Would you quit your job if you could make just as much building arcades?

[javeryh]

I think I just might.  I mean, it's all I really think about when I'm at work anyway... I don't think I'd get sick of it either - I'd just get crazier and crazier with every new design.

[shardian]

Well DUH!!! Of course I would. Hell, I'd go back to working the produce department at Krogers if I made as much as I do now (including benefit package of course)

The problem is there is no way I could make half as much as I do now in the arcade biz.

[(+_+)]

In a blink.

[ChadTower]

Well DUH!!! Of course I would. Hell, I'd go back to working the produce department at Krogers if I made as much as I do now (including benefit package of course)

I'd do a lot of crappy things if I could make the same salary/benefits as I do now.  Of course, BYOAC would be a much quieter place.

[shardian]

Well...technically I already get paid my current rate to post here and do alot of my arcade research...does that count?

[saint]

No. A steady job vs an uncertain market? Not a chance.

[ChadTower]

There is something to be said for not waking up every morning dreading the fact that you have to go to work again.

[ahofle]

Do you mean building arcade cabinets as a job?  I'd have to say I would not enjoy it after the first 2 or 3.  Building my own was fun, but breathing MDF powder day after day for someone else's benefit would get old quickly.  Also, not very intellectually stimulating once you get a template/system in place for building them.  To me, the fun part of building a cabinet is customizing it for yourself, adding bells and whistles, constantly improving it. 

[lanman31337]

It would be fun, but granted you're going to have customers wanting rare or obscure cabs, not happy with their button layouts, wanting house calls, etc... and also just like saint said, you might have some real busy times, then have some dead times.  As a hobby it's great, but not a career.

[leapinlew]

no way.

I enjoy computers and I made it my job. I enjoy computers much less now.

I enjoy working on arcades and wood working, sure it can be a little obsessive, but I want to keep my hobbies hobbies from now on.

[Jeff AMN]

Nah, I wouldn't want my hobby to become a full-time job. I'd start to resent aspects of the hobby and probably get burnt out on it. I probably wouldn't care to invest time into arcades in my free time if I had all day to spend with them in the first place.

I love gaming, but sometimes being a Senior Editor for a gaming media outlet can make you a little cynical towards gaming at times. When pure crap shows up in your mailbox and you have to spend the next 20 hours reviewing it...well, it's a chore, not a lucky gig. 90% of the time, however, it's pretty cool.

[shardian]

There is something to be said for not waking up every morning dreading the fact that you have to go to work again.

One day, I hope to not dread work in the morning. Until I hit the lottery though, I'll do what I have to to provide for my family.

[javeryh]

There is something to be said for not waking up every morning dreading the fact that you have to go to work again.

One day, I hope to not dread work in the morning. Until I hit the lottery though, I'll do what I have to to provide for my family.

Agreed.  I count the days until the weekend and I'd always rather be anywhere else than at my desk.

[vidmouse]

I think a good compromise is,

If you can make money on your hobby, wouldn't you?

Case in point:  I found a way to earn a little extra
cash on top of my real job by moonlighting as a
computer instructor at a local community college.
They only ask me to put in 3 hours a week plus
grading time and I've got it down to a simple points
system, so grading is essentially just a little math.

What's better, the college recently started up their
games development curriculum which they asked me
to help develop.  Now if I can only convince them
to add an arcade cab building course to the curriculum...

[ChadTower]

If you can make money on your hobby, wouldn't you?

I would not.  I've done it before and it leads to less enjoyment of the hobby when it's a part time business.

Turn a hobby into a profession?  Different story, I think that's a best case scenario if you can pull it off.  You've found a career you actually like.

[shardian]

If you can make money on your hobby, wouldn't you?

I would not.  I've done it before and it leads to less enjoyment of the hobby when it's a part time business.

Turn a hobby into a profession?  Different story, I think that's a best case scenario if you can pull it off.  You've found a career you actually like.

The main difference between a hobby and a job is that in a hobby, you can do what you want, when you want. There are no deadlines,no pesky customers, etc. If you go into a career of something you love, then you just added all of the things that set your hobby apart from work. I went into engineering not because it is my hobby, but because I knew there were good career opportunities, and because for some crazy reason I like math( not as a hobby though ). At the time of college, my favorite hobby was art. I considered art school, but realized two things: pay sucks, and I didn't like doing assigned projects. In my senior art class, I NEVER did the assigned work. I was kind of the teachers pet, so I got away with it.

[rovingmind]

yes i would, that or toys, toys and cabinets are about the same........

once the cabs together you get to play with it, once the toy has its wheels on it you get to play with it.

Now if i could only afford that cnc panel cutter.............

[haveacigar]

If guaranteed the same amount of pay (regardless of how many cabs you would make), of course.  You'd have to be crazy not to.

[vintagegamer]

The guy who fixed my Ms Pac told me he had a Harley Fat Boy, an OCC-built custom chopper, and his brand new Dodge Hemi truck was in front of his shop.  Trust me, I gave quitting my job some serious thought..

[shardian]

The guy who fixed my Ms Pac told me he had a Harley Fat Boy, an OCC-built custom chopper, and his brand new Dodge Hemi truck was in front of his shop.  Trust me, I gave quitting my job some serious thought..

That doesn't mean all that much. It may be he is in debt way past his eyeballs.

[Apollo]

That's a no brainer for me because my job sucks royally

[rdowdy95]

For me I have a fulltime job at the library where I live.  I work in the Children's area.  We have programs for 6 mo. all the way up to the teens.  That keeps me busy.  Then I have a part-time business.  Dowdy Computer.  I stay busy.  Granted the part time thing is small....But anyways like Leapin said for me the Arcade thing is a fun hobby.  I wouldn't want to be stressed over things like OH MY GOD I have to get this done.

Like another poster said if they don't know much about MAME or computers I would have to go over there and fix the problems.  Although I would charge for the stuff, but still I just don't want the added stress.  I am having a fun time just playing games on my own.  Some of the gun games suck though since MAME changed lots of them to stick.  I use the trackball for those.  Like Turkey Shoot I prefer trackball since I can't ever get the gun to work good enough. 

Anyways back to topic I like ti as a hobby!

[ark_ader]

Actually I'm thinking of doing just that. 

There is a market for my idea.

Christmas is coming and I have a design that will just about work. 

I was looking around for a retired cabinet maker or carpenter to cut the wood, which I found to my amazement as he has his own workshop and I have an old arcade tech guy who is brill at soldering and making looms who is interested for a run of cabinets.  Its such a shame that retired people, are just ignored and past over.  My lot would do it for free to just have a purpose or a job to keep them busy.   

What has been bothering me is a clause in my work contract that forbids such activity, so I will pass it to my mate ( he's great at organising) to kick them out.  If it goes according to plan then we could be the new kids on the arcade block.

My guess is to bang out a couple and see if they sell.

Here's to dreaming of riches!   

[mr.Curmudgeon]

No. A steady job vs an uncertain market? Not a chance.

Maybe you could just start a forum for your hobby, or something?   

[saint]

Heh. Talk about another full time job...

[psik0tik]

Are you talking about restoring or Mame cabinets. There's a good business in restoring but it's an assload of work. And as far as Mame cabinet building everyone and they're mother has already beat you to that punch. You can't throw a rock on eBay without hitting 12 of them. You'd have to sell them at a ridiculously low price to compete. The only thing I can figure is if you can come up with a new arcade game but that takes a team. I'm not trying to mow over your flower bed of dreams I'm just trying to be realistic

[Knievel]

I haven't quit my job but building these machines has become a large part of my business.

There should be a market for Mame cabinets wherever you live, the trick is finding it.

The Mame cabinets I've seen on eBay are nothing to be proud of. The guys I sell to wouldn't even consider them.

[ChadTower]

I know people have asked me many times about building them bartops.  The reason I never got into it is mostly that I wouldn't do it without an upfront hard price and hadn't done the research to give one.  If someone could make a decent bartop in the $400 range it would be a good seller.  The tricky part would be convincing people to buy one without MAME installed and running already.

[Zebidee]

I'll always consider it a hobby, but technically I've made about as much money out of building cabs for other people than I have actually spent on the hobby.  But then, I always try to make my hobbies pay for themselves

You should do that which makes you happy.

[theCoder]

I don't think so.  It might be fun for the first 5 to 10 projects, but then it would just turn into another job.  Optimizing the process for output and financial return.  The learning and innovation would fade and the stress level would rise.  I'll keep it as a hobby thank you.

[rovingmind]

I know people have asked me many times about building them bartops.  The reason I never got into it is mostly that I wouldn't do it without an upfront hard price and hadn't done the research to give one.  If someone could make a decent bartop in the $400 range it would be a good seller.  The tricky part would be convincing people to buy one without MAME installed and running already.

you could provide them with an emulator and a purchased rom or two, i've thought about that, point them at the purchasable rom sites

still they would want you to give them whatever you had running as a favor, yeah that in and of itself is what stops me from doing that also. 

Although, if i had access to a panel cutter i would think about doing bartop kits.  Just add computer.

[telengard]

I'd actually rather own a classic arcade like Ground Kontrol etc.  That is my dream job.
If only it were economically feasible...

~telengard

[Hockeyboy]

As much as I'd like to say I'd quit my job in a second, I actually have a very cool and technical job. I currently work on some very high-tech electronics in a wafer fabrication facility where I perform PMs, maintenance, calibrations, and etc etc etc. I get to use my hands and my brain together and I like that. I don't think I could build cabs for a living - it would probably get to the point of no longer being a challenge and then I'd get bored and want to quit.

Let me just try to build a couple cabs, maybe a jukebox...and call it good. 

[WaRpEd]

I like my job I'm more or less my own boss I'm In retail as vendor for DVD's and CD's at national chain that starts with W ends in a T ( I can't name it) . My manager shows up every couple of weeks to check sales.
But turning that hobby into a job would ruin the enjoyment for me. Yoo would have deadlines customer service etc. My other hobby is running a haunted house every year at my home and it's time consuming and expensive but I don't want to do that year round. Besides running around in hockey mask and chainsaw will get you arrested after Halloween but that's another story.
Warped

[JimmyU]

I like my job I'm more or less my own boss I'm In retail as vendor for DVD's and CD's at national chain that starts with W ends in a T ( I can't name it) . My manager shows up every couple of weeks to check sales.
But turning that hobby into a job would ruin the enjoyment for me. Yoo would have deadlines customer service etc. My other hobby is running a haunted house every year at my home and it's time consuming and expensive but I don't want to do that year round. Besides running around in hockey mask and chainsaw will get you arrested after Halloween but that's another story.
Warped

And besides, there's not much of demand for a haunted house at Christmas time

[spacies]

Some know, some don't.

I do this full time.
After 18 months I still enjoy it a lot.

I am the boss. If a friend rings and says he's gonna hit the golf course I can drop tools and go!
I can take days off when I want, drink coffee in the sun and get drunk and sleep in.

Having said that, if you aren't turning machines over, you don't have money. So there are times when you have to work frickin hard to meet deadlines.

I kinda hate the middle part of the job when you are half way through a build.
The planning and communication with a customer is great fun when you present your ideas to them.
And when you start a project you are excited. Then comes the part, especially cocktails, trying to get everything to fit inside and look professional and tidy. I hate that part too.

There is no better part of the job than the finished product and seeing the look on peoples faces when you deliver it in person. I guess its because it reminds them of the fun times as a kid.
Or and email or phone call expressing their thoughts.

There is a lot more to it than just making machines.
Because I run this as a business everything need to be done right.

There is all the paper work like doing your own bookwork, paying taxes, keeping the accountant happy (and paid) paying bills, keep your stock orders up to date (VERY VERY important) , doing your own marketing, organizing the shipping etc.

Then there is building the machines. To get things done right your need the right tools and you have to be turning over machines of a VERY high quality.
They have to be idiot-proof in operation and reliable.

If you are seriously thinking of doing this then I suggest you do your homework.
There are a lot of people in the US already doing this and probably 100x that who would be 'backyard' builders.
You would also have to decide wether to mass produce or try crack the high-end custom build market but that is very hard to get your costings right.

Build a few and sell them and see what happens.

[btp2k2]

I would say no.

I used to love collecting comics. I managed a shop for awhile....ended up selling off my entire collection and haven't picked one up since.

No way would I ruin another hobby like that

[steptoe]

i work to live, not live to work.

Find a job you like and you will never work a day in your life

[javeryh]

i work to live, not live to work.

Find a job you like and you will never work a day in your life

If only that paid the bills...   

[shardian]

i work to live, not live to work.

Find a job you like and you will never work a day in your life

Easier said than done, especially with a person like me whose interests and tastes changes the same (or more often) as my taste buds.

[Anubis_au]

I'd say no.

First up, everyone would want a different design, so it would be hard to get some economies of scale happening. Second, it would need to be done to a professional level each time, as spacies said.

I find people underestimate the cost of one of these machines, even when the workmanship cost is not added. So people balk at paying a fair price that includes all that labour cost.

[danny_galaga]

                                          biggest...no-brainer...ever!

[danny_galaga]

The guy who fixed my Ms Pac told me he had a Harley Fat Boy, an OCC-built custom chopper, and his brand new Dodge Hemi truck was in front of his shop.  Trust me, I gave quitting my job some serious thought..

so basically hes wasted every cent he made then 

[Naru]

After unloading trucks at the grocery for 3 lifetimes now,
I'd love to build arcade cabinets...
or whore myself out...
or eat dynamite...

[Dreamwriter]

I find people underestimate the cost of one of these machines, even when the workmanship cost is not added. So people balk at paying a fair price that includes all that labour cost.

That's my problem.  I considered starting a side-business making sub-bartops, but while people loved the idea and wanted ones like my prototype, I couldn't get the parts-cost down anywhere near what people would pay, even if it came with all the ROMs.  People always said "...wow, I could get a PS3 instead and save money!"

[ChadTower]

Yeah, it would be a low volume sideline for sure.  I'd say build two, wait until they sell, and build two more.  If you can use freely availabe parts (CRTs are free now, classic MAME capable PCs free or a few bucks), the cost really comes down.

[Chris G]

Been thinking about this.  It sounds cool, especially if I were to make the same amount of money.  However, I really enjoy the social aspect of working with other people.  I think doing this all the time would be too solitary for me.

[ChadTower]

Been thinking about this.  It sounds cool, especially if I were to make the same amount of money.  However, I really enjoy the social aspect of working with other people.  I think doing this all the time would be too solitary for me.

It would be totally perfect for me.  I hate working with people.  They're all peopley.

[Chris G]

It would be totally perfect for me.  I hate working with people.  They're all peopley.

So would it be better if we all just shut up so you could talk to yourself on here? 

[ChadTower]

The forum would lose little traffic if everyone but me shut up.

[More Cowbell]

I've sold a few cabs to pay for the hobby and there was a ton of pride that came from that. Because it's a hobby I never included my labor time in any markup, only the cost of supplies. Doing it full time as a job, you would have to take everything into account to get to the right price. That being said, I would definitely do it if I was guaranteed to make what I do now.

[javeryh]

Hmmm... someone just asked me how much to commission a cabinet after seeing the one I'm working on right now.  I'm pretty sure that I'd have to charge too much to make it worth while.  I'd consider doing it for cost but even that is pricey...

[shardian]

I've sold a few cabs to pay for the hobby and there was a ton of pride that came from that. Because it's a hobby I never included my labor time in any markup, only the cost of supplies.

That's the way I am. If I make $5 profit on something that took me 5 hours to do in one of my hobbies, I still feel good about it.

[spacies]

Here is a good way to price something.

Add up what it cost, double it and then add a third.

 

[shorthair]

Been thinking about this.  It sounds cool, especially if I were to make the same amount of money.  However, I really enjoy the social aspect of working with other people.  I think doing this all the time would be too solitary for me.

It would be totally perfect for me.  I hate working with people.  They're all peopley.

Maybe you two should get in business together - one sales, the other manufacturing.

[Chris G]

Maybe you two should get in business together - one sales, the other manufacturing.

Naw, I'd probably only get about an hour's worth of work out of him each day, what with his posting addiction and all. 

[BobA]

Just some info to add to this discussion.

There are many cab makers that I have not included as I only took about 5 min to compile these figures.

Cabs probably vary in quality and completeness but this is only for ballpark info. Not one on one comparison.

Complete cabs with varying equipment

Dream Arcades

Cabaret      1799
Cocktail      1399

Dream Authentics

Excaliber      3695
Katana         2500

Slik Stik

Complete      4495

X-arcade
   
Complete      2995

Hanaho

Arcade PC      4995
Cocktail      3995

Arcades R Fun

32 inch Full      4295


Now these are not for our purchase but obviously for those who can afford to treat themselves and will
pay the bucks for a premium toy.   Remember hacked multi cabs are going at auction for $1000 plus.

Kits are not included.

[ChadTower]

Naw, I'd probably only get about an hour's worth of work out of him each day, what with his posting addiction and all. 

Hell no.  I get a lot done at my job.  I'm just really, really efficient at it.

Besides, I'd have to be posting threads on all of the builds, yes?   

[DreamArcades]

... but breathing MDF powder day after day for someone else's benefit would get old quickly.  

Next time we run the router all day I should take a picture. Even though we have a good vac system you end up covered in dust (and sweat).

[rovingmind]

to make it acutally work so that you wouldn't end up burnt out, I would want to have a cnc panel cutter. 

[Jouster]

Now if i could only afford that cnc panel cutter.............

to make it acutally work so that you wouldn't end up burnt out, I would want to have a cnc panel cutter. 

I think I know what someone wants for his birthday...

I've played with some numbers myself...and I don't think it be worth it for me unless I find some really rich and lazy friends to build showcase models for that were completely blinged out and cost them an arm and a leg.  There isn't much difference in price from a bartop to a upright cost-wise...mostly MDF and small priced parts...maybe $100.?.?

Anyone know somebody rich and lazy that's looking for a showcase??  Hmmm?

Jouster