a phone call, you could pay for a large percentage of a gallon of gas, candy and drinks where cheaper, but ultimately you got 4 plays out of a dollar! So if you got 5 bucks, that was quit a few games to play if you milked it just right. But as the more sophisticated games came out, the price rose to 50 cents a game to play the "newer hiper" games. And now with the rise of dollar games, that is quite an investment. And if arcade games these days are anything like the ones of the olden days, they make sure you get to the boss and die and "must" fork out that extra credit to get to the next part. Must .. beat... game... lol.

 

[GasparNolasco]

i'm against any kind of ban, but this kind of practice seems to be common in small american towns. It's a 4000 habitants town, they wouldn't even NEED an arcade there anyway.

 

[GamerPhate]

Who cares?
Arcades are dead.

It doesn't have to be just an arcade though. This whole town doesn't have a single arcade game. In a town of less than 4,300, you can only tip the cows so many times till you are bored. Let them have vintage arcade games at various places that would cater to an audience. And moreso, it is more the factor that they are banned than the factor that it is an obsolete entertainment source. I mean, books are inferior compared to the internet, let's just ban all those too.

 

[Do4600]

Only if it's

Spoiler: Polybius

also Captcha: North Unite

 

[GamerPhate]

i'm against any kind of ban, but this kind of practice seems to be common in small american towns. It's a 4000 habitants town, they wouldn't even NEED an arcade there anyway.

About 550ish people voted to allow the games, and 650ish voted not to let them in the town. So as far as an arcade, I don't know if one could be supported on just 550 clients in a town. Although it seems that only 650 don't really want there to be any games. But it isn't really about having an arcade, as the games themselves can't be anywhere. I don't suspect an arcade would thrive there, but maybe alternative stores or shops might have a machine or two, but that isn't allowed due to this ban.

 

[JMeganSnow]

Do you think it is Constitutional to ban arcade games?

This is actually a really difficult legal question to answer, because it doesn't just depend on the U.S. Constitution but also the Massachusetts constitution as well as the laws the city incorporated under.

Currently, there are all kinds of laws pretty much universally across the U.S. that restrict what people can do with property that's considered a "public place" of some kind. Does this violate the principle that one can do what one wishes with one's private property? Yes. But current jurisprudence in the U.S. has some seriously whacked definitions of what, precisely, is "private" property.

As a matter of political philosophy, I would say laws of this kind are completely inappropriate. However, that doesn't mean they're actually illegal currently.

 

[GraveeKing]

Yet another reason I shall always refuse to LIVE in America.
Some of the best people I know live there and most of you lot are pretty nice.
But your government are complete... well yeah most of the people reading this are gonna be living there so you know exactly what they are.
Not saying our government is any better of course but if they're going to ignore what people say it's rather stupid.
Especially since this story was posted at all - indicating that someone there must have had a computer HENCEFORTH has access to video games instead! Which means instead of going to an arcade with friends or at least going out at all - they'll be staying inside their room using the computer instead.

That ban makes NO sense whatsoever.

 

[Polaris19]

Yet another reason I shall always refuse to LIVE in America.
Some of the best people I know live there and most of you lot are pretty nice.
But your government are complete... well yeah most of the people reading this are gonna be living there so you know exactly what they are.
Not saying our government is any better of course but if they're going to ignore what people say it's rather stupid.
Especially since this story was posted at all - indicating that someone there must have had a computer HENCEFORTH has access to video games instead! Which means instead of going to an arcade with friends or at least going out at all - they'll be staying inside their room using the computer instead.

That ban makes NO sense whatsoever.

To sum it up:

Our Government is Dumb.

I really want to point at the part of the consitution where it basically says if our government sucks then we can fix it ourselves and kick the bastards out.

But then I'd probably disappear forever so....

 

[Reishadowen]

Yet another reason I shall always refuse to LIVE in America.
Some of the best people I know live there and most of you lot are pretty nice.
But your government are complete... well yeah most of the people reading this are gonna be living there so you know exactly what they are.
Not saying our government is any better of course but if they're going to ignore what people say it's rather stupid.
Especially since this story was posted at all - indicating that someone there must have had a computer HENCEFORTH has access to video games instead! Which means instead of going to an arcade with friends or at least going out at all - they'll be staying inside their room using the computer instead.

That ban makes NO sense whatsoever.

While our government DOES do some pretty stupid things, and I would love to have long conversation about how the current administration's strategy is "Don't listen, don't give them what they want, and they will re-elect you" campaign, this wasn't a federal-presidential level decision or something. This is ONE TOWN's choice to ban arcade game because they are idiots.

What the people of the town want and do not want in their town is really up to them first and foremost. While I don't think it breaks the constitution, it does seem too far. However, I don't live there, so it's not my concern unless my own town tries to follow suit.

 

[Savber]

My response?

Whatever... there's more to life than video games.

 

[Laser Priest]

*Wearing a monocle*

Now that games are considered art, they are infringing upon the freedom of expression, and must therefore...must be burned at the stake.

Mmm, quite.

Indeed.

But all I can say is that this government must know of Polybius.

 

[Chiasm]

To think some people used to think that playing Pac Man, would make our youth spend their time in a dark room listening to repetitive electronic music, as they ate magic pills...Oh wait...

 

[=HCFS=Discoman]

in a small town, small town values will reign.
big whoop.
most small towns are not THAT far from a big town, which will usually have an arcade.
besides, most arcade games can be played on a computer emulator, MAME software, old/used arcade cabinets bought cheaply, or just replaced by better, newer games.
i can go to big 5 and buy a little joystick thing that plugs into my tv and plays pacman, galatica, and all those other truly great classic games.
for about $10-$20, depending if it's on sale or not.

 

[GamerPhate]

in a small town, small town values will reign.
big whoop.
most small towns are not THAT far from a big town, which will usually have an arcade.
besides, most arcade games can be played on a computer emulator, MAME software, old/used arcade cabinets bought cheaply, or just replaced by better, newer games.
i can go to big 5 and buy a little joystick thing that plugs into my tv and plays pacman, galatica, and all those other truly great classic games.
for about $10-$20, depending if it's on sale or not.

Thats the thing, personal gaming is fine, sure buy you 20 dollar device. But you can not put a public device up for someone to play, that is illegal. A local resident that voted against the ban doesn't like having to drive 30 miles to Boston.

 

[chuckman1]

This is wrong.