Return of the Space Invaders

pashdown writes "Get your two-liter bottles of Shasta and your all-Rush mixtapes ready! In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Space Invaders, Taito has commissioned Namco to remake the classic arcade game. The only thing not nostalgic is the price, increased from one quarter to two." We had a sneak peek of this cabinet as a Slashdot Games story a couple of weeks back.

Comments

realism

[Ass, Ltd. Ho!]

be realistic, people. This game is 25 years old. You can play it on one of those joysticks you plug directly into your TV that costs $20. Who the HELL is going to pay 50 cents to play this thing. I haven't been in an arcade in a couple years. Does EVERYTHING cost 50 cents? Are there just no quarter games left? Is nostalgia really that powerful? I wasn't old enough to have any quarters the first time around. This is space invaders 25th anniversary and i just had my 24th. Maybe I'm young and dumb. Come on. 50 cents? Anyone?

Re:realism

[wo1verin3]

a) I loved this game and grew up with it, I would easily part with some coins to play it

b) Most games cost more then this now, some being $1 or $2 depending on what location they're in

Re:realism

[gunfinger]

nostalgia is one of the stronger powers, actually. stronger than that, tho, is the dissapointment that comes from attempting to regain that same all-encompassing ball of senses (rush tapes and shasta included) that you had when you first played that classic game (ANY game you consider classic).

that said tho, the new galaga versions kick ass, faster play, faster shooting, tasty graphics while maintaining the flat-down perspective. of course there's hope and love for games, just don't go looking to be a 10 year old again.

Re:realism

[Dan667]

The movie industry was worried that no one would go to the movies when VCR's came out. People still go because they like the experience. There is something about a full sized arcade game that does the same thing for me.

Re:realism

[John_Booty]

be realistic, people. This game is 25 years old. You can play it on one of those joysticks you plug directly into your TV that costs $20

One of the reasons the arcade industry died out in America is because the games simply got too complicated. The games with whiz-bang-ultra-3D-photo-realistic-graphics and 27-button controllers that impress HARDCORE games are a big turn-off to a large majority of the audience. Most people don't want to have to figure out something complicated in the arcade. They want something they can have fun playing for 10 minutes while they're waiting at the laundromat or the movie theater or for their friend to finish taking a leak at the highway rest stop.

I think this is especially true now that home games match (or outshine) arcade games and offer much more depth and complexity. No longer do hardcore gamers spend hours in arcades- they have game consoles for that at home. The market for more complex arcade games simply does not exist any more.

In the year 2003, arcade games need to offer quick, short, simple bursts of fun. And nothing fits the bill better than the games of 20-25 years ago.

And of course a game that cost 25 cents in 1980 is gonna cost 50 cents now. Have you ever heard of inflation? Relatively-speaking, it's probably cheaper now.

Re:realism

[stratjakt]

Build one then..

The monitor will run you 3-5 hundred, new. Go price out a 19" standard res arcade monitor at happ. Don't forget shipping, these things dont show up in the mail.

The cabinet will cost you about 100 bucks all told, even if you make it out of cheapo MDF.

Joysticks, buttons, switches, wood-mounted PSUs and iso transformers... Rugged arcade quality stuff ain't cheap, and the cheap stuff is worthless. You ever seen the beating the drunks at the bar put on the Golden Tee Golf machines? Those trackballs must be made out of kryptonite or something.

It's probably worth just under a grand in parts. And then labor costs. Those things are heavy mofos to move around, so you need some serious warehousing etc, etc.. The rest is licensing..

Remember, these things are sold to MAKE money, though.. 50 cents a pop, thats only 4000 plays until it's payed for itself. 15 plays a day, and it's payed for itself in a year.. Find a few good locations and these things could make you a decent profit on a route.

50 cents is just what arcade games cost these days. Talk to your arcade operator about that, it can be easily changed.

BTW, All the games at Chuck E Cheese are a quarter, if you have access to a little kid to get you in. They're also set on easy difficulty too.. I played Star Wars Pinball for an hour and a half on one credit..

From the article:

[IANAL(BIAILS)]

"Taito aims to sell 10,000 of the standalone game machines at $2,772 a unit." At first I thought 'there's no way people would be willing to pay so much for a game', but then I realized that the intended market for the game is nostalgic baby boomers with a lot of disposible income... I'd bet they do end up selling out. I only hope that a few make it to the local arcades - it would be so much better than that Dance Dance Crap.