How Many?

[MikeQ]

This is a question that perhaps the vendors in the BYOC community can answer.

Does anyone have any idea how large the home arcade builder/user market is?

Thanks,

Mike

[Stingray]

This is a question that perhaps the vendors in the BYOC community can answer.

Does anyone have any idea how large the home arcade builder/user market is?

Thanks,

Mike

I'm not a vendor, and I don't have an answer to your question, but if you're looking to go into business I can say that the market looks pretty saturated from where I'm sitting.

-S

[RayB]

Ask Saint how many books he's sold.

[bionicbadger]

This is a question that perhaps the vendors in the BYOC community can answer.

Does anyone have any idea how large the home arcade builder/user market is?

Thanks,

Mike

I'm not a vendor, and I don't have an answer to your question, but if you're looking to go into business I can say that the market looks pretty saturated from where I'm sitting.

-S

Really?  where can I buy an up/down spinner?

[Stingray]

This is a question that perhaps the vendors in the BYOC community can answer.

Does anyone have any idea how large the home arcade builder/user market is?

Thanks,

Mike

I'm not a vendor, and I don't have an answer to your question, but if you're looking to go into business I can say that the market looks pretty saturated from where I'm sitting.

-S

Really?  where can I buy an up/down spinner?

Everybody's a wisehiney. In general the market is saturated, particularly for cab builders. There are always going to be hard to find niche items.

-S

[CheffoJeffo]

Really?  where can I buy an up/down spinner?

eBay -- there were a couple up recently, IIRC.

Or you can BYO.

Cheers.

[thesmit]

Ask Saint how many books he's sold.

[/quote

Obviously not too many hey...]

[MikeQ]

I'm not a vendor, and I don't have an answer to your question, but if you're looking to go into business I can say that the market looks pretty saturated from where I'm sitting.

-S

That sort of depends on what your product is,  doesn't it?  If I come up with a widget that no one else makes then the market is wide open.  I bet Slikstik is selling the crap out of their glowing joystick handles.

Also, I think the entire arcade component industry for home builders is a niche market.  It is probably not a long term market either.  You figure arcade games like we all know and love had a relatively short run.  They appeared in the late 70'S and were passe before the 90'S.  It is the mid 30 to mid 40 year olds that drive this market.  People younger than this grew up with home video game consoles.  People older than this were too old to take interest in arcade games.  Sure there are some exceptions and sure our kids like to play these games on our cabinets, but I bet the customers driving this market are the 35-45 year olds.  When we age and become less interested in this hobby, the market will evaporate.  This forum has over 7000 participants.  I'm sure the total number of people building cabinets is many many times larger.  Still a niche market but large enough to support a product.  My parents made a very nice living the last 10 years of their working years custom making Flags for the Goldwing  community (Honda Motorcycle).  They attended rallies and sold flags to dealerships, handled large orders for the GWRA yearly event.  They produced probably 30-50,000 flags a year in what would be classed a small niche market.  They did far better than I do as a senior engineer.

Niche markets aren't bad if your customer base can support your product.  Sure your not going to become the next Microsoft.  If you can make more than your day job and work for yourself, why not?  Beats waiting for you job to get shipped to India or China.

Lastly, talking yourself out of perusing a business venture is the best way to fail.  No market is saturated.  If your product is better, you will displace someone.   My parents business had many competitors but they made a superior flag that didn't get shredded by the wind as you drove down the road.  The other vendors bought cheap flags from a manufacturer and resold them.  My parents manufactured their own out of a heavy material and created a product that worked better.

[MikeQ]

Ask Saint how many books he's sold.

[/quote

Obviously not too many hey...]

I think the book is a bad example.

With forums like this, who needs the book.  I never bought one.  I think most people who are adventurous enough to build a cabinet and use Mame probably can find all the information without a book. 

Actually, the fact that there is a book is  a good sign.  Publishers aren't willing to put of the cash to publish a book unless they think they can make money.  Obviously someone thought  the market was big enough.

[tommy]

  I think most people who are adventurous enough to build a cabinet and use Mame probably can find all the information without a book. 

Nonsense, you need Saints book to properly complete a cab professionally. 

[Lilwolf]

I hear its a lot bigger then you see here.  I've talked to a few people who make items and they say that for everyone from the forum who purchases something there are 10+ who they never heard from.

plus for some items you have non-arcade customers.  Keyboard encoders are great for non-arcade uses for instance. 

Trouble is that now I think very specialized controllers are all that are really missing... and I don't see people really making money on them.  Sure you might sell a bunch around here, but to make a really good (lets say 720 controller) you are talking about a TON of work, a TON of custom parts, then selling maybe 100 total in the next few years.  To make up for all the R&D you would need to sell them for a few hundred each.

More generic items have a better chance at making money (like the maginet centered joysticks) since they can be used on many games... where a 720 controller is good for one.... So less customers willing to spend extra for it.

[MikeQ]