Virus threatens 'game over' for Japan's arcades

This is extremely sad.

The arcades should go back to the way they were in the year 1980.

The video arcade scene is one of the many unique features/quirks of Japan.

I agree baroque.

The environment of the 80s was another reason arcades was so popular worldwide.

With the internet, consoles, smartphones and now the Pandemic Covid19... I don't see this as a good trend for the arcade business.

The world is attracted to excitement of JPop culture and it’s interaction through these game arcades in public places like shopping malls. So, we wish the main accompanying photo was of a ‘game arcade’ and, not a pachinko parlor. Parlors are full of ‘smoke, sweat and desperation’. Hope is that a reflection of Japanese people and the beautiful parts of this country no culture? Can’t help but feel sorry for the ‘working class’ and disadvantaged ‘poor’, throwing away what little money the have on ‘false hopes’. Young people in the ‘game arcades’ know, ‘it’s just escapism’.

Arcades have been on the decline for years. This is just the final nail in the coffin. A shame. I used to love getting my ass handed to me at Tekken.

I do not know about the places but I hear "game centers" are hangouts for delinquent teenagers.

There is always the (untold) flip side of story that more people engage in video/online games at home; Sony, Nintendo as well as other home game providers have prospered, benefited from their new, adaptive life style under the virus crisis. Not to mention about other services targeting people at home.

If you want that 80's arcade feel check out Mikado in Takadanobaba next to the station. It's a museum of vintage games and needs supporting, would be terrible of they were gone.

If you want that 80's arcade feel check out Mikado in Takadanobaba next to the station. 

This entire article is about Mikado.

Bob FosseToday 08:59 am JST

If you want that 80's arcade feel check out Mikado in Takadanobaba next to the station. 

This entire article is about Mikado.

You just can't beat starting the day with a damn good laugh!

Ha, ok, my bad.

If you want that 80's arcade feel check out Mikado in Takadanobaba next to the station. It's a museum of vintage games and needs supporting, would be terrible of they were gone.

Comedy gold, thanks for the laughs!

And Panchikos, perhaps?

3 reasons why pachinko parlors will never close:

Gambling addictions are commonplace

Types of people who frequent these establishments don't care for social distancing protocols anyway

They'll do anything they can to avoid their families

@snowymountainhell

So, we wish the main accompanying photo was of a ‘game arcade’ and, not a pachinko parlor.

Ummm, no, NONE of the accompanying pictures are of pachinko parlors. Arcades are completely different.

There is always the (untold) flip side of story that more people engage in video/online games at home; Sony, Nintendo as well as other home game providers have prospered, benefited from their new, adaptive life style under the virus crisis. Not to mention about other services targeting people at home.

Welcome to the future. The tendency is to isolate ourselves.

I recommend “her”, for a glimpse of what ,s ahead of us. an amazing movie, though.

I visited Mikado in summer '19, and it was a great place. Refreshing and a change from other arcades which were mostly claws and card-based games. It's a shame so many retro gamecenters have disappeared, would really be sad to see this one go down too.

Anti-social; uncommunicative; unproductive; contributing to school/work delinquency; promotes and encourages gambling behaviour; a waste of both time and money. Game arcades have had their run -- now it is time to die a natural death.