BYOAC Tokens!!! Now Accepting Pre-Orders.

[Santoro]

UPDATE 5-19-04
The token design has been 95% completed and pre-orders are being taken. Please check it out.

Original Message: -----------------------------------------------
I found this discussed last year, but it seems nothing happened.  Let's try again!

Not sure if it is financially feasible, but would it not be super cool to have BYOAC or BYOC/MAME tokens?  We have enough gifted artists here that we could probably wind up with a killer design. (I am partial to Pixelhuggers atomic logo -only of course if he consented)

If there were a ton of interest I'd be willing to front this.  Please Indicate how much you might pay, max.  It seems to me it might be $20-25 for 200 tokens.



{edited for spelling and to fix URLS}

[DaveMMR]

I found this discussed last year, but it seems nothing happened.  Let's try again!

Not sure if it is finacially feasible, but would it not be super cool to have BYOAC or BYOC/MAME tokens?  We have enough gifted artists here that we could probably wind up with a killer design. (I am partial to Pixelhuggers atomic logo)

If there were a ton of interest I'd be willing to front this.  Please Indicate how much you might pay, max.  It seems to me it might be $20-25 for 200 tokens.

I was going to buy tokens anyway so I'd buy these.  I'm partial to the Atomic Logo as well.  And I'd pay the $20 - $25 dollars.

[Apollo]

Yeah I'd be in for 200.

[patrickl]

Sound like a cool idea. Especially if enough people would join in to lower the price to the range you suggested.

Won't it be hard/expensive to find coin mechs for these tokens though?

[Aceldamor]

I would buy some for sure...200 sounds cool.  


My concern is also getting the coin mechs for theese...

[Apollo]

Can't they just have the same profile asa quarter? Then you don't need a different coin mech.

[Santoro]

I think one of these would do it, but someone please speak up if it is not that simple.

http://www.happcontrols.com/gaming/coin_comp/42028300.htm

[Santoro]

Can't they just have the same profile asa quarter? Then you don't need a different coin mech.

No they won't make 'em that way because they could be used as slugs.  I think many quarter mechs can be adjusted to take .984 tokens though.  See the link above.

[TheGatesofBill]

I'd buy some if they fit in quarter mechs, because I don't really want to get mine replaced.

[patrickl]

There seems to be a bug in that page. It lists the .882 coin mech twice (and not the .984 mech).

[DaveMMR]

I think one of these would do it, but someone please speak up if it is not that simple.

http://www.happcontrols.com/gaming/coin_comp/42028300.htm

I was going to suggest that - the token has to be .984 am I correct?  Because I wanted a coin box that took quarters AND tokens (so that I can slap my excess spare quaters in there but have tokens for guests).

[AmericanDemon]

I'm in for 200 tokens

[mahuti]

I'm in.

[mtalkington]

Count me in for 200 also.

[Magnet_Eye]

If i can either

A) make my coin mechs work
or
B) get the right coin mechs with little hassle/cost

then you can COUNT ME IN!

 

[pointdablame]

I would be in if there were a way to get quarter sized ones, or if my coin mechs can be adjusted.  I wouldn't be too keen on having to get new mechs though.

I'll have to see if mine can be adjusted, if so I'm in.

[Minwah]

Wouldn't this mean you can't charge your guests?

 

[patrickl]

You can sell the tokens

[Santoro]

You can sell the tokens

Yeah - special sale price 10 for 3$

I see Saint put this thread on the front page.  The pressure is on guys!

[dmsuchy]

I would buy 200 for sure!

[Kremmit]

Yes indeedy, I'll take a batch too!

I had looked into getting custom tokens made specifically for my home arcade, but it just wasn't something I could afford by myself.  But if we all went in on the deal, MAME tokens would be the next best thing. 

I can't wait for the art competition for these! 

-Kremmit

[Kremmit]

Hey, I said I couldn't wait, but..

Seriously, once there are enough committed  buyers, shouldn't there be a new thread for art ideas?  That way, everybody that's ponying up the dough for these can have a say in what they'll look like.  And if we do it later, we'll have more artists cranking out more designs to vote on!  

That said, how 'bout a picture of ...

Naa, if I'm gonna jump in here and ask to wait, I oughtta wait myself.

...

...

Dangit, I don't wanna wait.  Mabye we should start the new thread now, but not settle on a final design for either side for quite a while.  

Whaddaya think?

-Kremmit

[Generic Eric]

I'd be in
<edit>
I voted for the two sides, because I would be willing to pay for the two sides.

But I would buy the single side if that was the only option.

Either way I'm in.  
</edit>

[Spaced Invader]

I'd buy 'em...

[DrewKaree]

I'm in like Flynn.  Gimme.  

What about the "Arcade Evolution" image for the other side?  Just throwing an idea out there, dunno if everyone would want a new design, or go with something already out there to cut down on "decision time".  

Another idea would be to slap the "BYOAC" design from the T-shirt on the back.  

I think it sounds like a consensus for Pixel's atomic design for one side, but chime in if you're AGAINST that idea.

[ani]

I'm down.

[Santoro]

These will have to have a generic something on the other side or else we will need to pay another 200$ for a second die.

The stock designs are here:
 
http://www.hoffmanmint.com/stndrdesign.pdf

t50 and t50a fit the bill.

Might as well ask, would the group pay $35 for 200 with Both Sides Customized?

[mahuti]

I like the BYOAC logo for the other side

[AmericanDemon]

$35.00 for total custom tokens.  Hell yeah man.  I'm in.

[DaveMMR]

$35.00 for total custom tokens.  Hell yeah man.  I'm in.

Awww not fair.  You added another choice after I voted.  

I'd pony up $35 for both sides custom.

[bioart]

I'd be in for at least 200, the bigger size the better, but I'll settle for low .800's if we have to.

Oh, and both sides custom would be cool, I like the atom logo.

Art

[mmmPeanutButter]

I was just crunching some numbers off of http://www.tokensdirect.com/pricing.html.

$76 /1000 tokens (when you buy 5000) +custom die costs.

$380 (for 5000 tokens) + $390 custom die charge = $770

=$0.154 each therefore, 200 = $30.80

Now, once the dies are made, the cost for each drops to $0.076 each.

If somebody was to step up to the plate (I was seriously thinking about it but I'm in Canada) and organize it, I think you could do quite well with the undertaking.  

Lets say you put the money up for the dies yourself and sell the sets for $25 (for now on, "set" will refer to 200 pieces).  You would need to sell 40 sets to break even and you would make $9.80 on each set after that.

Too much risk for you?

Sell the sets for $28.  You would now need to sell only 30 sets to break even.  After that, you would make $13.80 for every set purchased.

Not greedy enough for you...

Charge $182 per set.  You would only need to sell 2 sets to break even!!  For each set after that, you would pocket $166.80!!  WOW!!
(diamond encrusted cabinet... here we come! (I'll use it to propose to my girlfriend))  



Now, for my little number-crunching, I didn't include the cost of shipping the bulk tokens.  I would assume that all the set prices would be +shipping.

If you see any flaws in my reasoning, let me know...

Oh, one more thing...  think about the $28/set.  Does BYOAC have a budget to set it up?  The $13.80 profit on subsequet sets could go back to the website.  Then the website would own the dies and the token offering could be on-going.  Just a thought.

[DrewKaree]

I don't wanna speak for everyone, but I'm down for both sides custom only if it will work in my current coin mech.  

Doesn't make much sense to me to pay that much for custom stuff that'll cost you even more money to alter to get it to work!  

That being said, I want both sides custom!  LOL

[crashwg]

I'm in for the double sided ones.  Of course that will depend on the the designs.  It seems unanimous on the atom-like mame logo but what about the other side?

I think we need to start the design process now.  That way people will know exactly what they'll be paying for...

[AlexC]

I'm in for 200 as well, only concern is the mechs for me..

[dag2000]

Couldn't both sides have the same design?  I really like pixel hugger's atom logo but think there should only be one electron in each orbit.  Two looks wrong (just my opinion).

I do like some of the Hoffman standard designs; T50 and T59 and T95 remind me of arcade tokens of my youth. The T-Rex and "Beer Token" would be funny and the liberty head would be ok in a faux - quarter sort of way.

in terms of a custom design for the obverse, As much as I love BYOAC (I just bought saint's book today!) I'd rather not have it  emblazoned on the tokens.  

Perhaps the web address (www.arcadecontrols.com) in smaller letterrs along the edge, like the "in god we trust" on a coin?  The design could be a classic arcade character, like pac man, or a space invader.

Does hoffman have any other generic designs?

[dag2000]

Ooooh! What about a player one silhouette guy for the back?

[Magnet_Eye]

I think one of the generic sides plus the BYOAC side would be sufficient.

Arcades usually have the "No Cash Value" on one side and their logo on the other.

I must say the idea for the atomic logo is cool, but I think it is too detailed for a token. I think if he can re-do it we'd be better off. Something a bit more simplistic with the same theme.

just my $.02

[wj2k3]

I am in for a set of double side tokens.

I like the atomic logo but would like to see some other peoples designs defore the final decision was made.  I have seen a lot of talent on this board.

I think it would be cool if the other side said "Game Not Over" in the spirit of MAME keeping the classics alive and well.

I know I am relatively new and unknown around here, but I would be willing to handle the first run if need be.  After the first run and the initial start up costs were covered, it could all be turned over to the BYOAC.

Whatever design is decided on, I would much rather have a custom token that meant a little something versus a bag of generic tokens.  So, I really hope this happens.

Just my $0.02 too.

-wj2k3

[Kremmit]

I'd definately pony up for both sides.  C'mon, if you're gonna blow $25 for tokens (when you already have quarters and a credit button available ) then why not cough up the extra $10 to make 'em look as cool as possible?  Besides, the stock designs at http://www.hoffmanmint.com/stndrdesign.pdf look more LAME than M.A.M.E.  

That said, the Atomic logo is pretty cool.  I do wonder if the Hoffman Mint people can properly render it, though.  I mean, it's got some faint stuff, and some 3d stuff in it.  That'd have to be some quality minting, like you see on a quarter.  Tokens I've seen don't have that kind of definition, they're more like solid line art.  Although now that I take another look at their flyer, that Liberty Head logo (#T85) looks to be the right kind of work.

For the other side, how 'bout a joystick?  An upright cabinet?  

For folks worried about making them work with your coin mechs:  Many old coin mechs can be adjusted to use tokens- for example:  http://www.happcontrols.com/faqs/faq_coin-mechs.html - http://www.happcontrols.com/images/pdf/roll-down-acceptor-adjustment.pdf  Even if yours doesn't, I saw some posts in the old token thread http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=12543;start=msg107292#msg107292 from people that were hacking their mechs to take any kind of coin, including tokens.  

Far as the money goes, nobody has to front for this.  All we have to do is get a BYOAC member that folks will trust (Saint?) to set up a Paypal account for the token buy.  That way we can all send in our $$ when we happen to have it available, instead of expecting everybody to pay up at the same time- which will never happen.  As soon as enough of us pay, we can send the order off.  That way nobody gets left holding the bag on a $770.00 load of tokens.

-Kremmit