Xbox 360 Goes Arcade

[Neo003]

That's right, the Xbox 360 is going coin-op. Arcade industry newsletter The Stinger Report (via trade site Highway games) brings word of the Arcade Station T2. Arcade Station T2 is in the vein of Nintendo's Player Choice 10 arcade machine from 1986, by bringing the home experience to coin-op. It's outfitted in a traditional upright cabinet design, but features two Xbox 360 controllers and memory card slots. While it supports "system link gaming", it hasn't been revealed that whether that refers to LIVE support or not.

While the list of games is still being finalized, it could include Halo 3, FIFA 08, Assassins Creed and Devil May Cry 4. It won't feature the traditional Pay-to-Play model, but the Play-for-Time one, which the Stinger Report calls "VenderTainment". The cabinet is apparently fully licensed by Xbox and has been developed by American home arcade manufacturer Quasimodo Interactive. It's currently being tested in Asia and the UK and should be released in the upcoming months.

Links:

Kotaku.com

Original Source: Highwaygames.com

[what]

won't feature the traditional Pay-to-Play model, but the Play-for-Time one

Well that's pretty much turned me away already...you could get half-way through a race and bam, game over because you didn't pay enough money...

[The Teej]

Well to be honest, a pay for time model would really be the only decent way to do it. Unless you paid to play the demos, which would be very silly. Most games aren't designed for the arcades, so a pay for time is probably the most appropriate. I just hope it doesn't rip you off.

[The_Observer]

so how would it load games? would they install them onto the hard drive, should be interest to see.

[Skulltrail-old]

Well that's pretty much turned me away already...you could get half-way through a race and bam, game over because you didn't pay enough money...

Aren't ALL arcade games like that?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Aren't ALL arcade games like that?

No Arcade games work on "lives" usually. ?1 = 1 life, ect.

Or racing games work on time "limits" but not time limits like you have 5 mins to play then thats it, time limits like you have to reach each checkpoint within 30 seconds of each other or it's game over.

What seems to be happening here is you pay say ?1, and you have 10-15mins to play, end of. (example money cost/time)

Which isn't bad if you're a newbie or someone who's likely to die easily, however if you're really good at something you're playing it might feel annoying to be "penalised" for the fact you're able to stay alive for longer than 15 mins, while someone else can die as often as they like but keep playing for the same amount of time as you.

Arcades have always worked on a ratio of how good you are equalling how long you get to play for.

[Skulltrail-old]

No Arcade games work on "lives" usually. ?1 = 1 life, ect.

Or racing games work on time "limits" but not time limits like you have 5 mins to play then thats it, time limits like you have to reach each checkpoint within 30 seconds of each other or it's game over.

What seems to be happening here is you pay say ?1, and you have 10-15mins to play, end of. (example money cost/time)

Which isn't bad if you're a newbie or someone who's likely to die easily, however if you're really good at something you're playing it might feel annoying to be "penalised" for the fact you're able to stay alive for longer than 15 mins, while someone else can die as often as they like but keep playing for the same amount of time as you.

Arcades have always worked on a ratio of how good you are equalling how long you get to play for.

Here in the US (assuming you're from elsewhere; ?pe) its works about the same, really depends on the game. Some are timed and others are based on how long you last. (life points)

[Coldgunner]

I really can't see this being popular. I go to the arcades to play arcade games like fruit machines, grabbers etc etc. I can play fps etc at home.

[Smashing Pumpkin]

I really can't see this being popular. I go to the arcades to play arcade games like fruit machines, grabbers etc etc. I can play fps etc at home.

Think airports etc.

[Coldgunner]

Think airports etc.

I'd have thought thats where the portable market reigns?

[Smashing Pumpkin]

I'd have thought thats where the portable market reigns?

Just speaking personally I know if I was stuck in an airport for hours I'd rather be playing on an Xbox 360 than your average arcade game or handheld. That's when you're forced into a situation where you want to play arcade ganmes, rather than actually going to an arcade to play.

[jerzdawg]

the whole pay for time is usually done with sports games.... I know NBA Jam used to be pay per quarter, golf games are also time or hole based... so while this idea is not new... it def will be difficult to work out for some games...

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Thread Cleaned

How in the hell it turned into a discussion about Heat and the RROD is beyond me.

Keep it on topic please.

[Smigit]

I really can't see this being popular.

Neither. For the home user home buying the consoles outright isn't too excessive at all and if thats an issue I'm unsure if arcades are a good alternative.

For things like Airports ect I couldn't personally see myself wanting to play it either and would probably just go buy a magazine or something. I get enough use out of the console at home and unless you carry around a memory card I can't see the public one being all too appealing. Shopping centres usually have enough shops with demo consoles to render putting one in a mall pretty redundant.

Sure some people will use it, but I can't see them being huge.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I think it's awesome (Y) I'm fed up of seeing the same old games in the arcades from 2000 and before :sleep:

[Smigit]

Yeah but do you really want to see the same games you can rent at a video store for just as much for a week or already own in the home instead?

[Smashing Pumpkin]

If I'm stuck waiting in an airport with nothing to do, then yeah. Or if I'm like 10 and get my mummy and daddy to pay for it then yeah.

[Smigit]

Well I was responding to the comment about playing these games in an arcade, not a standalone console at an airport. If they had an arcade at the airport then you'd have a choice of other games you can't normally play in which case the above stands.