>Could the demise of arcades -in the West- have been delayed somehow?
Multiple things would be needed just to delay the decline.
You would need arcade game devs on board in not making home ports 1:1 with the arcade version, so the arcade version would always be the superior way to play. You would need console makers on board in not adding internet to their consoles so console gamers would still need to go to the arcades to play with new people. You would need PC devs on board in not using internet multiplayer so PC gamers would still need to go to the arcades for multiplayer. Even with these things working in arcades favor, inflation would still have killed them dead as they would be forced to raise prices. Psychologically, a single coin doesn't feel that expensive. When you need to drop 2-4-8 quarters on a machine for a single round, it feels very pricey. Hence why most modern arcades use re-loadable cards.
>how would (You) have SAVED the arcade scene?
Get them all connected to the internet early, and have games be a bit more persistent. Gauntlet Legends had the right idea by letting players resume from previous play by putting in their initials and a numeric code. Imagine if it was also connected to a server that could bring in additional players to ensure you never had to play solo. No one at your local arcade has played enough to be at your level? No problem, it will connect you to another player two states over who is on par with you.
Fighting games could have been connected to a master server that would be a global ranked scoreboard and matchmaking service, and players could choose VS AI or VS Human after coin-in. Players could have put their initials and code in, game would load their record, and then play against someone close to their level.
It would have been the golden standard of multiplayer gaming, since cheating would have been virtually impossible.

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Could the demise of arcades -in the West- have been delayed somehow? how would (You) have SAVED the arcade scene?