] There was a time when an arcade operator in America could
] buy a Ms. Pac-Man machine for less than $1,000, let it
] sit in an arcade, bar or storefront, and see that game
] make back over 30 times the initial investment. In 2004,
] that kind of profit margin is little more than a pipe
] dream.
]
] Since 2001, Midway completely shut down its arcade
] division, Konami closed its U.S. arcade operations, and
] Capcom did not even support its most recent title, Capcom
] vs, SNK 2, in the U.S., instead handing the game over to
] Sega for sales and marketing purposes.

State of the U.S. Arcade Industry 2004