Bringing Back the Days of Public Execution

The days of bravery are dead.

The days of public humiliation are gone.

The days of waiting for an ass whipping are in the past.

Call me nostalgic or old fashioned but those days were a better time in gaming. Placing quarter markers for your chance as king of the hill caused a level of anticipation unattainable in today's online competitions. The use of hard currency made that match against that champion of the moment much more real. After all, you've got 50-75 cents riding on the success of your skills. The universal shouts of everyone around you during a match between two skilled combatants isn't heard over the headphones of your console. Nor do you hear the chorus of OOOOOOHHHHHs when someone finally met their better.

The world of Arcade is slowing drifting off as a memory in the US. It wasn't too long ago when you could find at least one in every little town or city but now... Now you have to drive hours to another city for even a taste of how things once were. Business sense also considers the opening of an arcade as financial suicide. It honestly is a sad time when gaming is no longer a true social event. Its been replaced by the shrill cries of young teenagers over headsets and the manners that would have them beaten in a second in an open environment. Whereas before you showed respect to your fellow player.

Its sad to say but the console has killed the cabinet and I would give my newest system up in a heart beat to get that golden age back.