Microsoft’s announcement of its Games Room service recently got me thinking: what is it about old-school arcades that’s so appealing? Well, first of all the loud noises and flashy lights rocked your senses as soon as you set foot in the door. Another attractive aspect was the fact that it was often a rare treat to go there; it was normally while you were off on holiday, on a day trip to the beach, or at a ten-pin bowling birthday party.
Back in the days when your funds consisted of whatever your parents decided to dole out to you, money was a precious reserve. Everyone knows that a collection of shiny coins that weighed down your pocket were much more exciting than a raggedy old fiver.
This is why I’m a little bit apprehensive about the Games Room. It’s a service that promises to be “a fun new destination where you can re-live the glory days of the classic arcade.” But part of that fun was that you had to eek every last penny out of each and every play. Will paying 40 Points for a play offer the same thrill as pushing a 20 pence piece into a slot? I don’t think so. Plus the fact that you can pay with your debit card for points to play with means it could work out expensive.
Then there’s the games themselves; yes, Games Room will offer you your own personal arcade, but you have that already with your own home console. I fail to see why you’d invite friends into your own Games Room to play an ancient game, when more fun and longevity can be found in many of the blockbuster titles you already own.
Maybe I’ll be proven wrong; perhaps it won’t end up discarded, much like the Facebook and Twitter functionality. Maybe people will relish the opportunity to take a look at old-school games in their original arcade cabinets – I just don’t think I’ll be one of them.
Sarah Slee
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