Looking for feedback on an idea with my arcade machine

[kiwasabi]

Hey guys,

I apologize for not doing a project thread on this, I've sort of kept it under wraps. So I made an original arcade game called Flytrap with several other people, and while having the cabinet sit in my living room something has been bothering me... The screen is dinky! It's a 24" LED monitor so the viewable dimensions are 20 1/2" wide by 12" tall. What I'm left with is two 24" x 8" spots above and below the monitor where I wish there was more screen! So what I'm thinking about doing is doing a vertical monitor setup instead. I could fit a 37" LCD in there vertically, it would be 20 1/4" wide x a whopping 34 1/2" tall. Right now I have about 28" available vertically there. So I could either just waste the other 5 inches of screen by having it hanging below the viewable area unused, or maybe have it above the viewable area and use it for the marquee somehow. I wasn't sure if I could use some mirror trickery to reflect an image forward about 8 inches.

Anyway, I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on doing this. I've got my prototype cabinet on location at a movie theater in Lakewood, CO, and standing next to brand new lightgun games and their 42"-50" monitors, my game's screen looks pitiful in comparison. I kinda feel like if you're gonna pay to play a game on an arcade machine that the screen should be a good size.

I was also curious if anybody would be interested in an IndieGogo or Kickstarter campaign for this. Aside from the machines themselves I'm not sure what kind of rewards I could offer other than thanks/credits in the game. I of course would offer the machines at a discount.

Check out video footage of the cabinet here:


And gameplay footage here:

[Generic Eric]

Hey guys,

I apologize for not doing a project thread on this, I've sort of kept it under wraps. So I made an original arcade game called Flytrap with several other people, and while having the cabinet sit in my living room something has been bothering me... The screen is dinky! It's a 24" LED monitor so the viewable dimensions are 20 1/2" wide by 12" tall. What I'm left with is two 24" x 8" spots above and below the monitor where I wish there was more screen! So what I'm thinking about doing is doing a vertical monitor setup instead. I could fit a 37" LCD in there vertically, it would be 20 1/4" wide x a whopping 34 1/2" tall. Right now I have about 28" available vertically there. So I could either just waste the other 5 inches of screen by having it hanging below the viewable area unused, or maybe have it above the viewable area and use it for the marquee somehow. I wasn't sure if I could use some mirror trickery to reflect an image forward about 8 inches.

Anyway, I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on doing this. I've got my prototype cabinet on location at a movie theater in Lakewood, CO, and standing next to brand new lightgun games and their 42"-50" monitors, my game's screen looks pitiful in comparison. I kinda feel like if you're gonna pay to play a game on an arcade machine that the screen should be a good size.

I was also curious if anybody would be interested in an IndieGogo or Kickstarter campaign for this. Aside from the machines themselves I'm not sure what kind of rewards I could offer other than thanks/credits in the game. I of course would offer the machines at a discount.

Check out video footage of the cabinet here:


And gameplay footage here:

It seems like there would be more of a penalty for letting the frogs get to your side?  The only thing I saw bad happen was when the frog landed on player 2.

As far as other rewards, why not a download of the game?  Or does it not run on windows?

How much does it cost to play?

[kiwasabi]

It seems like there would be more of a penalty for letting the frogs get to your side?  The only thing I saw bad happen was when the frog landed on player 2.

You have extra lives at the bottom of the screen, sort of like your bases in Missile Command. So you have to protect them from the enemies. But also like in Missile Command if the enemies end up in an area that isn't inhabited by your extra life, you aren't penalized. Galaga is like that too if you dodge an enemy.

As far as other rewards, why not a download of the game?  Or does it not run on windows?

For now it's an arcade exclusive, any console, PC or mobile versions would be a ways out.

How much does it cost to play?

We started it at 50 cents but it didn't do well. Of course I realized it was competing directly with Guitar Hero and a new pinball machine at that price, so we're trying it at 25 cents now.

[kixfan]

Can't tell for sure from the video but it seems like either the person playing is really tall or the marquee is too low.    It also seems like you have 2 marquees with the topper and then the section above the screen.   I REALLY like the topper/marquee.   I am not sure what to say about switching to a 37" monitor.   Price wise that would be about $100 difference maybe?

[kiwasabi]

Can't tell for sure from the video but it seems like either the person playing is really tall or the marquee is too low.    It also seems like you have 2 marquees with the topper and then the section above the screen.   I REALLY like the topper/marquee.   I am not sure what to say about switching to a 37" monitor.   Price wise that would be about $100 difference maybe?

The hippie-like dude is me lol and I'm 6 feet tall, and we put the marquee right about where marquees usually go, about 62" up (5 feet 2 inches). The plastic top is 10" so total height is 72"/6 feet. I'm glad to hear you like the topper. Yeah, the cost difference is about $100. 24" monitor is about $150, I found a 37" hdtv for $258.

[Generic Eric]

As far as other rewards, why not a download of the game?  Or does it not run on windows?

For now it's an arcade exclusive, any console, PC or mobile versions would be a ways out.

  This vid is from 2010 on xboxlive


I really like the topper! 

If you had the larger screen, would you change to a vertical orientation?

[kiwasabi]

This vid is from 2010 on xboxlive

I really like the topper! 

If you had the larger screen, would you change to a vertical orientation?

Lol you caught me Eric! An older version was released on Xbox Live Indie Games. But it languished on there and I realized the game should've been an arcade machine to begin with. I plan on taking that version down once I release the arcade version.... at this point it's more there just to help me keep my trademark.

Yep, it would have to be a vertical orientation as that's the only way it would fit into this cabinet. Which means I'd have to change the backgrounds and reprogram the game a bit. I think it would help a lot as you'd have way more time to react to enemies and there could be WAY more enemies on screen. I also see a lot of possibilities as far as adding bosses and levels where enemies come down from the sky and such.

[pbj]

I thought this looked familiar.... Post History, dude, it's a ---smurfette---.     I thought it was a cute game back then, too.

Go with the larger screen vertically oriented.  It'll make the game harder for the players, too.

Do have to laugh that you've got personal e-mail addresses all over that thing.  I can remember playing Crusader No Remorse on Sega Saturn and it had a weird easter egg level where one of the programmers was like, "I wish I could tell you how to get ahold of me and tell me what you think of this game, but I'm not allowed."