Quoted from InfiniteLives:How do "barcades" fit into the equation?
Will they fail? Will they flourish? Will they introduce the next generation into the hobby?
Since arcades don't really exist like they did in the 80's and 90's, "barcades" seem to be the venues that have the greatest ability to keep pinball alive and infuse the hobby with new collectors.
As long as operators continue to operate and these places exist in a profitable way then I don't see why it can't live on.
Hopefully Stern doesn't price out the ops and continue to sell pros (unlike with the Batman 66, you wont see many of those on location)
Also, no telling what technology will be like in 10 years, pinball will most likely need to evolve some to be relevant
They don 't, that is the problem. They are just the latest fad and will die a slow death like discos and any number of other businesses. It is the cycle of life.....nothing against them, they will just be replaced by something newer and more hip.