I've come to terms with the fact that the American arcade is slowly but surely dying. While I'm all for advances in home console networking, it's a bit sad to know that American arcade traffic is drying up. It all really hits home after visiting Japanese arcades.

They're packed with new games every time I visit, and unlike US arcades, some more popular cabinets even manage to form lines. America has 20-cabinet "hole in the wall" locations while Japan has several multi-floor game centers. Their large, flashy games combined with the public spectacle that they make keeps customers coming back.

If I sound a bit jealous, it's because I am. I too would like to play a Azumanga Daioh-themed Bubble Bobble rather than the generic one.  I'd love to geek out with those massive trading card games. And, after getting the nerve up, I would someday like to hop into one of the Gundam pods and kick some ass, multiplayer style.

While there are a few good US arcades (Sega's Gameworks, some Namco locations), I don't see Americans pumping in enough quarters to convince game companies to give us similar treatment. Maybe that's the real issue. For now, I'll just have to continue playing Marvel Vs Capcom 2 on the right hand side of my local arcade's cabinet -- the player 1 position's down-back direction is faulty.

Hit the jump to see more reasons to hate your local arcade.