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Welcome to the July edition of Location Watch, the series of posts here on Arcade Heroes that curates all of the new openings in arcades that we can find from across the world. Today\u2019s post keeps up the trend of these only being done bi-monthly so far this year, but the good thing about that is that there is always plenty that has built up to pick and choose from. We couldn\u2019t ever do this all by ourselves, so a hat tip as always to InterGame Online<\/a> and RePlay Magazine<\/a> for their rolling updates, as well as our loyal readers for sending in their own submissions, including Pacsonic, Jdevy, and more. If you have any that we may have missed, don\u2019t hesitate to forward it us \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n As I\u2019ve been looking at the various arcade locations in this edition and their websites and\/or social media, there has been a noticeable uptick in the use of AI when it comes to representing their game selection and facilities. I\u2019m not talking about graphic design for websites or posters to promote deals(related, but separate issue), but AI-generated images showing what should be the arcade itself, instead of what a facility has if you show up.<\/p>\n Instead of saying \u201cdon\u2019t do it,\u201d my question is\u2026\u201dwhy?\u201d If you can\u2019t afford to hire a photographer, just staging a decent photo of your games or party rooms, or front desk area using your phone and family\/friends\/employees\/customers is not difficult to do or to learn how to do. What benefit are your customers getting out of you representing your venue through a caricature over the real thing?<\/p>\n I would argue that a real photo, even staged, is more authentic than an AI representation of the same thing. When I see a business using AI in the place of the game machines or facilities that they have, it feels like I\u2019m being catfished, as they don\u2019t want to show me what they actually have. People are always more drawn to authenticity over a farce. Show your customers your value, not a representation of what that value is, and they\u2019ll respond positively.<\/p>\n As they say in writing fiction, \u201cshow, don\u2019t tell.\u201d Be proud of your business and what you\u2019ve built. That will help your business find success over the \u201cfake it til you make it\u201d method.<\/p>\n No, not everyone we\u2019re talking about today does this, but for those that do, or are tempted to, consider that in your marketing.<\/p>\n Anyways, onto the show:<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with a super-sized opening in New York City, where the rising Asian bar arcade chain Gatcha already has some locations \u2013 but none as big as this new, five floored flagship one. Once you look past the claw cranes on the first floor, you can find one of the freshest selections of new arcade games out there, with a basement featuring some of the very latest releases, and an upper mezzanine level filled with rhythm games. As well as all the arcade fun, there is also two floors dedicated to an esports arena. As he got to visit its soft opening, the great S1ckH4ndsRBN has had his tour of the place up for a month now, which is well worth a watch if you haven\u2019t seen it already:<\/p>\nNorth America<\/h2>\n
A quick word before we get started<\/h3>\n
Gatcha Ktown (Manhattan, NY)<\/h3>\n