Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/Cm-Q1OG5ApI
Cui Yuxiang 3036218184
Shangguan Sanbao 3036128145
Transcript(774):
Introduction
The movie Breaking News provides us with a glimpse of Man Wah Building in the early 21st century. However, as time changes, the grand constructions become outdated, together with an old-fashioned game center that we found inside the building group. With no customers inside, it is predictable that the game center might be replaced in about ten years.
Q: Why is it vanishing? How do we know that it will no longer exist in the near future?
A: With the advancement of technologies, the mode of games has shifted from recreational machines to online video games. There is a wide variety of online video games such as computer games, mobile games, switch, PS5……The diversity along with the novelty of online video games can offer players more interest and entertainment. Additionally, compared to physical game machines, online video games are much more flexible and allow players to play at any time, anywhere. As a consequence, more and more people are trying to play online video games instead of playing on physical machines. Because fewer people go to game centers and spend on physical game machines, the Game Center suffers from financial burdens. The income has been declining, whereas the shop rent and other necessary expenses remain the same. It seems more and more difficult for the owners to make ends meet. The 3-year COVID-19 exacerbated the situation. Being forced to stay at home, people gradually got used to playing video games, which would aggravate the fade of physical stores. When we took the photo of the game center, no one was playing games inside, and I asked the staff in the game center about its popularity. The staff said the popularity decreased dramatically after the pandemic, especially for teenagers who ought to be the majority of the customers of game centers like this. However, nowadays, no teenagers come to game centers anymore. Therefore, it is difficult for the game center to survive in the territory because it can hardly make any profits.
Q: What do we know about its past and present? What purpose/s does it serve?
A: During the 1970s-1980s, with the technical advance in relevant industry, arcade cabinets became popular globally, stimulating investors to build a collective place to store commercial arcade cabinets. Game centers experienced a golden age, and they were the most popular recreational places for children and teenagers to gather together. There are a few purposes it serves in the community.
- It is the place to entertain by competing with others. Players will harvest happiness and get a sense of achievement if they can beat others or get other’s admiration.
- It is a place for socialization. Players might share the game experience: their insight into the game, the technique of the game, to name but a few, thereby making more friends with the same hobby. By forming groups of the same interest, they could gain a sense of belonging and get rid of loneliness.
- Same as playing regular games, players can alleviate their pressure when they are stressed out. Game centers offer an escape from the routine of daily life and a fun way to spend leisure time.
Q: Who are and/or will be affected when it no longer exists? What are their feelings and attitudes toward this?
A: There are basically two groups of people who will be affected.
- People who like to play at the game center(mainly middle-aged citizens) will be affected. They will feel nostalgic and lost, game center is not only a place to play games, but also about the memories and experiences shared with their friends in the past. Since the popularity of the game center continuously decreases, they will feel frustrated and helpless due to the inevitable changes.
- The owner of the game center will also be affected. They will feel sad and lost. Firstly, having a game center might have been a labor of love and personal pride. Besides, owners often form bonds with regular players and staff, so they will feel lost when they no longer in contact with each other. Lastly, they need to confront uncertainties and potentially shift to other fields.
Q: What is being done about its impending disappearance?
A: Some enthusiasts and business owners try to transform the game centers into bars or cafes, known as “Barcades” instead of “Arcades” as shown in the photo. Combine gaming with socializing and museum-like spaces to attract more people. Some even advocate the Game Center as a cultural landmark/heritage to maintain the legacy of arcade gaming. Besides, some game centers are expanding their offerings to different games, including board games, role-playing games(RPG), and card games……