Actual mobile phone sales are on the decline, but it seems that smart phone users enjoy getting the most out of their portable devices. Personalizing phones by getting different cases, skins, faceplates and applications is a big draw in the mobile phone market. Mobile arcade games in particular are popular because they can be played on a whim, and consumers can enjoy them no matter what their level of experience is.

Some mobile phone makers, such as Apple, have a more dominant presence in the online cocktail table arcade gaming market. However, this has not stopped other mobile phone manufacturers from opening their own online stores. This is because they are well aware of the fact that this market is a big money maker. Even free mobile arcade games can help both developers and distributors to make a profit.

While many mobile devices come with at least one or two arcade games already downloaded upon purchase, as soon as the consumer learns that more games can be had with ease, it is almost inevitable that they will make a purchase. With the many available modes of purchase, including pay as you go and monthly billing options, many see mobile arcade games as an instant escape from boredom. After the title has been downloaded, you are free to play as much as you like.

Details on each individual game are included in the descriptions, but there is one caveat. Once purchased and downloaded, mobile arcade games cannot be returned. On rare occasion, some mobile carriers will give their customers credits for titles that were accidentally purchased, but this is rarely the case. For some, online arcade games are an impulsive buy, but still others enjoy the idea of having a large collection of titles available to them.

Jesse Baker, owner of Arcade Legacy, opened his establishment as an answer to the conventional arcade parlor. Players that are skilled at a particular title can easily dominate a popular gaming machine, making it inaccessible to other customers. On the other hand, a new player might quickly become discouraged after sinking quarter after quarter into a new and unfamiliar machine. High maintenance and servicing fees can cause even a veteran arcade parlor owner to go out of business, while newer business owners can fail to attract the attention of their targeted audiences due to location and poor marketing.

Arcade Legacy hasn’t been open for quite a year yet, but it is already a hit. Hardcore gamers know that they can go there and play the games that they know and love. Newcomers might not feel so self conscious about having to make frequent trips to the change machine. What’s more is that Arcade Legacy already has a collection of classic arcade machines that rivals establishments that have been open for multiple years.

Perhaps Baker has been able to invest more into his business than the average arcade parlor owner, maybe its just luck. Whatever the case is, the patrons just keep coming. Visitors can also plan special events at this venue for a reasonable fee, making this the ideal destination for gaming fanatics as well as their friends. Arcade Legacy isn’t yet well known outside of the Cincinnati area, but is will probably soon become well known in the global gaming market as a must visit attraction.

All real fans of Sonic the Hedgehog have played one of its creative sequels. From the introduction of Knuckles to Metal Sonic, there have been many changes and addition to the storyline. In all Sonic the Hedgehog games, the main character is celebrated for his super speed. For the first time, gamers will  be able to assume the role of Sonic and simulate his movements.

In Sonic Athletics, participants must run, jog and jump in order to win against their opponents. There are three main events in Sonic Athletics, and they all requirement exceptional physical ability. The game supports up to eight player game play. Eight separate treadmill-like gaming stations are lined up within a sport area themed enclosure. As long as you are able to race on the treadmill faster than your fellow players, you will always be on top.

Sonic Athletics makes a suitable new addition to Sega Joyopolis, mainly because there aren’t any other Sonic the Hedgehog games. While you might be used to hitting the action key in order to make Sonic move, this particular title follows the trend of interactive consoles such as the Nintendo Wii. So far, there aren’t any other copies of Sonic Athletics available outside of Japan. A single turn costs a little more than $5, so its best to be in tip top condition before planning a trip out to the land of the Rising Sun.

Although high tech arcade games are becoming more and more common, the demand for classic arcade machines still continues to grow. An older model sonic arcade game may only allow two people to play at a time, but it does offer fans a recreational and relaxed entertainment experience.

IndieGoGo wants to make sure that all those interested in the Japanese arcade gaming industry are able to learn its history. Titled ’100  Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience,’ the film focuses more on the culture of arcade gaming in Japan rather than on any individual game or influential person. Of course, there are plenty of interviews from both fans of professional, but the documentary also shows how big arcades are both in and outside of Japan.

Massive arcade centers, which are almost totally native to Japan and other Asian cities, featured in the film help to illustrate how these places shape some individuals social lives. In the US, arcades are no longer the popular hangout spots for teens and young adults. Instead, Internet cafes, coffeehouses and the ever popular shopping mall still tops the list for adolescents. While arcades generally lose money in the United States, they just get bigger in Japan.

New features, elements, hardware and innovations thought of in Japan have had a profound effect on the direction that arcade gaming has gone. The original first person shooting game came about more than 30 years ago, but it is now a staple in arcades. Even the first Ms Pacman cocktail table manufactured in Japan allowed gamers to figure out that glitches could be exploited and that game modifications could be made.

With a 100 yen coin, people can secure hours of entertainment at an exceptionally low price. Although it takes a lot of practice to master even a single game, status can be gained and relationships can be developed at any arcade in the world. ’100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience’ doesn’t attempt to cover it all, but this doc sure does touch upon  much more than just the basics.

Although there are plenty of consumers of arcade tables whom are happy to play their favored titles in the comfort of their home, this bill could impact a great number of arcade parlor operators. Visitors of all ages are allowed and even expected to hang out in arcade parlors. In fact, most visitors are adolescents. While these kids may not be old enough to buy certain titles because of parental discretion labels, virtually nobody would stop them from popping a few quarters into a gaming machine and enjoying a round or two of bloody violence.

As fewer and fewer studies making a connection between mature games and the corruption of youth are released, more loopholes allowing them access to these restricted titles are becoming apparent. A child that is not allowed to purchase the home version of a violent cocktail arcade table would certainly not benefit from playing the game for hours on end in any establishment.

Even still, there are plenty of fans of violent video games that are of age. The current version of the NJ bill that proposes to ban all mature themed video games in public places does not make exceptions for bars and other establishments that only allow adults on its premises. Even games shown at conventions, utilized during tournaments or otherwise accessible by the public would be subject to restrictions. Perhaps instead of preventing anyone in the general public from seeing mature games, there could be steps taken by the operators of these games to keep them away from easily impressionable eyes.

The bar, which was established in the Cleveland, Ohio, area nearly 100 years ago has always been a quite hideaway for local residents. In fact, management at B Side Liquor Lounge has been considering introducing arcade games for a few years. A number of regulars come in mainly for cheap brew and idle chit chat, so investing thousands of dollars in arcade machines was quite a bit of a gamble.

Although there aren’t more than a dozen bars in the United States that also feature a good selection of arcade games, historically, they have all done good for themselves. With the exception of a handful of states, there are no rules that prevent bars from offering fully functional video games to their patrons. However, it is not uncommon to walk into bars that have old, dusty games hidden in the back that haven’t been touched for years. The key component of running a successful bar that features video games is a combination of selecting the right titles as well as having enough games to go around.

The Pacman arcade machine is almost always a good choice for the bar owner that wants guaranteed sales, but there are also other factors to consider. Some customers will go crazy for more modern titles while still others are completely caught up in nostalgia. The bartenders will need to keep quarters on hand in order to make change in a timely fashion, or the owner will have to invest in a separate change machine. Lastly, there is always the concern that an inebriated patron can accidentally damaging an arcade gaming machine. Even with all these risks, the operators of B Side Liquor Lounge have found more positives than negatives after including new gaming titles.

Instead of using switchboards and computer chips, single cell organisms are being placed in pools of water in order to simulate arcade game styled action. Of course, a little technology must be harnessed in order to make the magic, but these science themed arcade games could soon become all the rage across classrooms as well as arcade parlors. Tiny organisms can be directed toward a target by using low voltage shocks. The targets themselves can be anything from fruit to dots, stars or coins.

In the end, players are able to make these tiny organisms take on the role of an arcade game action hero. While simplistic in nature, it is the hope of scientists that these science themed games will appeal to children and others that are curious about the subject. Playing a Ms Pacman arcade machine is certainly fun, but the technology behind it is no longer groundbreaking. Consumers know that arcade games are made up of cabinets and complex circuitry.

An arcade game that looks more like an aquarium than a cabinet, however, would probably peek the interest of passersby. Currently, there are no plans to mass produce any type of science themed arcade game. In fact, even the prototypes for these games are still being worked on.

Beyond the classroom, many in the field think that science themed titles could also aid doctors in the treatment of patients with certain conditions. Children with ADD and ADHD have responded well to games that require critical thinking and good hand-eye coordination. While a video game may not independently make a user more intelligent, they do challenge the human brain in multiple ways. For those that aren’t thrilled with the idea of maintaining an aquarium-like arcade game, there are other titles that center around science for both computers and home gaming consoles.

Bars may usually be the place where people go to socialize, but these two bars cater to the arcade game aficionado. It might be unwise to place an ice cold mug of beer next to a priceless arcade game, but surprisingly, no major accidents have been reported. It is highly uncommon for multiple niche eateries to do well, especially when they are established at approximately the same time. In this case, it seems that there are many fans of arcade games in the Windy City. In fact, both businesses have plans to expand their locations in the near future.

Headquarters Beercade will taking over another bar directly next door in order to add an impressive showcase of pinball machines. On the other hand, Emporium Arcade Bar will be expanding in order to accommodate an overwhelming number of requests for private parties. Even though these two bars largely cater to the same audiences, they seem to be going in two different directions. With more space for pinball machines, Headquarters Beercade will be able to draw in more customers. Emporium Arcade Bar will have a more intimate setting, which may appeal to the more ‘sophisticated’ consumer.

Anyone that has ever dreamed of drinking a beer while browsing arcade machines should plan a trip out to Chicago. You will have to pay in order to play on the arcade machines at both bars, but a handful of quarters will give you hours of entertainment. Those that live in the local area should pay them a visit before they start limiting hours before their planned renovations in May and mid summer.

Customers must use coins in order actually partake in gaming, but just looking at these rare specimens is enough for most visitors. All games on display are from the Soviet era, which sometimes throws international travelers through a loop. Normally, communist nations are looked at as being uncreative, oppressive and downright dreary. However, the games on display at the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines showcases the height of gaming technology for its time.

On the other hand, it must be said that many of the titles at this museum are actually copycat versions of more popular US and Japanese based 1980s arcade machines. Titles that are eerily similar to Duck Hunt and Missile Command come in their original forms, complete with chips, scratches and other signs of general wear and tear. Fortunately, players are also able to take advantage of the fact that the museum has kept all of the prices posted on these machines the same as well.

It has been years since Russia has been known as the USSR, but these arcade games help to capture a period of time that was both rich and tumultuous. The children of local residents that never experienced communism can look at these games with completely innocent eyes. Older Russians, however, might feel a bit of nostalgia mixed with other feelings.

The Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines will probably never be one of the top 10 places to visit in Moscow, but it is becoming a popular tourist attraction for arcade fanatics. Anyone that has an old school Soviet era arcade game that is Russian in origin is welcome to make a donation to this museum. In return, you may just be able to play these rare games free of charge, for life.

Using only post it notes, Birkin made moving images that played out a story staring the likes of Mario and Ms Pacman. Numerous characters from the most popular arcade games of the 1980s move, jump and hop, just as if they are in the original games in Birkin’s approximately two minute long video. Donkey Kong wields barrels at Mario as he ducks and dodges in pursuit of the Princess. Ms. Pacman gobbles up dots and evades ghosts, while gliding between barriers.

Birkin says that it took him nearly a year in order to complete his stop motion styled arcade game simulation. Most of the animation takes place on a large white wall within his apartment, while another small segment actually shows more of his living quarters. Post it notes in yellow, pink, blue and black were arranged in the same manner that pixels were used to create images on Pacman arcade machine displays.

The video doesn’t necessarily tell a seamless story, but it does show exactly how far a simple idea can be taken. Undoubtedly, thousands of people who have never played these games will be introduced to them by viewing Birkin’s video and becoming curious. Those that are familiar with home video consoles might be suddenly inspired to pick up a classic arcade game cartridge and work towards achieving an all time high score.

To the fans of arcade games, anything is possible. If 30 year old titles can be ported, re-mastered and re-released in countless collections time and time again, then why can’t a short video comprised entirely of post-it notes become a part of classic arcade history in its own right?